‘Notorious’ Cut Bait rapid forces outfitter, customers to make choices | Latest News | Columbus Ledger Enquirer

The signature rapid on the new Chattahoochee River Park whitewater course is forcing almost everyone involved with it to make decisions. Those who manage and operate the course are deciding how best to get the closed rapid reopened to paying customers in a safe and timely manner.

Once that happens — which could be as early as this week — the rapid will force potential rafters to decide if they want to challenge it at high flow.

Charlie Walbridge, a whitewater safety expert from West Virginia brought in last week to run the river, cautions that Cut Bait is not a rapid everyone should attempt. The former safety chairman of the American Whitewater Association made four runs through Cut Bait at high flow Wednesday.

“Anyone who decides to run that rapid should understand they could be thrown out of the boat, pushed deep under water and thrashed around,” Walbridge said. “It is not everybody’s idea of fun.”

Whitewater Express, which operates the lone outfitter on the Chattahoochee course, will mandate additional training for its guides who lead paid trips through Cut Bait.

via ‘Notorious’ Cut Bait rapid forces outfitter, customers to make choices | Latest News | Columbus Ledger Enquirer.