Although hot, visitors who risk the trip can be rewarded with surprisingly mild temperatures, beautiful cloudy sunsets, evening thunderstorms and lightning shows, and the unequaled smell of the desert after a brisk rain. The ideal clothing is loose fitting, lightweight cotton. This strategy works well on the river, and there is nothing more cooling than dipping a shirt into the river and putting it back on. Shorts and T-shirts are also very common, but provide less than adequate protection from the sun and from the thorny plant life of the Chihuahuan Desert. Don't forget rain gear, and an extra insulating layer just in case you have the luck to be caught in a windy summer downpour.
Dehydration is a serious hazard in desert regions.
Visitors who are accustomed to more humid climates often fail to realize how much moisture they are breathing out. Even without heavy exertion or breaking a sweat, one can lose up to two quarts of water from simply breathing dry desert air. This moisture must be replaced. Professional guides always plan on at the minimum of one gallon per person of water per day, and often use more. This can save someone's life, maybe someone you know or love.