Wenatchee River Rafting with Creature Craft - Class 5 & 6 White Water in Tumwater Canyon

Icicle TV met up with the CC crew with the intent to document a run down the Wenatchee River's class VI Tumwater Canyon.
Darren Vancil is not what I expected. Actually, I had no Idea what to expect. Seasoned raft guides I trust all told me the same thing about going rafting with Darren. They were all scared. Darren is the founder and owner, designer and head test pilot of Creature Craft whitewater rafts. His unique designs have brought into question what is possible in a whitewater craft. Icicle TV met up with the CC crew this last week with the intent to document a run down the Wenatchee River's Tumwater Canyon. Darren and his guys did not disappoint, and Icicle TV ended up with 5 minutes of intense footage.
Read the full story at: www.icicle.tv/Blog/SPORTS-OUTO...
For more info on Creature Craft go to: creaturecraft.com/.
Original Post at bit.ly/M9F96Y

[@MrWyzzrd]

I was born in Wenatchee and have driven by, swam in, and fished this river many many times, but to see someone take on this section of the river was something I never expected to see! The awesome power and force of it when standing on the road next to those exit falls feels like you are standing next to a speeding locomotive and the sound is deafening. To see this video only gives you a hint of what these guys have achieved and I must say to you they deserve to be applauded for their amazing run

[@journeybrook9357]

👍❤️💯

[@briand3837]

It seems more a testament to the design of the raft than any skills exhibited.

[@billquantrill4960]

You should show the way.

[@Josh-hr5mc]

Definitely looks like it's all craft and less skills than anything

[@OzrikKnob]

Again we see that bouncy castles are the solution to everything.

[@byrongray1020]

Yessss

[@martineast1787]

That's funny

[@journeybrook9357]

Except staying on the ground on a windy day

[@bb1257]

This reminds me of strapping yourself into a barrel and just going along for a ride.

[@cdluggage]

Yeah new age approach to the barrel test at Niagara, however successful thus far.

[@bambesfresser]

That stretch of the Wenatchee is insane. Miles of crazy white water that is awe inspiring just looking at it while driving down from the pass. Total insanity to raft it. As you can tell, the river more or less just washes the raft down. You can't really control anything in this mayhem.

[@fanofcandace8940]

May 18th 1980, me and about 30 friends were rafting that section of the Wenatchee River while Mt St. Helens was erupting. (With guides and outfitters) it was eerie about 3/4 through the run, day turned to night, we had no clue until the pullout and an inch of ash on our cars. What a Memory!!! Great video Thanks.

[@IcicleTV]

Whoa! That sounds like a magical experience to remember forever! Thx for sharing.

[@rick419]

So they take commercial trips through this section with class 5 and 6 rapids?

[@bambesfresser]

@@rick419 No, there are no commercial activities on that stretch. I am pretty sure the fellow is referring to the section of the Wenatchee east of Leavenworth which is class 3 and 4. Tons of fun but nothing insane.

[@oledahammer8393]

Every county in the US that has a low-head dam, which causes hydraulic currents, should have one of these for rescues. It is the first water "vehicle" ever made that cannot submerged by a hydraulic current. Critical for rescues in those situations and not lose the rescuers as well. Many counties that have low-head dams that have a history of drowning people have purchased these. Great for any fast or dangerous in-water rescues.

[@StupidStuffProductions]

I agree but a lot of counties don’t understand and are not quick to spend 15000 dollars on something they think they don’t need.

[@garretmcr]

FYI all you non Aquaholics, a Class 6 Rapid is "Extremely dangerous, classified as UN-raftable. All previous difficulties increased to the limit of practicability. Very confused, Very Violent, Exploding and folding water so difficult that controlled navigation by raft is virtually impossible. Swimming this grade of rapid is considered suicidal. Requires extreme luck or skill to finish." by United States National Classification. Also if you know anything about hydraulics and folding white water, Reactionary waves, Eddie walls, Eddies, etc you will understand that at 5.5+ even with the highest skills it is difficult to control your vessel, the river will at that point do with your vessel as it pleases. and it looked as if this river is flowing at 45,000 cfs or even greater, lets see you rookies even think about it! I know I'm not going down a class 6 any time soon, not even in a CC.

[@elhior23]

Sort of right but a class 6 is simply defined as not possible to run. So once it is run and this happens quite often as people push limits it is no longer a class 6. So by definition this is not a class 6 there is no class 6 the people run in boats. Even the Grand Inga, sort of, is no longer a 6.

[@garretmcr]

from what I was taught it takes multiple safe runs down a class 6 in order for it to be classified as a class 6, not just one run. again, this is just what I was taught, so is it just one run?

[@elhior23]

Garret McReynolds yea I think you right. from my background of creek kayaking we talk about a first run changing it to 5+ but after talking to a few boaters it does take many runs that are safe to technically move it to 5.

[@antdx316]

But isn't this w/ the raft designs up to that date? I'm sure any super advances w/ computers would create a "raftable" experience than ever was possible or not matter what invention could ever be conceived, it will never ever work? Also, what are "eddies" and "eddie walls"?

[@antdx316]

@Casey Atchinson - OIT What is really considered "safe"?

[@onisgagan2481]

I’d rather jump in the river than listen to another second of these sweet guitar licks...

[@justabirdwithaword]

Shame someone thought you had to put music over the entire video.

[@johnochoa213]

Just turn off the volume

[@andycanable5076]

@@johnochoa213 They were talking (at a lower volume) before the annoying music started!

[@USMCasper]

@@johnochoa213 I want to hear what they say without BS in the background. It's nature. Who want's trash messing it up?

[@2bigbufords]

yea editing is crappy too

[@mosquitobite101]

I loved the video... I've seen these on the river in Idaho and had no idea really what they were or the difference from other rafts. Very cool!

[@powertyagi9151]

Man this commendable what they have achieved in this , when I first gone for rafting there was only one class 4 rapid I was scared to shit and this gave me goosebumps

[@funkyflights]

I love those rafts! Funny seeing the faces on them eating up the rapids! Also what a great idea with the design, the rafts don’t flip they just ride sideways...

[@stevescheppers3899]

Yo! I see these sections of River everyday and in max flow like this the Wenatchee River is INSANE! These dudes are serious badasses!!!

[@AlaskaPirates]

Steve Scheppers training for the canyon, yup, BMF’s

[@OLYDHMTBR]

OMG. That is so intense!!!!!! WOW. Takes the words right out of me. You guys are crazy awesome!!!!!

[@superFunnypancakes]

Totally amazing!! The perfect boat for this insane run. Brilliant!

[@cdluggage]

Yeah, and it looks like it unhinges at the top for when in calmer waters for mire stability with its top potoons lowered. Strange either way guess thats why its called the creature craft.

[@blockwatch29]

Put a clear piece of tubbing through the front pillar and instead of looking at a yellow pillar you could at least have a blurry windshield pillar in front. Pretty cool video.

[@hardboy1864]

I have been to the Gauley river in west Virginia. I thought that was insane. But this footage is sick!!! Those are wicked rapids....

[@SomjitBhattacharyya]

Really its a unique creature. Amazing video

[@CreaturecraftWaterwog]

More videos on our Channel if you subscribe we will reward you with free smiles.

[@mikebockey4125]

just wondering, are the oars to give your hands something to do or just for show?

[@ruckus9469]

Mike Bockey the oars help you get stability if the raft is tipping

[@thenamesdrew2]

You probably won't see this but, oars help steer (not much in these crazy rapids) and pull the boat through rapids if you lose momentum

[@mihaucka4087]

Hahaha, I came to comment section to write the exactly same comment

[@Ajaxaxxess]

I was wondering about the huge tube completely blocking forward vision

[@mikebockey4125]

Ryk_1010 _, hey, it’s called satire. try it sometime, it’s fun.

[@Strangernightg]

I gotta hand it to you guys, you all did an outstanding white water 💦 rafting. None of you guys panicked, which is one of the most important things to do.

[@mikebrunner8459]

I would do this river only on this boat. Love this invention. Best

[@Ruger44Redhawk]

Those are insane rapids! I live in Idaho and I would love to try the Selway, Lochsa, River Of No Return, Snake, Imnaha, Bruneau-Jarbridge and Owyhee rivers. I've only done the Swirly Canyon section because my co-worker and his brother were rafting guides in West Virginia and they have their own raft (I believe the raft they own is the famous 'Ruby' raft you see in Grand Canyon images and has Ruby on the side of it). That was fun as hell! I need more now.

[@chapsteronetime2000]

Dang that’s balls there! Good job I grew up in northern Washington and this section of river is nothing short of fierce period wow! You made it out alive

[@zoetony09]

Awesome creation, Shaggy!

[@GuillaumeMaryRaftUbaye]

whaouuu that's what we call a great run !! amazing...

[@byrdsoutdoors]

I would love to get the chance to ride one of these! Looks awesome!

[@ninarodriguez7909]

Sheesh yall made it look easy! I just did my first rafting class 3 and looking for class 4. I love intensity :)

[@harryharpoon5257]

Damn that's a gnarly river run!

[@ibuprofenPill]

Back in 2005 I had the opportunity to kayak this river and I passed. Even though I'm solid class V a whitewater kayaker, it was just too risky. I'm on the river to have fun, I've never been about getting notches in my belt. Just too much for me. Not to mention I have a family to think about. But, kidos to all those who brave it!

[@mrantone916]

Babe! Were takin the jumpy house down river, late'!! 😎

[@aflockofbeagles8219]

Sounds about drunk 👍🥂

[@steveklick]

See how the improved system keeps them up and a float! I thought of these years ago and people would say you were stupid or dumb but look at them now. They are the best vehicle all the way around. Accounts for everything in every way for ultra enjoyment and safety.

[@bn8706]

Damn that looks fun as hell!! Great vid. Great ride.

[@vulcanez]

Totaly Sick run!

[@pennybartley4783]

Saw that River this weekend, seriously crazy water!!!

[@SteveCastleberry]

That looked incredible. Nice run! Would love to try it someday.

[@dougdavis8986]

Tell us another story grandpa

[@bambesfresser]

You don't want to. You have to be certifiably insane to attempt it. Just driving down the road next to it is adventure enough.

[@lonniehdeal]

man, if I could see where I was going I would of pulled over. lol.

[@eppi6785]

Looks like a fun weekend

[@crazybilltv5220]

That’s awesome doing it this weekend

[@TheGhostfaceKLR]

Wow, that's crazy cool! Though I could have done with out the crappy metal soundtrack; let the river speak, it's metal enough.

[@jamescarlin569]

I kind of disagree not about it being crazy cool but the metal soundtrack isn't that bad it's not even that metal and I'm not into that kind of music at all but it is pretty cool

[@Grav3s07]

Buddy, thats not metal.🤣

[@govelasco]

How about a sphere with a freely spinning core controlled with gyroscopes?

[@irjerry3]

No it's not metal, it's crappy metal. Jfc it has nothing to do with dark throne or emperor it's jusg bad bro douche 5fdp tier shit.

[@tpstrat14]

There’s nothing more confusing to me than taking extra effort to edit your video to drown out the real sounds with your personal music. Well, the fact that humans still fight wars is definitely more confusing, but besides that....

[@9MileBros]

Great video guys!

[@sarajanesmith3892]

Would love to run that river. Looks like great fun!!😍

[@AboutMinecraft]

Great. Keep on this kind of stuff.

[@ColinPittendrigh]

They're definitely on to something. The CC has two parallel tubes on bottom close together, which makes it easy to tip over. But just as easy to tip back upright again. The flotation roll bars are genius. I'd like to see a raft and/or a decked dory built with a big overhead roll bar, maybe out of foam/fiberglass. I'll try to work it into my act.

[@thegirlinframes]

Absolutely fearless 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@surfcruzer]

Very cool experience for this guys

[@tankmaster1018]

Holy Shit. I thought class 4 rapids were scary as fuck. I would probably be crying If I was in a normal raft on these runs. Those Creature Craft are badass!

[@dissential1]

I don't think I'd be crying for long, if you know what I mean. What power!

[@jermlac]

When you realize the egg drop project from your high-school physics class can also float...

[@smileytwins]

Awesome thanks for sharing.

[@RWOATMAN]

Damn if it aint that SHAGGY dude! Sweet run Shag!!

[@briandevlin5833]

impressive craft, liked the self righting bit on the grade 5.

[@TravisMizeiRacing]

Why even bring paddles

[@thereisnopandemic]

To pretend that your in control, obviously

[@zacharywilken5002]

They didn’t bring paddles

[@kenmullin8649]

Exactly! The river is awesome the soundtrack is brutal!,

[@210SAi]

Wow! I had no idea class of Rapids went above 4! Amazing video

[@oledahammer8393]

6 is generally considered the highest, but class 6 is considered lethal for any but the most advanced rafters\kayakers.

[@markusjoseph5256]

Thats Bad ass Guys, Thank you

[@brianluisi7616]

This is the best designed boat in the world, it can survive class 6 and is used in low-head damn rescue, I'm happy it was created, but it's not even comparable to watching a true pro tackle this river in a kayak

[@nerminc.1713]

At this point aren't they just along for the ride? The oars don't seem to do all that much.

[@jamiekelley613]

That was insane!!!

[@ricardossv8]

Amazing!

[@MrStevie63]

Ohh good the place where you see in the front is on the bottom. Perfect

[@pbr2424]

Nice job. Thanks

[@coloradosheets]

TBH I always thought the creature craft thing was a short lived fad and kinda lame. But this was still pretty sick and the first time I've seen a creature craft flip and then flip back up. I get it now! Nice work fellas.

[@AlbertMoyerJr]

Radical!

[@jonasdoherty1140]

Are reinforced seats to support your giant balls standard on Creature Craft rafts, or was that extra?

[@CreaturecraftWaterwog]

More videos on our Channel if you subscribe we will reward you with free smiles.

[@TileBitan]

the raft has an opening at the bottom for your balls, dw

[@graydon5497]

looks fun...

[@nadjahlover]

Wow... that river sure has grown since I was a kid!!! Yeah.. I"m old. hahahaa. Looks like a BLAST!!!!!!!!

[@csiebester]

If you guys ever mess up and hit Lava Hole in the GC please get it on tape. I'm curious how your boat would do.

[@sergeykopylov652]

Nice raft!

[@jesuschrist-alphaomega]

I went down that river in the 80s. And in fall time. That "looks" like spring thaw time volume.

[@johnturner011]

Those boats are the sickest thing.

[@CreaturecraftWaterwog]

Thanks we have a lot of fun. More videos on our Channel if you subscribe we will reward you with free smiles.

[@AlaskaPirates]

I saw a movie about the Grand Canyon of the Stakine, and holy shit that was big water. These rafts look pretty rad!

[@paultrigger3798]

awesome vid, rapids look huge on camera must be massive in person. What an awesome experience that must be 4:04

[@kahlernygard809]

I've ran tumwater in that orange boat either Brandon Steele. To say it was burly Is an understatement.

[@loriduchesne5329]

totally Radical , Love it

[@anonymousanonymous8306]

Absolute madness

[@Dachdogoriginal]

That is simply insane.

INSANE!!!

[@johnrflinn]

A rock sieve might present a problem to a craft like this. It seems to do better than normal rafts in big holes.

[@user-tb2jy9lu3d]

This craft was originally designed to rescue people from lowhead dam plunge pools and not capsize, if I remember correctly...

[@mattmarzula]

Correct.

[@CreaturecraftWaterwog]

We have some great videos on our channel that talk about the development of the craft and rescue applications. If you subscribe we would be very grateful. :)

[@eagancm]

Rafts with roll bars, sweet!

[@garettanderson6772]

I thought it was a toy at first. But those are really cool!

[@dilbertqdoggie]

Way cool ride

[@Pattern51lover]

When I first saw the thumbnail I totally thought it was two colorful robots fighting to the death in the ocean

[@803brando]

i wonder if some kind of drift sock underneath the boats would stabilize them.

[@timcole3719]

Insane fun

[@Wealthlanders]

So cool but wow, would this be enhanced without the music, and instead, with a voiceover explaining a Class VI.

[@marksheehan8026]

Seriously at the total mercy of the river ....

[@briand3837]

They are just along for the ride.

[@celiaparker546]

Whoa! Those boys never fell out of their seats. They must have had seat belts. Hang on! Eventually they rolled back up. It helps with overhead flotation. But, I don't like the flotation in front of the view. The view is part of the fun. I wonder how that would be in an air ball? a BLAST!!!

[@pompiboruah3093]

gvnjjjdhhh hh hrheh

[@braincrisp1]

Forget amusement park rides. This is where it's at!

[@jonathansantos2271]

I wonder what those water crafts are materially made out of? Seems safer in design style? Thank you for Sharing. ❤

[@unionse7en]

cool, but annoying how the "struts" block ones view

[@pavelvezdehod]

cool !!

[@seanbaskett5506]

Those are some big hits right there, but if you were to funnel that much water down the North Fork of the Payette, Tumwater would look like a booze cruise in comparison.

[@michaelmccaine]

The background music is like someone tried to describe tool to someone and then have them play it.

[@leehughes7031]

Michael McCane should have been Ozzy bark at the moon 🌝

[@ivorypoacherplays]

Holy whitney Houston that’s nuts

[@MrBixl]

I guess we need to find PKA a new manager.

[@ericrogers6274]

Nice vid, please consider re releasing without the music, remember; we float to get away from the city.

[@thomasstillman4805]

I was skeptical at first about this thing going on white water rivers! It hardly needs paddles! lol

[@blasater]

I know a guy who broke his leg doing this stretch of the Wenatchee when the river threw him to the bottom of the river.

[@Fightback2023]

Wouldn't it be better is the front is triangular tubes so they can see straight