I just got a permit for the grand this coming January. If anyone has any advice on outfitters to rent rafts from let me know. Right now i'm planning on using Canyon RIO, but if you know of someone you like more let me know. Also, I may have slots to fill. So if you've got the itch pm me and we can talk. Cheers!
Angie

Cieba is awesome! working with the staff was a pleasure and their gear and menus were top notch.
Cieba did not miss a single thing, and i felt like if they had, they probably would have helicoptered in that extra camp chair or whatever.

all of those outfitters are really good at what they do though! have fun, winter is a pretty cool time to be down there


Edited by not-very-clever - 23 Oct 2012 at 2:28pm

are the prices comparable across the board? Also, i have some vegetarian and gluten free folks on my trip, any experience with either of those?

Canyon REO rocks. I'll PM ya enos' number.

Figure roughly $1500 per person for a 16 to 18 day trip, not including getting to Flagstaff. That would be using an outfitter such as the ones listed (also note PRO, another top notch outfitter) for boats, gear, food and shuttles from/to Flagstaff.

Although it appears that the outfitters vary in their pricing it's been my experience that the ones with the lower prices have more add-ons in the end, bringing the prices in line with the more expensive ones when it's all said and done.

Note: $1500 does not include your liquor. Although beer is great down there (and everywhere for that matter) it's kind of cold in January so you might think more along the lines of wine or whisky for the evenings.

Edited by Kyle K - 24 Oct 2012 at 11:52am

Absolutely! I just got off a 24 day trip the other day and it was only $1500 each. Amazing.

Cieba was decent for us. They sent us out with a half dead sat phone and were a little rough on one of the vehicles. The driver also threw his sunflower seeds all over the floor of my friends truck. His truck wasn't in mint condition,but come on...

You'll save a lot of cash if you do meals yourself(split amongst group) but this isn't for everyone. Saves lots of space in the boat too,cause they'll load you down. Better to be safe than sorry,obviously.

FYI...I think Enos is on the canyon right now, but he should be back in town soon.  I did the canyon this spring and we used Canyon REO for everything and it was excellent; and they do offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. I got my kayak from them as well.

Regarding rafts, I have a 14' Sotar with a frame and paddle raft setup, but after having done the canyon I don't think I'd ever bother taking it.  We saw boats of all shapes and sizes, so you can get anything down the river in just about anything.  Smaller rafts are more likely to flip in some of the rapids, but 18' rafts can flip too (we had two flips with loaded 18' boats, one in Upset and the other in 209 mile rapid). What I loved was arriving at the takeout, throwing the gear on a trailer, and saying goodbye to all of it (including the sh*tters).  For me, that was damn near priceless.

Last thing... depending on how long you intend to take, you might want more than one gear boat.  We did 18 days and for that length of time, I think you'd probably need a minimum of one gear boat per paddle raft. 

Have fun.... it's awesome trip!

Stay upwind of that boat...

Being the trip leader is a lot of work.

I'm gonna repeat a couple words of advice:

1. Do the whole shebang thing with one of the outfitters. If you have never done this trip you will have a crazy hard time organizing everything to be compliant with the very strict national park service rangers. I have planned multi week long trips before but still I wouldn't do it for a canyon trip.

2. 14 foot paddle boat is probably gonna flip multiple times and swimming and dealing in January isnt gonna always be fun.

3. Get money from your people early, like 2 months early. People are always "in" until 1100$ is due. Also collect a little more in the beginning for damage and gear lose insurance. It's easier to give money back in the end rather than request money for loses and damages after the fun.

Just call ceiba or any of the other outfitters and they will relieve all stress and then all you have to do is herd the cats and money.

Oh also gather some good boatman who have been down the canyon before and will show you the lines and help with river logistics. Having some solid boatman shouldn't be overlooked. The whitewater is big and humbles even the best boatman or boat woman. If you have a couple veterans willing to take the lead and show lines then a couple strong headed and willing rookies can learn. But oh sh*t there are some huge rapids

Kayaking the big rapids is sweet but there's a lot of flat water in to wind and the boatman will welcome the help rowing for sure!

Edited by not-very-clever - 30 Oct 2012 at 8:52pm