Grand Canyon Rafting Trips Can Include Hiking Intensive Excursions

The Grand Canyon is an astonishingly beautiful channel for 188 miles of the Colorado River. White water rafting the Grand Canyon offers life altering opportunities for exploration and adventure; adding hiking to your trip, for some, takes the whole experience up a notch.

The Canyon is so vast that no one can possibly see all that is there either from a river raft or from the rim. The sole access to the history and beauty of the canyon is hiking on the terrain. Many plan trips hiking the Grand Canyon after hearing about how the excursions reveal old Pueblo ruins, blooming flowers in the spring, crashing waterfalls and placid ponds and streams. Chance encounters with wildlife and ancient ruins makes this option a photographers paradise.

Grand Canyon rafting outfitters offer 12 days or longer trips that combine shooting the rapids and hiking the side trails, as well as shorter expeditions that can involve hiking in or out at various points along the way. For return trips, some expedition companies provide helicopters to transport hikers from the rim to designated pick up points. From there, fixed wing aircraft provide transport to Las Vegas or other destinations.

Since the temperatures can soar above 100 degrees during the summer, and canyon terrain is rough, rocky and shot through with almost vertical cliffs, those wishing to tackle hiking intensive white water rafting trips need to be in good physical condition. Strength and endurance training in advance of the trip is highly recommended for almost everyone. Two training techniques suggested by the experts are jumping on mini-trampolines, or rebounders, and step aerobics. It is also suggested that you add a backpack with 25 to 35 pounds of household items to approximate the load you will need to carry during long hikes in or out of the canyon.

Of course, any preexisting medical issues such as asthma or heart disease need to be checked out with a physician before any physical undertaking of this magnitude.

Although it is possible to hike the Grand Canyon during winter months with proper clothing and equipment, most hikes take place in the spring or summer months. Here are some guidelines for a healthy hike:

* Eat small amounts of food every half-hour or so.

* Stay hydrated - Drink between a half and a full quart of water every hour during the trek.

* Take frequent rest breaks in shady areas. While there, keep your legs higher than your head to refresh them.

* Douse yourself whenever you come across a stream. The resulting evaporation will help you keep your cool.

* Only walk at a pace that allows you to talk easily.

Another factor to keep in mind is that hikes in and out of the canyon are 9-10 mile trips with elevation exchanges of 6,000 - 7,000 feet. In addition, at higher elevations, the lower oxygen content in the air can contribute to hiker's fatigue and needs to be kept in mind when setting the pace.

Adding hikes to a Grand Canyon white rafting trip is demanding, but discovering what most people will never see can make it an adventure you will always remember.

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