{"id":22421,"date":"2020-03-14T08:00:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-14T15:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=22421"},"modified":"2020-03-10T14:09:08","modified_gmt":"2020-03-10T21:09:08","slug":"packing-for-a-shoulder-season-trip-on-the-grand-canyon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2020\/03\/14\/packing-for-a-shoulder-season-trip-on-the-grand-canyon\/","title":{"rendered":"Packing for a Shoulder Season Trip on the Grand Canyon"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re in the depths of a canyon at the mercy of high winds, cold rains, blazing sun and sand storms, it\u2019s a fine line between a majestic adventure and miserable slog.<\/p>\n

That line is gear.<\/p>\n

The opportunity to raft the renowned 280-mile section of the Grand Canyon is hard for any boater to turn down, and shoulder season trips are among the most coveted times to land a permit. Without the insufferable heat and crowds of summer, and warmer than the depths of winter, joining a group of friends on an April trip was an easy decision. Deciding what to bring with me was not.<\/p>\n

\"\"Packing for any trip is stressful. Rafting the Grand Canyon for 24 days in the most erratic season of the year takes another level of planning. I had rafted the Grand Canyon once before, but that trip launched in the middle of winter. So, I had no idea what to expect from this spring trip. Luckily, I had the chance to speak with an expert. Longtime Grand Canyon raft and dory guide Nick Grimes has been guiding spring and fall trips for OARS for more than 20 years. He has rafted the Colorado River close to 100 times, not only packing his own bags but also helping clients and fellow raft guides throughout the years. Let\u2019s just say he has had plenty of opportunities to hone in the needs.<\/p>\n

His top recommendation for me was to be prepared for any conditions. \u201cYou\u2019re in that transition period,\u201d he said. \u201cYou get a lot of dynamic weather. You get a lot of wind. Nighttime temperatures can dip into the 40s and 50s with days in the 80s or even 90s depending on the year.\u201d After hearing this, I had concerns about overpacking in my attempt to prepare for everything, but Grimes said the key is bringing something for every scenario, but not bringing too much of any one thing.<\/p>\n

Starting with the essentials to keep you warm and dry, Grimes confirmed my plan to bring a drysuit. \u201cI always bring mine on spring and fall trips,\u201d he said. At the very least, he advised you pack a dry top and dry pants. From there it\u2019s all about the layering\u2014which plays a dual role as drysuit insulation and camp comfort. Pack a range of layers from fleece heavy-weight layers to lightweight mid-layers and even silk base layers (or sun protection). In addition, Grimes recommends including a helmet beanie, poggies or gloves and neoprene socks.<\/p>\n