ate and federal agencies that manage land along the river corridor. They often have free maps and information for the public. They’ll need to check with any private land owners as well. Local knowledge is also very valuable. Local outfitters will have the most current information on river conditions, and wiSo you’ve decided to organize a multi-day river trip with some friends. You’ve all decided what stretch of river you’ll be doing. So what’s next? The key to any successful river trip is in the pre-trip planning. The more you can do ahead of time, the smoother the trip will go, and the more time you will have in camp to explore or relax. After all, this is why you are going on the trip.

There are lots of aspects to the pre-planning. And since you are going with a group of friends, not a guide service someone has to do the job of the guide service. However, this doesn’t mean that one person needs to be saddled with the whole job. Instead use the strengths of group and divide and conquer. Pick one or two people with the most familiarity or the most experience to be your group leaders. These people are then responsible for planning the trip itself. They are responsible for getting the maps, planning put ins and take outs, transportation, campsites, number of miles traveled per day, etc. They need to make sure you have all the permits necessary for using land along the river’s edge. The trip leaders also need to check on current river conditions, especially any rapids.

It’s always a good idea to contact state and federal agencies that manage land along the river corridor. They often have free maps and information for the public. They’ll need to check with any private land owners as well. Local knowledge is also very valuable. Local outfitters will have the most current information on river conditions, and wi

ve in camp to explore or relax. After all, this is why you are going on the trip.

There are lots of aspects to the pre-planning. And since you are going with a group of friends, not a guide service someone has to do the job of the guide service. However, this doesn’t mean that one person needs to be saddled with the whole job. Instead use the strengths of group and divide and conquer. Pick one or two people with the most familiarity or the most experience to be your group leaders. These people are then responsible for planning the trip itself. They are responsible for getting the maps, planning put ins and take outs, transportation, campsites, number of miles traveled per day, etc. They need to make sure you have all the permits necessary for using land along the river’s edge. The trip leaders also need to check on current river conditions, especially any rapids.

It’s always a good idea to contact state and federal agencies that manage land along the river corridor. They often have free maps and information for the public. They’ll need to check with any private land owners as well. Local knowledge is also very valuable. Local outfitters will have the most current information on river conditions, and wi

addled with the whole job. Instead use the strengths of group and divide and conquer. Pick one or two people with the most familiarity or the most experience to be your group leaders. These people are then responsible for planning the trip itself. They are responsible for getting the maps, planning put ins and take outs, transportation, campsites, number of miles traveled per day, etc. They need to make sure you have all the permits necessary for using land along the river’s edge. The trip leaders also need to check on current river conditions, especially any rapids.

It’s always a good idea to contact state and federal agencies that manage land along the river corridor. They often have free maps and information for the public. They’ll need to check with any private land owners as well. Local knowledge is also very valuable. Local outfitters will have the most current information on river conditions, and wi

and take outs, transportation, campsites, number of miles traveled per day, etc. They need to make sure you have all the permits necessary for using land along the river’s edge. The trip leaders also need to check on current river conditions, especially any rapids.

It’s always a good idea to contact state and federal agencies that manage land along the river corridor. They often have free maps and information for the public. They’ll need to check with any private land owners as well. Local knowledge is also very valuable. Local outfitters will have the most current information on river conditions, and wi

ate and federal agencies that manage land along the river corridor. They often have free maps and information for the public. They’ll need to check with any private land owners as well. Local knowledge is also very valuable. Local outfitters will have the most current information on river conditions, and will know land ownership along the river.

You will need a gear coordinator. Someone in the group needs to take charge of getting together a list of what gear the group has collectively, and make sure you have everything you need without over doing it! The gear coordinator needs to make sure there are enough boats for the group size as well as personal floatation devices for all. Camp equipment should include the camp kitchen, tents, group shelters etc. Some river trips require you to pack out all human waste, so a camp latrine will be part of your gear list. Safety equipment is a must and should include throw bags, bow lines, and hardware such as carabineers at a minimum. There should be a good first aid kit in at least one of the boats and some sort of communication device (i.e. VHF radio, cell phone, sat phone, etc.).

There should be a safety coordinator in the group as well. This person will work with the gear coordinator to make sure the safety equipment is in working order and that at least a couple of people in the group know how to use it. If only one person knows how to use rescue throw bags and that person is the one needing to be rescued, you’re in trouble. The safety coordinator will also deve