Courses

Flippin’ Rafts

Swim Rescue Day

New Guide Class

Raft Guide Training Course

Three Rivers Outfitting has been offering Raft Guide Training for over 20 years. The 2017 course will be held from May 18 to May 27. Participants are encouraged to participate in both Raft Guide Training as well as Swift Water Rescue I. This intense course is held in both classroom and river environments and is recommended for those seriously interested in guiding commercially in Colorado. Classes are from 8:00am to 5:00pm each day, unless otherwise noted. After completing the course, participants will meet the minimum requirements to commercially guide rafts in Colorado. Completion of the course does not guarantee employment.

Course Highlights & Information:

• Equipment orientation, boat rigging, repair, maintenance, and loading
• River dynamics and characteristics of moving water
• River Hazards
• Types, causes, and classifications of rapids
• Self Rescue
• Shallow water techniques
• Introduction to Rope Rescue Systems
• Flipped Boat Recovery
• Commercial Passenger Orientation
• First Aid and CPR Certification
• Life jacket, helmet, splash gear, booties, and wet suit provided
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Cost = $350.00

**If you are already a certified river guide, you will still be required to attend certain days of our raft guide training course and become proficient on our local rivers. There is a fee associated with this training depending on your experience and whether or not you have gained trip leader status. Please call for more information and ask for John  “Vito” Covelli.

Tentative Schedule for 2017 Raft Class

Each day begins promptly at 8 am, ends at 5 pm, unless noted otherwise.

Thurs    5/18  Orientation, check out gear, rigging, loading, students guide on the Gunnison River, bring extra clothes and a lunch.

Fri         5/19  Lower Taylor oar trip and possible paddle trip, intro to knots, bring lunch and dry clothes.

Sat         5/20  Upper Taylor paddle trip then Upper, Middle Taylor to Three Rivers. Bring extra clothes and lunch. Possible rescue practice from boats and more ropes training.

Sun        5/21  Upper Taylor Rescue Day: everyone swims and uses throw bags. Flipping rafts in pond. Bring lunch and lots of warm clothes.

Mon 5/22, Tues 5/23, Thurs 5/25: Multiple paddle and oar frame trips on the Taylor River.

Wed. 5/24: CPR at 8:00 am, 1st Aid to follow approximately 10:00 am, 1:00 Upper Taylor Paddle. No Internet certifications are valid for guiding. Upper Taylor paddle trip will following afternoon.

Fri           5/26 (Date may change) All day on the Lake Fork, with lunch provided by Three Rivers Smokehouse. Bring extra clothes and snacks.

Sat          5/27 All day on the Arkansas River – leave at 7am SHARP, lunch provided, bring warm clothes/change of clothes, extra food, tip money for Arkansas guides.

*Schedule may change due to weather or other circumstances.

Whitewater Rescue Technician – May 30 – June 1, 2017

The White Water Rescue Technician Level I course is optional for raft guides but required for guiding our whitewater trips. This physically challenging course will be conducted by Bill Dvorak, a Rescue Level 3 international certified instructor. This course is an intense class containing some classroom instruction and three days of developing and practicing water rescue skills. There is also a night time exercise. The initial emphasis is on developing self-rescue skills. Other objectives include an in-depth look at: safety, line in water contact rescue, handling hazards and obstacles, understanding water dynamics and using basic rescue equipment. Classes start at 8:30 am.

Equipment Requirements & Course Information:

• Full wet suit or dry suit
• Lightweight helmet
• USCG approved PFD (Type III or V)
• River shoes or hard soled booties
• Gloves, knife, whitstle, throw bag are recommended but optional
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Adequate health insurance coverage
• Basic swimming ability
• Good physical condition
• RRC pro Certification  $300.00 for 3 Rivers Guides, $330 for those with no 3 Rivers affiliation

Enrollment 
To enroll, click here: Online Raft Course Registration. Please fill out this form, sign it, then fax or mail it to Three Rivers Resort. Be sure to include any deposits indicated in the course description when mailing the form. If you are faxing the form, please fill out the appropriate credit card information on the form. If you intend to work as a raft guide with Three Rivers Outfitting after you have completed the course, please also send us your job application.

Click here to download a Job Application in Word. Click here to download a Job Application in PDF. Complete it and email it or print the application to complete and send by mail, fax or scan & email. 

Mail: PO Box 339, Almont, CO 81210      Fax: 970-641-1317.      Email: operations@3riversresort.com