Hazel Amos. Ninety-six-year-old world record-holder. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Kumsheen Rafting Resort owner Bernie Fandrich says he’s applied to the Guinness World Records to determine whether Amos’ rafting adventures on the Thompson River “might be an all-time world record for a 96-year-old to be running Class 4 whitewater. It’s not the kind of thing there’s a lot of stats on and nobody’s phoned me yet to say, ‘Hey, I’m 102 and I’ve run Class 5.’ So we’re hoping there is some way we could get Guinness to look at it and recognize it.”
He’s hoping for a reply by September.
Amos was scheduled to be back on the blue waters of the raging river over the July 21-22 weekend for her annual whitewater rafting trip. She has rafted the river at least 25 previous times and describes it a good way to spend time with her family. She missed last year’s expedition because she was moving into a new home, but was looking forward last week to another whitewater adventure.
“Anyone can go to the park,” says the irrepressible Amos. “But this is way more fun.”
Fandrich, who owns the Lytton-based rafting company, told the News Amos was expected to take Kumsheen’s half-day Devil’s Gorge ride.
“We meet her at the resort in Lytton, then we bus her up to Nicomen, which is also our luncheon stop on day trips,” explained Fandrich. “We put the raft in the water at Nicomen and then raft from there straight down to Lytton, which is 18 consecutive rapids – the best water on the Thompson.”
On the scale of rapids, Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous that they are effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. In Fandrich’s words, they are “unrunnable water with very, very high risks.”
Class 5 rapids are whitewater, with large waves, large volume, and the possibility of large rocks, large hazards and large drops.
Class 4 rapids have whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe considerable drops and sharp maneuvers may be needed. Fandrich says they are equivalent to “some very good whitewater, but it’s controllable. You can choose routes. The consequences, should something go sideways or upside down, are that you can perform a rescue.”
Fandrich said Amos is a “lovely lady. She’s got so much spunk and she has a great sense of humour.”
Her sense of humour was apparent when the News first reported on Amos and her adventures in 2012.
When the Surrey grandmother emerged from her car after the three-hour drive up the Fraser Canyon to Lytton, she quipped, “Well, at least the dangerous part of the trip is over.”
Amos is an advocate for active living. She began swimming after her retirement, was working out in her ‘90s and even took a turn at lifting weights.
The 96-year-old has issued a challenge to other seniors – take their own ride on the Thompson’s rapids to truly experience one of British Columbia’s quintessential adventures.
“It keeps you young and don’t be afraid,” Amos advises. “Just do it.”
