​How Our Permit Party Works

Among paddling adventures, not many top a multi-day river trip. But for most Western rivers, you need to win a permit in a lottery, and that’s hard—the odds might be hundreds-to-one. That’s why the Poudre Paddlers hold their annual Permit Party, where we apply in groups to raise our chances. Here’s how it works: 

1. learn about the various rivers—their attractions, their difficulty (Class 1 easy to 5 experts only) and what it’s like to paddle them. Be careful to consider how spring high-water can double the expertise needed.  Read, then do some research on YouTube and Google.  It’s a good idea early-on to open a free account with Recreation.gov ahead of time and maybe browse some rivers—the San Juan for example—to see how permitting works and check out river regulations and descriptions.  If you don’t have the required equipment, other folks will!
2. form groups--who wants to run this river or that—and generate a list. Maybe eight people aim for the Chama and ten for the San Juan, etc. If you can’t join the meeting, you can still apply and join the others in a group. A good preview of how it turned out last year can show you the river groups and how they formed.  Go to PP website, then Permits, then open last year’s spreadsheet.  This year’s will be about the same.
3.  We expect each group member to apply online—if you’re a couple, your spouse/partner also applies— before the deadline, and you each should have an account on Recreation.gov;  the usual deadline is January 31. Most applications allow you to give second and third date choices. (The application group does not have to agree on dates; choose the ones you want. Fill in the Spreadsheet with what you applied for  and when. Then wait until March or so to hear whether you scored. If you’re lucky, someone in your group scores a permit—yippee, you’re going—if the dates work for you! The group might have to take a test run on a stretch of river to check skill level.  Save your application confirmation email from rec.gov to prove you actually applied! We also put an “I” on the spreadsheet if we’re just interested in going but didn’t apply. This doesn’t guarantee you’ll go, however.
4. Maybe: If no one in the group gets a permit, most river agencies allow you to check for cancellations. Each group member might volunteer to watch for cancellations for a different week. Check the regulations to see how. 

Expectations (rules) of the Permit Party 

• A. Learn what to expect in running your rivers of choice. Make sure you know what the difficulty classes mean, one to five. Do you have the skills in your craft when it’s loaded with gear? If you overstate your skills or fitness, you can become a liability to the group. 
  
• B. Apply, and the others in your group will apply as well, before the deadline. Apply with only one group, for example not with the Poudre Paddler group and another from outside, hoping to raise your chances. That breaks the code of a permit party. 
• C. When you apply, Rec.gov will send a confirmation that you did so. Save this: It can prove that you did indeed apply. Note that spouses, etc., don’t automatically go unless they applied as well. 
• D. If you get a permit—whoopee—you let the Club know, and the others who applied for that river. They are your A list: they can expect to go on your permit if they want, and the dates work for them. That’s the basis for a permit party. Then comes the B list, the ones you might invite only if you want to—the ones who said they were interested, including family who did not apply. Again, a group might do a test paddle to check skills. 
• E. If you score a permit, the group expects you to go, so they can as well; you’re committed. Of course, in cases of illness or injury, death-in-family… Some rivers allow you to select a back-up permit holder—a good idea. 
• F. If you hold the permit, you can select another member of the group, maybe with more experience or free time, to be group leader and planner.  Give it a try…and good luck!