The raft that is transportation by day becomes the guides’ home by night. Actually, it is the boatmen’s home 24/7 on a raft trip, but particularly so in the evening when all the passengers have made their own beach camps.
Many guides will spend 100+ days on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon each rafting season – needless to say, the raft is their residence. Grand Canyon Whitewater guides always sleep on their rafts each night. This is beneficial because, if anything were to happen in the night, passengers always know where to find the guides. It also is easier for the guides to set up their sleep kit and have all their gear nearby. The guides also may need to be aware of the fluctuating river levels and re-position the rafts throughout the night so as to not end up beached in the morning!
Passengers have nearly free roam of the rafts by day, but the general rule of thumb is once in camp, be respectful of the guides’ home. The boatmen will set up everything you need on the beach so that there should be no need to roam about the boats while in camp, which can be dangerous once it gets dark. So, if you need something from the raft in camp… just ASK! The guides will help you out.