Salmon River:
Packing List and
Equipment Suggestions
Idaho
4 or 5
days
July - September
Class III to IV |
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You'll find a packing list
below, plus information on the following topics:
| What to wear on the
river |
| Where
to find items you'll need |
| How to pack |
| O.R.E. rental
equipment |
|
What to wear on the river and in camp
Weather in the Salmon River canyon is typically warm to hot,
and little rain falls. Still, cool wet weather can occur on any trip.
And it can be quite chilly when it’s overcast, breezy or rainy, especially
when you’re in a raft. So please pay close attention to selecting your
clothes and gear for your river adventure. Hopefully, you’ll never need most
of the cool-weather gear we recommend that you bring. But please do bring
it, just in case!
On cool or rainy days
Appropriate clothing for these conditions is clothing that
dries quickly, and keeps you warm even when the garment is wet. Modern
high-tech synthetic fabrics such as polypropylene, capilene, and polyester
fleece do both. (Wool provides warmth when wet, but does not dry quickly and
is less comfortable. Wool is often less expensive, however, especially when
purchased from Thrift or Military Surplus stores.)
Think in terms of layers of clothing for changeable and cool
weather. As conditions change, you can add or subtract layers as needed. The
first layer in cool weather should be long underwear made of synthetic
materials such as polypropylene or capilene, which provide warmth and wick
moisture away from your skin. The middle layer(s) should consist of polyester
fleece (or wool), and will provide further warmth. The outer layer consists of
a rain jacket and rain pants (ponchos are not recommended). Rain gear made of
modern waterproof, breathable fabrics such as Gore-Tex are best. But for a less
expensive option, coated nylon will work, too.
A surprisingly large percentage of heat loss occurs from our
heads. For this reason, a wool or synthetic hat will go a long way towards
keeping you warm.
Wetsuits are generally not needed on the Salmon. However,
they do make inflatable kayaking more comfortable in cool weather, and for
this reason O.R.E. provides wetsuits on a shared basis for kayakers. If you'd
like to bring your own suit, look for an 1/8" thick "farmer
john" style (which can be worn in conjunction with a sweater and
raincoat). Thicker, full-body scuba style suits are warm, but they're less
comfortable, and their bulk makes rowing and paddling more awkward and
difficult.
On hot days
Nylon shorts and bathing suits are worn, as well as a hat to
keep the sun out of your eyes. Cotton shirts may be worn to keep cool and to
ward off sunburn. If you are particularly sensitive to
the sun you may want to bring lightweight cotton clothes (such as a surgeon’s
outfit) for sun protection.
Cotton clothing is recommended for hot weather only! Wet
cotton will lower your body temperature. This is great for keeping cool during
a heat wave. But cotton provides no warmth when wet.
On your feet
For footwear while on the river we recommend nylon or canvas
tennis shoes, or sports sandals such as Tevas. For extra comfort you may want
to wear nylon or polypropylene socks as a first layer. Wetsuit boots work well
for cool weather and cold water, but they are usually unnecessary on the
Salmon. Sport sandals and shoes also work well in cool weather when combined
with thick wool socks or neoprene wetsuit socks. Sport sandals are comfortable
for rafting, and are preferred by many of our guides. But they're generally
more expensive, and do not protect your feet as well as do shoes.
In camp
You may want a change of shoes, and comfortable clothing for
lounging. This clothing may be of cotton fabric.
Where to find the items you'll need
Check with local sporting goods stores. If they cater to
outdoor sports (hiking, backpacking, etc.) rather than team sports, they
should have most of the items you need. Gear is also available through mail
order and on-line by contacting REI (800-426-4840, or
www.rei.com), L.L. Bean
(800-341-4341, or
www.llbean.com), or Northwest River Supply (800-635-5202, or
www.nrsweb.com).
Rental Equipment
O.R.E. offers camping equipment for rent to those who do not
own or do not wish to transport this gear. High quality, two to three person
Sierra Designs free-standing tents are available. Deluxe sleep kits are
also available, which consist of a Sierra Designs polarguard sleeping bag,
cotton bag liner, self-inflating full-length Paco sleep pad, and ground cloth.
Reservations and advance payment are required for O.R.E. rental gear. To place
a reservation for a tent or sleep kit please call our office at 1-800-827-1358.
Rental Gear Prices
Additional rental gear
details
| # Days on River |
Tent |
Sleep Kit |
|
| 4 |
$30 |
$30 |
|
| 5 |
$35 |
$35 |
|
| 6 |
$35 |
$35 |
(6th day free) |
How to pack
Pack your gear in a manner appropriate for your journey to
Lewiston. When we meet we will supply you with a watertight river bag, into
which you will pack your clothing. This bag is roughly 14" in diameter
and 24" tall. We’ll also provide you with a second, larger river bag
(roughly 16" in diameter and 33" tall), which you will share with
one other person. Into this second bag will go your tent, sleeping bag,
sleeping pad, and other bulky items. Items that you want to keep handy during
the day but which must stay dry (camera, binoculars, a book, etc.) go best in
a 50 caliber military surplus ammo box. O.R.E. provides these boxes on a
shared basis. If you would like your own, they are available at most surplus
and some outdoor stores, and work best when painted white or a light color and
lined with foam. (Please note: ammo boxes cannot be carried in paddle rafts or
inflatable kayaks.)
A few words about the term waterproof:
The bags and boxes we provide are watertight under most conditions, even when
temporarily submerged. However, leakage can occur, and we recommend you wrap
your sleeping bag and clothing in heavy-duty plastic garbage bags for extra
protection. We also recommend that you pack your camera, binoculars, reading
material and similar items in large zip-lock food storage bags.
Packing List
River Gear
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swimsuit, or shorts and T-shirt (avoid cotton shorts)
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tennis shoes or sport sandals
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wool or synthetic "ski" hat — for
cold/rainy days |
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wide-brimmed hat (preferably with chin-strap), or
baseball cap — for sunny days (wide-brimmed hats do a better job of keeping
the sun off, but baseball caps can be worn beneath the helmets used by
inflatable kayakers)
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1 pair socks (wool or synthetic)
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waterproof rain jacket and rain pants
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Polypropylene or Capilene long underwear tops and
bottoms (mid-weight or expedition weight)
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1 warm
sweater or jacket, polyester fleece or wool |
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water bottle or canteen
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waterproof sunscreen (SPF 15 minimum), lip balm
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sunglasses, with strap (i.e. "chums" or
"croakies") |
Extra river clothing, camp clothing
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camp shoes (or lightweight
hiking boots)
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1 pair long pants
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1-2 pair shorts
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1-2 long-sleeved shirts
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1-2 short-sleeved shirts
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socks and underwear |
Camp Gear
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compact, lightweight tent (freestanding is preferred)
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compact, medium-weight sleeping bag
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compact foam sleeping pad (Thermarest is a popular
pad), or air mattress
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small tarp (to place beneath your tent, or as a ground
cloth for sleeping under the stars)
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personal toiletries, including small towel,
biodegradable soap, dry-skin lotion, prescription medicines
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small flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries |
Optional Items
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gloves (especially if you’ll be rowing) —
bicycling, weight lifting, or gardening gloves work well
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binoculars
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camera and film
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reading material
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pen and journal or notebook
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compact fishing gear
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spare glasses, sunglasses
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small daypack, ammo box, or small dry bag
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beer or soft drinks (up to 2 six-packs per person),
wine or liquor — all in unbreakable containers. (We provide coffee, tea, and
juice; also wine with some dinners). Please note: Consumption of alcohol is
prohibited during the day — but is o.k. once we arrive in camp.
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People sensitive to the sun may want to bring
lightweight cotton clothes (such as a surgeon’s outfit) for sun protection. |
Pease do not bring: pets, guns,
valuable jewelry, cellular phones, or radios (personal "walkman" type
music players are okay).
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