Just a Typical Day on a River Trip…

Days on the river begin at dawn or earlier. Your boatmen will use the “coffee call” as the first sign that it is time to wake up. Smells of delicious breakfast may creep into your tent luring you out and persuading you it is time to crawl out of bed. Hot breakfasts are the norm with eggs cooked to order and continental breakfast options for those who prefer lighter fare.

Hatch’s coffee station gets set up before breakfast even begins.

After breakfast it is time to pack up camp and get moving. You’ll form a “duffel line” with your fellow guests and work as a team to load the boats. It’s amazing how quickly camp can be taken down when everyone works together. (Need help? Just ask! If your physical abilities limit your capacity to lift and load, that’s no problem either.) 

Once the gear is loaded, you are welcome to hop aboard our sturdy and reliable S-Rig rafts and get ready for some thrills. After breakfast, the typical day begins with a few hours of rafting and rapids. If you are ready to get up close and personal with those waves, sit towards the front of the raft or in the “bath tub”. If you prefer a more mellow experience sit towards the back near the boatmen in the “tea room.” Either way these rapids will amaze you with their enormity and awesomeness.

Two Hatch guests having a blast traveling down river.

Trips usually stop every few hours to discover a pristine swimming destination or get a bit more active with a side canyon hike. Some of the hikes are more strenuous than others, but your thoughtful guides will make you aware of what is to come. Many of our guests’ favorite parts of the trip are the destinations at the end of some of the side hikes. After some fun in the morning, lunch will be served picnic style on a sandy beach where you can eat, relax and enjoy the sights.

After lunch, there is more exploring to do and likely some more thrilling rapids ahead. At the end of a day filled with adventure, you’ll pull into camp in the afternoon so as to provide ample time for relaxation. Form a duffel line to unload the boats, then you are off to set up your own camp. There will be demonstrations of camp setup on the first evening but you will be responsible to set up on subsequent nights. Relax and enjoy the sounds of the river, play on the beach or kick back with a good book as the guides prepare appetizers for you to munch on before dinner.

In the evenings, Hatch travelers often gather together in a circle for dinner.

The food on our river trips is excellent and well rounded. Dinner is often a highlight of the day with entrees such as fresh fish, grilled steaks or barbequed chicken breasts. Vegetarian and other options will be accommodated to the best of our ability just make sure to discuss it with our office staff when making your reservation. Leave room for dessert, though, because our Dutch oven cakes and brownies will blow you away.

After dinner it’s off to your camp where our comfortable sleep kit—ground cloth, camp cot, sleeping bag, sheet, and pillow—awaits. Get a good night’s sleep. There are more thrills tomorrow and daybreak comes early!