Rower Needed for Grand Canyon - URGENT

9733 Views 31 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Tom Martin, Sep 2, 2014

Wyen22

Discussion Starter · Jul 24, 2014

Hi there, we are a private Grand Canyon Trip of 7 laid back guys (age 33-45), 5 kayaks and two rafts, launching very soon - 14 August (arriving at Lake Mead on the 26th)!

We are looking for someone who wants to steer one of the rafts as participant #8!

The trip is fully outfitted and going to be great.

Let me know if you are interested in joining or know someone who is.

Cheerio and many thanks!
Henning

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

David Miller

· #2 · Jul 25, 2014

You should include some more info. Is your permit for a full size trip (16) folks or 8? Can the captain bring his own first mate? Have you arranged a for all food and boats (16 or 18 foot boats) and you just need a captain? How much will it cost? Who have you contracted with to provide shuttle and equipment? Has anyone in your group been down before? How will the duties of cooking, dishwashing, grover act be divided between members? How will you divide the costs?

If you are looking for someone to pay a full share of group expenses jump into a boat with a group of strangers and haul equipment for your group of kayakers you may have a problem but good luck!

Wyen22

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 25, 2014

David, your hints are appreciated.

This is an 8 person trip, with 2 rafts (18ft self bailers) and six kayaks.

We have contracted a reputable outfitter to provide a shuttle from/to Vegas and kit.

No one has been down the trip before but the team brings an aggregate whitewater and multiday trip experience of more than 150 years to the put-in.

All chores are split equally between team members.

More details, also re cost per PM.

richp

· #4 · Jul 25, 2014

Another Trip Planning Resource

Hi,

You may also want to post this over at https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/gc_river_trip_planning/info , which is set up for just this kind of trip recruitment.

Good luck on putting the final touches on your trip.

Rich Phillips

Randaddy

· #5 · Jul 25, 2014

Only 13 days?

David Miller

· #6 · Jul 25, 2014

Strong Back Wanted

Randaddy said:
Only 13 days?

13 days to Lake Mead rowing an 18 foot boat into the wind.

Salidaboater

· #7 · Jul 25, 2014

Randaddy said:
Only 13 days?

Wow 13 days is crazy talk.

Salidaboater

· #8 · Jul 25, 2014

just 2 rafts they are going to be LOADED especially if an outfitter did the food

Salidaboater

· #9 · Jul 25, 2014

21 miles a day, better hope for no wind and early starts and no hikes. Oh yeah no scouts either

Wyen22

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 25, 2014

Guys, many thanks for your input. Your opinion is appreciated. However, solicting information re timing was not the purpose of this thread. We are comfortable with the itinerary and if there happens to be someone out there who is, too, and would like to do the trip with what I consider to be a great crew, we would be more than happy to welcome him or her to the team.

Andy H.

· #11 · Jul 25, 2014 (Edited)

Wow. It's always amazing that folks put up offers for a GC trip and then the armchair quarterbacking starts about the trip length, how they're outfitted, and all kinds of stuff based on their assumptions of how they think the trip should go. Sure, it sounds like a fast trip for my preference but for someone out there it may be perfect, and they'll be getting on the Grand. Just maybe Hennig's trip is going minimalist ultra-light backpacker style with a no-ice trip with quick cook, easy cleanup meals suited to early launches and long days on the river. Hell, I did a 4-day Deso trip once with 5 paddlers in a 12' bucket boat and a kayaker; we ate steak and had plenty of cold beer, no one complained and we all had a great time. If they can get out of camp early in the mornings then 21 miles a day with long summer days on the river shouldn't be that tough.

But everyone's got to get their potshots in and show they're the expert.

Hennig - don't let the naysayers get you down. Either you'll find someone who wants to come on the trip, or else you'll be able to take turns among the kayakers rowing if you can't. Have a fun trip down there and make sure to put up a post on the GCPBA list. There will be lots of folks there with GC experience.

Enjoy the Grand!

-AH

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Salidaboater

· #12 · Jul 25, 2014

Andy,

You are right I apologize, tried to delete posts can't seem to

Schutzie

· #13 · Jul 25, 2014

For what it's worth, both of my Grand trips were rowing and we did them in 14 days, with 2 layover days.

Didn't feel rushed at all.

Well, except the second trip we did 4 miles the first day, 5 the second, and had to have a come to jesus meet with the members who were more interested in the "higher" aspects of the trip.

Once we got that squared away the trip proceeded smoothly.

Go for it!

I'd love to go but alas, work calls

carvedog

· #14 · Jul 25, 2014

Wyen22 said:
Guys, many thanks for your input. Your opinion is appreciated. However, solicting information re timing was not the purpose of this thread. We are comfortable with the itinerary and if there happens to be someone out there who is, too, and would like to do the trip with what I consider to be a great crew, we would be more than happy to welcome him or her to the team.

That's great I would love to join but with the way I drink I won't be able to get on the water before 10 or 11 so we need to do 18 days with a couple of layovers and I only want to stay at shady camps and the kayakers have to do all the work in camp as I will be too tired to do anything but lift my whiskey bottle.

One time a buddy and I did an October Middle Fork trip in three days just to see if we could. Surely if we averaged over 30 miles a day on a trickle 21.5 per day on the might Colorado should be manageable.

David Miller

· #15 · Jul 25, 2014

I know you don't want any more input on your itinerary but this being the Buz you're going to get it anywise.

Change you takeout to Diamond and you will have a much more enjoyable trip. Experience dictates that you have bitten off more than you can comfortably chew.

Wishing you a great trip!

semievolved

· #16 · Jul 26, 2014

more unsolicited 2 cents. i greatly prefer the pearce takeout for lots of reasons including the lack of extortion fees to the hualapais and the fact that with your car at the take out your schedule can be more flexible. other than some helicopter buzzing for a few miles, i think it's a beautiful stretch as well.

it sounds like you have good reasons for the trip length you've chosen and i agree with andy, if you don't find another rower, the kayakers can take turns hauling the gear down - probably a good experience for them anyway.

i'd love to row, row, row your boat but summer trips are just too hot for me.

have a great time!

Randaddy

· #17 · Jul 26, 2014

Andy H. said:
Wow. It's always amazing that folks put up offers for a GC trip and then the armchair quarterbacking starts about the trip length, how they're outfitted, and all kinds of stuff based on their assumptions of how they think the trip should go. Sure, it sounds like a fast trip for my preference but for someone out there it may be perfect, and they'll be getting on the Grand. Just maybe Hennig's trip is going minimalist ultra-light backpacker style with a no-ice trip with quick cook, easy cleanup meals suited to early launches and long days on the river. Hell, I did a 4-day Deso trip once with 5 paddlers in a 12' bucket boat and a kayaker; we ate steak and had plenty of cold beer, no one complained and we all had a great time. If they can get out of camp early in the mornings then 21 miles a day with long summer days on the river shouldn't be that tough.

But everyone's got to get their potshots in and show they're the expert.

Hennig - don't let the naysayers get you down. Either you'll find someone who wants to come on the trip, or else you'll be able to take turns among the kayakers rowing if you can't. Have a fun trip down there and make sure to put up a post on the GCPBA list. There will be lots of folks there with GC experience.

Enjoy the Grand!

-AH

Dude, 3 people chimed in immediately noting that the trip seemed short because it does. Call it armchair quarterbacking if you want but it was good advice from experienced boaters.

Hennig, go for longer, you'll be glad you did. Andy, join them. You seem like you need it.

2tomcat2

· #18 · Jul 26, 2014

"Do not try to satisy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people's curiousity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire."

Anatole France

semievolved

· #19 · Jul 26, 2014

yo grandaddy, if someone asks you for advice about lightbulbs do you tell them they need to rewire their house? i agree that longer is better on the grand and as hard as it is to get permits these days, it seems a waste to not stretch each trip to the max. but, that is not why he wrote into buzz. everybody's got different drivers and restraints in their life and it's just not possible for everybody to get all that time off from whatever it is they do.

if david miller, the old troll, is who i think he is, his advice based on experience consists of exactly one trip down the canyon and that was last year. i am sure he will chime in to correct me if i have the wrong guy.

richp

· #20 · Jul 26, 2014

Hi Wyen22,

I hope you understand that conversations on Mountainbuzz can have a sort of quirky, irreverent, sometimes critical aspect to them. Please don't take some of these comments badly -- they're just trying to help you get the most out of your trip.

And to those of you who are critical of their timeline, did you notice that the Wyen22 is from Germany? This close to launch -- or for other valid reasons -- they may not have the flexibility in travel time and other arrangements, to change the trip itinerary now.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

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