Confessions Of A Traveling Mom: What Not To Pack On A River Rafting Trip

I’m embarrassed every time a non-family member travels with me because they inevitably tease me as we’re taking off in the car or at the airport in regards to my penchant for packing heavy.

The line I’ve become accustomed to is: “You’re a family travel writer who has been all over the world. Haven’t you learned to pack light yet?” While the extra surcharge on luggage over 50 pounds the past few years has slightly helped me pack a bit lighter, the lessons learned during my eight-day river rafting trip on the Colorado River last summer have been more instrumental in helping me lighten my load.

For those embarking on a river rafting adventure or those who simply need to join me in starting a new national organization called “Over Packers Anonymous,“ the below will assist in making packing for you and your family’s white water adventure and/or “roughin’ it” trip simple, fast, easy and light-weight!

I admit it – I’m not great at following directions. For example, I prefer to create my own dinner concoctions rather than follow a recipe. Another example: I created a one-of-a-kind blog, Teentravetalk.com, which is written by teens for their peers and parents.

So last summer when I got my list of suggested items to pack from Grand Canyon Expeditions (GCEX) prior to our family river rafting adventure on the Colorado River, I once again did NOT quite follow directions. I indeed almost did regret it!

The list said to pack rain gear.

“Who needs bulky rain gear in the hot, dry Grand Canyon?” I thought. “If I don’t pack the rain gear then I’ll have more room for clothes and toiletries.”

Luckily, GCEX’s orientation meeting in Las Vegas the night prior to our early morning departure for the Colorado River stressed the importance of rain gear in keeping dry and warm from the 50 degree river water. Even more fortuitous for me and my 10-year-old son Ethan was the fact that GCEX was selling rain gear at that meeting for us renegades who did not bring it. Once we experienced the mighty Colorado River’s white water, I was VERY thankful I did end up purchasing the last-minute rain jacket and pants from GCEX.

Although I’m the last person to be sexist, boys/men generally have less to pack than girls/women. I know this for a fact since I see how I’m always able to pack Ethan’s things for weekend road trips into a shopping bag while my older daughter and I always necessitate a suitcase or over-sized duffel bag for the same trip!

So how do we females get around this inherent issue? Think, “less is more!” But how can that be?

I’ve found that the VERY few times I’ve packed lightly it actually freed me up to have more time on my trip to enjoy my surroundings and relax. The more “stuff” I have with me, the more time necessary to deal with it, be it unpacking, re-packing or simply trying to find what I need in my messy suitcase or duffel bag! This was indeed the case on our GCEX family river rafting trip – I spent a lot of time in camp trying to keep all the things organized that I had shoved into our over-packed waterproof duffel bags while others were instead relaxing.

This was my huge downfall on my river rafting trip…vanity! I took too much space in my precious waterproof duffel bag (provided by river operators) by over-packing toiletries, special face creams and make-up.

Once I got into the relaxing rhythm of river life by day and camping amidst the towering Grand Canyon by night, I realized that there was absolutely no need for these beauty care items. It’s not like I had a bathroom mirror to apply make-up and even if I did, it would have gotten washed off quickly once we were reveling in the river rapids!

Moreover, since we were roughin’ it, there were no baths or showers for the week. With only the chilly Colorado River water to quickly dunk in to bathe, only the basics were necessary: shampoo, soap, deodorant, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and towel.

Leather Teva-type sandals: These can double as water shoes on your river raft and comfortable walking shoes on short hikes from the banks of the Colorado River.
Lots of large Ziploc baggies: Great for holding dirty laundry, items you want extra protection from water and more.
Small, soft camping pillow: This can be stuffed into your waterproof sleeping bag duffel and is just what your tired head needs after your days’ adventures.
Short-sleeved shirts (purchased in sporting good stores) which wick away moisture, be it sweat or dampness from the spray of the rapids. Try not to bring clothing items that are white since you will have to wear clothes more than once during your trip.
A hat that ties or fits tightly so that it doesn’t fly away while rafting.
A large water bottle. I also brought water bottle insulators to keep our water cool longer.
Deck of cards: This provides endless hours of simple yet fun entertainment while in camp.
Camera that uses BATTERIES. There is no electricity on most river-rafting expeditions to recharge camera battery packs.
Many batteries for your camera and flash lights.
Any prescriptions or over-the-counter remedies.

Next time my kids and I go on an adventure, I plan to pack less, lighten my load and thus feel freer to let go of our usual daily reliance on “things” to make us feel comfortable.

Unlike other family vacations which may involve dinners at chic restaurants on land or sea and accommodations with fluffy white pillows, this expedition is all about connecting with the simple, natural beauty of your destination. Period.

One of my favorite activities during our family vacation was listening to the Colorado River as I sat and watched the moon peak through The Canyon’s walls. During those beautiful moments, I did not need anything from my packing list to be one with myself and Mother Nature in this pristine setting.

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