rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 2, 2021 9:38:11 GMT -8
So I’ve put the money down and barring disasters, will be rafting the Canyon April 3-18. I need some advice from those of you who have done this. I have some sense of the air temps to expect, which is chilly at night and warm but mostly not excessively hot during the day. The temperature of the water has me more concerned—it is always cold, and will be even more so this early in the season, and then if the air temps aren’t so high...
So recommendations: —Just wear my usual loose sun shirt, or some kind of insulation underneath (and what kind would you suggest? Rashguard? My usual thermals are too heavy when wet)? —My feet worry me. I can’t wear sandals without socks (tender skin), and my feet get cold a lot, so I’m wondering about neoprene booties? —ditto hands. —thinking my “foreign legion” hat with a neck drape might be better than the usual Sunday Afternoons hat, as better adapted to keeping the reflections off my face and neck.
What else should I think about getting or changing up from my usual backpacking stuff?
Give me stuff to think about!
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jan 2, 2021 10:08:29 GMT -8
Are you participating in the rowing? If not, you'll be sitting for long periods each day. Some splashing water will keep you from overheating. I don't believe that will make you uncomfortably wet. Neoprene socks in whatever shoes will fit over them will be good, but a neoprene bootie would be fine also. Depends on what you think you'll use later. Is there a way to rent for a week? When I hiked down the Zion Narrows, we rented footwear from a shop in Springdale. Lightweight paddling gloves will keep your hands warm and dry. I'd expect the highs to be near 80º and the lows to be about 55º. link I use Phantom Ranch for river temps. Most of the river is long flat stretches where there is no danger of getting wet, and then short, adrenaline rushing rapids where a waterproof jacket can be donned well in advance of the need. You'll know when the rapids are coming up. Water temps should be near 50, and are so for much of the year as the water comes from the bottom of the reservoir upstream. Bottom of the lake water never really warms up, nor gets too cold. Essentially, I am recommending you layer up as usual, saving the truly waterproof gloves, jackets, etc,... for when the rapids are in sight. I'd wear regular socks, and make sure you have dry ones to change to once you are off the boat. Consider just taking your rain gear to put on as the splashing gets into sight. There will be advance warning.
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Post by bobcat on Jan 2, 2021 11:17:27 GMT -8
I suggest asking the rafting company for a preview of their gear list. Particularly on the neoprene booties. I have rafted a few times in Eastern U SA and we just wore tShirts, shorts and old sneakers. When I rafted in Alaska, we wore wicking base layer and conventional hiking rain gear, with sneakers. I know there are multiple places on GC rafting trips where they stop and hike. I can’t imagine wearing neoprene wet booties all day, every day. My feet would prefer to be dry and ventilated, like wool socks under sandals. Ask the rafting company what they recommend, and go from there.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Jan 2, 2021 12:00:07 GMT -8
Yay! I was on a private trip in 2017 in April. April weather can vary quite a bit, even from the start of your trip to the end, so don't get too attached to your gear/clothing list quite yet. I'm guessing commercial trips don't camp out at Lee's Ferry (?) but you could see freezing temps at night on the April 3rd end. I think Lee's Ferry is at 3K feet. You'll drop something like 1,500 feet over two weeks too, which will account for a few degrees' difference in temps. By Havasu Canyon, you'll probably be swimming. I was almost exclusively in my Teva sandals. Wore wool hiking socks with them on cold mornings. Ended up hiking in them quite a bit as well, but did wear hiking shoes for the bigger dayhikes. Almost everybody wore quick-dry shorts and either T-shirts (the kids) or long-sleeved hiking shirts (the old folk) during the day. If the mornings were cold, started with splash tops and splash pants over them and stripped down usually by mid-morning. Commercial gear lists will call for "rain gear" but if you have good breathable splash tops/bottoms, I think they're worth it. Basic paddling/hiking gloves are all you need. I had neoprene cold weather paddling gloves that I took and never wore them. Did wear my hiking sun gloves (mine have light suede palms.) Wide-brimmed hat that secures under your chin. Pretty cozy fleece top and bottom for evenings after the sun goes down. I slept in merino baselayers, 20-degree bag. I think I set up my tent once. No rain the entire trip. Take the thickest gooiest hand-lotion you can find, and take a lot of it. Norovirus is a major concern on the river so there's chlorine in everything, e.g., dishwashing water, handwashing water, drinking water. Between that and the desert conditions, you'll understand why lizards look the way they do... ETA: Oh, and make sure you take tequila for, well, Tequila Beach. (And Ibuprofen for post Tequila Beach...) Also, one of our friends is an avid photographer and he took (rented, I think) a serious expedition case for his camera equipment. He stayed up a few nights to take night sky photos. If you're interested in something like this, definitely take a tripod.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 2, 2021 17:52:18 GMT -8
I suggest asking the rafting company for a preview of their gear list. Particularly on the neoprene booties. I have rafted a few times in Eastern U SA and we just wore tShirts, shorts and old sneakers. When I rafted in Alaska, we wore wicking base layer and conventional hiking rain gear, with sneakers. I know there are multiple places on GC rafting trips where they stop and hike. I can’t imagine wearing neoprene wet booties all day, every day. My feet would prefer to be dry and ventilated, like wool socks under sandals. Ask the rafting company what they recommend, and go from there. Their list seemed to be a little all over the place to me, and it wasn’t clear what was needed for what amounts to an early season trip. My BiL thinks we could be cold, but it doesn’t actually sound all that likely; I too checked temps at Phantom Ranch. This is a “hiker’s raft trip,” and extra couple of days to allow us to hike basically every day, so I’ll have to have my hiking boots and socks available as needed. Because of my foot issues, I can’t hike in anything else. Hell, these days I’m wearing my hiking boots to walk around the block. Seems to help. For time in the raft, I like the wool socks and sandals approach. A dedicated pair for getting wet, and several clean and dry for hiking. Sounds like a spare set of longies in case of a cold day, so I can keep my jammies dry
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Post by bluefish on Jan 3, 2021 7:18:58 GMT -8
That's great!!!!! I've been to the river six times in the beginning of April, but never rafting. I saw it over ninety once, never very cold at night. I sat in the numbingly cold BA creek when it was 94 one afternoon, I imagine I'd get hypothermic swimming for very long. Watching the rafts go through Granite and Hermit rapids was exciting from shore. Having gone down the Stanislaus a bunch of times before it was dammed and a bunch of whitewater on eastern rivers, I can imagine the fun you'll have. Heck, I'm excited and you're the one that's going! I've fished at Lee's Ferry, and the trout fishing is pretty good. I also caught trout in BA Creek before they eradicated them to protect the native Flannel Mouth Suckers. This would indicate there are trout throughout the upper river, I've read some rafting trips suggest fishing in the evening, if you like to fish.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on Jan 3, 2021 8:46:25 GMT -8
I'll be lounging at Boucher Rapids April 5th till about 2:00 PM. Will wave as you go by! Looking forward to your great photo/journalist trip report.
Just finished a great biography, The Promise of the Grand Canyon, John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West by John F. Ross. For years after Powell waged a bitterly contested campaign for sustainability in the west.
The book inspired me to request information from OARS for costs and season for a commercial dory trip thru the canyon. In my trip budget for 2027.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 3, 2021 9:15:49 GMT -8
I'll be lounging at Boucher Rapids April 5th till about 2:00 PM. Will wave as you go by! Looking forward to your great photo/journalist trip report. Just finished a great biography, The Promise of the Grand Canyon, John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West by John F. Ross. For years after Powell waged a bitterly contested campaign for sustainability in the west. The book inspired me to request information from OARS for costs and season for a commercial dory trip thru the canyon. In my trip budget for 2027. Ha! I have that book on my phone (audio) right now, just started listening. I’ve read other works on Powell, but figured an update is in order. By the way, last I checked there were spaces on our trip again, with Arizona Raft Adventures. It’s a little scary to do it before vaccinations, though, which I’m sure is why a lot of people canceled.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jan 3, 2021 9:43:51 GMT -8
inspired me to request information from OARS for costs and season for a commercial dory trip thru the canyon. In my trip budget for 2027. You'll enjoy them. I rode along with an OARS trip in 2000 and they fed us very well. Took great care of us.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 3, 2021 12:16:29 GMT -8
HA! After posting this I got a much more specific gear list from the rafting company. Mostly matches well with recommendations here
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Post by trinity on Jan 4, 2021 17:14:29 GMT -8
For days on the water when it is chilly in the morning and hot during the day, I live in my Patagonia Tropic Comfort Hoody 2. It provides great sun protection, and keeps my skin cool, but also provides some warmth in the mornings. It dries quickly, and is extremely comfortable. I love this shirt. I've never been to GC, but I think it would be a great piece of clothing to have along.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 4, 2021 18:23:26 GMT -8
inspired me to request information from OARS for costs and season for a commercial dory trip thru the canyon. In my trip budget for 2027. You'll enjoy them. I rode along with an OARS trip in 2000 and they fed us very well. Took great care of us. Back when it was Grand Canyon Dories and run by Martin Litton (who flew over daily to give us water release updates and met us at the end for the tow out) I did a 21 day fall full canyon run on a test run to see if fall with its lower water levels was viable for dories. As a precaution for the shallower water they brought in aluminum dories from other rivers in place of the more easily damaged wooden ones they normally ran. A smidge disappointing sas that tad less classic but it was understandable, some days the river was a bit low until the next power release. With that much time there were a lot of well worthwhile side trips. And, yes, terrific food. www.oars.com/blog/meet-martin-litton-grand-canyon-dories-founder/One word of caution never put your camera down unless you’re heading into a rapids, amazing formations and wildlife are constantly unfolding along the banks... and the river doesn’t stop.
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