Class III is intermediate rapids, which require more skill. Guides are often needed in Class III rapid. Class IV is “intense, powerful, but predictable.” (”International Scale of River Difficulty”) Someone who falls out of his raft or kayak would likely need help getting out of this rapid. Class V is for Experts. “Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to above average endangerment.” (“International Scale of River Difficulty”) Group rescue is almost a guarantee for this level rapid. Class VI is the highest rating, and it is the most dangerous and challenging. Americanwhitewater.org says “The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible.” These are the rapids reserved for the best of the best. (“International Scale of River Difficulty”) We had spent some time practicing on the Schroon River getting used to the Class II and III rapids and also hitting the one Class IV that Schroon has to offer. We thought we were prepared and practiced to take on the Class V Otter Slide; we were wrong. As 10:00 AM approached and the dam opened, the water began to rise, it picked up our feet, and the raft began to move. We locked into our positions on the raft. There were one or two good-sized waves that we would have to navigate before we got to the heart of The Otter Slide rapid. As the “guide”, my job is to steer the raft with a longer, wider paddle that I use as a rudder, and also to control who is paddling by yelling out commands. For example, to move left in the river I would yell out “Right side paddle, Left side hold,” and that would steer us to the left. Once we are pointed in the right direction, I would say something like “All forward,” and off we’d go. I began yelling out the commands and steering the raft towards the raging rapids. It didn’t take me long to realize
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