In the winter, the days are short. Be prepared for the darkness with headlamps, spare batteries, lanterns and lighters. The colder it is, the greater the potential consequences of problems both on the river and off. Use these tips along with our Favorite Winter Camps to better plan your winter trip.
On The Water
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All boats should stay in sight of each other.
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The usual risk factors are increased when the environment is cold. Normal safety practices become incredibly important. For example: Wear your life jacket. In the winter when you’re laden with boots and heavy raingear, you’re asking for trouble if you don’t have it on and fastened.
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If you’re wearing boots, be sure you can kick them off in a swim.
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If there’s a flip or a swim the trip should stop and start a fire or camp to warm those affected. Hot food and liquids help. Simply putting on dry clothes may not be enough.
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Immediately after cold-water immersion a person may say that they do not feel cold. They will feel cold 5-15 minutes later when the cooled blood from their limbs reaches their core.
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If anyone is shivering cold, the trip should stop and remedy the situation. If a cold person STOPS shivering the situation has just gotten a lot worse. (The cessation of shivering is a sign that a person has progressed from moderate to severe hypothermia, because the normal warming mechanism of muscle contractions has stopped. At this point they will absolutely require external heat sources to restore normal body temperature.
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High float life jackets (type V) recommended for all participants riding in inflatables.
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If you see a large riverside driftwood pile on the final approach to camp, you may want to gather some wood - don’t plan on finding driftwood at your camp.
Hiking
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When hiking, carry a lighter and a headlamp in addition to the usual spare clothing, map, compass, water, food, knife, etc. Be prepared for the possibility of being caught by darkness.
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Plan for contingencies. What if the hikers don’t return in the evening? Will you go out at night to search for them? Will you wait until morning to send a search and rescue party? Be clear about the plan before a party leaves camp. Know who is going and who is not.
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Walkie Talkies can be very useful. Know the range of yours and take fresh batteries.
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People who wear glasses should be sure to take prescription clear glasses on any hikes that could return after dark. Hiking by headlamp in shades is torture.
Group Gear Needs (Rentals Available From Pro)
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Satellite phone - fewer trips in winter mean communication options are limited.
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Portable Campfire - great on cold mornings – no mess and instant gratification!
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Rain Tarp—more sheltered space during storms (The Painless Private includes two rain tarps)
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Extra propane
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Blaster: Be extremely careful when choosing a location for your blaster, setting it up, and lighting it. Blasters are unstable in sand and should be kept away from high traffic areas.
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2 lanterns (The Painless Private includes two lanterns)
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Large dry bags for spare group gear
Group Gear Needs (Customer Provides)
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One extra sleeping bag, tent, pad and other essentials per trip. This kit is to replace the loss of one person’s essentials. Pack it carefully and rig it deep; you may never have to get this out.
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A dry bag packed with extra warm clothing and snacks on every boat. Everyone contributes extra clothing layers that they don’t expect to need. Call it the “hypothermia kit”. This clothing is in addition to whatever is normally worn and this bag needs to be rigged so that you can access it should the weather turn.
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Full sized shovel
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Firewood for trips outside the driftwood gathering season - PRO does have some firewood available for $15/crate; let us know early if you would like some.
Personal Gear Needs
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Personal thermos—filled at breakfast with hot tea or soup for midday
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4-season tent, quality with heavy duty stakes
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Insulated mug with lid (the PRO kitchen includes insulated mugs to keep)
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Chair—much more important in winter
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Single burner camp stoves for lunch or emergency food warming (or rent PRO blaster)
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Gloves (2-3 pair, some waterproof, some fingerless)
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Hats (2-3 warm hat/scarf combos, headbands that pair with ball caps, etc)
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Heavy-duty raingear for on the water - and bring your regular raingear too. Check out Grundens Foulweather Gear at www.grundens.com. Drysuits and paddle jackets/pants sets are good too, we like Kokatat brand: www.kokatat.com. Rental Drysuits are also available through either Pacific River Supply or Kayak Academy
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Oversize mud boots. Wear calf high boots tucked under your rain pants to keep your feet dry. They need to be big enough that you can wear thick socks and still kick them off if you swim.
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Long johns made of synthetics or wool (no cotton!) for layerin
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Socks; bring plenty of spares
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Tent repair kit (spare pole, lines, etc)
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Personal pee container that you can use in the tent
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Extra book or two
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Head lamp with lots of spare batteries
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Deck of cards, other games
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Spare flash lights, lighters
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Hand/foot warmers
Strategic Camp Changes for Freezing Nights
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Once you’ve heated dish water, cover the chickie pails with anything you’ve got (other lids, cutting board, etc) to retain heat until time to do dishes.
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Store fruit and veggies, the water filter, and water jugs IN THE BOATS where the river will keep them from freezing.
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Empty dishwash and handwash pails at night and refill them in the morning.
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Heat water for the handwash intake buckets—so that people will wash their hands.
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Warm the water filter before use by adding warm (not hot) water to soften O-rings
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If the raft valves are frozen in the morning, pour warm water on them.
Winter Food Suggestions
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Perishables go back to the boats so they don’t freeze
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Offer hot drinks or soups at lunch
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More soup, less salad
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Plenty of hot drinks: hot chocolate, tea, coffee
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OK to bring nice chocolates; they won’t melt
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Eat more food just to keep warm
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More whiskey (hard liquor), less beer
Inclement Weather
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If it’s raining when you make camp, set up a fly under which tents can be assembled, then carried to the sites. Many hands make tent setup easier.
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Use throw ropes or bring small nylon rope for a clothes line which can be set up under a tarp. Clothes pins are also handy
Camp & Itinerary Tips
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Have at least one spare day in your itinerary, possibly two. That way if you wake to the mother of all storms descending into the canyon, you can just go back to sleep.
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Camps in east/west corridors of the canyon get more early and late light. Even if the sun isn’t shining while you’re there, the camp will be warmer because rocks hold heat.
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Camps on the north side of the river may have more light.
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Avoid camping directly in large north drainages because they act as a funnel for cold air from higher elevations at night.
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Set up two tarps, one for the kitchen area and another one for the warming/drying zone where the portable campfire will be.
Favorite Winter Camps
Camp Name | River Mile | Side of River | Above/Below Rapid | Why We Love It (December Sun) |
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