You don’t need a whole lot of stuff to raft the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Once you do make your choices and pack your bag, the things that you actually do take are important to your function and comfort. Most of us pack way too much every time we go. After 50 or so trips in the Grand Canyon, I’ve sort of got it down to the basics. The things I bring are essentials. I NEED my sunscreen. I NEED my lip gloss with SPF 30. I NEED my hat and sunglasses. You get the point. I can’t afford to be losing my things. There is no Cabala’s around the bend where I can pick up whatever I need. Grand Canyon Whitewater can help you with all your packing.
I’m not implying that your fellow rafters might steal your stuff. I am warning you about the ravens. Ravens in the Grand Canyon are large black birds. They are very curious and crafty pests. For a long time, they just wanted our food scraps. They would perch impatiently on nearby ledges as we ate, hoping for delectable bits to be scavenged the moment we departed.
Nowadays, they are much more brazen. The ravens have broadened their scope of desirable items. They are attracted to shiny things. Your glasses, your watch, your pills in those mylar packs. They will swoop in and carry away a small bag with “whatever” in it.
On one whitewater rafting trip…..we pulled into a beautiful campsite after a fabulous day on the water. Unloaded the boats, set up camp a little, and were relaxing before dinner. Down the way, about 50 yards, was some commotion. Ravens had lifted the flap and had gotten into my personal bag, removed my wallet (it was day one, and I hadn’t stuffed my wallet to the bottom yet). We found credit cards and my driver’s license in the sand, and they had pecked at the dollar bills trying to pull them out. They opened the zipper to my hubby’s bag and got into his things, too.
Truth. I’m not stretching this a bit. They can open zippers. They are brazen thieves. They will carry off anything they can. So be aware. Don’t make it easy for them to confiscate your stuff. You NEED it.
Grand Canyon Whitewater has tips on keeping things out of harm’s way (the ravens); call us for your Grand Canyon raft trip at 1-800-343-3121!
