The foodpack is probably the most important aspect of your trip. Groups can rally in spite of rips and flips, bad weather, etc., but nothing can put a damper on a trip like running low on food. Been there done that – Bruce's first trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon was salvaged only by the generosity of the Fly B Ranch which resupplied them. When running the Grand became a reality, his mother volunteered to organize the food. Both his grandmothers and mother were excellent cooks, so a lot of thought went into their meal plan (which we still have a copy of). For a month prior to the trip, his bedroom became the food room – lined with about 50 grocery bags, each assigned to a specific meal. They ended up eating far better than several of the participants did at home. That menu plan became the basis for the commercial trips that followed a few years later and its influence can still be enjoyed today.

 

In the mid-80s it was clear that these new computers could be a big help in tallying up shopping lists and organizing menus - so, Bruce and Nancy worked with a programmer to create menu planning software. This allowed us to offer a wide variety of meals and different styles of packing food to satisfy individual preferences. The current version of that plan allows us to accommodate food allergies while also offering Ethiopian specialties for your enjoyment. The cookbook, which you receive both in an electronic format before your trip and in a binder with your foodpack, provides you with recipes for all your meals along with a pull list. You are also provided a total inventory which has been annotated with the location of each item in your pack. After your boats are loaded at Lee’s Ferry, the location of each box is noted on a boat map; so in conjunction with your cookbook you can easily locate what you need. Once you pull your first meal, it will be clear that besides a generous quantity, quality is our prime focus. Whether it’s choice meats or fruits and veggies chosen to ripen at the appropriate time – we do not/will not compromise. This is a big adventure and a well fed, healthy crew is key to its success.

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