| So you've decided to organize a multi-day
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| | radio, cell phone, sat phone, etc.).
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| river trip with some friends. You've all
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| | There should be a safety coordinator in
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| decided what stretch of river you'll be
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| | the group as well. This person will work
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| doing. So what's next? The key to any
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| | with the gear coordinator to make sure
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| successful river trip is in the pre-trip
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| | the safety equipment is in working order
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| planning. The more you can do ahead of
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| | and that at least a couple of people in
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| time, the smoother the trip will go, and
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| | the group know how to use it. If only one
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| the more time you will have in camp to
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| | person knows how to use rescue throw bags
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| explore or relax. After all, this is why
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| | and that person is the one needing to be
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| you are going on the trip.
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| | rescued, you're in trouble. The safety
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| There are lots of aspects to the
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| | coordinator will also develop standard
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| pre-planning. And since you are going
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| | hand or whistle signals so that you can
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| with a group of friends, not a guide
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| | communicate quickly between boats. This
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| service someone has to do the job of the
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| | really needs to be established before the
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| guide service. However, this doesn't mean
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| | trip begins, not when you're in the
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| that one person needs to be saddled with
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| | middle of the big rapids and voices are
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| the whole job. Instead use the strengths
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| | lost in the roar of the river.
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| of group and divide and conquer. Pick one
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| | And finally you'll want a camp chef. This
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| or two people with the most familiarity
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| | person is not necessarily in charge of
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| or the most experience to be your group
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| | all the cooking. Rather they are in
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| leaders. These people are then
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| | charge of planning the menu, buying food,
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| responsible for planning the trip itself.
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| | and packing it for the trip. They are
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| They are responsible for getting the
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| | also in charge of developing the sign up
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| maps, planning put ins and take outs,
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| | sheet for kitchen duties. The camp chef
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| transportation, campsites, number of
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| | will poll the group for food likes and
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| miles traveled per day, etc. They need to
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| | dislikes, food allergies and any budget
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| make sure you have all the permits
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| | concerns. Also there may be some members
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| necessary for using land along the
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| | of your group that have food to donate to
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| river's edge. The trip leaders also need
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| | the trip. Once the information is
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| to check on current river conditions,
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| | gathered the chef can plan a menu that
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| especially any rapids. It's always a good
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| | will work well on the river. The chef
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| idea to contact state and federal
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| | should come up with an estimated budget
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| agencies that manage land along the river
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| | and present it to the group before
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| corridor. They often have free maps and
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| | finalizing the menu.
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| information for the public. They'll need
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| | Packing food is really important,
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| to check wi!th any private land owners as
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| | especially in warm weather when spoilage
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| well. Local knowledge is also very
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| | is a concern. Pack one cooler for each
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| valuable. Local outfitters will have the
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| | day on the river with dinner on the
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| most current information on river
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| | bottom and breakfast on top of the
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| conditions, and will know land ownership
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| | cooler. The most perishable foods should
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| along the river.
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| | be used first, and the least perishable
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| You will need a gear coordinator. Someone
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| | foods used toward the end of a trip. Each
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| in the group needs to take charge of
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| | cooler should be labeled and sealed. Let
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| getting together a list of what gear the
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| | the group know that it is taboo to open
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| group has collectively, and make sure you
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| | any cooler before the day it is labeled
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| have everything you need without over
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| | for. This will insure that the cold stays
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| doing it! The gear coordinator needs to
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| | in as long as possible. You should pack
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| make sure there are enough boats for the
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| | lunch coolers separately. Lunch coolers
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| group size as well as personal floatation
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| | will contain 2-3 days worth of lunches as
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| devices for all. Camp equipment should
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| | well as snack foods while on the river.
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| include the camp kitchen, tents, group
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| | Also, when packing the coolers into
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| shelters etc. Some river trips require
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| | rafts, try to keep the lunch coolers
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| you to pack out all human waste, so a
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| | accessible. You don't want to have to
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| camp latrine will be part of your gear
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| | unpack the whole boat when you stop for
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| list. Safety equipment is a must and
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| | lunch.
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| should include throw bags, bow lines, and
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| | With a little pre-planning and division
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| hardware such as carabineers at a
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| | of labor you can plan a trip that you and
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| minimum. There should be a good first aid
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| | your friends will remember for a
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| kit in at least one of the boats and some
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| | lifetime. You'll be talking about the
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| sort of communication device (i.e. VHF
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| | river trip for years!
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