We know some folks are allergic to peanuts and other nuts, and we want you to feel comfortable rafting and camping with us on this wilderness expedition. We’ll do out best to tell you what we can, and cannot, do for nut allergies on a Grand Canyon river trip — so you can do your best to prepare for your trip!
We do have procedures in place to alert the guides about your allergy, but it is important for us to know before the trip which specific things cause your reaction (ingestion, inhalation, etc.) and how severe it is (upset stomach, rash, anaphylaxis).
Above all, it is important that you take an active role in your safety while you’re on the river. Read food labels, communicate with the guides often, and give suggestions about how they can help you avoid exposure. Although we can often make modifications for guests who have allergies, we want you to understand that we cannot guarantee 100% safeguard from exposure to peanuts or other nuts while you’re at the bottom of Grand Canyon. Because we typically serve nuts and nut products, there may be trace elements of unspecified nut ingredients on our cooking equipment, in meals, and in snacks. Some of our foods may be prepared in facilities that process nuts. Or, other passengers might bring peanuts or other nuts on the trip unbeknownst to us. We also might interact with other groups who are carrying nuts.
Bottom line: it’s not possible for us to provide nut “buffer zones.”
Because of the remoteness of the Grand Canyon, we strongly encourage you to talk to a doctor and take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Please be sure to bring your required medications, including epi-pens, on the trip — even if you’ve never had an extreme reaction before. If you should happen to come into contact with your allergen on the river, it is likely you will be hours away from professional medical care. Better to be safe than sorry.
We also recommend bringing your own snacks/bread on your trip, if there is any concern about foods that may have been prepared in facilities that process nuts.
Questions? Give us a call!
