Swiftwater Rescue Training & Raft Guide Schools

Swiftwater Rescue Training and Raft Guide Schools with Montana River GUides near Missoula, Montana. Let's get ready!

2012 Swiftwater Rescue Training:

Montana River Guides, in cooperation with The Whitewater Rescue Institute, is offering a variety of rafting and river rescue training during the Spring 2009 throughout Montana. These certified classes are being taught by longtime guides and swiftwater rescue instructors Mike Johnston and Cody Harris.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Swiftwater Rescue Technician
A three day course designed for raft guides and private boaters, the Whitewater Rescue Technician is a 20 hour class with a half day of classroom instruction followed by two days developing and practicing skills on the river. While the initial emphasis is safety & self rescue, the class offers an in-depth look at reading water, recognizing and avoiding hazards, quick rescue techniques, boat-based rescues, dealing with boat wraps and entrapments, technical rescue systems, and a variety of practical scenarios. We analyze footage of actual river rescues in the classroom and progress from a solid foundation of rescue skills and practice into rescue scenarios on the river. The class is challenging, fun and tailored to the students needs. A manual, test, patch, I.D. card, and certification are included. Cost: $335

The classes are scheduled for almost every weekend from late March through late June throughout Montana and the Northwest. You'll need a full wetsuit or drysuit; a pair of neoprene booties and gloves, a helmet (w/skullcap or hat); and a lifejacket. Personal equipment rentals are available from Montana River Guides for $25 the first day of class. Bring a lunch, water and extra dry, warm top & bottom layers such as fleece and polypropelene.

Register by calling to confirm space in the class. We require a 50% deposit to hold your spot. Just call and give us a credit card number or send the deposit and your contact information to: Montana River Guides 2439 Gilbert Ave, Missoula, MT 59802.


Thanks,

Mike Johnston, Instructor
Montana River Guides
406-240-0560
406-240-0560 (cell)

Email: rivers@montana.com

Swiftwater Rescue Classes with Montana River Guides

NEW RESCUE VIDEO!! CLICK HERE

Footage from our swiftwater rescue classes on Montana's most beautiful rivers including the Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Swan, Middle Fork, Gallatin, Bighole and Yellowstone. After learning basic principals of river rescue and practicing rescue techniques, students respond to realistic scenarios created by instructors Mike Johnston & Cody Harris. Fun, challenging, and real hands-on training. www.montanariverguides.com

Inflatable Kayaking on the Blackfoot River

Ready to up your fun factor on the river? If you don't mind the idea of a swim or two consider an inflatable kayak for your next adventure. Check out our footage of Kayaking the Beautiful Blackfoot River.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding Montana Style

Everett getting some sun during a stand up surf session on the south shore of Oahu.

2010 Swiftwater Rescue Training & Raft Guide Schools

Montana River Guides and The Whitewater Rescue Institute are offering a variety of rafting and river rescue training Spring 2010 throughout Western Montana. The classes are being taught by Mike Johnston and Cody Harris and certified through the Whitewater Rescue Institute. Here's a tentative calendar of 2010 River Rescue and Guide Classes. We're still firming up some of the dates as we hear from agencies and organizations that are working out their training schedules.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Swift Water Rescue Technician: A two and a half to three day course designed for raft guides and private boaters, the SRT is a 20 plus hour class with a half day of classroom instruction followed by two plus days developing and practicing skills on the river. While the initial emphasis is safety & self rescue, the class offers an in-depth look at reading water, recognizing and avoiding hazards, quick rescue techniques, boat-based rescues, dealing with boat wraps and entrapments, technical rescue systems, and a variety of practical scenarios. We analyze footage of actual river rescues in the classroom and progress from a solid foundation of rescue skills and practice into rescue scenarios on the river. The class is challenging, fun and tailored to the students needs. A manual, test, patch, I.D. card, and certification are included. Cost: $335

RAFT GUIDE SCHOOL: We offer two to five day classes designed for people wanting to lead river trips. We focus on safety, reading water, and guiding paddle rafts through Class II, III and IV whitewater. Topics include trip preparation, safety talks, equipment, rigging, boat handling, communications, paddle commands, and rescue techniques. Our five day Raft Guide School combines river instruction with a certified Swiftwater Rescue Technician class the first two days. On days three, four and five you'll guide whitewater raft trips on the Blackfoot River and Alberton Gorge. The course includes a Whitewater Rescue Technician certification and certificate of completion. Tuition: $455

PROFESSIONAL RIVER GUIDE SCHOOL: A seven day comprehensive course designed for students interested in becoming professional river guides. The class integrates certified Wilderness Emergency Medicine and River Rescue training with hands-on guide training while running the river each day. Guide topics covered include equipment, boatrigging, trip preparation, risk management, reading water, and rafting class II, III and IV whitewater. Students practice and develop medical skills in river rescue scenarios during guide training on the river. The course is hosted at the Alberton Gorge Ranch near Missoula, Montana. Upon course completion students receive certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue. No experience necessary. Tuition: $795

WHITEWATER RAFTING WORKSHOP
A full weekend of whitewater instruction and river skills practice for novice river guides and recreational boaters. One evening of lecture and discussion followed by two full days on the Blackfoot River and Alberton Gorge. We’ll focus on reading water and guiding paddle crews through Class II and III whitewater. Topics include trip preparation, safety talks, rigging boats, communications, paddle commands, boat handling, and rescue scenarios.: $185

Dates: May 20-21

June 14-15
Equipment: You will need a full wetsuit or drysuit; a pair of neoprene booties and gloves, a helmet (w/skullcap or hat); and a lifejacket. Personal equipment rentals are available from Montana River Guides for $25 the first day of class. Bring a lunch, water and extra dry, warm top & bottom layers such as fleece and polypropelene.
2010 Class Schedule

March 14-20 Professional River Guide School-Alberton Gorge, MT
March 29-April 4 Professional River Guide School-Alberton Gorge
March TBA Whitewater Rescue /WEMT-Alberton Gorge
April 10 One Day Whitewater Rescue Class-Blackfoot River
April 16-18 Swift Water Rescue Technician-Missoula, MT
April 23-25 Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Missoula, MT
April TBA Missoula City Fire Scenarios-Missoula, MT
May 1-2 Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Bigfork, MT
May 7-9 Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Thompson Falls, MT
May TBA Whitewater First Responder-Glacier NP
May 9-10 Whitewater Rescue for Paddlers-Billings, MT
May 15-16 Whitewater Rescue Technician-Bozeman, MT
May 17-19 Swiftwater Rescue Tecnician-Missoula, MT
May 17-21 RAFT GUIDE SCHOOL-Missoula, MT
May 28-30 Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Big Sky, MT
June 4-6 Swiftwater Rescue Technician-West Glacier, MT
June 12-16 Raft Guide School Alberton-Gorge, MT
June 12-14 Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Alberton Gorge, MT
June TBA Whitewater Rescue Technician-Yellowstone River
June TBA Swiftwater Rescue Technician-Great Falls, MT

Registration: Register by calling to confirm space in the class. We require a 50% deposit to hold your spot. Just call and give us a credit card number or send the deposit and your contact information to: Montana River Guides 761 Hidden Valley Rd, Florence MT 59833. Agency billing can be arranged over the phone. If the course is cancelled or you cancel more than three weeks prior to the class a full refund will be made--otherwise you may forfeit your deposit. For specific directions, a class outline, and lodging info, call Mike or Cody, at (406)-777-4837. For more information check our website at www.montanariverguides.com.

Thanks,

Mike Johnston, Instructor

Montana River Guides

406-77-RIVER

406-240-0560 (cell)

Email: rivers@montana.com

http://www.montanariverguides.com

www.riverboardingmontana.blogspot.com

www.riverrescue.blogspot.com

WINTER SURF SESSION

Every year we go to visit the cousins and B's family back in Hawaii. This year the trip to Oahu over Christmas was filled with amazing surf and family time on the ocean. While the North Shore was getting pounded with forty foot waves, we were surfing with the cousins from dawn til our shoulders gave out in perfect 1-4 foot swell, no wind. Surfing, Bodyboarding, stand up paddle surfing--we did it all and are grateful to Uncle, the Surf Sensei, and the boys for keeping an eye on us. The Big E shows just a little bit of what we like to call "getting shacked" Montuckey style. In memory the wave size grows.