robinrobin

Hello!
We are considering a 6-day motorized rafting trip with 12 and 14 year old girls. Anyone have experience with this type of trip, and this age? The trip we are considering does not include the hike in or out - it would start in Lees Ferry and helicopter out at Whitmore Wash. In late July/early August. I know it's hot, but from what I understand, the cool water helps. Also, is this trip worth the cost? We'd be spending almost 50% more than we usually spend on vacation - although I know it's a trip-of-a-lifetime. Still, it's expensive and I'd love to hear some thoughts on folks who have done this one.

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

WhereAreWe

Well, the average high along the river is around 105 at that time of year. Average low is upper 70s.

Water temps are around 50 year round.

Basically, when you get splashed you'll be in for a shock - that is pretty cold water. The rest of the time you'll be warm to hot, even at night. Will you be able to sleep comfortably (or at all) in temps that are going to above 80 most of the night?

Would you want to do any hikes during the day? They undoubtedly have some time planned for that.

spirobulldog

We did a 3 day GC rafting trip(total trip was 4 days and included a day at Bar 10 Ranch). Helicoptered in @ Whitmore and then floated out and were picked up by bus.
It was a good trip(actually a great trip really) and we were glad we did it. Saying that, I wouldn't rank Grand Canyon even in my Top 10 favorite parks. I think 6 days would be a huge amount. Our daughter was 13 when we went. We went in June. Water was very very cold. The canyon would be super hot in July/August. I must say spending the night in the canyon was an awesome experience, something I'll never forget. The food was actually much better than we thought it would be. I think all of the companies probably operate in a similar manner and all would be good.

One of our favorite things we've ever done was Canyoneering. This can be done in Moab/Arches or in Springdale/Zion.
I don't think July/August would be the time for those places either.
I would probably head to somewhere like Seattle/Mount Rainier/San Juan Islands for that time of year. Or Glacier National Park.

DebitNM

I would be damn sure that the kids are 100% on board with this - cannot imagine anything worse than 2 grumpy adolescent girls with no internet, phones and heat, bugs?? etc

DebitNM

oh, possible lack of showers too??

robinrobin

Thank you Spirobulldog and WhereAreWe.

Spirobulldog: I was considering the 4 day trip, but I understood that it started just after all of the major rapids. Did you encounter many rapids on your trip?

Thanks again for your helpful responses. It is appreciated.

J62

I did a full two week Grand Canyon rafting trip last May - from Lee's ferry to Diamond Point - about 230 total river miles with AZ Raft, and it was by far the best vacation I've ever had.

But this is NOT a trip I'd recommend for 12 & 14yr old girls.

Possible lack of showers? Forget that. No showers. You bathe in the frigid river. You wash clothes in the river, You pee in the river (yes, ladies too), you poop in a portable open air (not enclosed) latrine set around a corner behind some bushes or rocks. You camp each night on a hot sandy beach. Some night the hot wind blows up the canyon and you spend the night covered in fine GC sand.

In August you will get up early in the day and hike, then spend the hot part of the day on the river. There are relatively few true whitewater rapids - you don't really get drenched except for maybe one short rapids a day, and you'll quickly dry off in the desert heat. Most of the 200+ miles is relatively flat water that can become tedious & boring even when it's not over 100 degrees. I can't imagine doing this myself in August.

Everybody on the trip needs to be able to carry their own weight - schlep gear to & from the rafts, set up tents, be packed up and ready to go in the morning. There is a lot of adult conversation and adult beverage consumption on these trips.

This would be a better trip for older kids - early 20's, and at that age they'd have to be very adventuresome to handle the harsh rigors of the trip.

By far the best vacation I've ever had though. The GC is an amazing place, full of wonderful hikes and cool side canyons with waterfalls, amazing vistas, etc.

J62

The motorized trips camp in all the same places, but buzz along under engine power. They are much larger rafts, and passengers really don't get wet at all in any of the rapids since you sit much higher. You may get splashed on a few of the bigger ones, but never soaked like you will in a smaller raft.

DebitNM

Thanks J62. I was way understated in my input.

spirobulldog

For the record, we got soaked and yes there were many rapids. Everyone I talk to says that the part I did is less spectacular. I don't know, I haven't done the rest of it. What we saw was very good and rapids were big. You would feel the rapids much more in smaller vessel, no doubt. I will say, the back of the boat didn't get as wet as the front(normally).

We used Arizona River Runners. I don't know if all companies do this or not-but, we were told that the company had us all together intentionally, because we all had children about the same ages. I think there were 6 kids on the boat, all about ages 11-14.
2 of the kids were with their grandmother, who actually owns bar 10. She takes her kids down the river when the turn 12. Since she is the one that supplies all of the companies access to Whitmore Wash via her air-strip and helicopter pad, not to mention food, water, and lodging. I can imagine they probably don't charge her anything. She was a really nice woman. The kids all played football and frisbe in the evening, while waiting for dinner.

My daughter was pretty tomboyish at that age and she enjoyed the trip. The other kids seemed to enjoy it too. It would depend on your kids somewhat.

robinrobin

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful feedback. It is very much appreciated!