outfitting continued Rescue Gear Compact Gear—8.75 Pounds of it
An expedition kayaker’s ultimate home away from home combo at 8.75 pounds.
Big Agnes Sleep System—3 lbs. Big Agnes of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, offers the ultra-lightweight, low-bulk combo of the Horse Thief 35- farenheit sleeping bag and the Air Core Pad. The bag is insulated on the top and sides with 775 goose down. Into a sewn sleeve in the bottom you slide the inflat- able Air Core Pad. With the optional compression bag the Horse Thief shrinks to Nerf football size. The Air Core packs slightly larger than a 1-litre bottle. The two can also be
stuffed together, totalling a svelte three pounds. $219.00 US for the Horse Thief, $60.00 US for the Air Core Pad.
www.bigagnes.com.
Outdoor Research Standard Bivy Sack—1.25 lbs. A Gore-Tex bivy is a must for cold, damp or buggy conditions when you can’t pack a tent. The OR Standard is the classic pole-less bivy sack with fully taped seams, waterproof rip- stop Gore-Tex fabric upper and a coated nylon floor which is waterproof to 200psi and won’t crack at 40-below. Shoulder-to- shoulder zipper for ease of entry with tightly woven no-see-um bug netting. The three-dimensional foot sec- tion creates higher volume allowing your sleeping bag to attain full loft around the toes. $239.00 US.
www.outdoorresearch.com.
Big Agnes Sleep System
Serratus Guide’s Tarp
Outdoor Research Standard Bivy Sack
Serratus Guide's Tarp—2.5 lbs. Light and versatile, the Serratus Guide’s Tarp rectangular sleeping shelter is made of 75-denier ripstop poly-
ester. Spacious for two people and okay for four plus gear (2.9mx3.9m). The side grommets are set into triangular Cordura patches which provide reinforcement and direct the lines of tension for optimal tautness. Weighs 2.5 pounds and compresses to the size of a bread loaf. $92.00 Cdn.
www.serratus.com.
Aquabound Four-Piece Shred Paddle—2 lbs. Shorter boats make four-piece spare paddles a necessity. The Aquabound Shred stows easily. Try separating and taping the pieces to the inner sides and roof of the cockpit to keep it out of the way. Blades are made of carbon-reinforced polythalamide and the shaft is carbon. Available for all whitewater models, the four-piece breakdown can be built to match the length and blade offset of your existing paddle so you’re not thrown off by a mid-trip switch. $299.00 Cdn.
www.aquabound.com.
Whether paddling for the day or on a multi- day self-supported expedition, a throwbag, wrap kit, whistle, river knife, and first aid kit are essential tools for every kayaker. As with all res- cue pre-planning efforts, you need to prepare yourself and your team for the worst-case sce- nario. Brainstorm the “what ifs” that pertain to your trip and come up with a plan, as a group, to deal with each of these potential situations. The big difference between multi-day expe- ditions and day-trip paddling is the increased consequence of any problem. Carrying a break- down paddle, for example, is absolutely neces- sary if the alternative to being able to continue paddling is a 100-kilometre hike. Note that a four-piece breakdown may be required for today's shorter kayaks.
Consider some method for patching boats while on the river. As a minimum, wrap some duct tape around the shaft of your paddle. Willie Kern carried, and ended up using, roofing mate- rial to patch a cracked kayak on his 2001 Stikine Expedition. A Leatherman and basic tools may also be invaluable. Make sure you have a multi-head screwdriver and wrench to fit every nut and bolt on your boat. And don't for- get your headlamp. Does the river require that you bring special- ized climbing gear? A wrap kit of webbing slings, prussiks, carabiners, and spectra throw- bag is an absolute minimum. Know how to build a harness out of webbing, rappel and belay, and practice basic climbing skills. Finally, consider the communication require- ments of your team. Can a cell phone be of any use? If not, a satellite phone can be rented for the duration of your expedition and is worth every penny. Consider radio communications within your party and research all useful fre- quencies for contacting outside parties.
Clothing
Obviously your clothing requirements will depend on the local climate, extended forecast, and typical water temperature. It's easier to pack for a multi-day trip in California or Costa Rica than for northern or alpine rivers. In any event, consider both paddling and camp gear, trying to combine these if possible. In colder cli- mates, a full Gore-Tex drysuit with camp clothes underneath greatly reduces the amount of cloth- ing you need to bring. For camp, a hooded down jacket provides the most warmth for the
34
www.rapidmag.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52