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Traveler's Gear List: Paddling In The Parks

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Don't leave home without it. Traveler's gear list for paddling. Kurt Repanshek photo.

Paddling trips in the national parks take more than a little planning. To help ensure you cover all the bases and leave nothing necessary at home, here's Traveler's gear list for overnight paddling trips.

Camping

* Tent(s) with ground cloth and rain fly.

* Sleeping bags and sleeping pads, with repair kit for inflatable pads.

* Rainfly or mesh room (such as Kelty's Bug Blocker) for dining area.

* Cookstove, with fuel and repair kit. Some stove manufacturers prepackage repair items in a handy waterproof bag.

* Eating utensils, plate, bowl, cup. Larger cook kit and frying pan depending on your menu.

* Biodegradable dish soap and nylon scrubbing pad.

* Lantern for camp.

* Waterproof matches or butane lighter stored in plastic bag or dry bag.

* MSR Dromedary water bag or similar.

* Solar shower.

Boating

* Canoe, kayak, or raft.

* Paddles with a spare.

* Paddle leash for kayakers.

* Paddle jacket.

* Life jackets/PFD/spray skirt.

* Whistles attached to life jackets/PFDs.

* Throw rope.

* Painter (rope attached to boat's bow for tying up or towing)

* Maps/GPS unit/compass.

* Plastic map sleeve.* Dry bags for tent, sleeping bag and pad, rainfly, clothing.

* Smaller dry bags (one per person) of personal items such as wallet, car keys, camera, cellphone).

* Bailing bucket and sponge.

* Kneepad if canoeing.

Personal

* Water bottles.

* Water filter or other purification system.

* Bear spray if you're paddling in bear country.

* Bug juice.

* Headlamps and or flashlight, with extra batteries.

* Rope for hanging food from tree or bear bar if available.

* First-Aid kit with bandages, butterly closures, compresses, gauze rolls, adhesive tape, Ace bandage, triple-antibiotic ointment, safety pins, aspirin or similar, antibiotics such as Cipro, tweezers, needle, moleskin, wilderness First-aid book. You can make this easy by purchasing a prepackaged medical kit from REI, Adventure Medical, or similiar outlet.

* Towel.

* Sunglasses.

* Hat.

* Sunscreen.

* Camera.

* Binoculars

* Paperback book, deck of cards.

* Rain gear: jackets and pants.

* Footwear: One pair for wearing while on the water, another pair of lightweight hiking shoes or something similar that's comfortable for hiking short distances and/or wearing around camp.

* Clothing: A quick-dry, short-sleeve synthetic T-shirt or two for paddling in; swimsuit or shorts for paddling in; long pair of pants (preferably quick-drying), long-sleeved shirt, maybe fleece jacket or windbreaker for off the water depending on season, long-range forecast. Socks. Undies.

* Toiletries: TP, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, Chapstick, deodorant, etc. A travel-sized packet of anti-bacterial wipes, or similar, is great to have.

* Meals, including snacks while paddling, seasonings, and possibly an extra day's meals just in case.

Miscellaneous

* Trowel for digging "cat holes" if necessary.

* Emergency shelter.

* Duct tape.

* Multipurpose tool.

* Trash bag for hauling garbage out with you.

* Duffle bag of clean clothes left in car that you can change into after ending the trip.

* Camp chairs.

* Notebook with pen/pencil.

* Boating permit picked up at visitor center or park entrance station.

Comments

Fishing rod??


Don't forget the cooler for the first night's steak dinner, and bacon and eggs the following morning!


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