BENJI BOYER, HIGH COUNTRY ADVENTURES

How long have you been a raft guide? 11 years.

What led you to become a raft guide? I spoke with some of my friends who had been guiding … The ability to travel to new places, meet new people, and show others our wild and scenic rivers was all I needed to hear.

Tell us about the training process. Becoming a raft guide requires one to participate in a training course, obtain a Basic Life Support/First Aid certification, CPR certification, and for many, a Wilderness First Responder or Swift Water Rescue certification. The trainers taught us how to read water, control the boat, navigate the rapids safely, entertain our guests, and the history that surrounds us in the Cherokee National Forest.

What do you love about whitewater rafting? Whitewater rafting presents people with an opportunity to try something new that can push them to the edge of their comfort zone.

What’s special about rafting the Ocoee? The Ocoee provides a little bit of everything. From tubing trips down the Lower Ocoee to Class III rafting in the middle to the Olympic course on the upper, there is something for every experience level.

What’s your favorite rapid? Hungry Mother on the Upper Ocoee. Three of the biggest whitewater hits the Ocoee has to offer are in this rapid.

Tell us a memorable story from the river. My crew was a bachelorette party who had traveled from Orlando to Tennessee to celebrate. The ladies were excited but hesitant because it was quite cold that day … When we arrived at the put-in and unloaded the boats, it began to snow! None of my crew had experienced snow before, so it was a unique way to start off the trip. We proceeded down the river navigating rapids, cracking jokes, and having a fantastic time all while the snow fell around us. Did we get cold?

Oh yeah! Was it a blast and a fantastic way to start the year? You bet! When asked if they were coming back next year, it was a resounding yes! But, maybe when it’s a bit warmer outside.

What advice would you give a first-time rafter? Leave your phones in the car! Rafting is an opportunity for us to be outside and forget all those attention-grabbing devices and enjoy the company of those around us.

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