In ASCI Part 1, the previous section, we outlined some of the basic designs of the course and the levels of difficulty this amazing structure can tweak itself to supply. You will see from the picture above, that before you enter the rapids, there is a lake, or reservoir in which the water is stored for the course. Once ready to head down the rapids, your group or your kayak will get on a moving track, which will guide you upwards to the beginning pool (pictures of this ramp also on our previous article).
Below, you see a series of pictures showing the beginning take-off area where each raft or kayak goes down one at a time. This is to ensure that no boater is getting too close to the next during the 1/3 of a mile course. You will also notice the pedestrian bridge crossing over the river, making it easy for friends and family to watch you navigate the rapids from the ‘island’ of the course. This middle ground area is full of paths to wander around; it even allows you to get right next to the rocks for cheering your friends on or just to snap a few pictures.
Shortly after entering the pool to begin the 2-hour white-water rafting trip (est. 6 x 20 minute trips), the first drop takes place under the pedestrian bridge and while it may look a bit challenging, its really the easiest part of the entire course. Once entering the rapids, the rocks and water patterns become more apparent, especially from an onlooker’s perspective.
You can see that the boat has a guide in it, sitting in the back of each boat, steering and controlling the path (to a certain extent) and guiding each team through the rapids. The picture below represents the first leg of the course, which extends straight until a horseshoe bend at the turn up ahead. The rocks and rapids may seem easy to navigate, since what is shown below is only Class I rapids, but once the water levels are turned to Class II through IV, the flow of water changes, rocks dissapear and the path down the river becomes more difficult, much quicker and harder to anticipate. (See here more info on Class I, II, III and IV).
The rapids, in turn, are adjusted throughout the day. Times for these changes are available at the information center located right next to the course. The normal water level changes occur from the early morning up to noon, then change higher as the day moves on, ending with the toughest conditions at the end of the day.
Below, you see the first large drop in the course. Of course safety remains a non-issue since your boat captain sitting in the back will guide you straight down the small falls and the water will pull you right along. In fact, if you’re concerned about safety, we had a talk with a frequent visitor who said that there had only been one injury in the past year at ASCI, whereas other courses who try and simulate rushing water as well as real rapids themselves have more injuries in general throught the year averaging just over a hundered. In this respect, ASCI once again showcases how safe and fun it can be to white water raft, even if its your first time!
The backside of the course is shown in this series of pictures. Even if you aren’t going to kayak or ride the rapids, its worth going to just see each crew head down the rapids. Best of all, if you just want to watch from the island and walk around the course, it’s free!
Its also worth mentioning how large the boulders are around the course as shown in the picture below. Just to think that each one of these made up thousands of boulders excavated just for this course to closely simulate exactly how a river would pull you around. The course’s behavior is so well-tuned, that before the 2008 Summer Olympics, many countries, including China, Russia and Korea came from the other side of the world just to practice for the Olympics on these rapids!
You will notice in the picture below there are five in the boat. The limit of persons per boat is 6 and in order to ride anything above Class I rapids, you must be 7 and up to ride Class II – III and you must be 10 or older to ride class III – IV rapids. The course itself can adjust from Class IV rapids all the way back to Class I rapids without interruption, which means more people get to raft, which also lessens the wait to go down. Not to worry, if you are at DCL for a week, there is not much of a wait to get on the rapids.
Are you captivated by these rapids and feel like this is something for you?
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