By Fiona Anderson

Triumph Media

When 96-year-old Hazel Amos steps into a Kumsheen Rafting Resort raft on the raging Thompson River this summer, sheB次元官网网址檒l be hoping to accomplish three important feats: become a Guiness World Record holder, an inspiration for active living, and to simply have a really, really good time.

Amos is no stranger to the blue waters and rampaging rapids of the legendary Thompson, for the nonagenarian has done this at least 25 times over the years B次元官网网址� and has become the oldest Class IV whitewater rafter in anyoneB次元官网网址檚 memory.

B次元官网网址淎nybody can go to the park,B次元官网网址� Amos quips. B次元官网网址淏ut this is way more fun.B次元官网网址�

Amos is issuing a challenge to other seniors B次元官网网址� join her on the water on July 21 to truly experience one of British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 most iconic adventures.

B次元官网网址淚t keeps you young and donB次元官网网址檛 be afraid,B次元官网网址� Amos says. B次元官网网址淛ust do it.B次元官网网址�

Amos is a proponent of active living, taking up swimming in her retirement, working out into her 90s and even lifting weights. Being active, she says, is one of the reasons that sheB次元官网网址檚 still healthy and has been on this earth 96 years.

So, how did the former farm girl become a whitewater addict?

ItB次元官网网址檚 her sonB次元官网网址檚 fault.

B次元官网网址淢y brother was working up-country on the railroad in the 70s and he always saw Kumsheen rafts in the water, and thinking it was a great thing to do,B次元官网网址� recalls Margaret Connors, HazelB次元官网网址檚 daughter and a resident of Surrey. B次元官网网址淲e did it a few times, and then it became an annual thing B次元官网网址� it was just a really nice way to be with family. My mother and I would drive up there and spend the day with him on the river.B次元官网网址�

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Those days added up over the years, with dozens of family members heading to Kumsheen Rafting Resort. The resortB次元官网网址檚 founder, Bernie Fandrich, was there for many of them.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 why, this year, Kumsheen has applied to the Guiness World Book of Records to see if AmosB次元官网网址檚 rafting trip this year can qualify for an award. He expects an answer by about September.

B次元官网网址淲e call her Grandma Hazel, the patron saint of rafting,B次元官网网址� Fandrich says. B次元官网网址淲e know sheB次元官网网址檚 the oldest person to have rafted the Thompson River. We think she might be the oldest Class IV white-water rafter in the the world!B次元官网网址�

This year, the annual event will once again be a family affair. Amos will head to Kumsheen, near Lytton, from Surrey, and be joined by her daughter and her husband, son and daughter-in-law, a nephew and two grandchildren.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 wonderful there,B次元官网网址� Amos says of rafting on the Thompson with Kumsheen. B次元官网网址淓veryoneB次元官网网址檚 friendly and very accommodating.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done it at least 25 times and weB次元官网网址檇 love to be in the Guinness Book World Records,B次元官网网址� Amos says, B次元官网网址渟hould it ever come to fruition.B次元官网网址�