Rejuvenate Your New Year's Fitness Resolutions by Planning for an Epic Rafting Journey with Above Average Snowpack

When there’s deep snow on the Rocky Mountains, spring and summer waters run flush. Currently, the Upper Colorado River drainage is running 116% of average on this calendar date. 

This means sweet music to river rafters who hope to challenge the rapids at the earliest sign of spring. 

The anticipation of an exciting outdoor adventure can often be just the thing to bring those all-too-quickly-forgotten fitness resolutions back to life! A stellar fitness level is not a requirement by any means to experience a Western River Expedition, but it certainly never hurts to visualize yourself participating in a much awaited adventure to help move you along. 

Here are a handful of pre-rafting season, physical prep suggestions from Western River Expeditions, the experts on all things river rafting. 

• Make that stair stepper your new best friend by envisioning winding switchbacks hiking the many trails emanating from deep inside Cataract Canyon. You’ll love the spectacular hike while taking time out from navigating the swirls and eddies of the Colorado River on a four-day Cataract Canyon rafting adventure. The daily investment in 3000 stair steps now is building stamina, too, for the excitement of class II-IV Colorado River whitewater. Here in the heart of Canyonlands National Park is a 100-mile-long chasm that winds through dazzling geologic formations. Native American ruins and pictographs are add-ons to the action that ends with a flight over the scene, returning to Moab, Utah. The season is May into August, with rates from $1,625. 

• Weighted body squats may feel grim now, but consider the strength you’ll build between now as you look forward to grabbing your dry bag and locating the perfect campsite on a sandy beach along the banks of the river. On a five-day Desolation Canyon adventure you do just this -- camp for four nights along the Green River whose 60 class II and III rapids wind 88 miles on a journey through a wilderness of twisted mountains, dramatic cliffs and towering plateaus. The wonder begins while flying from Moab for the introduction to 40 million years of geologic history, outlaw hideouts, ancient dinosaur habitats and Fremont Native American petroglyphs. The season is June through August. The rate is from $1,745. 

• Your other new best friend is the rowing machine. Envision yourself paddling your inflatable kayak as captain of your own vessel. Aim for 1000 meters and eyeball Idaho’s Main Salmon River rife with class II-IV rapids on an 82-mile river journey. Rich in scenic wonders and history, the Main Salmon River drops 1,200 feet over these miles, creating some exciting memories along the way. The blue-green waters, known as the "River of No Return," warm up to very comfortable temperatures in July and August. Calm sections and deep pools are perfect for relaxing, swimming and simply absorbing the country's splendor. Pine forests, granite mountains, abundant wildlife, rock paintings and homestead cabins embellish the landscape. The season is June through August. The rate is from $1,490. 

• Run an extra lap to celebrate. This pre-rafting physical prep, after all, is targeting not only cardiac strength but also the celebration of the river adventure, of pristine wildlands and abundant nature. You’ll be on the water soon but plan ahead to get on a Grand Canyon rafting trip in 2021, when much of 2020 is already sold out! 

For a copy of Western River Expeditions’ 2020 catalog, questions, availability and reservations call toll-free: 866.904.1160 (Local: 801.942.6669) or visit the website at: http://www.westernriver.com/. 

About Western River Expeditions

Western River Expeditions is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/). 

Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah and Idaho rafting, and international multi-sport trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. It has been named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company is the proud recipient of the "Best of State" award through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program for the past sixteen consecutive years (2004-2019).