How to talk to a doctor about your rafting trip in Grand Canyon

We wish everyone could easily and safely come on a rafting adventure with Hatch through Grand Canyon. But the reality is that these trips take place in the unmaintained and difficult to access backcountry parts of Grand Canyon far from modern medical interventions. They also require a certain amount of physical capability. That’s why we recommend you talk to a doctor about your rafting trip if you’re a potential guest, especially if you have any physical or medical conditions that could put you at greater risk. Your health and safety are critically important.

Already made the appointment? That’s great! We have some tools for you to take with you (or share with your doctor ahead of time) to make sure you have a productive conversation. Our hope is that with the resources we provide and some health insights from your doctor, you will come away from your appointment with a realistic understanding of how challenging a trip like this will be for you. 

1. Gather and review your trip documents

The best place to find these is the Risks and Requirements page of our website. (If you’ve already booked, you can also find all the appropriate items in your Activity Manager.) Useful documents for all participants include:

• Physical Requirements Handout – This document includes minimum eligibility requirements for participation. Make sure to choose the correct one—different trip styles have different requirements.
• Risk Advisory to Healthcare Providers and Participants – This document includes general information about the environmental conditions of our trips as well as specific guidance for many common medical conditions. 
• Release of Liability – This is the waiver you will be required to sign prior to participation. It includes a detailed list of the risks and dangers inherent to our trips. You will need to be comfortable assuming these risks before joining a trip. 
• The whole trip packet for your trip style – Although it’s probably too much to give to your healthcare provider, we do recommend reviewing the full trip packet for the style of trip you’re interested in booking. It will help you understand all the facets of the trip you’re considering. (Find it on the web page for the trip you’re considering. See the full list of our trip options here.)

Additional documents (only applicable in certain circumstances):

• Sample Menu w/Dietary Info – If you have a dietary restriction or food allergy, this is an important document for you to review and understand. It explains the food-related limitations inherent in our trips and the types of dietary accommodations we are commonly able to make. 
• Bright Angel Trail Hiking Acknowledgement of Risk – If you are on an upper canyon or lower canyon trip, hiking the Bright Angel Trail between the Colorado River and the South Rim to start or end your trip is MANDATORY. You’ll be required to sign and return this document indicating that you understand the extra risks and challenges associated with this hike. 

2. Do some self-reflection

Think critically about yourself and how you will adapt to the environment of a Hatch river trip. Ask yourself questions like:

• What are your habits like? 
• How able are you to make adjustments to your routine or to roll with unexpected changes when they arise? 
• What are your feelings about being outdoors in all kinds of weather? 
• How active are you on a daily basis?
• How active are you able to be when you really put in the effort? 
• How are your knees/hips/back? 
• Do you have any conditions that might be difficult to manage away from home or that require you to have quick access to emergency medical services?

3. Ask Hatch questions

If you want a better understanding of a particular facet of our trips, feel free to call our office and chat about it. We’ll help make sure you know exactly what to expect. You may also be able to find useful information in our blog or on our FAQs page.

4. Be honest and frank when you talk to a doctor

Come armed to your healthcare appointment with a strong understanding of yourself and the conditions you’re signing up for. Talk through anything that you think could be a sticking point. If you need accommodations to make something work, get specific about what those accommodations would need to look like. 

If you talked to Hatch before your appointment and we requested a letter of clearance from a healthcare provider, make sure to discuss in detail the issue that prompted us to request that clearance. 

5. Discuss accommodations with Hatch (if you need them)

At this point, you should have a pretty good idea whether you are comfortable participating in a Hatch trip. You might decide it really isn’t the right vacation for you. Or you might be able to confidently commit knowing that you are prepared for what’s coming.

If you’re somewhere in between—maybe you are interested in participating, but would need an accommodation or two to make it happen—talk to us. We can let you know whether the specific accommodations you need are reasonable for us to make. 

If you’ve made it this far and you’re confident a Hatch trip is right for you, we’ll be thrilled to sign you up! Make sure that you also purchase a travel insurance policy to protect yourself in the event that something with your health changes OR some other event becomes an issue.