Scouting, Volume 99, Number 3, May-June 2011 Page: 31
48 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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You won't find dramatic waterfalls on the Rogue
River itself, but ice-cold creeks (right) serve as
small tributaries and provide spectacular views.
Even without stomach-churning drops, though,
OARS guides and Troop 223 Scouters preach
safety to the Scouts. As a Class III river, the
Rogue features opportunities for a passenger
to fall out around every turn, so safety gear is a
must. Before shoving off on the first day, guide
Roberto Carrera helps check Alex Brown's helmet
and personal flotation device (left) for a proper
fit. Once they are under way, guide Eli Helvey
(previous spread, center) helps steer the raft and
gives the guys on-the-fly paddling lessons.
ducks that float in a bathtub.
Despite their innocent-sounding
nickname, though, Duckies can be
difficult to maneuver. "On other trips,"
Helvey said, "we tell people not to ride
in them with their significant other. In
fact, we call them 'divorce boats.'"
BEFORE LAUNCH, Helvey and his team
of three guides checked that everyone
had securely fastened their PFDs
and locked their helmets in position.
Only then were the Scouts allowed
to step into the paddle raft, each
of them grabbing a red-and-yellow
paddle and taking a seat along the
edge of the craft.
The guides split the adults into
three groups that boarded the larger
boats, where they simply rode while
the guides worked the oars. A daily
rotation schedule ensured the oppor-
tunity to experience the paddle raft,
where the Scouts—most making their
first rafting trip—began a hands-on
education in river physics.
First lesson: Three paddlers working
together on each side of the raft works
better than six individual, out-of sync
paddlers. After just over a mile, the guys
got the hang of paddling and navigat-
ing, and by then the headman was
ready to reward their efforts.
"Who's hungry?" Helvey asked.
Several hands shot up, and he directed
the rafts to beach at a shady spot
below a large concrete bridge that
marked the end of civilization and the
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 99, Number 3, May-June 2011, periodical, May 2011; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth299174/m1/33/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.