PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP -- The rain might not be a welcome sight for many, but for one tourist attraction in the Poconos, the rain means a more exciting trip down the Lehigh River.
More than 100 people enjoyed the day whitewater rafting through challenging rapids.
A group of high school seniors from New Jersey didn't mind that it rained the entire day for their senior class trip to the Jim Thorpe area. The group was actually glad because the more the rain, the better the rapids.
"It was a lot of fun. The water current was really flowing, the rapids, there were a lot of rapids down there," said David Levine of New Jersey.
Every year, the school in New Jersey takes the senior class to Pocono Whitewater for a day out on the Lehigh River. This day turned out to be a very good one for whitewater rafting.
"The more rain you have, the bigger, the stronger it gets, the pushier it gets, so when you're in your raft, you might have to anticipate your moves a little sooner, make your turns faster and paddle harder," said Sky Fogal of Pocono Whitewater
"The rapids were great, the rain definitely helped. They were good," said Brian Horn of New Jersey.
"I got thrown and I felt like I was going to go right under. I got a little cut on my knee but I'm all good," Levine said.
Those rapids are the first set of rapids Pocono Whitewater guests will experience. They're considered the introduction rapids, because there are more challenging rapids ahead. If it doesn't rain a lot, you'll notice there are rocks sticking out of those rapids. Those rocks will be exposed which means the company will be forced to cut their trips four miles shorter."
All Pocono Whitewater's river trips start in the middle of the Lehigh Gorge State Park, but if the water levels are low, the trips start farther down the river.
There is a 12 mile section and an eight mile section
"You choose your own adventure as you go down. We provide our own guides who shepherd you down, help you out. If you get stuck or something," said Fogal.
This high school group didn't need too much help maneuvering through the rapids. They managed just fine on their own.