The 1970s were an exciting time in Jim Thorpe. Thanks to “Mrs. Jim Thorpe” Agnes McCartney, the new dam at Mauch Chunk Lake helped end chronic flooding downtown, and new restaurants and shops sprung up in previously neglected buildings.

Around the same time, not far away in the Lehigh Gorge, a group of thrill-seeking paddlers were testing the waters of the Lehigh River — first with canoes and later with specialized rafts. As it turned out, all those factors were combining to put the town on the map as a vacation destination for people from the greater New York area and beyond.

The rafting industry, which started out as a small group of paddling enthusiasts in the ’70s has turned into an industry which sees more than 100,000 visitors per year.

Those paddlers now include people of all ages, including families, seniors, Cub Scout groups and schools.

Thanks to scheduled releases from the Francis E. Walter Dam and multiple access points, the Lehigh has become one of the most popular rivers for whitewater in the country. Between May and October, packs of orange and blue rafts are everywhere on the river.

A unique trip

Rafting on the Lehigh is unique because the river has long stretches with ample whitewater, said Paul Fogal, founder of Pocono Whitewater. His company has guided more than 1 million paddlers down the Lehigh since it started in 1975.

They are one of four major raft outfitters based on the Lehigh, along with Whitewater Challengers, Jim Thorpe River Adventures and Whitewater Rafting Adventures.

The length of the trip, which can be up to five hours, and the number of whitewater sections — roughly 15 — is something you can’t find many places in the country, let alone a few hours outside New York City.

“The big attraction is they get to run some whitewater, which is something you don’t get to do everywhere. There aren’t that many good whitewater rivers in the country,” Fogal said.

Sitting in a raft on the Lehigh, paddlers get views of the Lehigh Gorge which can’t be duplicated by car or even bicycle.

For many paddlers, the biggest draw is the opportunity to jump out of the boat (with a life jacket on). Rafting gives visitors to the area a chance to experience the natural beauty of the area up close.

“These rafts, these inflatable things, are vehicles for people to kind of get outside and restore themselves in some manner,” said Jerry McAward, owner of Jim Thorpe River Adventures.

The Lehigh is also unique among whitewater rivers in that paddlers can guide their own boats through Class II and III rapids. Unless the water is extremely high, a group of guides in kayaks will lead a group of rafts.

McAward said that as a young paddler, the opportunity to lead your own trip drew him to the Lehigh.

“It was beautiful, it was pristine, it was all the things that we know it is. I also like the experience of driving the boat rather than just being horsepower in the boat,” McAward said.

Weather dependent

Rafting is a weather-dependent business, but it’s much easier to predict when conditions will be good rafting today than it was 20 years ago.

At Francis Walter Dam, about 25 miles north of Jim Thorpe, the Army Corps of Engineers schedules more than 20 whitewater releases per year, most of them during the warm summer months. The dam releases increase the flow of the river significantly, giving rafters a push down the river.

Up until the early 2000s, the dam only had enough water to provide extra water during the spring season.

The early rafting industry attracted primarily thrill-seeking young people.

McAward recalled how in those early days, a day on the river was a little more rugged than it is today.

“We didn’t mind the cold — ice in your hair or in your beard, or frostnip on your fingertips,” he said.

But the dam’s full potential wasn’t realized until 2004, when the Army Corps built a road across the dam which allowed for more water storage, and more whitewater releases.

Now there are approximately 24 per year between May and October.

“That shifted the whole level of business from early in the springtime, when it was kind of cold, not as pleasant as when you can go down in your bathing suit in the summertime,” Fogal said. These days, a family or a group of co-workers can schedule the same weekend year in and year out and have a reasonable expectation that conditions on the river will be the same as the last time they visited.

Like any outdoor recreation industry, safety is very important. Guides are trained in CPR, first aid and swift water rescue. The hope is that the guides are ready for whatever they encounter, but the guests never have to see them utilize it in an emergency.

“We work very hard to make it as safe as we can,” Fogal said.

Hundreds of employees

The rafting industry employs hundreds of seasonal workers each year but its economic impact goes beyond that. The outfitters themselves have grown from small storefront operations to larger facilities. They’ve added mountain biking to and paintball fields for people who are looking for more after a rafting trip.

Fogal estimates the industry employs about 750 people in a given year. Many of them are college students, but there are also retired people and parents who need a flexible job.

Many of the people who take a rafting trip are likely to spend money in the area. Many paddlers will get a hotel or campground around Jim Thorpe that night. Guides and staff for the outfitters try to be aware of what’s available in the area so they can share that with guests.

“Rafting is the cheapest thing they do when we try to assist them in building a memorable weekend,” McAward said.

What you need to know before going on the river

• Most trips are 3-5 hours and between 8-13 miles.

• Rafts hold 4-6 people. There are trips available for children as young as 4, but the minimum age for the larger dam release trips is 8.

• Dress for the weather. In summer that means bathing suits and old sneakers. During the early and late season that means warmer clothing. Avoid clothes made of cotton, which absorbs more water than synthetic fabric or wool. Bring dry clothes on your trip, but don’t bring them in the boat.

• Life jackets are required at all times. Raft companies advertise that you don’t have to know how to swim in order to raft, but they recommend that you are at least comfortable in water so you can stay calm if you fall out of the boat.

• Rafting companies usually have lunch for sale in advance, and some offer barbecues. Rafting companies usually provide waterproof containers for your lunch.

• Bring sunscreen and a hat. If you have glasses, eyeglass straps are a must.

Contact the companies:

Whitewater Rafting Adventures

101 Adventure Trail, Nesquehoning

800-876-0285

Jim Thorpe River Adventures

Lehighton Outdoor Center

123 Lehigh Drive, Lehighton

800-424-7238

Whitewater Challengers

288 N. Stagecoach Road

Weatherly, PA 18255

800-443-8554

Pocono Whitewater

1519 Route 903

Jim Thorpe

800-944-8392