Packing For Overnighters.

[moguy1973]

The problem with a hammock on a river float overnighter, if you aren't on public land such as the ONSR or state park land, you are usually tresspassing on private land to hang the hammock between some trees. Not many sandbars between the high water marks (i.e. public land) have trees on them that would be suitable for hanging a hammock between.

I've only done one overnight float, and we actually had our car parked at the halfway mark and had an outfitter take us up the first day, and drive our car down to the takeout the 2nd day so I'm enjoying reading what people take on floats, especially using kayaks. I would definitely have to downsize my tent as my current one is a 6 person tent and is way too big to fit inside the hull of my Ocean Kayak. I do have a quite small sleeping bag as well as a nice thermarest sleepmat. I'd have to get a white gas stove, as I think the propane ones take up too much room. We used MSR stoves a lot while backpacking in New Mexico when I was younger and they were very portable. As for food, I don't think I would take anything extravagant. Poptarts for breakfast, PB&J for lunch. I'd just have to think about what to take for dinner, as on our overnighter we took we drove into town to eat.

Something I definitely want to do in the coming years.

[LittleRedFisherman]

Really it just depends upon what your goals are. When I do solo overnighters in the summer, I'm wanting to spend most of my time fishing. I get up at dawn and get on the water as quickly as possible to get in the early morning fishing, then stop about mid-morning to eat a couple snack cakes for breakfast. I float and fish until an hour or so before dark, then set up camp and eat supper. By that time it's going on 9 PM, and if it's nice out and the mosquitoes aren't around I sit on the gravel bar looking at the stars for a while, and then I'm usually almost sleepy enough to hit the sack.

For other trips, however, it CAN be all about the gravel bar camping experience, in which case we plan the gravel bar spot carefully, get there plenty early, do a more elaborate meal, climb the bluff across the river to see what the view looks like, play cards, build a campfire, sit around the campfire for hours, maybe fish a little for catfish after dark...next morning cook a good breakfast, give the tents time to dry the dew off.

And cool to cold weather trips are a lot different, in that the nights are long and the days short. You have to cut way down on the length of river you're floating, and you have to have some plans for how you're going to spend the evenings from 5:30 when it gets dark until 10 or so when you MIGHT be getting sleepy.

And for me, even when I'm doing the serious fishing floats, I like my creature comforts. I want a roomy tent to retreat into after dark if the mosquitoes are out at all, not some tiny tent that gives me claustrophobia...and that is especially true if it rains. I want plenty of padding beneath me when I'm sleeping, and I've tried the hammock thing and while it's fine for an hour or two of lounging around, it is really difficult for me to actually get a full night's sleep in one.

A few other observations...

Be a little choosy about your gravel bar campsite. Ideally, you want a gravel bar that's several feet above river level, and you want it to not be an island or potential island. Sure, if you're certain the weather forecast shows no chance of rain, you can go with a lower bar or an island, but I'm always a bit nervous about it. If you do pick one that's a potential island...lower toward the back end than in the middle, make sure there isn't any standing pools back there, because they are always mosquito breeding grounds and also often have a bunch of frogs on them that will keep you up most of the night with their croaking.

Your actual tent site needs to be chosen carefully, too. DON'T put your tent on sand. It looks soft and tempting, but you'll track a ton of sand into the tent going in and out of it, and if the wind comes up in the night you'll be in a sandstorm. The ideal tent site is level and consists of small gravel, pea size to golf ball size. The closer your site is to moving water (riffles), the more the moving water keeps the air stirred up and the mosquitoes down, and most people like the white noise of riffles when they're sleeping.

If you have a choice, pick a gravel bar that will get full early morning sun. Helps to warm you up on cool mornings, and helps dry the dew off the tent and equipment quickly.

Try to avoid bars that have any kind of road or ATV track coming down onto them. It's not pleasant to be getting ready to hit the sack when a bunch of local party animals suddenly drives onto your gravel bar, or an irate landowner decides he has the right to run you off.

Great stuff Al, appreciate yours and everybodys comments. Actually looked at some Sealine bags on Ebay before ya'll mentioned those. I don't plan on going to extravagant on food, but I would like to be prepared to cook some goggleeye for supper, or if the river permits maybe catching a catfish off the bar at the camp. Guess I could make one of Chiefs brownie sandwiches he talks about...lol

5 gallon buckets with tight lids work great - will float just in case, keeps bread and chips from getting squashed, keeps clothes, radio, etc. dry, makes great coffee tables, makes a great tackle box, sleeping bag and pillow fit perfectly - I carry two, one for tackle/sweater/wet suit/bug spray/misc. and one for stuff I absolutely want to keep dry.

I had thought of this, if I had a partner that had a canoe, I have nearly an umlimited supply of 5 gallon buckets, we go though probably a 100 a year here on the farm.

[jdmidwest]

It seems like most seem to go simple on the meals, even a cold one at times. It does not take much more effort to cook a nice meal on a campfire or campstove, nor does it take much more room.

The time you spend cooking passes more of the long night from dark till bed and it fills you up and makes you sleepy. I have made everything from fried fish to redbeans in rice in a single skillet, turned around and cooked a good breakfast over the coals from the night before with bacon and eggs. You can vacuum pak a good cut of meat and freeze it, it will thaw in the cooler on a days float. Wrap a tater in foil and place it in the fire while you grill a steak. Pre cook some sausage at home and vac pak, add it to chili beans or Zatarains Red Beans and Rice mix in a skillet for a good cold night meal.

That little extra starts you off good for the next day too. Lots of good warm carbs keeps you cozy and comfy on trips like those. Cold sandwiches and poptarts are like kissing your sister, just not quite the same as the real stuff. Campground cooking is the best part of the trip.

[Gavin]

Kayaks are fun to float....but...it seems that kayakers always have a little extra that needs a place in my tandem canoe on multi-day floats...usually offer to take their cooler, and whatever. Plenty of room for it......and their beer tastes good.

[ollie]

That's why I take the hydration bag. Their not made for adult beverages, but they do work!

[hank franklin]

Love this thread.

GOOD dry bags are a must. I have several Seallines that have lasted me years.

Campfire grill. I can't believe you guys who just eat sandwiches or other cold food. It is nothing to cook a bratwurst or a steak over a small fire. Tip: Start a separate cooking fire, a few feet apart from the main campfire. Dig a little hole for the cooking fire, and keep it stoked with coals from the main fire.

Make sure you have an extra paddle.

We like to bring along a good AM radio. Listen to ballgames or country music.

Coffee pot, the percolating kind.

Dress your campsite up with some battery powered Xmas lights.

Oh yeah, DUCT TAPE. Never forget.

Regarding campsites, I scout with Google Earth ahead of time, and try to print me a topo map to take on the trip. Don't stay on a gravel bar that's marked no trespassing or has vehicle ruts all over it.

I have a big canoe so pack space is not an issue. I do bring a lot of stuff but nothing that's not necessary. I definitely try to minimize my fishing tackle, keep it simple.

Have fun!

[Chief Grey Bear]

Love this thread.

GOOD dry bags are a must. I have several Seallines that have lasted me years.

Campfire grill. I can't believe you guys who just eat sandwiches or other cold food.

Have fun!

He is going on a fishing trip, not a camping trip. He has very limited space. If he was going camping I would agree.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Guess I could make one of Chiefs brownie sandwiches he talks about...lol.

Now you're talking! LOL!!

[Mark]

Discovered this trick - put some garlic or onion on your cooler at night - coons will leave it alone.

[Greasy B]

Discovered this trick - put some garlic or onion on your cooler at night - coons will leave it alone.

Maybe that's why I haven't had problems with coons . I can't imagine not having garlic and onion in my food cooler.