Thrills and chills on the Kicking Horse River

Roller Coaster. Beyond Hope. Shotgun. Man Eater. These are the names of some of the Class 3 and 4 rapids on the Kicking Horse River near Golden, B.C. Standing on the shoreline I can feel the knot in my stomach growing tighter as our guide gives our group a run down of what to expect from the wild river that’s only 5C.

“Do you guys know what summer teeth are?” says Ryan Trautlein, who’s been rafting all over the world  for 13 years, and has spent the last two seasons with Glacier Raft Company. “That’s what happens when you don’t hold onto the top of your paddle. Some teeth are here and some teeth end up over there.”

Given my lack of swimming skills, I can’t help but think about falling out of the raft into the raging river, even though Trautlein assures the chances of that happening are low.

Flowing from the Wapta Icefield near Field, B.C., the Kicking Horse River has a reputation for being one of the more extreme rafting trips in western Canada. Known for its fast water and big waves, the river attracts thrill seekers from around the world, and is divided into three sections – the upper, middle and lower, which can only be reached by helicopter.