After spending five hours battling the rain and the crashing rapids of the Highwood River, a warm sauna was a welcome respite.

Melissa Felt and Micki Wohland of Edmonton cruise over the rapids on the Highwood River under the direction of Wapka Wilderness Adventures guide David Pearson on June 9.

Then the sun finally  peeked through a crack in the sauna door signaling its long awaited escape from behind the clouds.

I walked out to bask in the warm spring air and only then did I realize the Highwood River valley winding its way west from the Rocky Mountains is a breathtaking setting we often take for granted.

On June 9 I had an incredible opportunity to see the Highwood River in a different light. I came to meet the river up close and personal and I admit I was surprised with the welcome this seemingly harmless river gave me.

Several weeks ago I received an email from Ben Thackeray of Wakpa Wilderness Adventures saying he had brought whitewater rafting back to the Highwood River.

My initial reaction was what does he mean brought it back to the Highwood? Since when was there ever whitewater rafting on the Highwood? The same river hundreds of people ride along on their dingy or inflatable seahorse on a lazy summer afternoon?

To say the least I was not impressed about an offer to come out and see the Wakpa set-up west of Eden Valley. However, Thackeray was persistent and his final sales pitch was quite convincing.

He explained he has been a rafting guide for more than seven years and has ridden rivers across Alberta, B.C. Norway and Australia. He said the Highwood River during spring run-off is one of the best rafting rivers around and certainly the best in Alberta.

“What makes the Highwood so good is it never stops,” said Thackeray. “It is a challenge. It is always changing with the water levels. There could be a feature on the river one day and it is not there the next time.”

The Highwood changes almost daily because unlike many other Alberta rafting rivers the water level is not constant because the river is not dammed like the Kananaskis River for instance.

“It is a unique experience,” said Thackeray, who hails from Leeds, England. “It is a natural river and it will always be different.”

The rafting route on the Highwood includes about 30 features including class four rapids that bear some ominous names like Double Trouble, Pinball and The Crack.

“There are continuous rapids with very few flat spots,” said Thackeray.

Thackeray used to guide on the Highwood with a previous company that stopped operating on the river a couple of years ago. When he heard no one was rafting on the Highwood anymore Thackeray said he was actually quite disappointed because he truly believed it was the best rafting experience in Alberta.

As a result, he partnered with fellow rafting guide David Pearson from Ontario to start Wakpa Wilderness Adventures (Wakpa means river in Stony).

After the lengthy process of securing permits and access to the river through Crown land, the rafting company started operating on the May long weekend. Their permit allows them to run the river from May until the end of June.

The pair is committed to taking the best ideas from the rafting experiences they have had and put them into one unique adventure in the foothills.

Unfortunately, a spring that included more snow than sunshine has dampened things a bit at the Wakpa campsite, but it has not dampened Thackeray’s enthusiasm for rafting on the river.

His enthusiasm is contagious.

Thackeray, who also enlisted the help of his older brother Adam who came from Leeds to help get the business started, gave me another call in early June saying the water levels were perfect for rafting.

He was inviting a few people out to experience a Wakpa wilderness adventure.

I relented and on a cold, wet spring morning made the surprisingly quick 45-minute drive to the Wakpa campsite on the banks of the Highwood 30km west of Longview off Highway 40.

The camp was certainly not the Ritz, but the secluded campsite was quite fitting, rustic and comfortable. Besides, one hardly noticed the amenities with the Highwood River raging a few yards away.

At 9 a.m. on a cool, overcast morning I was having second thoughts about spending five hours floating down a river of melted snow.

It was too late turn back so I pulled on a wet suit, two fleece sweaters, booties and waterproof wind gear.

After a thorough safety presentation and an explanation of the day’s activities the six rafters hauled the new 14-foot rafts down to the river.

Interestingly, Thackeray does not believe in easing into an adventure. The first rapid, one of the biggest on the river, was just 50 yards from the starting point. Before I could even adjust my helmet we were pouring over Double Trouble. It was an incredible beginning to an outstanding day on the water.

The next highlight of the trip was a truly unique opportunity to raft over the picturesque Highwood Falls. It can only be done when the water is at a certain level and I was extremely fortunate enough to be able to navigate over the falls.

After a refreshing lunch break at then Highwood Inn we hit the river again and barreled over The Staircase and rumbled through the picturesque Canyon.

When there was a break from the rapids, it provided an opportunity to drink in the breathtaking surroundings. The scenery was incredible as the black shale rock of the valley walls towered high above us and waterfalls tumbled down the canyon walls feeding the mighty Highwood. A bald eagle floated lazily above us watching as this bulbous yellow boat bounced along the water.

The five-hour tour ended with an exciting trip through The Pinball and it was an exhilarating finish to an exquisite day.

Wet, we returned to the camp enjoyed a sauna and a delicious barbecue and the Highwood rookies reminisced about our journey.

“It was so much fun,” said Melissa Felt, who came all the way from Edmonton to take the trip. “It was my first rafting experience and it was great.”

It truly was an impressive experience and few foothills residents likely even realize the Highwood River can so enjoyable and challenging.

All that was missing at the end of a great day was a cold beer. I will not forget that next time — and there will be a next time.

For more on rafting the Highwood see www.wakpa.com

jbarlow@okotoks.greatwest.ca

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