I've gone through phases for years. The frequency of your trips will make a big difference in how efficient you are at arriving to the put-in or trailhead prepared. If I'm taking three trips a month, I get more dialed in and have only seasonal adjustments to my list. If I'm taking three a year, it's close to starting from scratch each time. I'd argue that trip preparation is a perishable skill, along with the skills used on those trips.
@@AdventureOtaku I imagine in your case, your "just me" tends to take a lot more frequent trips to keep your skills honed. That's a good thing for those of us who never developed the skills or let them get rusty. I used to keep a backpack ready minus food and anything down for backpacking, and a separate set for paddle trips. I could be out the door in an hour without stress. Now, I have to pick out everything from my gear room...then head to the garage to pick out a kayak and gear. Thanks for your time and guidance!
Great Video, as usual Brett I have been wondering for a while about packing meat to take on trips when I start doing them. As I don’t want to take highly processed meat as it is full of rubbish and most nutritional value has already been lost. I am not one for fruit or veg really. The former not at all. Then only thing I can think of is trying to can my own meals. Not something I have ever tried to do before. When I used to drive a truck I would live off of tinned foods, especially when I was trying to lose weight. Which did work until I gave up work to look after my Daughters. Was not very healthy if I am honest as it was highly processed. I like the idea of packing the boat with certain items in each end and trying to trim the boat. I know from camping that I pack one way going and completely different when packing up at the end of the camping trip. The luxury off having everything thing to hand that is nice and dry and plenty of time to pack the car. Always a time crunch on the last morning as you had a time to be off by. Tent was rarely bone dry, and kids were often getting under foot. I am slowly building up kit and have already started to organise what I do have so I can take what I need for the trip that I am doing. Only done one full weekend trip as a Volunteer for a Leadership Assessment Course. Grade 2White Water in a Dagger Stratos. Now that was a baptism and a half. High and very fast flowing river. Coupled with never being on a fast moving river before. Capsizing twice on the first section or fast water, as the eddies were way above what my level of paddling was capable of. I got pinned with the boat and a tree after my second capsize. I did say was I walked down the bank to get back to my boat, “I don’t think this is for me.” Then went on to enjoy it once I started to build confidence. I did make a few mistakes, starting with not sending my kit bag down to the get out and leaving it in my car at the get in. The second was not fully seating the zips on my new drysuit. So got a bit wet and cold. I have already said I would do the Assessment Weekend again if needed. As our Assessor had an Injury at the get out stopping the Assessment from being completed due to a possible dislocated knee. Next time I will take a white water boat rather than a touring boat. Everyone on said I did really well and that they would have struggled too. I don’t know if they were just being kind or actually meant it. It was 6 hour nearly to cover 5 miles. The next day we still went for a paddle, but on a Canal instead of the Lake we were originally going on. A new type of water for me to paddle so was happy. Nice and calm too which was nice after the fast flowing river.
Another commenter mentioned how the do meat for just about every meal, but there are so many bloody comments the past two days good luck finding it. If I find it Ill send your way....
I like the list idea, but my trips vary so much it’s hard to nail it down. That said I’m going to prepare a list. The best advice is your storage system which will make all the difference in speed and accuracy (not forgetting stuff). Also how many times have I had to go out and buy something because I’ve misplaced that item.
I use a mesh duck decoy bag to carry my gear. About $10 from Amazon and has backpack straps so I can carry other things with my hands. The number of stuffed dry bags that fit in it is astonishing.
I agree that a backpack is much more useful than hand carrying everything in IKEA bags or duffles. Especially if you have to hike a bit from the landing spot to the camp spot. I had not thought about duck-decoy bags. Mine is an expensive but high quality mesh back from Kayak Academy.
It may not be for anyone else here, but I bring beef and eggs for as much of the adventure as I can. Many stores sell vacuum packed steak (doesn't have to be an expensive cut). It keeps well if kept in the hatch and out of sunlight. I get 6-7 days easy. I will strip it and fry it in regular or garlic butter. Eggs keep for over 10 days. I have to be creative with spices to keep from getting palette fatigue, but really that's almost all I pack. I know it seems weird to everyone. It works for me. I will bring Bacon or sausage too (also vacuum packed). Seriously if you like or want to eat fresh meats vacuum packing will get you there!
