South Fork American Equipment List and Packing Guide

What to wear on the river:

During the summer, it is usually warm and sunny on the American so you won’t need much. You will be getting wet and the water is cold (60 degrees) so things that dry quickly work best. Proper footwear is critical and a water bottle is handy. We will have a small, communal drybag available for odds and ends. This is what you should wear:

ON THE RIVER

EVERYONE SHOULD BRING:

Whether you are on a one-day trip or two day trip, this is what you should wear during the day.

  • Sandals with heel strap (Chaco, Teva, Astral, etc.) or old running shoes. NO FLIP FLOPS OR SLIP-ONS! (Add wool or fleece socks if your feet get cold easily).
  • Swimsuit or shorts. Nylon quick-drying shorts are best – women will want to wear shorts over their swimsuits.
  • Lightweight cotton or dry-tech style synthetic shirt. Long-sleeved if you want extra sun protection; a T-shirt is fine. If you get cold easily, a lightweight fleece top is handy (we’ll pack it in the communal dry bag).
  • Hat for under helmet, (baseball style or visor works best).
  • Sunglasses with strap, (maybe not your best pair).
  • Water bottle, (an empty Gatorade bottle is fine).
  • Waterproof camera, (if you want to bring your cell phone to use as a camera, we strongly recommend getting a sturdy case such as an Otter Box or EscapeCapsule)

EARLY IN THE SEASON

EVERYONE SHOULD ALSO BRING:

If you get cold easily or if you are going in the spring, (as late as June 15th), you should bring rain gear and some extra insulation. In addition to the items listed above, you should bring:

  • Polypropylene pile or synthetic fleece pullover or jacket (“polartec”, “polarfleece”, etc. NOT COTTON)
  • Waterproof rainshell or dry-top (NOT WATER-REPELLENT)
  • Neoprene wetsuit (3 mm farmer john works best;  rent from The River Store, 530/626-3435 or Sierra Nevada Sales, 530/401-0088)
  • Fleece cap, gloves, and socks, wetsuit booties

— PRO 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 insulation on a river trip. It is commonly called Polartec or Polarfleece. Polypropylene is a thinner, stretchier, woven variation used predominately for long underwear. During the high water period our guides usually wear BOTH (a polypro layer under a fleece layer).

What to bring on 2 Day Wilderness Camp trips:

We will be camping along the river and transporting everything we need for camp with us via raft. It is a magical feeling to be self-contained, but you will need to be a little more efficient with what you bring. You should come ready for two days on the river (which means you will be in the sun and getting wet) and a night outdoors (which means you won’t have electricity). When you arrive at Camp Lotus, we will give you a waterproof bag for your overnight gear. The bags are 17″ in diameter and 22″ tall – small, but ample if you pack wisely; (think appropriate gear, not more gear). We will also have a communal “tent bag” for tents and sleeping pads that are more than 22″ long.

IN CAMP

EVERYONE ON A WILDERNESS CAMP 2 DAY TRIP SHOULD ALSO BRING:

In addition to the items listed above for on the river, everyone should also bring these things

  • Compact sleeping bag, (down or synthetic, rated to 35 degrees)
  • Closed-cell foam or self-inflating sleeping pad, (Thermarest, or air mattress)
  • Sleeping bag liner or flat bed-sheet (perfect for hot nights and will add warmth on cold nights)
  • Compact, lightweight tent, (free-standing work better) or small tarp or ground cloth.
  • Your favorite small, lightweight pillow
  • Camp clothes. 1 complete change of clothing (versatile pants and shirts, cotton is fine)
  • Camp shoes. Flip-flops or tennis shoes (you don’t need boots).
  • Small towel, soap and shampoo
  • Personal hygiene items, including medicine, dry-skin lotion, etc. Bring twice the amount needed of any essential medicine
  • Small flashlight with extra batteries, (headlamps are great)
  • Book, games, musical instruments, etc. (things you enjoy doing)

Underlined items are the choice of our professional river guides.
WE WILL PROVIDE: cups, plates, and eating utensils.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING: Valuable jewelry, bluetooth speakers, guns or irreplaceable items.

What to bring on 2 Day Camp Lotus trips:

In the evening we will be camping at Camp Lotus which has showers, flush toilets, and a little store. Camp Lotus has lots of grass and the campsites are somewhat private; you can sleep under the stars or in a tent. A flashlight or headlamp is handy. You will be camping at your vehicle, so there are no space or weight restrictions.

IN CAMP

EVERYONE ON A CAMP LOTUS 2 DAY TRIP SHOULD ALSO BRING:

In addition to the items listed above for on the river, everyone should also bring these things

  • Sleeping bag, (down or synthetic, rated to 35 degrees)
  • Closed-cell foam or self-inflating sleeping pad, (Thermarest, or air mattress)
  • Sleeping bag liner or flat bed-sheet (perfect for hot nights and will add warmth on cold nights)
  • Tent, (free-standing work better) or small tarp or ground cloth.
  • Your favorite pillow
  • Camp clothes. 1 complete change of clothing (versatile pants and shirts, cotton is fine)
  • Camp shoes. Flip-flops or tennis shoes  (you don’t need boots).
  • Small towel, soap and shampoo
  • Personal hygiene items, including medicine, dry-skin lotion, etc. Bring twice the amount needed of any essential medicine
  • Small flashlight with extra batteries, (headlamps are great)
  • Book, games, musical instruments, etc. (things you enjoy doing)

Underlined items are the choice of our professional river guides.
WE WILL PROVIDE: cups, plates, and eating utensils.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING: Valuable jewelry, radios, guns or irreplaceable items.

How to dress:

ON HOT DAYS you will want clothing that dries quickly (nylon shorts and bathing suits) and something to shield you from the sun, (a high-tech SPF long-sleeved shirt or an old lightweight cotton dress shirt and maybe even lightweight long pants or capris). Also, a brimmed hat and a bandana are helpful for staying cool.

ON COOL DAYS you will want a thick, synthetic fleece top, (pullovers are best) and a sturdy, fully waterproof rainshell. Don’t bring a cotton sweatshirt and a windbreaker; cotton is worthless when wet and won’t work for on-river insulation and you need something waterproof over your fleece.

IN CAMP you will want comfortable walking/hiking shoes, (flip flops or tennis shoes), and versatile clothing, (T-shirts, warm shirts, cotton shorts, jeans or sweats, extra fleece, etc). Cotton is fine 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.

— PRO 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.

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, Astral, etc.) work well, (buckles are better than velcro). Old running shoes work well and are easy to find. Neoprene, wool or fleece socks will add a bit of insulation under shoes or sandals. Wetsuit booties work but can be a bit clammy after a full day.

— PRO TIP —

Proper footwear will make your  trip much more enjoyable. On the river, you should wear shoes or sandals that won’t come off if you go swimming. Old running shoes are fine; outdoor sandals with a heel strap (Chacos, Tevas, etc) also work well. Wearing wool, fleece or neoprene socks (not cotton) under them will help keep your feet warm. Wetsuit booties keep your feet the warmest, but can get a bit clammy after a full day on the river. Aqua shoes are great for the water park, not so good for walking on rocks. In camp, most people wear flip flops or running shoes, not boots.

Where to find it:

Local outdoor or sporting goods stores should have everything you need and fleece garments are now available at most department and closeout stores. Great selections of river trip gear are also available on-line through:

Columbia Sportswear
REI
L.L. Bean
Northwest River Supplies
Patagonia
Cascade Outfitters

— PRO TIP —

Thrift Store

How to pack:

CAMP ITEMS will go in the watertight dry bag we will provide (one per person). These are not accessible during the day. Because space is at a premium, please try to limit all of your gear to less than 25 pounds. Although we will show you how to close the drybag 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 communal drybag that we will provide. For cell phones and expensive cameras we recommend a Pelican Box, which can be found at most outdoor stores.

— PRO 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, pillow cases 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.

Questions:

If you still have questions, please feel free to call us (209-962-7873) or e-mail us (arta@arta.org). We have been on many trips, have tested a lot of gear, and enjoy talking about what has and hasn't worked.