| This is about some of the basics of river camping. | | | | going to be perfect but you make it perfect or |
| The things and the skills you need to do a simple | | | | the best you can. Remember this is a water |
| river trip. | | | | sport as well as camping. You might get wet |
| Aha, you have just put in on a somewhat lazy | | | | from time to time and you have to be OK with |
| river. The canoe is all loaded up with camping gear. | | | | that. Canoes and kayaks sometimes turn over or |
| As you paddle ahead you see the mountains rising | | | | a sudden rainstorm comes up and your rain gear |
| in the distance and the abundance of rich green | | | | is in the bottom of the pack. No time to pull a |
| vegetation growing along the bank. The water is | | | | "chicken little" thing. |
| crystal clear; you could read a newspaper on the | | | | Setting up camp in the rain or a storm can be |
| bottom in 8' of water. The morning sun feels | | | | challenging, it isn't that hard just an inconvenience. |
| rejuvenating on your face. The air is as fresh as it | | | | By the numbers, first set up the campsite rain fly, |
| can be. A slight breeze puffs up the river and all | | | | next the tent under the campsite fly. Then after |
| of a sudden you see thousands of cottonwood | | | | your tent is up with the tent rain fly on, you |
| blossoms fill the air. It almost looks like snow. My | | | | move it to where you want it to be. Next, is |
| wife calls them tree fairies. I think she gets | | | | gathering firewood, and drying it out as in the |
| euphoric out on the river with all that fresh air. | | | | article on "Campfires." Next is unloading the rest |
| Actually, the blossoms or fairies are cottonwood | | | | of the gear you will need for now. Sleeping gear, |
| seeds; they have a fuzzy puff of hair like stuff | | | | cooking kit & food bag, cooler, clothes bag, and |
| around them and are lighter than a feather. | | | | chairs if you have them. Next, get that fire going |
| You see a rock sticking out of the water to your | | | | and get on dry clothes. I can't tell you how good |
| right. You pick up your fishing rod and cast. Right | | | | a cup of hot chocolate would taste at this |
| on the money just behind the rock then the | | | | moment sitting by a warm fire. |
| water explodes with a nice Smallmouth bass | | | | Hey, come on guy's this is fun. It's the adventure, |
| about a 1 ½' out of the water in the air. Now, | | | | the challenge; you made it happen, anybody that |
| after getting your heart under control, you think | | | | knows how can set up a camp on a bright sunny |
| to yourself "let the games begin." After a battle | | | | day. In the rain and blowing wind it's different, but |
| on rod and reel you unhook the bass and release | | | | that hot chocolate will never taste as good as it |
| it back into the water. | | | | did above, that's what we call "right on." While you |
| In the distance we here the roar of water, rapids | | | | don't plan on a storm they sometimes happen |
| are coming up. So you check the map and see a | | | | and you can't run from them. With good camping |
| set of class one's coming up. We put on your | | | | skills you can deal with it. What separates a good |
| PFD's and tie down all loose gear. As we approach | | | | camping trip form a bad one is how you handle |
| we make a plan for how we're going to get thru | | | | the things that go wrong. And you know, that's |
| them. We pick up our speed and head for the | | | | the trip you might remember most. Remember |
| main channel knowing at the bottom we have to | | | | that time we set up camp in the rain, or the trip |
| cut a little to the right to pick up the channel that | | | | when we left the tent poles in the truck. |
| drops into a 5' chute thru an intimidating ledge | | | | It's good to always plan a rain day on long trips, |
| across the river. As you execute your plan, you | | | | as it's hard to get an accurate weather forecast |
| can't help feel the excitement building as you | | | | that far in advance. It will rain, we just don't know |
| execute each turn. What a great feeling you have | | | | when your are going to have it until our NOAH |
| as you fly down the chute to still water knowing | | | | radio tells us. Once we were out on a 10 -15 |
| we did everything right. That's the third endorphin | | | | dayer and we had a good spot to hold over for a |
| rush in an hour. | | | | day while the rain passed. The next day our |
| Sounds nice! | | | | weather radio predicted more rain. Rather than |
| Canoe or kayak camping is a great way to camp. | | | | lose a day, we elected to pack up and paddle on. |
| It is our favorite and we spend as much as 4- 5 | | | | This is where having good rain gear helps the |
| weeks a year on rivers. We often put in for a | | | | comfort zone. We traveled 5 miles, shot 3 rapids |
| week or 10 days at a time. We plan ahead of | | | | and caught a bunch of bass that day. Late |
| time for re-supply stops, ice, sodas fresh foods (if | | | | afternoon, the rain stopped, as we neared our |
| close by), dry meals and swap out our used | | | | planned camping spot. We are often GPS guided. |
| clothes for clean. Sometimes, we leap frog our | | | | We set up and had another nice night in the |
| vehicles to an access point downriver. You lose a | | | | neighborhood. |
| little time shifting vehicles around but get gain | | | | So, now you have it, we think canoe camping is |
| clean cloths, fresh food, ice and things you forgot | | | | the greatest. We love it. |
| and left in the truck. | | | | 1. Knowing how to swim or at least be |
| We don't paddle every day. Usually, we'll make | | | | comfortable in moving or rushing water |
| camp by a rapid. The sound of them at night is | | | | 2. Experienced camping skills |
| fantastic plus the fishing is usually good. It seems | | | | 3. The right equipment |
| that a lot of wild life frequent rapids particular | | | | 4. Canoeing or kayak experience with light white |
| Otters. Rapids are entertainment too, we like | | | | water if doing any. |
| watching others come thru. Some are very | | | | 5. The right attitude. We are going to have a |
| funny, while others are very skillful. We swim in | | | | good time if it kills us. |
| the rapids when it's hot, sometimes we tow | | | | You put all that together and you got a great trip. |
| 2-stacked sit on top kayaks behind our canoe to | | | | Leave out one ingredient and you could be inviting |
| play in the rapids, fish, explore or do day trips out | | | | a disaster. Read the "Bloopers" when it's finally |
| of camp. I do a little fly fishing from time to time | | | | written, an article on every thing that has gone |
| and rapids are a prime spot. We may stay an | | | | wrong and how we handled it and hear about our |
| extra day or two, and then push on to another | | | | experiences as well as our friends, this could be |
| spot. Canoe or kayak camping is a relaxing way | | | | funny. We have no regrets, as this is our |
| to camp; we are never in a hurry. | | | | experience as to how we got to where we are |
| Before you jump off and rent a canoe or kayak | | | | today. |
| for your first trip down the river, there are some | | | | Try renting a canoe for a day trip and see you |
| things you need to know. First off, knowing how | | | | like it. While you are out there try to imagine |
| to swim or at least be very comfortable in | | | | what it would be like camping out for a night. |
| moving or rushing water. Second, having canoe or | | | | Most likely you may not have any neighbors |
| kayak skills from packing to paddling. Third, | | | | (fellow campers). |
| experienced camping skills, as these will pay off | | | | If this sounds like your cup of tea, you can |
| later. You need to see a raw site and make it | | | | contact me thru the website below and I can |
| home for a night or couple of days without | | | | hook you up with one of half dozen-affiliate |
| harming the environment. Being able to handle a | | | | outfitters along the upper Potomac River WVA or |
| rainstorm, or other adverse weather. Having the | | | | the Shenandoah River in VA & WVA. They have |
| right equipment, like dry bags instead of | | | | canoes to rent and river maps and can transport |
| backpacks. Know how to maintain a fresh water | | | | you to your put in. If you are on your own I can |
| supply and how to make a campfire with wet | | | | give you directions to or Waypoints for Put in's |
| wood. You need a little more than KOA skills. And | | | | and Takeouts. |
| lastly, having the right attitude. Not everything is | | | | |