Professional Guide Training
Personal Equipment List
and Packing Guide

What to Bring:

Whitewater School weather is notoriously inclement, (we call it character-building). Your comfort during the school will be greatly enhanced if you come prepared. DO NOT SKIMP ON THE EQUIPMENT LIST! Because the rivers are extremely cold, and because you will be spending both planned and unplanned time in it, we require that all students have the following items:

• "Farmer- John" type wetsuit - Farmer john wetsuits cover the torso and legs but are sleeveless, (like a farmer's overalls), allowing for good shoulder movement; 3mm or 1/8 inch thickness is ideal.

• Two thick fleece tops - Fleece garments retain their insulation even when wet and are ideal for river wear. At least two fleece sweaters, jackets or polypropylene expedition weight long underwear tops, (such as those made by Patagonia, REI and the North Face - commonly called Polartec or Polarfleece) are advised.

• a sturdy waterproof rainshell - A waterproof rainshell or paddling jacket will keep you dry on the river and in camp if it rains - make sure it is waterproof, not just water-repellant.

Also, polypropylene pile or fleece socks, (not cotton!), and a pile or fleece hat will help keep you warm on really cold days and a good pair of cycling gloves, (fingerless with leather palms), will help protect your hands from blistering.

Please follow this list closely and call us if you have any questions.

Personal Equipment List

CAMP ITEMS: These will be packed in your dunnage bag and will not be available during the day. *Compact sleeping bag, (down or synthetic, rated to 35 degrees) *Closed-cell foam or self-inflating sleeping pad, (ensolite, Thermarest, or air mattress) *Sleeping bag liner or flat bed-sheet (perfect for hot nights and will add warmth on cold nights) *Small tarp or ground cloth to sleep or put tent on *Compact, lightweight tent, (free-standing preferred, no wall tents please) Small, compact, lightweight pillow 2 complete changes of clothing (versatile pants and shirts, cotton is fine - something exciting for dinner is welcome!) Extra socks, (wool or fleece are best), and underwear (wool only for the rugged!) Camp shoes, (trail running or approach shoes, ultra-lite boots, tennis shoes,etc. Something you can walk and hike in comfortably) Small towel, soap and shampoo (Campsuds and Dr. Bronner's seem to be the most enviro-friendly). Personal hygiene items, including medicine, insect repellent, dry-skin lotion, etc. Please bring double the amount needed of any essential medicine. Warm jacket, (thick fleece is great - will work on-river as well) Rain gear, (can double as on-river gear); top is essential, bottoms are advised. Small flashlight with extra batteries, (headlamps are great) Book, sketch pad, journal, etc. Sturdy plate, mug and eating utensils.

RIVER ITEMS: These will be worn, or packed in your personal dry-pack and will be accessible during the day Wetsuit*, 3mm Farmer John (required) Polypropylene pile or fleece top (required) Waterproof rainshell (required) 2 - 3 swimsuits or shorts and T-shirts, (nylon quick-drying shorts are best - women will want to wear shorts over their swimsuits) Sandals (Chaco, Teva, Keen) with heel strap or tennis shoes & fleece socks. NO FLIP FLOPS OR SLIP-ONS Fingerless biking gloves (better than blisters) Polypropylene pile or fleece pants (encouraged) Brimmed hat, (a spare is a good idea, baseball style is fine) Lightweight cotton clothing, (old dress shirts or surgeon's outfits) for sun protection Waterproof sunscreen/block (SPF 15), lip balm Sunglasses with strap, (maybe not your best) Small water bottle, 1 quart, (essential -even if its just an empty plastic Gatorade bottle) OPTIONAL ITEMS: Not absolutely necessary, but you are welcome to bring them. Camera, (we have space in shared ammunition boxes, or bring your own) Beer, wine, liquor, or soda in unbreakable containers, (cans or plastic bottles). We will try to keep it cold Small daypack, "dry bag", or ammunition box Carabiner, handy for securing your day-pack

*These items are available to rent from ARTA, see Equipment Rentals below. Underlined items are the choice of our profesional river guides. PLEASE DO NOT BRING: Valuable jewelry, radios, cell phones, guns or irreplaceable items.

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How to Dress:

ON HOT DAYS you will want clothing that dries quickly (nylon shorts and bathing suits) and something to shield you from the sun, (an old lightweight cotton dress shirt and surgeon's pants). Also, a brimmed hat and a bandanna are helpful for staying cool.

ON COOL DAYS you will want a thick fleece top, (pullover or jacket) and a sturdy, fully waterproof rainshell. You may also want fleece pants or polypropylene long underwear bottoms and rainpants. Cotton is worthless when wet and should not be used for on-river insulation.

ON YOUR FEET you will want shoes that stay on if you go for a swim and are comfortable for hiking. Sport sandals with heel straps (Tevas, Chacos, Keen, etc.) work well, (avoid velcro straps - they don't work). Neoprene or fleece socks will add a bit of insulation. Wetsuit booties work but can be a bit clammy after a full day. Tennis or running shoes with fleece socks work well, are inexpensive and easy to find.

IN CAMP you will want comfortable walking/hiking shoes, (lightweight boots or tennis shoes), and versatile clothing, (T-shirts, warm shirts, cotton shorts, jeans or sweats, extra fleece, etc). Cotton is o.k. for camp stuff, but because it is worthless for keeping you warm on the river, many students bring two sets of fleece - one for the river, one for camp - and have a backup in case one gets drenched.

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Where to Find It:

To purchase:

We've created an on-line store with our partners at Cascade Outfitters where you can find everything you need for your trip. The selection is geared specifically for river trips so you'll know it is appropriate. Click here to visit the store.

Also, local outdoor or sporting goods stores should have everything you need and fleece garments are now available at most department and closeout stores. Great selections of river trip gear are also available on-line through:

Clavey Paddlesports - 707/766-8070 or clavey.com (our favorite - appropriate selection & good advice. Tell them you are an ARTA Whitewater School student and they will give you a 15% discount!)
REI - 800/426-4840 or rei.com 
L.L. Bean - 800/341-4341 or llbean.com
Campmor - 800/525-4784 or campmor.com
Patagonia - 800/638-6464 or patagonia.com
Cascade Outfitters - 888/748-3717 or rivertraveler.com

To rent:

If you do not own or do not wish to transport camping gear, ARTA has equipment available to rent. A “Sleep Kit” consists of a 35 degree Polarguard Bag, a cotton liner, a self-inflating pad, and a ground cloth and is available for less than $6 per trip day. Free-standing, two-person tents are also available for less than $6 per trip day. Wetsuits are available for about $5 per day. Please reserve rental gear well in advance using your Guest Information Sheet.

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How to Pack:

CAMP ITEMS go in a watertight dunnage bag provided by ARTA, (one per person). These are not accessible during the day. Each bag is roughly 17 inches in diameter and about 24 inches tall, (the size of a large duffel bag). We ask that you limit all of your gear to 35 pounds. Although we will show you how to close the dunnage bag so that it stays watertight even if temporarily submerged, packing your sleeping bag in a garbage bag provides extra protection. Zip-lock bags and small stuff sacks are good for keeping track of small and/or wet things inside your bag.

RIVER ITEMS will go in a watertight dry-pack provided by ARTA, (one per person). These small packs are 9 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall, perfect for rain gear, fleece, sunblock, and other things you want to keep handy during the day. For expensive cameras we recommend a 50 caliber ammunition box or a Pelican Box, which can be found at most surplus and outdoor stores. These work best when lined with foam. ARTA provides ammunition boxes on a shared basis.

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Questions:

Please feel free to call our office 800/323-2782 or e-mail us if you have any questions. We have been on many trips, have tested a lot of gear, and we enjoy talking about what has and hasn't worked.