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Wet and wild, in America's greatest natural wonder: The Grand Canyon

White water rafting on the Colorado: Frequently-Asked Questions about Splash!

Raft down the entire 280 miles of the Grand Canyon, through a hundred rapids of the Colorado River. By day, explore the hidden side canyons and hike among rock sculptures of every color -- black, red, blue, and white. By night, sleep under a canopy of stars as the river continues its journey of the ages.

This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page.

Contents:

• When does the trip start and end?
  
• Will I get tired of being in the raft all the time?
  
• How hard is this trip? I'm not in great shape anymore - and I can't go too many hours without a bathroom break.
  
• I don't know how to swim. Is that a problem?
  
• I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
  
• On a rafting trip designated specifically for gay men or for lesbians, will our senior guide and swamper (assistant) also be gay?
  
• Is the fishing good?
  
• Will I be able to communicate with the world outside the Canyon during our rafting days, or leave the raft if I need to?
  
• A friend who did this trip told me it required a very long and strenuous hike to get out of the canyon at the end. Does it?
  
• What about seasickness?
  
• Will I have to paddle all the time?
  
• Is this risky?
  
• Is one time of year better than another, in terms of water levels?
  
• What temperatures should I expect in the Grand Canyon?
  
• What do I need to bring?
  
• Where do we sleep?
  
• What are the meals like? Can you provide for special dietary needs?
  
• Am I expected to tip the guides?
  
• Do I have time for a Las Vegas show on our first evening?
  
• Can I fly out the day before the trip ends?
  
• Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
  

When does the trip start and end?
It begins with a reception (with hors d'oevres) at our hotel at 6 pm, followed by an orientation by our outfitter and a night in the hotel. While rafting, we have seven nights in the Grand Canyon, then a night in the hotel in Las Vegas. The trip ends after breakfast on the last day, although you can leave as early as you like. Or stick around all day, for sightseeing with your new friends.

Our "9-day" trip thus consists of 8 full days and two partial days. Some companies call this a 10-day trip; we feel it's more accurate to refer to it as 9 days.

Will I get tired of being in the raft all the time?
You won't be in it all the time. A typical day will include just four or five hours of rafting. There will be sections of flat-water during which you can relax and enjoy the scenery, as well as over a hundred whitewater rapids. The rest of the time we'll be exploring the side canyons that are rarely seen by most visitors, hiking, swimming, or fishing.

How hard is this trip? I'm not in great shape anymore - and I can't go too many hours without a bathroom break.
No harder than you want it to be. The raft has a motor, so no paddling is involved.

The raft stops several times every day for lunch and hiking opportunities. Most participants will enjoy going on these hikes, which range from 10 minutes to an hour or two in length. But you can always stay by the raft and relax if you prefer.

As for bathroom breaks: We're always close to the shore, and the guides are happy to pull over if you need an extra break in between regular stops. Everyone on the raft will agree that's better than the alternative!

I don't know how to swim. Is that a problem?
No. You don't need to swim unless you want to, and everyone will be wearing a life preserver while on the boat. Lots of non-swimmers take this trip.

I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
Most of our trips draw more single travelers than couples. When couples do join us, it's usually because they're looking forward to interacting with a gay group; if they wanted a holiday by themselves, they wouldn't have signed up to travel with us. Furthermore, the activities included with our trips serve as natural ice-breakers. Within a day, you'll be traveling with friends.

You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself.

On a rafting trip designated specifically for gay men or for lesbians, will our senior guide and swamper (assistant) also be gay?
Like any other "driver", such as an airline pilot, boat captain or bus driver, our raft guides are selected for their dedication to the safety and enjoyment of their passengers. In the case of the Grand Canyon, their ability to plan and cook nutritious and interesting meals outdoors for a week is important as well. Based on these criteria, we ask for the most qualified guide available, whether or not they are gay. The swamper is an assistant who works closely with the senior guide, and the tradition in the Canyon is that the guide selects his or her own swamper. After all, they must live intimately together for a week at a time, and work closely as a team in both guiding the raft and preparing the campsite and meals. The swamper may be a guide in training, a good friend of the guide, a spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend. In any case, we have always found both the guide and swamper to be welcoming of our gay groups and a joy to travel with.

Is the fishing good?
You'll find rainbow, brook, and cutthroat trout in the Colorado River, and you'll have plenty of time to catch it. We suggest bringing a small folding rod, to facilitate storage.

Good lures to use are mepps, sinking rapalas, daredevils, flash fish, and steelies. Bring these with you, or get them in Las Vegas; there is no opportunity to pick up supplies after that point.

Will I be able to communicate with the world outside the Canyon during our rafting days, or leave the raft if I need to?
1. Emergency Communications - the river guide carries a satellite phone to make medical calls out. If there were a true medical emergency, Life Flight would be called and a basket dropped down to the raft. However, the guide's phone is not available for client use. You could rent a satellite phone if you had an urgent need to be in touch with someone back home, but it would be very expensive, and would certainly detract from the joy of being so remote.

2. Getting out of the Canyon before Lake Mead - there are two ways to get out of the canyon during the rafting, both at about the half-way point. At Phantom Ranch the trail winds down from the South Rim, crosses the river, and goes on to the Ranch. It is about a full day hike from the bridge up to the South Rim, and certainly not recommended, since you will be equipped for rafting, rather than for a long hike. The other way isn't really practical either - there is a helicopter pad downstream from Phantom Ranch, but you would have to arrange your own helicopter in and out, and it is mighty expensive. And of course the problem with both of these options is that it will take 3.5 days to get there after we start rafting, and once you pass each point, that option is gone. Therefore, there is no practical way to leave the trip mid-stream. If you have an urgent matter back home that might require your signature, you might want to talk with a professional about the use of a Limited Power of Attorney, to grant someone the power to execute documents for you while you are gone, in accordance with your instructions.

A friend who did this trip told me it required a very long and strenuous hike to get out of the canyon at the end. Does it?
Your friend traveled with a different company and just rafted half the Grand Canyon. If you start or end the trip halfway down, there's no way out of the canyon except with a long hike. We raft all the way from Lee's Ferry, Ariz. to Lake Mead, with easy access at each end.

What about seasickness?
It's virtually unknown for rafters to experience seasickness. The rapids are exciting but short, and the up-and-down motion of the raft is too brief to bother most people. Most of our trip is spent on calm water, where you can relax and enjoy the ever-changing scenery.

Will I have to paddle all the time?
Paddling is fun for a short time, but you'd get tired of it if you had to paddle four or five hours a day, every day. Our raft has a motor, to get us through the many stretches of flatwater.

Is this risky?
Thousands of people have safely rafted down the Colorado River, but a trip of this nature inevitably involves some risks. Emergency evacuations are possible, and we provide insurance to help cover the cost if such an occasion arises, but we recommend you check your own insurance policies as well, as ultimately costs of such aid are your responsibility.

Is one time of year better than another, in terms of water levels?
No, the water is dam controlled, so the rapids stay about the same year around. Sometimes in the summer when the power demand is higher in California they'll let out more, but it's not enough that you'd be likely to notice.

What temperatures should I expect in the Grand Canyon?
Typical temperatures in the Canyon, in Fahrenheit, are:

March, November: 60-70 degrees daytime, 40-50 at night

April, October: 70-85 daytime; 50-70 at night

May, September: 80-90 daytime, 60-70 at night

June to August: 90-110 daytime, 60-80 at night

While the numbers are high, the dry air, combined with opportunities for swimming or hopping under a waterfall, will help keep you comfortable.

The water is cold (55 degrees) at Lees Ferry, at the start of the canyon, because it's being released from the bottom of Lake Powell, behind the Glen Canyon Dam. It gets warmer as you travel down the canyon.

What do I need to bring?
Not much! We supply all the camping and sleeping equipment; waterproof river bags; portable toilets (with tent, for privacy); and all meals. We'll send you a suggested packing list a month or two before the trip. Please note that since the bus drives over Hoover Dam on the return to Las Vegas, security regulations require all gear to be in clear plastic bags, so don't worry about investing in a fancy duffle bag. If necessary, the outfitter will provide the plastic bags. You can also leave a suitcase at the hotel with any items you want with you but will not need in the Grand Canyon.

Where do we sleep?
The first and last nights are spent at a hotel in Las Vegas. On the river, we'll camp outside; everything you'll need is supplied. Tents are available, but except for the rare evenings when it rains most people prefer to sleep under the stars, enjoying the distant twinkle of the Milky Way as they fall asleep.

Here are some comments about the sleeping arrangements by a recent participant in this trip:

Sleeping on the ground becomes so insignificant in terms of the rest of the grandeur and adventure and camaraderie that the trip offers. For the first night in camp you get a bed-roll that becomes yours for the week. Included is a very nice sleeping bag, a blue tarpaulin for ground cover and a self-inflatable air pad, which is about an inch and a half thick.

All the campsites are on beaches, so you are generally sleeping on sand. Of course sleeping on the ground can never be as comfortable as sleeping on a bed. But the UPSIDE is that sleeping alongside a rapid provides some of the most soothing ambient noise that and best relaxation that you will ever find and the view of the stars is magnificent!

What are the meals like? Can you provide for special dietary needs?
You'll be amazed what our guides can prepare over the campfire! A typical dinner will include a meat course, fresh vegetables, salad, biscuits, soup, and dessert. Moreover, unlike most companies, we supply beer and wine with dinners, as well as fruit juice, soft drinks, and water throughout the day. (We carry several hundred pounds of ice along, just to keep everything cold!) The sublime beauty of the Grand Canyon, and friendships you form on the voyage, will undoubtedly be your best memories of this trip. But the superb food is likely to be a close second.

Many special dietary needs can be accommodated, and our pre-trip questionnaire will ask you about any such needs. If you have unusual requirements, we'll be happy to supply storage space for food that you bring along.

Am I expected to tip the guides?
If they provide good service, then yes, a gratuity at the end of the trip is customary and appreciated. It's not required, but we're confident that you'll be so impressed by the helpfulness, knowledge, and culinary skills of the guides, that you'll be eager to show your appreciation.

Do I have time for a Las Vegas show on our first evening?
Yes. Just remember you'll have to be up early in the morning!

We'll have an orientation at 8:00 pm, and it shouldn't last more than an hour. So you can comfortably catch a 10:00 pm show.

Can I fly out the day before the trip ends?
Yes, if you must, but don't take a flight that's too early. While we're usually in Las Vegas by 4:30 or 5:00 p.m., on the day before the official end date of the trip, road construction and other delays can affect that. You should not book a flight that's earlier than 8:00 p.m. And if it's possible to stay for our final evening's dinner, we hope you will.

Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
We encourage you to do so. Outside Magazine says that talking to people who have taken a trip previously is one of the best ways to evaluate whether it will be right for you, and we agree.

Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.

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