Canoe
Camping |
Our suggestions . . . For what you might need (or want) on your canoe camping adventure! |
|
Canoe
Camping |
Our suggestions . . . For what you might need (or want) on your canoe camping adventure! |
|
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One of the great things about canoe camping is that you can take an amazing amount and variety of "stuff" along with you. We offer this checklist as a starting point for your planning/packing. We don't take all of these things on every trip. We tailor the gear list for each trip to suit the situation. Each heading is a clickable link to a brief comment on that category at the bottom of the page. When packing, you will want waterproof containers (e.g., river bags). The quality of the waterproof container should be based on the contents and conditions -- you don't want your sleeping gear and dry clothes pack in trash bags on a cool weather trip! We recommend the best quality gear storage system you can afford. Also, you will want to pack things away in smaller containers and together with things in a system that makes sense based on when/how you use the articles. Most importantly, try not to deviate from your regimen of where you pack things. We've lost things for years by packing them in the wrong place!
"Car Bag" -- Pack what you need to wear the first day on the river into a separate bag, so you don't have to dig into the main river bags when you are getting ready for the put-in. Also, don't forget everything you will want to have waiting for you in the car at the end of the trip, and the things you will need for the journey to and from the river. Boating Gear -- Other than the obvious, it is a good idea to have a kit containing tools that would be needed in the event of damage to the canoe. This would be particularly important with fiberglass or kevlar boats (fiberglass patching materials). Camping Gear -- We recommend the use of a fire pan if you plan to have a camp fire. It makes the fire easier to start and easier to confine. Also, there is less damage to the vegetation and soil. Finally, you can clean up the mess and leave little trace of the campfire. In most areas, you can dump the ashes in the river. Food/Cooking -- There is a huge range of possibilities here, from minimalist with little or no cooking, to gourmet river feasts. For long trips, we recommend packaged foods that generate little waste. Low levels of animal fat are also recommended (not only more healthful, this approach makes for easier clean up). All food waste and packaging (except paper that can be burned in a campfire) should be packed out. You should not count on using a campfire for cooking. Day Gear for the Canoe -- This bag (or other receptacles) should contain everything you might want to use during the day on the river. Be sure to include extra clothing articles that you might need in case of change in the weather. Do not scrimp on your rain gear -- the most serious problem you are likely to encounter is the risk of hypothermia from chilly, rainy weather. First Aid Kit -- We recommend individual first aid kits, so they can be customized for your personal needs. Be sure to think of problems that relate to your own particular health considerations; you should consult with your doctor to determine if you should have any prescription medications in your first aid supplies. Clothing -- Effective strategy for clothing is to have lots of layers so you can be comfortable in a wide range of temperatures without having to do a major clothes change. Find out what the average daily temperature extremes are for the area, and be prepared to deal with temperatures 20 degrees outside that range. Personal Gear -- Of course you will want to add to this list anything that you might enjoy having in camp, based on your particular interests, hobbies, or needs. Emergency Kit -- We can't anticipate every problem, but try to include the basic repair articles. Our spare parts inventory is based on many years of learning things the hard way. One thing that has been very useful is small brass sleeves of various diameters to repair tent poles. |
