Gear List - Spring White Water Canoe Trip
The gear list below is what I compiled for a 3-night, 4-day canoe trip. This particular trip included some white water and a number of portages, 2 of which were over 1300 metres.
The weather in near-north Ontario in May is unpredictable at best. On this particular weekend the forecast included rain and cool temperatures ranging from 2C to 12C.
Outerwear:
- Hiking Boots
- Short Gaitors (to keep rain from running into hiking boots)
- Fleece Toque
- Baseball Cap
- Warm Gloves
- Paddling Gloves
- Waterproof-breathable shell jacket
- Fleece jacket
- Waterproof shell pants
- Sandals or paddling shoes
Cooking:
- Stove (with 650 ml of White Gas)
- Extra white gas (Coleman Fuel) (750 ml)
- Eating Supplies (plastic cup, plastic plate, Lexan utensils)
- 4 litre pot with lid
- Pot Grip/Lifter
- Scrubbie
- Dish Washing Soap
- Dish Cloth
- Large Serving Spoon
- Salt/Pepper/Sugar
- Tea/Hot Chocolate
- Emergency Supply of Instant Oatmeal
- Collapsible "Kitchen Sink" (10 litre)
- Dipper Cup
- Flexible Cutting Board
Stuff:
- First-Aid Kit
- Headlamp
- 1 litre Nalgene Water Bottle
- Sun Glasses
- Lip Balm
- Knife/Multi-Tool
- Compass
- Map Case & Map
- Butane Lighter (Wind-proof/Water-proof)
- Pencil/Notepad
- Zip-lock bag for wallet (safer with me than in the car)
- Camp Chair
- Folding Camp Saw
- Camera (and Pelican Case to store it in)
- Bug Spray
- Bug hat (or bug shirt)
- Extra Matches
- Repair Kit
- Duct Tape
- Emergency Blanket
- Favourite book (in zip-lock bag)
- Utility Rope (5mm x 60')
- Candle Lantern
Toiletries:
- Hand Sanitizer
- Toilet Paper (in zip-lock bag)
- Flushable Wet Wipes (in zip-lock bag)
- Paper Lunch Bags (x4) - for burning toilet waste
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Small hand towel
- Mirror (plastic)
- Dental Floss
- Rinseless Shampoo (in small bottle)
To Wear:
- Leather Belt
- Hiking Socks
- Underwear
- Long Sleeve Undershirt
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Hiking pants
Sleeping:
- Tent including ground sheet and 3mm poly cut to inside floor shape (for moisture barrier)
- Camping Mattress
- Down Sleeping Bag
- Compression sack for sleeping bag
- Light-weight long underwear*
- Light-weight long sleeve undershirt*
- Wool socks*
- Pillow Case - stuffed with fleece jacket to make a pillow
* If I bring my down sleeping bag I either bring a sleeping bag liner (cloth or silk) or wear long underwear, long sleeve undershirt, and socks to protect the down sleeping bag from dirt and oil from the skin.
Extra clothing:
- Hiking Socks (2 pair)
- Underwear (1)
- Hiking pants (MEC Rad Pants)
- Bathing Suit/Shorts
- Long sleeve shirt
- Fleece pants
Canoe:
- Canoe (Royalex/ABS)
- PFD
- Helmet
- River Knife (attached to PDF)
- Paddle (x3 per canoe)
- Bailer (made from empty liquid laundry detergent or bleach bottle)
- Throw Bag (15 metres of floating rope)
- Whistle (attached to PFD)
- Rope for Painters (2 x 8 metres of floating rope)
- Velcro (to secure spare paddle to thwarts)
- Thigh Straps
- Hat Clip (to secure baseball cap to life jacket)
- End Bags
Packs:
- Backpack (85 litre lined w/industrial strength garbage bag)
- 60 litre barrel w/ harness
- 5 litre dry bag (sunglasses, snacks, headlamp, etc.)
- 5 litre dry bag (containing fleece jacket)
- 20 litre dry bag (extra clothing)
Other Group Gear:
- Nylon Tarp
- 2nd Water Filter
- Various lengths of utility rope
- 2nd Single burner stove
- Aluminum Pot with Lid
- Pot grip/lifter
- Frying Pan
- Axe/Hatchet
