Toobers be ware, safety issues
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 7/19/10
I had our trip paid for by my husbands company so I cannot comment on prices (or price gouging) with Rockin 'R', my review will be about safety. Although I will say we had a 12:30 reservation for our group and didn't leave until after 1:30 on the bus.
Don't go on the 5 hours float that includes the 5 rapids unless you like to get injured, possibly drown. They do NOT explain the hazards of the river. Don't go if you are a weak swimmer or can't swim for sure. I'm a competitive swimmer (NCAA Division 1) and I was terrified. Flipped twice before having to quit because I lost my tube saving another toober. Twisted ankle that I can barely walk on. Cuts and bruises galore. I consider myself lucky that i didn't have my head smashed against a rock and drown. EVERY single person who does the trip should have a helmet and life jacket. It doesn't matter how well you swim, if you get knocked unconscious you won't make it. And good gracious, getting drunk while doing this trip is just plain stupid.
I heard the 3 hour trip with the tube shoot is safe, no rapids. Otherwise do not go on the long float and NEVER take your child.
I sat at the end at Bubba's watching the last rapid and watch two women nearly drown and no I'm not exaggerating, everyone at the bar was screaming to save them. At least 40% of tubers flipped over during the last rapid. Even heard a woman lost her finger that day having it ripped off by a rope that had a cooler tube tied to hers and she accidentally had her finger wrapped in it when she fell off in a rapid.
Every single person in our party of 30 came back injured. Thankfully no one seriously. One had his head smashed on a rock, he is extremely lucky.
This is just negligent. Yep, I signed the waiver that I didn't read like an idiot but I still believe the rafting companies are insanely negligent by not telling you what you are in for. We were told by another company driver that we hitched a ride back with that the river was too low causing the rapids to be fast and shallow and therefore more dangerous. Plus the river was jam packed with other tubers and rapids were so full tubers were toppled off their tubes from being run into by other tubers.
If you still want to go, great, but please take safety precautions and wear and helmet and life jacket!