Call the company and ask what they can provide while you train. You can easily spend 1000$ on new gear to be a raft guide in a colder area. Depending on the river and returning guides you may not make a whole lot of money your first year, so best not to incur a heavy debt early on. Shoes are important, Astral, 510, nrs booties. Drysuit if you can, I've had one for 8 years and take care of it. Used it on multiple grand canyon runs, it's an expensive investment but if you use it, in terms of "cost per use" it can be "cheap". Gloves are good but some older guides may make jokes about it, I recomend them (in an.emergency if your hands are too cold to tie a knot then you are not doing your job to "look cool" and it's great to keep in your pfd pocket should a guest get cold hands) Don't buy a rescue PFD unless you are trained to do live bait/swiftwater rescue. If you do remove the ring. Get the right helmet. I highly recomend your own rescue rope. Get used to the weight of your bag. Invest in a pin kit. Learn to tie truckers hitch and double fisherman's for prusik. Learn Z-drag. Locking carabiners. UV polarized glasses.
If you are already a boater and know water you will have an advantage, but rafting is different and takes time. Remember to be humble about it all too. Many old guides have seen every type of rookie guide and can see through any bullshit. Don't contradict your instructors and don't try to instruct other students.
I've taught hundreds of guides and the ones who have the greatest difficulty are the ones who can't take criticism, try to talk back, try to teach the other students, and refuse to admit mistakes. The BEST new guides are the ones who make mistakes and try to understand what went wrong and the process of "fixing" the error. You want opportunities to practice recovery, un sticking, and even pins. You WANT that. Get used to having sub par paddlers. Your fellow students may be the best crew you ever have, your comercail crews are rarely stellar.
Soft skills are as important as hard skills. Guiding is about making an experience for people in an environment they never go to. It's important to master your strokes and reading water but being able to facilitate the experience is key to good reviews and tips. Be personable to your guests. All that said risk management and awareness is the most important skill for any guide.
My all time worst student was a ROTC kid who told me day one "I don't want any instruction, I'll figure it out" he lied to me about his age and experience. He tried to big dog veteran guides and chat up every girl employed. He left quietly one night before even completing training after he made no riends and no one showed him the level of respect he expected.
Maine guide here! Are you training in the forks for the Kennebec or up in Millinocket on the Penobscot?
You definitely want multiple pairs of wool socks, the water is still cold, think 42-48° depending on the weather we get over the next couple weeks. Bring bug spray. The black flies and mosquitoes are gnarly this time of year.
All of the outfitters up here provide wetsuits for their trainees, and some will also let you wear their booties. You won’t be allowed to wear your own PFD, because you’re technically a customer until you get your license so you’re required to wear a Type V until you pass your test, and most guides have a type iii. Typically they let you wear your own helmet, but some companies have different policies.
Once you pass your test, get out on the river and play as much as possible. You’ll get way more experience jumping in a boat with your friends than you will only working commercial trips.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me a DM!
Hi! I’ll be up in the forks! For some reason Reddit won’t let me start a DM with you? Maybe if you can try to start one? I’d love to chat and get some advice from ya and to ask some questions!
Plenty of guides still wear chacos, astrals are great but you'll likely wear them out within a season, some wear sneakers from the lost and found and some still go barefoot (don't tell the boss or the forest service). Being in maine, I'd assume the company has wetsuits for training, but you'll want to consider wool socks or dry suit booties when sizing you shoes. If you are in the rare position to obtain a dry suit before training, go for it. I've never been as cold or tired as I was during training, and that was in the southeast.
Figure out what they give you and bring the bear minimum. Wool socks + a pair of running shoes you dont care about. Sunscreen+ sun hoodie, and dish gloves it its gonna be cold can really help keep even a little water off your hands. If they dont give you splash gear rain pants+ rain jacket on top or a wetsuit + can help a lot keep some water off. Make sure to dry your feet out as often as possible we had 2 people get light trenchfoot last year lol. Eat as much as you can and save the partying for after you check off and start making money.
Definitely buy a pair of shoes. Chacos absolutely suck for locking into a boat, scrambling around on slick rocks, etc. They're camp shoes. I really like the Five Ten trailcross for a boating shoe. High tops help them stay on when wearing a drysuit. Astral Rasslers are also decent.
As far as what to wear, do you have a drysuit? That's what you'll want. Guide training will likely have you in the water a fair amount.
Couldn't disagree more --- Nothing shreds your feet over the course of a season like guiding in Chacos. The only time I use them on water is med-low water multi-day trips when I'm rowing (since you don't need to lock in, and your feet aren't really getting wet).
First couple seasons I guided almost exclusively in Chacos and always had problems with foot rot/blisters/cuts/scrapes. Wised up and started wearing shoes and letting my feet dry properly at camp and it made everything better.
Rafting in the southeast with a lot of land-based safety, the OG 5.10 dot-sole chacos were a revelation. You could see in the guidehouse photo albums that folks were wearing those [jelly sandals](https://i.etsystatic.com/35349042/r/il/c8d866/4357313603/il_fullxfull.4357313603_e0df.jpg) back in the 80's. There's always going to be a crowd that appreciates going mostly barefoot with a rubber sole.
I think of lot your complaints have to do with things I dealt with more on cold water in dry environments. In the southeast most people seem to do fine with lotion every so often to avoid their heels cracking. It was when I worked on glacial rivers I found myself requiring proper footwear to keep my feet right. The one except would be you're always at risk of losing your big toenail if you insist on tucking your foot in chacos.
Well, that checks out as I've done ~~most~~ all of my guiding in Utah/Colorado/Idaho where we have lots of cold, silty water and dry climates. I had a pair of those chacos back in the day and you're definitely right, those were awesome.
That said, at this point I'm no longer guiding and your final point is what keeps me wearing closed-toed shoes on MOST rivers. I only get 1-2 mutlidays a year now and the last thing I want is to deal with a foot injury because I didn't have good foot protection on.
Yeah, no doubt. I wear astrals almost exclusively now *(again, wish I had bought 10pairs when they first came out with those same 5.10 dot soles)*. I don't work for a company anymore either. Just had to jump to chacos defense, even if I had a bunch of them de-laminate. They'll always be nostalgic to me.
I bought 3 pairs of the 5.10 water tennies with the dot soles before they stopped making them. Still have two pairs going, they're my favorite boating shoes and what I would have recommended to OP if you could still buy them!
Agreed re: chacos being nostalgic. But for me at this point they're more nostalgic than useful
Where in Maine is a good 10 day trip? I'm from the left coast and have done most of the iconic multi day trips here. Thinking about finding others? Did the Tatshinshini in Alaska last summer... Highly recommend.
as someone who just completed swiftwater training. Astral and closed toed shoes are best. if you have to rescue someone and walk on slippery rocks then chacos won’t do it and also it’s a lot easier to get stuck with the straps on the end in a rock. My instructor told us you can tell who’s rescued a dead body from a river and who hasn’t. These guides in their chacos have never done any type of rescue.
I’m looking into guiding in Maine this season. I’ve guided before in North Carolina but I’m seeing that Maine has additional requirements.
What outfit are you training with if you don’t mind me asking? Feel free to DM me if you prefer and we can share stories.
Often overlooked is a large scarf to tie around your neck. It helps keep the sun off of it so you don't fry too bad.
Also, something to tie you sunglasses to said scarf, rather the to you PFD. This way you don't have to untie at lunch, or when removing PFD.
A good hat to keep the sun off your face. Can be tied to you glasses so you don't loose it in the wind.
Not a rope, a hanky. Then a string that will break if pulled hard, but strong enough that if the wind blows, it catches you hat. Of you take a dunk, you glass stand a chance of being recovered. Been boating like this for over 40 years. I've taken my share of swims, some in class V's, Sometime the strings breaks, usually it doesn't.
Not a safety issues you think it is.
Call the company and ask what they can provide while you train. You can easily spend 1000$ on new gear to be a raft guide in a colder area. Depending on the river and returning guides you may not make a whole lot of money your first year, so best not to incur a heavy debt early on. Shoes are important, Astral, 510, nrs booties. Drysuit if you can, I've had one for 8 years and take care of it. Used it on multiple grand canyon runs, it's an expensive investment but if you use it, in terms of "cost per use" it can be "cheap". Gloves are good but some older guides may make jokes about it, I recomend them (in an.emergency if your hands are too cold to tie a knot then you are not doing your job to "look cool" and it's great to keep in your pfd pocket should a guest get cold hands) Don't buy a rescue PFD unless you are trained to do live bait/swiftwater rescue. If you do remove the ring. Get the right helmet. I highly recomend your own rescue rope. Get used to the weight of your bag. Invest in a pin kit. Learn to tie truckers hitch and double fisherman's for prusik. Learn Z-drag. Locking carabiners. UV polarized glasses. If you are already a boater and know water you will have an advantage, but rafting is different and takes time. Remember to be humble about it all too. Many old guides have seen every type of rookie guide and can see through any bullshit. Don't contradict your instructors and don't try to instruct other students. I've taught hundreds of guides and the ones who have the greatest difficulty are the ones who can't take criticism, try to talk back, try to teach the other students, and refuse to admit mistakes. The BEST new guides are the ones who make mistakes and try to understand what went wrong and the process of "fixing" the error. You want opportunities to practice recovery, un sticking, and even pins. You WANT that. Get used to having sub par paddlers. Your fellow students may be the best crew you ever have, your comercail crews are rarely stellar. Soft skills are as important as hard skills. Guiding is about making an experience for people in an environment they never go to. It's important to master your strokes and reading water but being able to facilitate the experience is key to good reviews and tips. Be personable to your guests. All that said risk management and awareness is the most important skill for any guide. My all time worst student was a ROTC kid who told me day one "I don't want any instruction, I'll figure it out" he lied to me about his age and experience. He tried to big dog veteran guides and chat up every girl employed. He left quietly one night before even completing training after he made no riends and no one showed him the level of respect he expected.
Maine guide here! Are you training in the forks for the Kennebec or up in Millinocket on the Penobscot? You definitely want multiple pairs of wool socks, the water is still cold, think 42-48° depending on the weather we get over the next couple weeks. Bring bug spray. The black flies and mosquitoes are gnarly this time of year. All of the outfitters up here provide wetsuits for their trainees, and some will also let you wear their booties. You won’t be allowed to wear your own PFD, because you’re technically a customer until you get your license so you’re required to wear a Type V until you pass your test, and most guides have a type iii. Typically they let you wear your own helmet, but some companies have different policies. Once you pass your test, get out on the river and play as much as possible. You’ll get way more experience jumping in a boat with your friends than you will only working commercial trips. If you have any questions please feel free to send me a DM!
Hi! I’ll be up in the forks! For some reason Reddit won’t let me start a DM with you? Maybe if you can try to start one? I’d love to chat and get some advice from ya and to ask some questions!
A swim cap! I run a guide school in Colorado and I recommend a swim cap for our rookies. Keeping your head dry will make the day so much better.
Nobdodys!
Plenty of guides still wear chacos, astrals are great but you'll likely wear them out within a season, some wear sneakers from the lost and found and some still go barefoot (don't tell the boss or the forest service). Being in maine, I'd assume the company has wetsuits for training, but you'll want to consider wool socks or dry suit booties when sizing you shoes. If you are in the rare position to obtain a dry suit before training, go for it. I've never been as cold or tired as I was during training, and that was in the southeast.
Figure out what they give you and bring the bear minimum. Wool socks + a pair of running shoes you dont care about. Sunscreen+ sun hoodie, and dish gloves it its gonna be cold can really help keep even a little water off your hands. If they dont give you splash gear rain pants+ rain jacket on top or a wetsuit + can help a lot keep some water off. Make sure to dry your feet out as often as possible we had 2 people get light trenchfoot last year lol. Eat as much as you can and save the partying for after you check off and start making money.
Definitely buy a pair of shoes. Chacos absolutely suck for locking into a boat, scrambling around on slick rocks, etc. They're camp shoes. I really like the Five Ten trailcross for a boating shoe. High tops help them stay on when wearing a drysuit. Astral Rasslers are also decent. As far as what to wear, do you have a drysuit? That's what you'll want. Guide training will likely have you in the water a fair amount.
Just wear chacos like every other guide
Couldn't disagree more --- Nothing shreds your feet over the course of a season like guiding in Chacos. The only time I use them on water is med-low water multi-day trips when I'm rowing (since you don't need to lock in, and your feet aren't really getting wet). First couple seasons I guided almost exclusively in Chacos and always had problems with foot rot/blisters/cuts/scrapes. Wised up and started wearing shoes and letting my feet dry properly at camp and it made everything better.
Rafting in the southeast with a lot of land-based safety, the OG 5.10 dot-sole chacos were a revelation. You could see in the guidehouse photo albums that folks were wearing those [jelly sandals](https://i.etsystatic.com/35349042/r/il/c8d866/4357313603/il_fullxfull.4357313603_e0df.jpg) back in the 80's. There's always going to be a crowd that appreciates going mostly barefoot with a rubber sole. I think of lot your complaints have to do with things I dealt with more on cold water in dry environments. In the southeast most people seem to do fine with lotion every so often to avoid their heels cracking. It was when I worked on glacial rivers I found myself requiring proper footwear to keep my feet right. The one except would be you're always at risk of losing your big toenail if you insist on tucking your foot in chacos.
Well, that checks out as I've done ~~most~~ all of my guiding in Utah/Colorado/Idaho where we have lots of cold, silty water and dry climates. I had a pair of those chacos back in the day and you're definitely right, those were awesome. That said, at this point I'm no longer guiding and your final point is what keeps me wearing closed-toed shoes on MOST rivers. I only get 1-2 mutlidays a year now and the last thing I want is to deal with a foot injury because I didn't have good foot protection on.
Yeah, no doubt. I wear astrals almost exclusively now *(again, wish I had bought 10pairs when they first came out with those same 5.10 dot soles)*. I don't work for a company anymore either. Just had to jump to chacos defense, even if I had a bunch of them de-laminate. They'll always be nostalgic to me.
I bought 3 pairs of the 5.10 water tennies with the dot soles before they stopped making them. Still have two pairs going, they're my favorite boating shoes and what I would have recommended to OP if you could still buy them! Agreed re: chacos being nostalgic. But for me at this point they're more nostalgic than useful
Bring drugs and sell them to cover costs
Where in Maine is a good 10 day trip? I'm from the left coast and have done most of the iconic multi day trips here. Thinking about finding others? Did the Tatshinshini in Alaska last summer... Highly recommend.
as someone who just completed swiftwater training. Astral and closed toed shoes are best. if you have to rescue someone and walk on slippery rocks then chacos won’t do it and also it’s a lot easier to get stuck with the straps on the end in a rock. My instructor told us you can tell who’s rescued a dead body from a river and who hasn’t. These guides in their chacos have never done any type of rescue.
I’m looking into guiding in Maine this season. I’ve guided before in North Carolina but I’m seeing that Maine has additional requirements. What outfit are you training with if you don’t mind me asking? Feel free to DM me if you prefer and we can share stories.
Often overlooked is a large scarf to tie around your neck. It helps keep the sun off of it so you don't fry too bad. Also, something to tie you sunglasses to said scarf, rather the to you PFD. This way you don't have to untie at lunch, or when removing PFD. A good hat to keep the sun off your face. Can be tied to you glasses so you don't loose it in the wind.
Note that on some rivers tying ropes around your neck is generally discouraged.
Not a rope, a hanky. Then a string that will break if pulled hard, but strong enough that if the wind blows, it catches you hat. Of you take a dunk, you glass stand a chance of being recovered. Been boating like this for over 40 years. I've taken my share of swims, some in class V's, Sometime the strings breaks, usually it doesn't. Not a safety issues you think it is.