What to Wear/Bring

Getting ready is part of the fun. This list is designed to simplify your packing. Please feel free to contact us with any items questions. We use chartered aircraft with limited load carrying capacity. Try to restrict your gear to an effective but lightweight set of outdoor clothing and equipment. Please limit your load to a total of 40 pounds. If you are in doubt about a certain item of clothing, bring it along and consult with the guides pre-trip. It can always be left behind if deemed unnecessary. We will arrange a place at the departure point for you to leave your travel clothing. Avoid bringing unnecessary valuables such as jewelry.

WE PROVIDE:
Tent – Mountain Hardware Trango 3, self-supporting dome tent - comfortable for 2 people with some remaining floor space for clothing etc. (single occupancy is $50). If you wish to bring your own, please contact us to approve the model and design.

Tent bag – we provide communal bags for transporting tents on the raft. Each bag holds 3 tents.

River bag – 115 litre, 30 gal – this is for your clothing and camp gear. When closed properly it provides waterproof protection. We have never encountered anyone who couldn’t fi t everything in this bag!

Day bag – 20 litre, 5 gal– a smaller bag for items you may wish to have access to during the day. Waterproof when closed properly. (note- this is not the same as the “day pack” listed below which you must bring for hiking).

Boot bag – a communal bag for carrying hiking boots during the day. When you stop for a hike, the guides will open this bag.

Gear Checklist:

SPECIFIC TRIPS:
_____wet suit or dry suit: (Mandatory for Nahanni 3 week whitewater expedition, Burnside and Coppermine canoe or Alsek raft expeditions if you wish to run the two largest rapids.) If you are the type that cools easily, you should bring this along – 3mm neoprene, short or long legs; sleeveless preferred.

CANOE TRIPS ONLY:
Knee pads – our canoes have knee pads and most trips do not require much kneeling. If you have to ask – you probably don’t need them.
Paddle – only if you prefer to use your own.
PFD – only if you prefer to use your own.

*If you are bringing either of the last three items please inform us prior to June.

Rental items
We rent the following items: (Fees are per person/item, per trip.)

For your convenience we do sell some equipment items at our meeting points. Note: If you want to be assured of availability at the departure point, please place your order before June. All prices in CDN and include GST.

We recommend a book which has become very popular among wilderness travelers. Judge it not by the unsavory title. The book is a definitive and entertaining look at the basic practices and realities of a rudimentary, age-old function.

Note: If you want to be assured of availability at the departure point, please place your order before June.

Comments on gear

WATERPROOF PACKING
River travel demands attention to thorough waterproofi ng of your gear. We will provide you with a large, waterproof “river bag” (115L or 30 gal.) or barrel and a water proof bag (20L or 5 gal.) to be used as a “day bag” for quick access to items you may need during the day.

To organize items inside a large bag, you may wish to use colour coded, nylon stuff sacks. As a safety measure, you should plan to line your “river bag” with a plastic bag. We cannot accept responsibility for performance of the bags. If you have a valuable camera we strongly recommend you bring a waterproof camera bag or case that can be found at your local camera store ( one of the recommended types is made by “Pelican” which may be rented from us).

Foul Weather Clothing
The importance of good rain pants and hooded jacket cannot be over-emphasized. C onsider a hooded jacket and pants made of a coated, waterproof fabric for rain protection (eg. Helly Hansen, Wet Skins, sailing suit). While Gortex may work for wind and light showers, it is not “waterproof”. If you choose Gortex for raingear, it must be a top quality multi-ply suit. It should also be reasonably new and/or recently treated with solutions as per the manufacturers instructions. Please note that the manufacturers state it will not function properly when dirty and performance is increased by a warm iron. We do not bring irons. Foul weather garments made for sailing seem to be among the best for durability and comfort.

Bring warm synthetic pile, polypropylene or wool clothing to wear underneath your rain suit. These fabrics continue to insulate even when wet. Cotton and denim are a liability in wet environments - leave your jeans at home. Throw in some wool or pile mitts with nylon covers, or rubber gloves with a light glove inside, and a wool hat, just for good measure. You may not actually use any of this on the trip but - ‘better safe than sorry’. In fair weather, a pair of shorts or light weight long pants will work well. Long-sleeved T-shirts will provide protection from the sun or bugs in hot weather. Check the equipment list for further details and please call with any questions.

“Layering” of clothing will give you the greatest comfort for a wide range of conditions. It is best to use several layers of shirts, jackets, and an outer shell rather than one heavy jacket, which will be too hot most of the time. With the layer system you can add or remove layers according to the day and you have something dry in reserve.

Having said all this, please don’t let the equipment list put you off. Whether you end up using all or half of the gear on your list, your river journey will be the trip of a lifetime!

Here are some terms and definitions to assist you with provisioning:
Water Proof – the quality of a sealed fabric that does not allow moisture to pass through. Condensation from sweating is controlled by venting through zippers.
Gore-tex – a laminated fabric manufactured to be water repellent and breathable. The waterproof qualities may be compromised if the fabric becomes soiled or abraded by pack straps. (Use for wind and light shower gear.)
Polypropylene – a lightweight synthetic fabric that transfers moisture away from your skin. Brand names include Lifa, Wickers, Odlo, Patagonia and others. (Used for long underwear.)
Capiline – another polyester fabric that is similar to polypropylene and manufactured by Patagonia. (Used for long underwear.)
Fleece & Pile – a polyester fabric that is lightweight and soft. It is warmer than wool per pound, insulates even when wet, and dries quickly. It is also referred to as fleece, Polarplus and Synchilla. (Used for outerwear.)

Icebreaker Wool – a brand that has all but eliminated the “itch factor”.

Footwear:
River travel means water underfoot. A standard pair of knee-high rubber boots (sometimes referred to as “wellingtons”, “ditch boots”, or “irrigation boots”) are recommended (minimum 10” high) for raft or voyageur trips (and for two person canoeists on the tundra or who are experienced with them). Wear these with a felt insole (we are referring to the “footstep shape” insole, not the type that completely line the boot up to the rim because the later will take days to dry if wet) and a combination of polypropylene and wool/pile socks and your feet should stay comfortably warm. Carry a spare set of insoles and socks, and in the case you ‘overstep’ your boots, they can be used to replace the wet ones. If you make your insoles out of closed cell (ensolite) foam, they will not absorb water and will dry very quickly should they get wet.

For the tandem canoe trips – not on the tundra or rafters who are familiar with them – we suggest you buy a snugfitting pair of neoprene booties available at canoe or scuba diving supply shops.

Most have integral soles. If you get a pair without soles you may wear them inside tennis shoes. The height should be midcalf, not ankle height. Don’t be fooled by the ‘surfing shoes’ made of quick-drying material rather than neoprene. They do not provide the necessary warmth. If you are on a whitewater canoe trip, you should already know about specs for booties and just remember that the water is cool.

Tip: if you use neoprene booties, drip a teaspoon of hot water in each one in the morning. Shake and test with your finger. Then put them on and luxuriate in the warmth!

‘Sport’ sandals have become popular. While okay for rugged individuals, remember that the water is cold, especially in the far north.

For hiking and camp wear, bring light hiking boots. Be sure they are broken in before the trip to minimize chances of blisters. Important criteria includes: ankle support and sufficient height to keep out bits of debris.

Sleeping
We recommend a sleeping bag with synthetic fill rated to 0^oC or 32^oF. If you tend to be a person who sleeps ‘cool’, you may wish to
consider a bag that is rated an additional 5^oC cooler. An older bag looses it’s loft with time and may be 5 deg less effective. A ‘Therma Rest’ pad or a light air mattress underneath works best, as the ground may be rough. Closed cell foam or ensolite work but they are not as comfortable and are not recommended. Sleeping Bags and therma rests may be rented for $75.00/person/trip. This can relieve your luggage burden on the airlines. If you wish to rent, please indicate this as early as possible. Some individuals consider a “chamber pot” for convenience at night.

Managing Your Baggage
Consider using the maximum allowable carry-on baggage space to ensure you have essentials such as hiking boots, medication, toothbrush, underwear and any other ‘hard-toreplace’ items as there is usually no time to locate lost luggage before departure of your bush plane flight. This situation is un-likely, but worth preparing for.

Try to keep your bags under 40 pounds (not including paddle, PFD and tent if you are bringing these). We suggest maximizing your carry-on baggage with all of your essentials, in case of baggage loss.

City clothes and valuables may be left at our rendezvous location but for peace of mind we recommend that you leave all but essential valuables behind. Car parking facilities are available at the departure points.

Food and Meals
Despite remote wilderness locations, you can expect to eat very well. We take special care in preparing nutritious and delicious meals for all of our trips. You will be continually amazed at the variety and quality of the meals. Just because you are in the wilderness, does not mean you have to eat freeze dried and one pot stews! Look forward to eating well! (We are able to manage some food allergies and dietary restrictions. Please identify these concerns early when you book so that we can work the arrangements into the plans for the season.)

Alcohol
We do not provide alcohol but we will send you a Selection List of spirits which may be conveniently ordered through us from local liquor stores. These items will be ready for you upon arrival.

Laundry
You will have opportunities to wash items of clothing in camp if required. The personal, collapsible wash bucket (see items for sale) is handy for this.

Photographic tips
Most participants want to return home with the best possible photographic record of their trip. Here are some helpful ideas:

Carrying your camera
The #1 rule - water destroys cameras - instantly! The waterproof day bag that we provide should protect your camera on raft or Voyageur Canoe expeditions. A strong Ziplock bag provides extra insurance inside. Better yet, or for two person canoe expeditions, we recommend you invest in a waterproof case. We recommend the Pelican brand, available in canoe, photo and diving shops. These cases provide the best protection possible for your valuable equipment.

Along the river, sand can play havoc, so be prepared to clean your camera regularly with a brush and lens paper. It is also strongly recommended that you update your homeowners policy to cover any expensive camera equipment.

Nahanni River Adventures, Nahanni offers exceptional expeditions by raft and canoe on the great rivers from Alaska to Nunavut including: South Nahanni River, Tatshenshini River, Alsek River, Firth River, Snake River, Wind River, Stikine River, Burnside River, Coppermine River, Horton River, Mountain River, Yukon River, Taku River, Gataga River and Sea Kayaking and whale watching at Point Adolphus, Alaska, over-looking Glacier Bay National Park.

Our expeditions encompass Nahanni National Park (South Nahanni River), Kluane National Park (Alsek River), Ivvavik National Park (Firth River), Glacier Bay National Park (Alsek River), Herschel Island Territorial Park (Firth River).

Nahanni River Adventures operates in Alaska (United States of America), Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and British Columbia (Canada).

Nahanni.com is the online presence of the company, Nahanni River Adventures Ltd.

Nahanni River Adventures works with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society to ensure the environmental integrity of our wild places.

Neil Hartling, founder of Nahanni River Adventures, is also the author of: Nahanni, River of Gold...River of Dreams. Alaska to Nunavut - The Great Rivers. Nahanni River Guide. These books may all be purchased through Nahanni.com.

Common misspellings of the name are Nahani, Nahannie, Nahanie, Nahoni, Nahonni.
Nahanni River Adventures.