Poach the Grand Canyon?

AlpineJunkie · 04-03-2008, 04:15 AM

Anyone ever poach the Colorado river instead of waiting a decade for a permit?

**khakis** · 04-03-2008, 07:36 AM

Chris McCandless did, seems to have worked out okay for him...

**Conundrum** · 04-03-2008, 09:00 AM

Usually it will score you a helicopter ride from what I've heard. I probably haven't heard of the successful poaches though.

AlpineJunkie · 04-03-2008, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by khakis

Chris McCandless did, seems to have worked out okay for him...

Actually he didn't. He launched in the Colorado after the Grand Canyon entrances. Hollywood just likes drama. He may still have had some sort of permit issues and problems with the rangers but it wasn't up top where all the Grand Canyon operations are.

**Parvo** · 04-03-2008, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Conundrum

Usually it will score you a helicopter ride from what I've heard.

and a lifetime ban from ever getting a permit or on a trip with someone who has one. they check everyone's ID's prior to launch.

**Storm11** · 04-03-2008, 05:29 PM

A guy from Durango (can't remember his name for the life of me) poached it in a WaveHopper about 15-20 years ago. Did it in something like 42 hours. There's a journal log of the whole thing somewhere floating around the web. If I find it I'll post it.

Good luck doing it now though.

**skibuminwyo** · 04-03-2008, 06:17 PM

Yea, I don't think it would be something to pull off. They regulate shit too much these days. But hey, helicopter ride out? Might as well try it.

AlpineJunkie · 04-04-2008, 12:34 AM

I was thinking along the lines of finding a put in right after the checkpoint or perhaps in the early early hours or late hours. I bet they put in like at 8am. There's 3 hours of sunlight before that in the summer. I bet most of the river patrol are off by 5 pm. There's 4 hours of sunlight after that. I think it might be a potentially doable operation if planned right. It's not like it's easy to patrol class 5 rapids after they are in the river system.

**RootSkier** · 04-04-2008, 07:56 AM

Genius. I recommend you go for it.

**SuperChief** · 04-04-2008, 08:00 AM

wouldn't it be safer to show up at the put-in with a 1/2 ton full of beer and piggyback on a private party permit

**Yonder_River** · 04-04-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by AlpineJunkie

I was thinking along the lines of finding a put in right after the checkpoint or perhaps in the early early hours or late hours. I bet they put in like at 8am. There's 3 hours of sunlight before that in the summer. I bet most of the river patrol are off by 5 pm. There's 4 hours of sunlight after that. I think it might be a potentially doable operation if planned right. It's not like it's easy to patrol class 5 rapids after they are in the river system.

Class V??

I second RootSkier's suggestion, you should totally go for it.

**420Powderpimp** · 04-04-2008, 10:52 AM

AlpineJunkie, it is obvious to don't know shit about the river, and probably paddleing would be my guess.

I also think you should go for it!

AlpineJunkie · 04-04-2008, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Genius. I recommend you go for it.

For someone who has me on ignore you sure do reply to a lot of my posts.

**RootSkier** · 04-04-2008, 12:44 PM

Well, there's nothing else going on in this forum yet, so it's worth it to see you be a total dipshit about something you obviously know nothing about (I guess that's par for the course, though).

Seriously, do you even kayak?

I bet you don't even ski.

AlpineJunkie · 04-04-2008, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by RootSkier

Seriously, do you even kayak?

I bet you don't even ski.

I ski. A hell of a lot better then you and anyone else on these boards as well. I never said I kayak or plan to kayak although it does look like a fun hobby.

**RootSkier** · 04-04-2008, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by AlpineJunkie

I ski. A hell of a lot better then you and anyone else on these boards as well.

12345678

**hialtitude** · 04-04-2008, 12:56 PM

This is quite an entertaining pillow fight we have going here.

**bluespark** · 04-04-2008, 07:54 PM

a friend of mine got away with it 6-7 yrs. ago. him and 2 others. something like 72+ hours. and i think that was my friends 2nd time. but he is nuts.

AlpineJunkie · 04-04-2008, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by bluespark

a friend of mine got away with it 6-7 yrs. ago. him and 2 others. something like 72+ hours. and i think that was my friends 2nd time. but he is nuts.

Next time they need to do a TR complete with numerous pictures and story and post it on the National Park Service website

**Sensisnow** · 04-04-2008, 11:23 PM

Not to get too off-topic here, but...

Although this river is under the supervision of the park service, why do they feel the need to regulate it? Is because of safety, or because of the amount of money they receive from the outfitters each year?

This board is geared towards the backcountry aspect of skiing, where the national parks are open to skiing, yet the parks don't give the same freedom towards their rivers. You need a permit to do anything anymore.

Why do you need a permit to take a kayak down a section of river?

**ski_adk** · 04-04-2008, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by SnowRider4Life

Why do you need a permit to take a kayak down a section of river?

I think the official line is conservation and impact management. It's not necessarily about the boaters, but about trying to keep the place from getting trampled.

**Sensisnow** · 04-05-2008, 12:05 AM

I can see the trash being a problem if uncontrolled, but if left unregulated, that river would be left to people willing to run it in small groups, causing little impact.

Now that is has been hyped up and marketed to anyone with enough money and patience, anyone who has such means gets to enjoy the river with little to no experience. Whereas, people that have the talents to run it solo need to apply for a pass so far in advance that they may not even be capable of making the run when their pass is available.

**rideit** · 04-05-2008, 12:12 AM

Regardless of your talent level, your shit (and garbage) has to go somewhere.
Do you carry a honeypot on your Kayak?

I doubt it.

Originally Posted by SnowRider4Life

I can see the trash being a problem if uncontrolled, but if left unregulated, that river would be left to people willing to run it in small groups, causing little impact.

Lack of regulation created a situation in the 70's where hundreds of unprepared, unskilled, and reckless people went down the river every summer, and then dozens of unregulated guide services followed suit. The Canyon became a cess-pool, basically. It was mayhem, from what I have heard. (My Aunt and Uncle have lived in Page since the early 70's...they were in the thick of it for all of this, and had their good times,too).

It would NOT be a situation of 'just a few small groups', (that is a dream) it would be all out mafia warfare, with guide services basically killing each-other for prime campsites, etc. Can you even imagine how many foriegners/gapers want to run that river, and would, if there were no regs? Do you know how many people vist the GC every year?

It wiuld be mayhem.