Fontana Multi-Night Shakedown

For the love of canoeing and camping, I organized a backcountry paddling trip designed to make someone new to multi-night paddling trips become prepared and feel confident before the trip launched. First, a tentative literary was created, then I shared a comprehensive packing list that addressed the differences between warm and cold climate packing mentality. Then the group had a few virtual calls to discuss personal goals, existing skill, experience, concerns, fears, and expectations. The packing list was discussed and group members collaborated to share gear to keep expenses down. I emphasized "must stay dry items," such as sleeping bag, dry clothes to sleep in, and how to keep wet things from making dry things become wet, especially when everything must be repacked to continue paddling down river. Each virtual call was aimed at instilling an "expedition mindset," as in, pack your gear to be 100% self-sufficient, know the route, leave a paddle plan with someone at home, and discuss with the group how shared gear benefits each person. These calls also covered pace and milage to be covered, what time to depart camp, and we created a group menu of fresh foods.

As insinuated by "shakedown," some participants came to my house for pre trip shakedown and gear selection help. Others in the group met at a lake with their boats and gear, and conducted a pre trip test paddle. Good work, guys!

Trip participants provided welcomed feedback for the next Shakedown trip. For example, next time I will share exactly how to download off line maps to track progress and will consider adding an extra night to have more time on the water Day 1. I will also spend more time on practicing how to hang a nylon rain tarp with your pin kit, throw rope, and quick release guy line knots.

The trip

The four paddlers from Tennessee were able to load all of their boats and gear onto one vehicle with a 4X6 gear trailer. They met the three Georgia paddlers in Bryson City shortly before lunch. Our first "river time hiccup" occurred when a paddler learned they had dropped their air mattress at a campground near the Nantahala take out. A very dear friend altered their plans and delivered the air mattress within an hour of discovery. Thank You Dear Friend! The unexpected delay only cost us an hour in a pretty neat town, so we actually didn't lose much at all.

We dropped off a car at the take just outside of Bryson City along the Tuckasegee River. We drove about 30 minutes along the banks of Fontana Lake to the launch, situated gear in boats while it rained. Of course, about when we were ready to launch, thunderstorms and lightening developed. Once we emerged from under hatch back lift gates, we paddled a few miles away to Campsite 72. This campsite is a small, paddle in only campsite in the Smoky Mountains National Park. After setting up camp and a rain fly, we took an evening paddle to peer around the bend. The views were extrodondary and the colors vivid.

That night we cook a fresh meal of precooked chicken sausages, homegrown pre-spiralized squash, and marinara sauce. The afternoon rain pestered us into the evening, but the temperatures were very warm. In fact, the entire group enjoyed wading and watching a few tackle a rope swing. The water was clean and clear.

The following morning, we cooked fresh eggs and made sandwiches with English Muffins, cheddar, and Canadian bacon. The meal was filling and perfectly cooked! After re loading boats for Day 2, we departed camp around 10 am and paddled upstream knowing the popular take out of the Nantahala at NOC was in that direction. Of course, there was no way to paddle that far with the time we had, but it was fun to imagine. It was difficult to cease paddling around the next bend, and the next, because the mountain views were breathtaking. Eventually, we turned and paddled toward Campsite 66, an itty bitty campsite that is also a paddle in only campsite in the National Park. Along the way, we explored inlets and waved to the few motorized boats that passed us. This was the Fourth of July weekend, but the boat traffic was very manageable and did not detract from our paddling.

When we arrived at camp after paddling 12.5 miles, we were all hot. As soon as boats were secured to the bank, everyone went for a swim to cool off and relax tired muscles. We doggie paddled to the end of the cove, tracing the sound of a cascade. Sure enough, there was a fairly long and gradual stair step creek feeding the cove we were camped along. For dinner, we made "Friendsgiving." A fresh butternut squash was cooked with butter, canned mushrooms, and dehydrated green beans. Instant mashed potatoes were dressed with canned chicken, a pot of Stove Top cornbread stuff was topped with brown gravy. The fresh squash was a hit and we just loved the salty Stove Top to replenish our bodies. The evening treat was two fold-cold peppermint patties from a still cold cooler!

For the last day of paddling, we only had about 4.5 miles to paddle. We took our time, floated, sang songs, and noted the last bend in the river before we would reach the takeout. Dang, we said. We acknowledge we were ready to go home, but not ready for this trip to end! Nearer the Bryson City boat launch, we encountered more people out for the day and it was nice to see families spending time together. As soon as the drivers returned with cars retrieved from the launch, the skies opened up and a heavy summer time rain cooled us off while we loaded gear and tied boats down. I suppose that reduced the residual debris on hulls and on the bottoms of dry bags!

The following is the comprehensive packing list that was shared with Shakedown participants.

1. Spirit lifter, esp after rain

○ Dry soup mix with can of chicken

○ Ramen and peanut butter

○ Boiled peanuts in a can

○ Latte with instant coffee with hot shelf stable milk

○ Non caffeinated tea

○ Milky tea from the Asian market

2. In camp

§ Sleeping bag (store in lightweight drybag inside durable drybag)

□ Or sheet and fleece blanket

§ Sleeping air mat

□ At bedtime, fold your river clothes under your air mat so they don’t get damp from respiration in the tent overnight. Make sure your vapor barrier works!

§ Camp pillow, plus inflatable pillow for lift

§ Pillow case

§ Ear plugs

§ Tent, poles, stakes, protective vapor barrier

□ Use the guy lines for stability in storms and to vent damp respiration air out

§ Headlamp with batteries or charge cord

§ Loose leggings, old gym pants, or thin comfy sleep pants (store in lightweight drybag inside durable drybag)

§ Clean tee shirt (store in lightweight drybag inside durable drybag)

§ Loose socks for bed (cooler season) (store in lightweight drybag inside durable drybag)

§ Socks for in camp

§ Undies for each day or every other day with soap.

§ In camp only, must stay dry pull over (store in lightweight drybag inside durable drybag)

§ In camp only, must stay dry knit hat or ear covers (store in lightweight drybag inside durable drybag)

§ Must stay dry camp shoes (store in old or thin drybag, or trash bag to keep dirt and debris from your other gear)

§ Second ground cloth to lay stuff on-keep it out of the dirt while you unpack/pack

§ Chair or something to rest comfortably on

§ Downloaded movie and ear buds or short paperback book

§ Phone charger

§ Non metal coffee cup

§ Sturdy plastic bowl from the back of your cabinet

§ Mis-matched fork or spoon from your kitchen drawer-be mindful of fork poking your dry bag.

§ Food stored in dry bag hung from a tree or in a bear can. Mind those critters! Racoons are curios, surprisingly dexterous, and will tear into your durable drybag to get that power bar.

□ with durable accessory cord (avoid 550 cord, purchase reflective or neon).

§ Nalgene with hot water at bedtime (cold months)

§ In camp coat or multiple layers (cold months)

3. Hygiene

○ Down there wipes

○ Body wipes (My favorite are Sea to Summit Extra Large and Extra thick)

○ Q tips

○ Floss

○ Toothbrush and paste

○ Portion of face wash bar

○ Face scrubber (non fabric)

○ Travel size medicated powder

○ Travel deodorant

○ Toilet paper (if you aren’t going to bury it, carry out TP in a zip lock or coffee bag)

○ Coffee bag for personal hygiene trash

○ Crew sock to dab yourself dry with, such as a mismatched wool sock. Let dry exposed to air and sunlight between uses.

○ Ibprofen

4. On water clothes and accessories (wear your on water clothes for the duration of the trip...3-10 days. After 10, you can have luxuries😉

○ Hiking style pants, loose to keep bugs off in camp.

○ One bra

○ One tee

○ One loose mosquito deterrent, sun shirt with high collar

○ One pair hiking style wool socks to wear inside boating shoes -these will likely only partially dry out overnight. Mind the dew and place under tent vestibule evening through dawn

○ Shoes for boating and launching

○ Fleece for on water -not down, choose weight according to season

○ Rain hat or sun hat

○ Rain jacket (pants for cooler temps) (Store rain gear in old, thin dry bag, that way, when it’s wet, it wont make your other things wet too.)

○ Sun screen bar or spray

○ Knit hat, if it gets wet, store in rain gear dry bag (seasonal)

○ Sunglasses with sturdy case

○ 3 liters water for the day (consider a camelback with tube)

5. Preparedness

§ Foil blanket to be wrapped up-If it is remotely cold, and the person is not dressed in dry gear, after they swim, hand them a foil blanket right away.

§ Or clear large compactor bag to wear

§ Hot hands no matter the season, stored in sturdy case to protect the plastic wrapper from breaking open

§ First aid kit:

□ ACE bandage

□ Sam splint

□ Hydrocortisone

□ New Skin-not sensitive skin style; it washes off easily

§ Fire starter and fat wood

§ Water filter and purification tablets

§ Silicon coated nylon tarp with guy lines and ridge line cord-two per group of 6 works great!

§ Lighters

§ Spare headlamp stashed in deck bag-optional

6. Drybag styles

○ Light weight-keep your clothes in these inside of a durable dry bag. Keep sand, grit, keys, forks, and other hard objects away.

○ Medium weight Not recommended for external storage on or in your boat for many uses. The silicon and DWR finish will wear away.

○ Durable-PVC coated very abrasion resistant, be mindful to limit pushing/shoving in a sandy bottom of your boat. These will last a long time.

○ Zipper top-user friendly. Ensure there is space to roll the zipper under itself and buckle it down firmly

○ Roll top-ensure you can roll 3-4 times, neatly.

○ Consider leaving some air the bags for increased floatation

7. Milage

○ Traveling speeds depend on water flow, weather, the paddler, and the boat.

○ Figure 2-4 miles per hour for traveling speed, usually 3 miles per hour is the average. This includes occasional short breaks to enjoy the environment, the moment, and prevent boredom or fatigue.

○ Back to back long milage days can be tough, so mix up easy/moderate/hard paddling milage days. Throw in a zero milage day!

○ This chart is based on experiences with many different groups

Wake up, spend 2-3 hours in camp Enjoy camp, enjoy your morning, take care of business

Leave camp by 930 Paddle for 5-9 miles, with occasional short breaks

Paddle 930-1130

Stop for lunch 30-60 minutes out of your boat

Find camp 3:30-530 depending on terrain and perception of campsite availability, season and appetite Paddle 8-10 miles

Total miles range from 13-19 in a day.

8. Loading the boat

§ Water, snacks, camera, map handy. Rig to flip!! (empty snacks and wrappers at dinner time and properly stow to keep racoons from destroying your gear)

§ Paddling into the wind, have your stern be lighter than the bow.

§ Paddling with helpful current, load the stern heavier than the bow.

□ Test it: paddle forward and then stop paddling. What happens? Do you get spun around by the element? Modify accordingly.

§ If these two elements aren’t playing nice, load balanced.

□ Ask a buddy to eye your trim

9. In camp

§ Tie your boat down, and most certainly pull it up and out of the water. I’ve seen rivers rise 3-4 overnight!

§ Depending on circumstances do these things first in camp:

□ Hang a rain fly for the group, if needed

□ Set up your shelter

□ Change out of damp underclothes (put your river pants and shirt back on) and put on dry shoes

□ Sit down, relax, and drink fluids or have a useful snack

□ Have a bird bath away from others (downstream of water collection points if you go wading), or wait for privacy in your tent (check for ticks)

10. Where to set up your tent

○ Look up for widow makers

○ Camp away from the water's edge, esp in the cooler months.

○ In cool months, avoid low spots where cool air collects

○ Use a nice gentle down slope to your advantage during rain-too much and you'll slide around, which is very disruptive to sound sleep

○ Eye the space, is there signs of water pooling or passing through your tent space?

○ Set up under healthy trees and tall bushes-let the dew settle on them and not your tent. Reduces moisture inside your tent.

○ Open all the vents, pull the guy line anchor points out to vent respiration out and for stability during wind

○ Keep things from resting on the tent fabric. This breaks the "seal" and allows water to seep in where the item is touching. Mind your sleeping bag foot box if you are on a slope.

11. Meals

○ Some groups like to do group breakfasts and/or group dinners. In teams of 2-3, bring your designated meal to feed the whole group

○ Some groups like to do individual meals-less pre coordination

○ Trash management-There is more trash than you’d think, bring extra bags and store it with food

○ A lot of leftovers? Paddle out and feed the fish well away from camp. Reduce attracting animals for you and for the next people to use the camp

12. Water

§ Take giardia (gee-r-dee-ah) seriously. It’s a waterborne parasite. People who talk about having experienced it, or witnessed someone deal with it, are highly cautious, so lets learn from them.

§ Considering carrying your water. Rig to flip, and tie it down. Leave air in collapsible containers for the buoyancy

§ Filter water with a good condition filter. O no! Mine was cracked, but I was able to treat with water purification tablets or boil the water.

□ Gravity vs. pump style. I have one of each and will choose which depending on what water conditions I’m expecting. I'll bring both and we can all compare and contrast in camp with speed, ease of use.

§ Purification tablets take 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the brand/make up of the tablet.

§ Rolling boil for one minute, longer at elevations above 6k feet.

13. Stove for cooking

Jet Boil is for those backpackers who only eat freeze dry meals and instant coffee. For us, that’s too limiting. If you buy a stove, get one with an adjustable flame so you can make buttery grilled cheese and soup.