Hey all, beginning final preps for my GC trip launching on Nov. 30. What are some things that you wish you had brought on the GC, or are super glad you brought, or brought and wish you hadn't? I have all the required gear, and the basics covered so just the extra stuff.
what not to forget for a GC trip
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Got that! it is gonna be such a cool trip. 10 awesome folks, most of us longtime rafters making our first trip down the grand! Couple folks with trips under their belt already.
not something that fits in the urgent, or even important pile, but I really like to sock away a nice bottle of port (if you are a drinker) for late in the trip. For me, it's a great way to make a good night a little more special, and makes a perfect after dinner drink.
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You probably have this stuff covered already but just in case.
Pee bucket, regs say go to the river even at night.
Handy wipes, nothing nicer than a good wipe of the face and parts before leaving the tent. Don't put in groover even if used at the groover even if it says flushable.
Door mat, step onto it if necessary to use pee bucket and to reduces sand in tent and on feet.
Pillow or pillow case for making a good pillow.
Body lotion and treatment for cracked skin.
Callous file and foot/finger nail brush. It is a good idea to get dirt out of skin cracks each evening especially on heals.
Spare hat. Hat clip(clips to your hat and shirt collar).
Spare glasses/contacts. Spare sun glasses.
Long tent stakes and one doggie screw. Nice to find your tent in place after a big wind. I take multiple doggie screws for camp shelters.
Tear aid and aquaseal.
Socks and shore shoes. BTW, if you wear river shoes like Astrals and your feet stay wet all the time beware of foot rot(trench foot).
Qtips and some to share. Nail clippers. Dental pick/tooth picks.
Waterproof sharpie to write in guidebook.
Spare batteries.
Your own thermal mug. Coffee get cold fast in December.
Star guide for the long, long nights.
A warm seat/insulated pad for the long, long nights.
A good book for the same reason.
Something else may pop to mind.
Pee bucket, regs say go to the river even at night.
Handy wipes, nothing nicer than a good wipe of the face and parts before leaving the tent. Don't put in groover even if used at the groover even if it says flushable.
Door mat, step onto it if necessary to use pee bucket and to reduces sand in tent and on feet.
Pillow or pillow case for making a good pillow.
Body lotion and treatment for cracked skin.
Callous file and foot/finger nail brush. It is a good idea to get dirt out of skin cracks each evening especially on heals.
Spare hat. Hat clip(clips to your hat and shirt collar).
Spare glasses/contacts. Spare sun glasses.
Long tent stakes and one doggie screw. Nice to find your tent in place after a big wind. I take multiple doggie screws for camp shelters.
Tear aid and aquaseal.
Socks and shore shoes. BTW, if you wear river shoes like Astrals and your feet stay wet all the time beware of foot rot(trench foot).
Qtips and some to share. Nail clippers. Dental pick/tooth picks.
Waterproof sharpie to write in guidebook.
Spare batteries.
Your own thermal mug. Coffee get cold fast in December.
Star guide for the long, long nights.
A warm seat/insulated pad for the long, long nights.
A good book for the same reason.
Something else may pop to mind.
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Beer.
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Lip balm. 2x stash in different bags
Dental floss
Wrist brace (if you have an old injury it will act up)
Sewing kit
30 feet 1inch tubular webbing (can fix a whole lot with it, including lace in floors)
In the repair kit west systems gflex repair pack, tear aid a and b tape
extra sunglasses
extra headlamp
extra hat
Sacred takeout clothes (clean, cotton, and vacuum sealed and then ziploced) at the end of the trip pulling on clean non-grimy clothes is really nice.
Dental floss
Wrist brace (if you have an old injury it will act up)
Sewing kit
30 feet 1inch tubular webbing (can fix a whole lot with it, including lace in floors)
In the repair kit west systems gflex repair pack, tear aid a and b tape
extra sunglasses
extra headlamp
extra hat
Sacred takeout clothes (clean, cotton, and vacuum sealed and then ziploced) at the end of the trip pulling on clean non-grimy clothes is really nice.
gosh I almost forgot!
the only question is... how much is too much? the boat does need to float after all.
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319 Posts
Any shoulder season trip I always have a pair of tall boots that allow you to get into the water without getting wet for rigging etc. For a winter trip I would consider them mandatory personal gear.
https://www.xtratuf.com/collections...er/products/mens-15-in-legacy-boot-copper-tan
https://www.xtratuf.com/collections...er/products/mens-15-in-legacy-boot-copper-tan
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- Para cord and binder clips to hang wet clothes
- 10-20 new washcloths, heat in water one morning for hot body wipes
- socks and gloves to wear over lotion at night
- spare 2” hose clamp, we had an umbrella holder break and a spare clamp would’ve been tits
- personal lunch box or bag
- lots of spare locking carabiners
- we all brought our own personal 1st aid kits, just because we already know how they’re stocked and never had to dig into the outfitters supplies for minor
- narrow neck nalgenes - we used them exclusively for liquor so we knew regular mouth bottles were water and narrow neck were booze
- packed spare booze in 64 oz flasks in a 20mm ammo (you can fit 10 handles in one box!)
- “There’s This River”, short stories to share, great fireside reading
Honestly, if you have a great crew and a good outfitter, you’re set! Have so much fun!!!
- 10-20 new washcloths, heat in water one morning for hot body wipes
- socks and gloves to wear over lotion at night
- spare 2” hose clamp, we had an umbrella holder break and a spare clamp would’ve been tits
- personal lunch box or bag
- lots of spare locking carabiners
- we all brought our own personal 1st aid kits, just because we already know how they’re stocked and never had to dig into the outfitters supplies for minor
- narrow neck nalgenes - we used them exclusively for liquor so we knew regular mouth bottles were water and narrow neck were booze
- packed spare booze in 64 oz flasks in a 20mm ammo (you can fit 10 handles in one box!)
- “There’s This River”, short stories to share, great fireside reading
Honestly, if you have a great crew and a good outfitter, you’re set! Have so much fun!!!
Spare dry suite gaskets, we’ve ended up needing them on a couple of trips now. Brush up on your replacement knowledge before you go, as well.
NRS site has a great tutorial.
First time we had to replace one, we had no idea what we were doing...
I’ll second, third, fourth and fifth, the ditch boots. Most important piece of gear after dry suite, in my opinion. Uninsulated, so you can dry them out when you step in to deep at the put in!( least that’s what I usually do...)
“Day hikes from the River” by Tom Martin.
Have a great trip down there! I love winter in the Grand!
A hot tent is REALY awesome, if you can pull it off...
NRS site has a great tutorial.
First time we had to replace one, we had no idea what we were doing...
I’ll second, third, fourth and fifth, the ditch boots. Most important piece of gear after dry suite, in my opinion. Uninsulated, so you can dry them out when you step in to deep at the put in!( least that’s what I usually do...)
“Day hikes from the River” by Tom Martin.
Have a great trip down there! I love winter in the Grand!
A hot tent is REALY awesome, if you can pull it off...
BEER!
It works pretty great, I try to do half frozen in the cooler, other half in the dry box or something.
Air temps keep it nicely chilled at the start of the trip! Some good threads on this site with advice on freezing beer. I mostly just freeze my cooler solid in my driveway, it’s to damn cold where I live...
I started layering the bottom of my cooler with one row of cans, on the longer trips.gosh I almost forgot!
It works pretty great, I try to do half frozen in the cooler, other half in the dry box or something.
Air temps keep it nicely chilled at the start of the trip! Some good threads on this site with advice on freezing beer. I mostly just freeze my cooler solid in my driveway, it’s to damn cold where I live...
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