{"id":29955,"date":"2023-08-28T14:00:13","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T21:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=29955"},"modified":"2023-09-01T12:28:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T19:28:23","slug":"a-guide-to-sup-expeditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2023\/08\/28\/a-guide-to-sup-expeditions\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to SUP Expeditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

I remember the first time my husband suggested stand-up paddleboarding on a river together. An innate fear that had been ingrained in my brain since I was a young girl fueled an automatic response\u2014rivers are dangerous. Stick to lakes and close to shore in the sound. Growing up on an island in the Puget Sound, lakes and the quiet waters near shore at our local beaches were where my friends and I recreated on our paddleboards. The thought of going on a river terrified me. The moving water and unknown hazards, honestly the list was never-ending in my mind.<\/p>\n

Fast forward to now, and my husband and I pack our summer with whitewater SUPing, as well as coaching and teaching women how to safely and confidently SUP on mellow rivers all over the Pacific Northwest. But over the past few years, we\u2019ve found that SUP expeditions take river adventures to the next level and it\u2019s easy to find routes for all skill levels.<\/p>\n

If you like to SUP, explore and camp along truly breathtaking and scenic rivers, this type of trip could be right up your alley. Ready to plan your own adventure? Here are some of my top tips to make your expedition a success.<\/p>\n

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To self-support or boat support?<\/strong>
\nThere are two ways to approach SUP overnighters. There\u2019s the minimalist, backpacker style where\u2014like backpacking\u2014you fit everything you need into a couple of bags and strap those bags to your board. Paddlers should pack only what they need and leave the rest at home. Packing is methodical and weight distribution on the board is crucial. Not surprisingly, this style of overnighter can be restrictive. Think: freeze-dried meals, bagged wine (if you\u2019re desperate) and most likely sleeping out on top of your board(s).<\/p>\n

The other option is to have gear support from a raft, canoe, cataraft [insert larger watercraft here]. For the specific expeditions we lead, each person carries a waterproof duffel bag on the front of their boards packed with all their personal gear\u2014clothing, sleep kit and tent. Everyone also has a small dry bag on their board, the \u201cday purse\u201d as I like to call it. I personally fill this with snacks for the day, sunscreen, a sun shirt, bug spray, camera and any other items I may need to use while paddling between campsites or going on hikes along our journey.<\/p>\n

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We then hire an outfitter to haul the rest of the expedition gear. All of the potable water, food, camp chairs, cooking supplies and anything else we may need that doesn\u2019t fit into our bags is rigged on the raft or canoe.<\/p>\n

For those who don\u2019t want the expense of hiring an outfitter but have a crew that also rafts, including a raft on the trip drastically reduces weight\u2014and consequence\u2014on SUP expeditions. For smaller groups, you can even eliminate putting much overnight gear on your boards. In this case, consider trading off days or miles on the paddleboard to give the boater a break from the oars (or canoe paddle).<\/p>\n

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Not all paddleboards (or paddles) are created equal.<\/strong>
\nThe difference between a day trip and an overnighter will be felt in your shoulders, in your legs, in your feet. If you\u2019re investing time in SUP expeditions, do your body a favor and invest in boards and paddles designed specifically for longer trips.<\/p>\n

We prefer to use river SUP boards on our expeditions and on our river adventures in general, or larger, wider all-around boards. We\u2019ve found that board stability, as well as ease of maneuverability, are both key to a good experience on the river.<\/p>\n