WILD WATERS: The white water of the Bull River seems intimidating, but is expertly navigated by c0-owner Jon Knauf (second from right) and his team of guides (R). —photo courtesy Mountain High River Adventures

As a writer for Kootenay Business, I sometimes get the opportunity to enjoy some of the businesses featured in the magazine. It’s one of the great aspects of my job—and I admit that it’s turning me into something of an adventure junkie. So when I was invited to go whitewater rafting on the Bull River near Fort Steele, I immediately accepted and brought along three fellow adventurers: fellow writer and adrenalin junkie Kirsten Armleder, my fiancé, Rusty Gahr, and my daughter, Alexa.

Mountain High River Adventures is a company based in Fernie that offers whitewater rafting trips on the Bull and Elk rivers. In May and June, the Bull River runs wild through scenic mountain canyons, giving rafters a ride of a lifetime. When most of the spring runoff is finished and the Bull settles down to a calm trickle, the nearby Elk River—which is said to be the warmest river in the Kootenays—is just getting primed for the season.

Our day was ideal; after a very cold spring, the sun was warm and the sky was blue. It was perfect for sightseeing. But when the water starts moving fast, you don’t notice the scenery as much.

The guides at Mountain High River Adventures are skilled at manoeuvring the raft through the class 2 to 4 rapids on the Bull River, but it’s the people in the raft that provide the power. We were given very thorough instructions before climbing in the raft: how to paddle forward and back, how to counterbalance the raft in case of highsiding (when the raft begins to tip precariously if it gets lodged against a rock), how to hold on tight and how to pull people in who end up in the drink. All of these lessons were used during the excursion.

I cannot possibly describe what a fantastic adventure this was in such a small space. Suffice to say that we were well prepared for every eventuality. The ride starts off gently and gradually builds. Following a confidence-building series of rapids known as Bubblicious, we were fed a delicious lunch in a gorgeous setting—providing us with necessary calories for facing the Class 4 rapids known as Tombstone, Sandwich Maker and the Toilet Bowl.

Before hitting these more challenging rapids, all riders are given the option of seeing the canyon from the dry seats of the bus. This outing, there were no takers. We were all committed to having the full experience. And so, with adrenalin coursing through our systems, away we went, paddles in hand and hearts pounding.

How to describe the brief, exciting ride: it was like riding a crazed bucking bronco made entirely of water. With our guide barking out commands, we paddled hard through the rapids that hurtled us through the tight canyon. At one point, I had to dig my paddle into water—and had to reach over my head to do so. But all of the riders stayed in place—wet and triumphant.

The rafting adventure is a great way to highlight the scenery and recreational opportunities of the area, and would make a unique company outing. For more information, see www.raftfernie.com.

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Best Western Fernie Mtn Lodge
Po Box 2680
Fernie, BC
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