The Rapids

​We left Wolf Tors and were soon disembarking to scout the “Big Three” rapids of the trip. It was not long before all the guests were gathered on a rocky promontory with a good view of the first two, Lamb Rapid (Class III) and Sheep Slot Rapid (Class IV). From here we watched the guides bring the four rafts through, one by one. There was some splashing but no serious difficulty, and we embarked to ride through the third rapid, Sheep Horn. It is unclear to me why all the guests were going through this last of the three rapids, as it is classified as a Class III+. However, given the water level, the guides obviously considered it safe for us, and in fact we all came through uneventfully. Perhaps we all ran it because there was no other serious rapid immediately downstream to hamper rescue operations should one raft loaded with guests get into trouble. On the other hand, a further rapid, Ram Rapid (Class III/IV) lay not that far downstream from the Sheep Horn Rapid. Many factors no doubt played a role in the decision. On our trip in 2015, when the water was much higher, the guests had been asked to portage around all three rapids.
After we had come through these major rapids, as the day was warm, the guide in our raft suggested that I take off my waterproof jacket. It was bad advice. It was not long before a wave came over the front of the raft, topped the bib of my waterproof overhauls, and deposited water right down to my bottom. Something very similar had happened to me on the Snake River a few years previously, but some of us are slow learners.