What to Bring:
Being Prepared:
Being prepared with the right gear will make your trip much more enjoyable. We cannot predict the weather and everyone, (especially children), should come prepared for both cool, rainy days and hot, dry days. It may seem odd to pack fleece for an August trip or sunblock for a May trip, but better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Space is at a premium so bringing appropriate items, (one or two fleece pullovers), not more items, (six cotton sweatshirts), is the key. The enclosed list and packing advice are designed to help you decide on and find the right gear. Please follow it closely and call if you have any questions.
Professional Tip:
Parents will want to make sure that their kids have at least two fleece tops and a waterproof rainshell. Fleece pants and a fleece hat are also recommended. Children get cold more easily, (and wet more often), than adults. Remember, if you don't bring it for them, they will use yours!
Seasonal Adjustments:
Keep in mind that this list is designed for April and August trips. Your decisions can be tempered with some discretion, but we don’t recommend leaving anything behind. If you are going before the beginning of July, you may want to increase the quantity and thickness of your fleece garments and bring rainpants; after mid-July, mid-weight fleece and a good rainshell are usually adequate.
Professional Tip:
"Fleece" is a generic term for a spun, polyester fabric developed for outdoor use. It is thick and fluffy and does not absorb water, making it ideal for insulation on a river trip. It is commonly called Polartec or Polarfleece. "Polypropylene" is a thinner, stretchier, woven variation used predominately for long underwear. Any polyester long underwear will work, heavy-weight is the most versatile.
Questions:
Please feel free to call our office 800/323-2782 or e-mail us if you have any questions. We have been on many trips, have tested a lot of gear, and we enjoy talking about what has and hasn't worked.
Where to Purchase Equipment:
Local mountaineering or sporting goods stores should have everything you need and fleece garments are now available at most department stores. Great selections of river trip gear are also available through:
REI - 800/426-4840 or rei.com
L.L. Bean - 800/341-4341 or llbean.com.
Campmor - 800/525-4784 or campmor.com
Patagonia - 800/638-6464 or patagonia.com
Cascade - 888/748-3717 or rivertraveler.com
To rent:
If you do not own or do not wish to transport camping gear, ARTA has equipment available to rent. A “Sleep Kit” consists of a 35o Polarguard Bag, a cotton liner, a self-inflating pad, and a ground cloth and is available for less than $6 per trip day. Free-standing, two-person tents are also available for less than $6 per trip day. Please reserve rental gear well in advance using your Guest Information Sheet.
What to wear:
ON HOT DAYS you will want clothing that dries quickly (nylon shorts and bathing suits) and something to shield you from the sun, (an old lightweight cotton dress shirt and surgeon's pants). Also, a brimmed hat and a bandanna are helpful for staying cool.
ON COOL DAYS you will want a thick fleece top, (pullover or jacket) and a sturdy, fully waterproof rainshell. You may also want fleece pants or polypropylene long underwear bottoms and rainpants, (or even a 3 mm farmer john wetsuit), particularly before mid-July. Cotton is worthless when wet and should not be used for on-river insulation.
ON YOUR FEET you will want shoes that stay on if you go for a swim and are comfortable for hiking. Sport sandals with heel straps (Tevas, Chacos, Keen, etc.) work well, (buckles are better than velcro). Neoprene or fleece socks will add a bit of insulation. Wetsuit booties work but can be a bit clammy after a full day. Tennis or running shoes with fleece socks work well, are inexpensive and easy to find.
IN CAMP you will want comfortable walking/hiking shoes, (lightweight boots or tennis shoes), and versatile clothing, (T-shirts, warm shirts, cotton shorts, jeans or sweats, extra fleece, etc). Cotton is o.k. for camp stuff, but because it is worthless for keeping you warm on the river, many people bring two sets of fleece - one for the river, one for camp - and have a backup in case one gets drenched.
Professional Tip:
Layering your clothing is an effective way to adjust to the daily weather changes that you will encounter. A light polypropylene layer under a heavy fleece top under a rainshell will get you going on the chilliest of mornings and allow you to shed layers as the day warms up.
Another Professional Tip:
Our girl guides say that one of the most important things to bring on a trip is a sarong. Versatile, comfortable and colorful, sarongs get used for quick clothing changes, beach throws, sun screens and dinner celebrations. Some of our boy guides bring them too and no one laughs (at least not out loud).
Packing it:
CAMP ITEMS go in a watertight dunnage bag provided by ARTA, (one per person). These are not accessible during the day. Each bag is roughly 17 inches in diameter and about 24 inches tall, (the size of a large duffel bag). We ask that you limit all of your gear to 35 pounds. Although we will show you how to close the dunnage bag so that it stays watertight even if temporarily submerged, packing your sleeping bag in a garbage bag provides extra protection. Zip-lock bags and small stuff sacks are good for keeping track of small and/or wet things inside your bag.
RIVER ITEMS will go in a watertight dry-pack provided by ARTA, (one per person). These small packs are 9 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall, perfect for rain gear, fleece, sunblock, and other things you want to keep handy during the day. For expensive cameras we recommend a 50 caliber ammunition box or a Pelican Box, which can be found at most surplus and outdoor stores. These work best when lined with foam. ARTA provides ammunition boxes on a shared basis.
EXTRA LUGGAGE If you purchased a Transportation Package for an Idaho trip, ARTA can store a minimal amount of luggage, (1 piece per person), and bring it to you at the end of the trip. Make arrangements at the pre-trip meeting.
Professional Tip:
Our dry-bags are great for keeping things dry but are somewhat awkward for packing and living out of, (they are tall and narrow with a small opening at the top). Compact sleeping bags are much more convenient, and small stuff sacks or zip-lock bags are helpful for dividing up your stuff inside the bag. Trying to put your entire duffel bag or luggage into the dry-bag never seems to work.
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