Rescue Gear
On all of our guided raft trips and kayak instruction courses, our guides and instructors carry complete rescue kits. We carry fully-stocked First Aid Kits that receive regular inspections, repair kits (pumps and patches for rafts, parts for kayaks, etc.), and pin kits consisting of ropes, slings, carabiners, prusicks, and pulleys to perform advanced rescues or recover pinned boats. While most of this equipment is hopefully standard at all whitewater companies, Wet Planet raises the standard with our use of modern communication equipment.

Communication Devices
The need to communicate quickly and efficiently with outside sources in any river emergency is essential. At Wet Planet, we take advantage of modern technology. On river trips where there is cell phone coverage or quick access to roads, we carry cell phones. On all other trips, we carry a satellite phone.   At Wet Planet, we use the Globalstar Qualcomm 1600 satellite phone system to ensure that, no matter where we are in the world, we have the ability to quickly contact and communicate with the needed resources in an emergency situation.

Kayak Support Boaters
On all of our smaller raft trips where only one raft is on the trip, a kayak support boater paddles along with the trip. A kayak support boater is a kayaker that paddles along on the trip close to the raft in a position to help out with any problems that might be encountered. If you fall out of the raft, the support boater can quickly get to you and give you a ride back to the raft. This is the case on all of our trips, regardless of the difficulty of the water. We feel that having two guides in two separate boats is necessary to be prepared for any possibility while out on the river. We also set the standard in the industry by having two kayak support boaters paddle along on all of our trips where we are paddling class V whitewater (the Wind and the Farmlands), regardless of the number of rafts on the trip.   Our kayak support boaters are not raft guides on their days off. They are professional kayakers capable of providing support and rescue during challenging whitewater trips. With two support boaters on the water, Wet Planet is committed to minimizing the risk faced with challenging whitewater.

Number of Guests per Raft
Although most of our rafts are capable of holding a seventh guest in the rear compartment next to the guide, we limit our rafts to six guests at any time we are running class IV or higher whitewater.  While many companies attempt to fill the seventh spot or place smaller children in the center of the raft in efforts to fit more people on a trip, Wet Planet believes that properly loaded rafts play a vital roll in the positive experience our guests expect from us. None of our guides would want to be in that stern compartment next to someone else while careening over Husum Falls, so we don't think that you should have to be either. If there are more than six people on a trip with class IV whitewater, we take more rafts.   If you have a group of seven, we can split you up into two smaller rafts (the use of various raft sizes is another area where we set the standard... read more below), providing a positive experience for everyone.

Our Headquarters
The Wet Planet Headquarters is changing the face of Northwest commercial whitewater.  We believe that your experience with us begins the moment you arrive at our headquarters and continues until you head back home. We are the only headquarters in the region to provide all of the following:   private parking, changing rooms, hot shower, camping for our guests, a full service espresso bar, smoothies, snacks and pastries, souvenirs, printed pictures of your trip, any last minute items such as sunscreen or sunglasses that you might have forgotten, picnic and barbecue areas, and plenty of space to relax alongside the river. For more on our headquarters, check out our headquarters page.

Our Equipment
Part of managing the risks and providing an outstanding experience on any whitewater trip is maintaining professional equipment. At Wet Planet, we use high quality equipment that is replaced on a regular rotating basis in all aspects of our operation.

The Rafts
We are setting standards in the industry by utilizing a wide range of rafts for our guided rafting trips.   We believe that the number of guests on a trip, any special needs they may have, and the type of whitewater being run should determine the size and style of raft used, rather than the other way around. We have a fleet of rafts that can handle almost any possibility:

12 foot Sotar Elite:   this high performance raft is like a sports car for those smaller trips (2 to four people).

13 foot Aire 130D:   with a tapered bow and stern, smaller tubes, and lots of rocker, this is a very maneuverable raft that will hold up to six people.   Great when facing challenging whitewater where you need a raft that can move quickly or for providing an exciting ride on easier whitewater.

13.5 foot Aire 135:   slightly more spacious raft without the tapered bow and stern. Great raft for six larger people or when you want a little more stability in your ride.

14 foot Custom Sotar:   slightly larger rafts custom built with larger than normal tubes.   These rafts are great when we have high water days and want the most stability possible or when guests are looking for a dry ride.

14 foot Sotar Oar Rig:   this is our custom Sotar outfitted with a frame and oars.   We use this raft in situations where we have guests that want to experience whitewater river travel but are unable to paddle themselves. With this setup, the guest has a comfortable seat, and the guide takes care of all of the rowing.   This raft is also excellent for hauling gear and food on our longer trips.