Pinned Drift Boat

Our River Ranger, Ben, called one evening and let us know that a drift boat had pinned on some rocks on the Clark Fork. Didn't look bad --but it was a heavy boat. We ended up using a 27-1 mechanical advantage system to un pin the boat.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Nice Article in the Missoulian about our Stand Up Paddle Board Trips.
http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/recreation/article_fce104d4-b0a7-11df-ae62-001cc4c002e0.html

Rafting, Riverboarding and Stand Up Paddle Boarding near Missoula, Montana all summer long...the water is still great and we'll be running trips every day through September.

Aggressive Swimming-Essential Swiftwater Skill

An Aggressive Swim in Whitewater as performed by Holt from Montana Yellowstone Expeditions.

Competetive Yoga on the River

A rare observation of the practice of competetive yoga on the Gallatin River. Looks like the Pensive Goat Series.

Our Coldest Class--12 degrees--the new standard

Our coldest Swiftwater Rescue Class on record which was in April of 2008...we we're standing in the river to warm up our feet. Found out later it was 12 degrees --not sure what it was with windchill....because the wind was blowin....Definitely warmer in the water that day. Thanks to Jim Beisel for the photos.

Gallatin RIver Rescue Class, May 22-23, 2010

Montana Whitewater guides having fun during our swiftwater rescue class last weekend on the Gallatin River.

Montana White Water Rafting

Montana White Water Rafting season is here and Montana River Guides is taking bookings for the 1020 season for whitewater rafting and riverboarding trips on the Blackfoot River and Alberton Gorge. Give us a call at 800-381-7238.

The River Hazard You Need To Recognize

Fallen trees in the current, sweepers, log Jams, debri Piles....all of them fall into the category of strainers--probably the number one hazard Montana river runners need to watch out for. Strainers are anything that current flows through that can entrap a person or a boat. As rivers rise in late spring shorelines erode and trees fall in the current and old snags from the shoreline or winter deadfall get swept downstream --creating strainers where there were none before. Experienced guides know river current is deceptively powerful are always on the lookout to avoid all wood, trees or branches in the river. Good safety talks explain strainers and describe how to recognize and avoid them by paddling or aggressively swimming away. If you are swimming and can't avoid a strainer, the best plan is to roll over on your stomach, get your arms and legs up on the surface and aggressively swim towards the strainer head and hands first to launch yourself up and over it. If you can get part or all of you body over it...hang on. The last place you ever want to be on a river is going underneath a strainer where the potential for entrapment and drowning is serious. If you're going floating, find out where the strainers, if any, are. We focus on strainers and rescue techniques for entrapment situations in our Swiftwater Rescue Classes, but your best bet is to pay attention and be aware of strainers so if you see one you are sure to avoid it!

Swiftwater Rescue Video

New Swiftwater Rescue Video. Click Here

Footage from a variety of rivers around Montana. Our students are either setting up realistic scenarios or responding to them as part of their Swiftwater Rescue Technician class. www.montanariverguides.com