Raft the Grand Canyon

[omagan]

hi david
sound great to join
no American passport
will be 60 this year
but can celebrate it any time in the canyon as long as i am here
please keep me in touch with a possible winner of a permit

love
oded

[David Kent Warkentin]

Ah Oded, you'd be a gift to travel with.
You don't need an American passport to go or to apply for a permit. (I almost convinced Rina to go last year!)
And 60 is young - I'll be 58 this year and plan to guide down the canyon for at least 20 more years.
We'll see what appears permit-wise; usually once someone gets a permit they quickly fill the trip with their friends, family, extended family, coworkers, friends from high-school....

[Ursula Dobelmann]

Hello Rafters,

I just received an e-mail that I did not win.
I'll post the entire e-mail here so we all can learn and help each other understand what to do next.
I guess I need to set my preferences at the park web-site to send e-mail notifications of cancellations, if I understood this correctly?  And keep our fingers crossed.... 90 days should be plenty of time to get ready....right?
ursula

e-mail:
Thank you for submitting a lottery application for a Grand Canyon noncommercial river permit.  We regret to inform you that you were not a winner.  We wish you better luck next time.

Please be advised, the lottery fee you paid allows you to reapply for free for any other calendar year 2010 launch dates which later become available due to cancellations are re-released through follow-up lotteries.  Typically these cancellations occur around 90 days before launch, and notification emails are sent to those who indicate their interest through the email preferences section of their profiles.

If you have any questions or need other assistance, please ask.  We are happy to help.

This is in regard to your application with the name Ursula  Dobelmann Blue's Grand Canyon River Trip.

Sincerely,
Steve Sullivan 

Lottery Statistics will be posted within a day at: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/noncommercial-riv-docs.htm[/i][/i][/color][/color]

[Joanne May]

hi everyone,

the lottery website is really confusing!
i keep checking and can never really get the info....
jeez, taking cases is easier than the grand canyon web site.

i guess i need to call them directly and get the scoop, but if anyone sees my name come up, please
give a holler.

thanks!

[David Kent Warkentin]

Yes, not the clearest site.
Once you've applied for a permit they will notify you if you win it.
If you haven't heard by now, you haven't.
The odds are small (thousands of people applying and only a couple of dozen dates) and we'll just have to keep applying...
David

[Ursula Dobelmann]

Hi rafters,
I have been getting e-mails like the one below about once a month.
I assume this is what it will be like for next year also.
This means that if one of us wins next year we will need to be flexible and quick!
Ursula    

e-mail:

Launch dates are being released this week for calendar year 2009 river trips.  Applications will be accepted until noon on 5/14/09.  

The 2009 trips include standard sized launches for July 23, July 28, August 1, and August 5 plus small sized launches for June 5, June 9, July 1, July 3, July 25, July 28, August 2, August 4, August 12, and August 14.  

To keep these trips, winners of these 2009 launch dates will be required to pay deposits by noon on 5/15/09.

Please see http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/cancelled-dates.htm for more information.

Sincerely,
Steve Sullivan

[David Kent Warkentin]

It seems to me that there are probably two or three additional chances in the year for dates that are given up.
And, yes, you have to be able to find guides quickly in that situation.
But, that said the dates are often challenging - mid-winter - and most of the trips given up seem to be small ones (which I personally don't enjoy so much)

[David Kent Warkentin]

The 2011 Main Lottery is now accepting applications for calendar year 2011 noncommercial river permits.  Lottery applications will be accepted through noon on February 24th, 2010, and the lottery drawing will take place by the end of the month.  

https://npspermits.us/grandcanyon/river/login.cfm

(Be sure to apply for a STANDARD trip! Small trips are too few people to be practical)

[Ursula Dobelmann]

Hello,
I have just applied for the follow-up lottery for this summer.
The dates are:
June 27
July 12,16,18 & 27. (all dates are for this year 2010 to avoid any confusion)
Just a heads up in case I win.
Wish me luck.

[David Kent Warkentin]

I saw those dates come up - a wonderful time to go.
I already have a trip August 6th (I am excited already) so if you do win I won't be able to help this time.
David

[Ursula Dobelmann]

I realize chances are slim......however if I do win, would you, David be able to give planning advice and referral to a river guide and outfitter?
I am in no way prepared to do this on my own......... is there anyone else out there still interested?
If I win there are only a few days to decide before the $400 or so have to be paid for the permit.
So where are the river enthusiasts? Please post your interest and availability, ideas, advice.............

[David Kent Warkentin]

Sure, I can help you get it together.
In general these years it is pretty easy because everyone rents boats and equipment.  AND the same people will buy and pack all of the food.  Even with them doing all of the work it comes to about $1200 for everything for 16 days.
So all you have to do is find 5 guides and people to come.
Most of my guide friends are on this trip in August but finding people to come is never very hard.