Swiftwater Rescue Classes: September 12-13 and Sept 19-20

 Swiftwater Rescue Class

Learn swift water rescue in one of our upcoming swiftwater rescue technician classes on the Clark Fork River near Missoula Montana.  Right now Montana Swiftwater rescue classes include a lecture and discussion on river safety and rescue basics, equipment, hydrology, and response risk management. This is followed by two days of practicing river rescue skills on the river and applying them to a series of fun, challenging scenarios. 

Our next swift water rescue class is September 12-13 near Missoula on the Clark Fork River's Alberton Gorge.  Another Swiftwater Class will be offered  September 19-20. Our fall raft guide school will run September 19-23. For more details call Everett at 406-214-0245.

Montana Raft Guide Training

Montana Raft Guide Training

Whitewater Raft Guide Schools with Montana River Guides

Learn to Guide near Missoula, Montana on the Clark Fork  and Blackfoot Rivers

RAFT GUIDE SCHOOLS: These five-day Raft Guide Schools are designed for people wanting to lead river trips or become professional raft guides. Our whitewater raft guide training focuses on safety, reading water, and guiding paddle rafts through Class II, III and IV whitewater. Topics include trip preparation, safety talks, equipment, rigging, boat handling, communications, paddle commands, and rescue techniques. Our five-day Raft Guide School combines river instruction with a certified Whitewater Rescue Technician class the first three days. The swiftwater rescue training takes place on the Blackfoot and Clear water River near Missoula.  On days four and five you’ll guide whitewater raft trips on the Blackfoot River and Alberton Gorge. The course is hosted at the Alberton Gorge Ranch and includes a Whitewater Rescue Technician certification and certificate of completion.

2020 Dates

April 3-7

May 8-12

June12-16

Swift water Rescue Training April & May in Montana

Swiftwater Rescue Classes with Montana River Guides

Learn swift water rescue in one of our upcoming swiftwater rescue technician classes or raft guide schools. We have upcoming classes on the Blackfoot River, Clark Fork River, Beaverhead River, Gallatin River, Middle Fork of the Flathead, Yellowstone River, Missouri River, & Bighole River. Swiftwater rescue classes include a lecture and discussion on river safety and rescue basics, equipment, hydrology, and response risk management. This is followed by two days of practicing river rescue skills on the river and applying them to a series of fun, challenging scenarios. 

Our next swift water rescue class is April 20-22nd in Missoula.  There is  a raft guide school coming up May 11-14. and plenty of other swift water rescue, whitewater rafting workshops and raft guide schools throughout Montana in April May and June.

Missoula Raft Trips

Starting in late May, our rafting season will start and we will be offering Missoula Raft Trips on the Clark Fork River and Blackfoot River. It's going to be a huge water year in Montana. 

Missoula Rafting, River Trips for Everyone

Missoula Rafting on the Clark Fork River

Missoula rafting is hard to beat. Few towns in the world offer better whitewater and scenic raft trip opportunities than Missoula. The Clark Fork River runs right through the middle of town and offers a variety of river experiences, depending on whether you want to go wild or mild. Montana River Guides offers daily kayaking and scenic raft trips near Missoula through the Hellgate Canyon, the Tarkio Gorge as well as beautiful sections just downstream of town. As an alternative to Missoula rafting Tubers prefer the section just upstream of town and float the lazy section from east Missoula to the University of Montana or Brennan's wave.. Birdwatchers might enjoy the scenic  and less crowded Kelly Island section at the west end of town, though you'll need to go with someone familiar with the river because of the logjams, strainers and hazards on that braided part of the river.

Rafting the Blackfoot River near Missoula

Just upstream of Missoula the legendary Blackfoot River flows into the Clark Fork River. The Blackfoot River offers a variety of the best options for a Montana raft trip. The section closest to Missoula parallels Highway 200 and is a good scenic float with some Class II riffles. The float between Russell Gates and Johnsrud Fishing Accesses is an awesome whitewater trip at high-water, with big rolling Class III rapids connected by fast current and smaller rapids. We teach many of our swift water rescue classes on the Blackfoot and offer custom raft trips for groups throughout the rafting season.

The Bitterroot River, scenic rafting south of Missoula

The Bitterroot flows from the south through the Bitterroot Valley and flows into the Clark Fork River just downstream of Missoula. We lived on the Bitterroot in the town of Lolo for 14 years. We love this stream for it's wildlife viewing and birding   combined with incredible Montana scenery.

Missoula Montana: Three Beautiful Rivers

The Clark Fork, the Blackfoot and the Bitterroot Rivers combine to offer a diversity of rafting and river recreation better than just about anywhere in the world. Of course the flyfishing on these rivers is world class as well. To join us on one of our Missoula raft trips, contact Bernice at 406-722-7238 or rivers@montana.com.

Montana River Guides in Print

Get Your Adventure on in Alberton Montana with Montana River Guides!
We really enjoyed this article in Northwest Travel Magazine

Whitewater Raft Guide Schools

                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                    

Whitewater Raft Guide Schools for 20th Consecutive Year

Novice river runners or paddlers who want to learn how to safely lead whitewater raft trips safely can choose from one of three upcoming classes near Missoula. The comprehensive five day Whitewater Raft Guide Schools are being offered in April, May and June by Montana River Guides on the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers.  Montana River Guides instructors have been teaching the courses for twenty years.

After learning about proper equipment, boat rigging, trip preparation, river safety and reading water, students learn basic paddle commands and get the opportunity to guide both paddle and oar rafts under the supervision of instructors.

“The class focuses how to read the river and guide rafts in whitewater “ said Mike Johnston, owner of Montana River Guides. “We give students as much information as we can in the classroom  session  and then spend four and a half long days on the river, giving them hands-on experience. “

 Johnston said the Blackfoot River is ideal for introducing people to guiding because there are so many features in the river and plenty of places to practice simple maneuvers such as eddy turns, peel outs, and ferrying. After working on the Blackfoot the class will move on to the bigger whitewater of Alberton Gorge where they will get the opportunity to practice in-flow rescues, boat flipping, and reading more challenging rapids.

“After practicing swimming, self-rescue, and dealing with rescue situations, the students are ready to be challenged by the Gorge’s bigger rapids and features”, says Johnston.  “They’ll have to apply everything that they’ve learned to scout rapids, select their route, and then run the rapid safely as a team with their paddle crews.”

No experience is necessary. Participants who complete the class will  receive a Swiftwater Rescue Technician certification  from the Whitewater Rescue Institute. The first Whitewater Raft Guide School is April 1,2,7,8 & 9. Other sessions are scheduled for May 12-16 and June 10-14. The cost $485. For more information or to register call Montana River Guides at 406-214-0245.

A Long Harrowing Whitewater Swim

This video shows a long uncomfortable whitewater swim for a novice kayaker in over his head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9a3ucJm1vU