The Combo Pack

This is the standard food pack method for private trips in Grand Canyon.  Dry goods, condiments, and cans are packed together in boxes by camp.  A “Camp” starts at dinner and goes through lunch the next day. Refrigerated and frozen items are packed like things with like things to prevent cross contamination and because on an expedition of this length you need to pay attention to fresh food. Bread and eggs are packed in their own boxes (for protection).

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Pros

• Canned and dry goods are quickly located in the Camp Box, requiring less time to locate.

• This pack has been used by many experienced private river runners because it is easy to get a meal started (just find the right camp box and shop in coolers for the meat/produce/dairy) and allows rookies to prepare meals without assistance from boatmen.

Cons

• Uses more dry box space than the PRO Pack because the canned goods (which are waterproof) are packed in dry boxes.

 

The PRO Pack

This is the original pack method used for packing efficiency.  Similar items are packed together much like your pantry.  Cans are in crates, condiments are in one box, breakfast supplies in another.  Coolers are split into meat/frozen, dairy, and produce.  Crates and veggie bags are used for some durable fruits and vegetables.

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Pros

• Makes efficient use of limited storage space by packing similar items together, for example – all the pasta is together, and all the cookies are together, canned goods are packed in crates (labeled with permanent ink markers) so they don’t take up valuable drybox space.

• Ability to utilize fresh foods as they ripen and respond to changes in the weather or your schedule – meals can be easily rescheduled.

• Less expensive to pack.

Cons

• Someone must locate and pull supplies for each meal.  Supplies must also be put back where they came from in order to be found when they are needed next

• It takes more time for group members to identify whose raft has what, so “shopping” takes time and initially, participation of the boatmen.

• Secure hatch space is needed for crates of cans (PRO Rigs have drop bags with covered hatches, but your boat may not).