One Year to 8 Months Before Launch or As Soon As You Get A Launch Date!

Consider length of trip, potential group members, size of group and take-out point

Contact potential group members

Six Month Before Launch Date

Collect deposits from group members

Distribute and Collect the Food Preference Survey from confirmed group membersFood Preference Survey

Look into trip and evacuation insurance

Four Months Before Launch Date

Confirm group size and equipment needs with PRO

Fill out the Food Container Worksheet for any personal boats, boxes or coolers that your group is bringing Food Container Worksheet

Read the Menu Instructions and decide on your menu strategyMenu Instructions

Begin making travel plans and hotel reservations for the group – arriving in Flagstaff two days prior to your launch and departing one day after your take-out date.

Begin filling out the NPS Permit Application w/payment. The Permit Application is due three months prior to launch.

Finish personal packing

Two Days Before Launch Date

Arrive in Flagstaff (if your shuttle starts in Flagstaff!)

Check to make sure that your group has picture ID’s

Make arrangements with PRO to pick up dry bags and ammo cans if necessary

One Day Before Launch Date AKA The Put-In Drive Day

Pack your dry bags & ammo can

Pick up any last minute items—another case of beer, more sunscreen, a spare hat…

Dress for boat rigging - plan on getting your feet wet

Check again to make sure your group has picture IDs

Make arrangements for your return to civilization, if you haven’t already done so

Prepare for PRO to pick your group up at the pre-arranged time & place. Personal gear and/or boats get loaded on the truck, and we head for the Ferry. Personal cars can be dropped off in storage if needed.

Make lunch plans. It is about a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive to Lees Ferry. We usually stop to grab lunch to eat in the vehicles on the drive to Lees Ferry, or you can bring lunch – let us know if you are going to bring lunch, so we can let the drivers know to bring their lunch as well.

Upon arriving at Lee’s Ferry, we work together to rig the boats and most gear. The boats will be loaded for logical operation down river and, of course, rigged to flip. You will take the boats downstream a short distance to the private boaters camp.

Dinner - your PRO advisor will transport you to a local restaurant for a no host dinner (approximately $15/ person w/o drinks).

Launch Day

Get up early, eat breakfast at camp, and finish rigging the boats

The PRO Advisor will go over PRO gear and systems with the group

The NPS Ranger will check ID’s and give a one-hour orientation - usually 9am at camp

Talk over on-river procedures with your boatmen - orient any newcomers to basic river safety

Go boating!

Take-Out Day

Review the de-rig checklist with your group (a copy will also be in the Menu Plan you receive at Lees Ferry)De-Rig Checklist

Arrive at the take-out with plenty of time to de-rig before PRO is scheduled to meet you – 1 hour minimum

Separate out the foods you wish to take home with you (before the truck arrives)

Help Load the truck - gear will be loaded the opposite that it came out for the rig; coolers and boxes will be loaded first, then frames, boats and personal gear will be loaded last (so that it can come off first) ; eat the fresh lunch provided by PRO, and hit the road

Let your shuttle driver know of any equipment repairs that need to be made to gear

Prepare for civilization!

After The Trip

Shortly after you get home, PRO will contact you with your current balance due or refund. Satellite phone charges may take up to 6 weeks to finalize.

Return the PRO Trip Evaluation. Your feedback keeps us improving. (Thanks!)Trip Evaluation

Two Months Before Launch Date

Inventory personal river/camping gear

Finalize travel plans to Arizona

Collect final monies from group members

Turn in your Initial Menu Selections (if you haven’t already) and Menu Details FormMenu Details Form

One Month Before Launch Date

Confirm the exact name & address of trip participants on the trip participant list. Print or save a PDF copy the NPS Permit & trip participant list.

If you are supplying boxes and coolers for your foodpack - ship or deliver them to PRO.

Confirm equipment needs and shuttle arrangements - Turn in Diamond Creek Questionnaire (if you have it completed) if you are taking out at Diamond Creek Diamond Creek Questionnaire

Confirm group size, and finalize menu. No menu changes after we have ordered food.

Specify rowing set-up preferences of boatmen of PRO rigs (oarlocks, oar rites, or pins & clips)Oar Set-Ups

Print out the final PRO Menu Plan (you can bring this copy of the Menu Plan with you on your trip for a backup)

Make payment in full to PRO - due 30 days before your launch date

Confirm travel plans to Arizona

PERMITTEE PLANNER

Creepy Crawlies
in Grand Canyon

Questions to
Discuss

Tips for
Boatmen

Tides of
Grand Canyon

Tips for Cold
Weather Trips

Sunrise/Sunset
& Weather Charts

Responding to
Critical Situations

Permittee
Checklist/Timeline

Trip Planning
Resources

Eating & Drinking
in Flagstaff

Shopping in
Flagstaff

Organizing
Your Group

Itinerary
Tips & Samples

Grand Canyon
Etiquette