We've wrapped up most of our swiftwater rescue  classes for the season are are out enjoying Missoula's best rafting & kayaking on the Alberton Gorge. Summer water levels have arrived with warm friendly class II and II rapids. We know you are all wearing the right gear and keeping an eye on each other. If you know anyone who needs a guided Missoula rafting trip, check out Montana River Guides....

Inland Spill Response: Cold Weather Fastwater Spill Response in Winter Inland spill response in cold weather is difficult and risky.  Responding to oil spills along rivers in winter requires additional risk management and emphasis on standard operating procedures for all responders on site. Obviously we try to work off ice whenever possible. Several spills in the past two years have required us...

Fastwater Spill Response Inland Oil Spill Response Notes Personnel Decontamination Inland Oil Spill Response responders must be proactive and assertive about decon. This is one area of response that is often overlooked or incomplete in the early phases of a spill. Establish work zones and clearly communicate them to all responders. Create a site map, with enough detail included to adequately...

New Technologies for Inland Spill Response At WRI we specialize in fastwater spill response and inland oil spill response. Our goals are always to respond safely and effectively. We want to contain the spill as quickly as possible and then take steps to minimize its impact. Over the past few years we have been experimenting with a variety of techniques and spill response technologies to incr...

WRI Instructors recently led an Oil Under Ice Spill Response Training on Lake Pend O'Reille near Sandpoint, Idaho. Winter conditions present unique challenges for Inland Oil Spill Response. WRI teamed up with local first responders, Sam Owen Fire Department, Selkirk Fire Department and BNSF staff and contractors to practice with specialized equipment for winter spill response conditions.  Respect...

The River Ganga: A trip to India Mike & Cody recently returned from India where they trained with instructors from the Hannibal Outdoor Center and ran the Ganges river in northern India. They stayed with some guides on the Ganges to learn about rafting standards in India and got a brief immersion in this amazing culture. The Ganges is the most sacred river in India, people pilgrimage from...

Whitewater Rescue Institute Instructor Paul Heffernan and I recently returned from Costa Rica Swiftwater rescue training where we led five days of classes with 50 Costa Rican whitewater rafting guides. We gained an appreciation for the knowledge, skill and dedication of the Costa Rican guides and some of the challenges they face for emergency response in terms of logistics and communications.  Af...

Swiftwater Rescue Training WRI will be hosting  three more Swiftwater Rescue Classes near Missoula on the Blackfoot River this spring. It's our home river and our favorite place to teach. Montana River Guides will be hosting the course. Montana River Guides offers Missoula rafting and kayaking trips on the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers. Join us at a discounted price this year. Montana Swiftw...

WRI will be hosting several Swiftwater Rescue Classes near Missoula on the Blackfoot River this spring. It's our home river and our favorite place to teach. Join us at a discounted price this year. Missoula Swiftwater Rescue Class: April 6-8 Missoula Swiftwater Rescue Class: April 20-22 Missoula Swiftwater Rescue Class: May 11-13 Missoula Swiftwater Rescue Class: June 8-10 [caption ...

EMS and Swiftwater Rescue Training in Costa Rica with Aerie Backcountry Medicine One of the best things about working in the rescue community is getting to work with wonderful people. WRI Instructor Mike Johnston just returned from teaching a swift water rescue class in Costa Rica on the Rio Sevegre as part of Aerie Backcountry Medicine's Wilderness EMT semester program.  Mike has worked with ...