A five-day journey into the thought process of human cleanliness in the wilderness.

Pre Trip:
Take a long shower! It'll be the last one for a few days. Better trim your nails too! Need a shave? This is the day to do it!

Day 1:

Get on the river, that weird smell from your seat on the bus probably didn't stick to you anyways. Regret decision to get that crisp white, quick-dry shirt sometime during lunch...should have gone for that safari-khaki colored one. No big deal, hair in camp is brush-able. Teeth are always brush-able.

Day 2:

You have never been more disgusting in your entire life. Hair is completely unmanageable. (You never wanted dread-locks.) B-line for the solar-shower as soon as personal gear in stowed in tent. Dirt is in every crevice of your body. Feel better after shower. Immediately spill some of your dinner on your fresh shirt. Teeth still brush-able.

Day 3:

You took a shower yesterday, and you got splashed a bunch today and swam around in the river at camp, so you’re still pretty clean. Besides, the camp games are so fun you'd hate to miss out! You manage to find the time to brush your teeth.

Day 4:

Last night on the river! You don't even have time to think about bathing! You've become one with the canyon, and never cared so little in your life how you looked. Your pocket mirror has been forgotten at the bottom of you toiletries bag and stubble is growing all over your body. Your nails have visible dirt underneath them. But, It was such a fun day! Your teeth still get brushed before bed.

Day 5:

Re-enter society. The bus didn't smell weird at all! You see your face for the first time in days back at the hotel! You got tanner then you thought you would! You take a shower and notice copious amounts of dirt sloughing off with the clean, filtered shower water. You see your face again, you realize the tan was mostly dirt. You realize how bad the clothes smell you wore on the trip. At the post-trip dinner you laugh with everyone about how incredible it feels to be clean again.

Heck, who cares about dirt? You loved every second of it, and can't wait for the next adventure!

More Posts

A girl in a red pft sitting at the front of a whitewater raft as it's being splashed by a wave.

What to Pack in Your Day Dry Bag on the River

What to Pack in Your Day Dry Bag on the River

On almost any rafting trip, you’ll want to pack a small “carry-on” dry bag filled with things you’ll need throughout the day. But with limited space and the need to keep items protected from water, it's important to be strategic and only bring the essentials. 

Girl jumping off a rock into a swimming pool along the Rogue River in Oregon

The Importance of Embracing Discomfort

The Importance of Embracing Discomfort

Embracing discomfort and taking risks while traveling can lead to transformative experiences that profoundly impact your life. When you step outside your comfort zone and immerse yourself in unfamiliar cultures, environments, and situations, you open yourself up to incredible opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.