{"id":2456,"date":"2013-03-20T17:12:42","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T00:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com-2\/?p=2456"},"modified":"2022-01-05T15:02:37","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T23:02:37","slug":"grand-canyon-self-support-kayaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2013\/03\/20\/grand-canyon-self-support-kayaking\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Canyon Self-Support Kayaking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Craig\"Team NRS kayaker Craig Kleckner shares the challenges and rewards of completing a mid-winter self-support kayaking trip through the Grand Canyon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, it’s hard to come up with a fresh look at a river trip that’s been seen by so many people, but I believe self-support kayaking is just the way. The trip I’m referring to is the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River. Twelve friends and I were able to take this journey together this January.<\/p>\n

\"Camp<\/a>
Photo: Dave Fusilli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We put on the river on January 8th with pretty typical winter weather and water. This would be my fifth trip down and I thought I knew what to expect, but I did not see what was\u00a0coming. The first three days passed by in true Grand fashion \u2013 lots of\u00a0good river miles with big rapids, great hikes, and even better camps.\u00a0The following day started a trend that would continue for the next four\u00a0days: we woke up with frozen shoes, skirts, pogies and PFDs. As\u00a0trip leader I tried to keep the group moral high, which was an easy job\u00a0since it was the Grand Canyon.<\/p>\n

\"P1010467\"<\/a>
Photo: Ty Caldwell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next four days were filled with lots of cold river miles, cold hikes, and even colder camps. For ten\u00a0people, this was their first trip, so the cold did not damper anyone’s\u00a0spirits as we pushed through the river miles with the water freezing\u00a0on us as we paddled. Our first break in the weather was below Lava\u00a0Falls where we took a layover day to dry out, warm up, and celebrate\u00a0two birthdays and a great trip so far. The remaining part of the trip\u00a0almost seemed to be a different trip entirely, as we had warm weather,\u00a0shorter days on the water, and sunny camps.<\/p>\n

\"P1010486\"<\/a>
Photo: Ty Caldwell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There was also another aspect that made this trip different \u2013 I took my girlfriend, Carly Fusilli. Coming into the trip with the least kayak, experience, I knew she would be challenged by the rapids of the Canyon, but I was not expecting the cold to play such a big factor. A few pieces of gear played a huge part in her comfort, survival, and\u00a0ability to thrive. She ended up taking a few swims while trying to navigate the rapids, and without the NRS Women’s Inversion Drysuit she would not have made it.<\/p>\n

\"P1010329\"<\/a>
Photo: Ty Caldwell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On some of the hikes a swim is required to keep\u00a0going, and this would also not be possible without a drysuit.<\/p>\n

\"P1010322\"<\/a>
Photo: Ty Caldwell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next big issue was keeping hands warm, and I saw some folks with the NRS Toaster Mitts<\/a>, while Carly and I enjoyed the NRS Mambas<\/a>. She even used the NRS Glove Liners, about which she said, “I wouldn’t have survived without these gloves.” This was my first trip using an\u00a0NRS PFD Hydration Pack, and I have to say that this was one of the coolest things to have, especially since it is the desert out there. Well, that being said, thank you NRS for making such a great trip possible. I always like to add, if you get a chance to do this trip, do not hesitate, take the journey.<\/p>\n

\"DSC05267\"<\/a>
Photo: Dave Fusilli<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here’s a video the group put together for Pyranha Kayaks after the trip:<\/p>\n