Re: Grand Canyon
Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:49 am
Here is another hint based on experience
I usually have a tent bag and a gear bag.
When I hit the sack, I put all my loose gear in the gear bag and roll down the top. Keeps the crawlies out and you are set if it does rain or you have to move in a hurry.
I make sure I have my head lamp on top of the gear bag so it is easy to find (take a spare led headlamp as my main headlamp stopped working on my last trip). I generally find my head lamp pretty early at camp and attach it to my chair when we are relaxing. Like Eric sez, if you happen to be in the Canyon when the moon is not out, it is mighty dark.
I place the bags next to the cot. If it does happen to storm and I need the tent (and this has happened) the tent bag and head lamp are easy to grab. And, I can either put up the tent or wrap up in the fly and ride out the storm (I have done both).
also if you are sleeping by the boats and the water comes up, having the dry bags closed and handy makes it easy to move same to higher ground.
one more thing. When the wind does blow, it will blow gear totally away. which means always attach unused gear to something solid. I have seen unstaked tents blown long distances, gear left out to dry blown into the river or lost and hats lost big time. If you are kayaking be sure every thing is attached to the kayak and store it up off the beach out of the way of the raft tie downs.
I usually have a tent bag and a gear bag.
When I hit the sack, I put all my loose gear in the gear bag and roll down the top. Keeps the crawlies out and you are set if it does rain or you have to move in a hurry.
I make sure I have my head lamp on top of the gear bag so it is easy to find (take a spare led headlamp as my main headlamp stopped working on my last trip). I generally find my head lamp pretty early at camp and attach it to my chair when we are relaxing. Like Eric sez, if you happen to be in the Canyon when the moon is not out, it is mighty dark.
I place the bags next to the cot. If it does happen to storm and I need the tent (and this has happened) the tent bag and head lamp are easy to grab. And, I can either put up the tent or wrap up in the fly and ride out the storm (I have done both).
also if you are sleeping by the boats and the water comes up, having the dry bags closed and handy makes it easy to move same to higher ground.
one more thing. When the wind does blow, it will blow gear totally away. which means always attach unused gear to something solid. I have seen unstaked tents blown long distances, gear left out to dry blown into the river or lost and hats lost big time. If you are kayaking be sure every thing is attached to the kayak and store it up off the beach out of the way of the raft tie downs.
