Soon I will embark on the 10-day trip down the Grand Canyon, a dream of a lifetime.

My question is this about back support: I’ve been whitewater rafting in the past and and, in the excitement, I never gave a second thought to back support. But those were 1-, 2-, and 3-day trips. Ten days will be a new experience. Is there any way to strap on something like an adjustable canoe seat? Or is there room enough on the bottom of the boat, in calm waters, to sit my fanny down and lean on the raft seat if my back needs a rest? I don’t have a back “condition” of any sort, just the groans of 55 years of gravity and bipedal locomotion.

Looking forward to your response.

— All the best, Martha Turner

Dear Martha,

My back also sucks, after 58 years of rowing and paddling and lifting. Pilates and keeping toned has saved my behind … so far.

Assuming from your question you’re on a raft and not a dory, I’d say this one is easy-peezy. Get yourself a Crazy Creek chair. It’ll pack light, clip on or slip under the frame pad for whitewater, provides an adjustable backrest, and because its small and easy to deal with, won’t tick off your guides. I had a client on my last trip that used one, but I forgot to steal it at the end of the trip. You can also take it to your camp for evening and morning use.

You won’t be comfortable sitting in the bilge. It’s wet, jiggles a lot, and probably harbors 24 people’s worth of foot fungus. As for your fanny, I married an Australian gal, and no longer use that term. It doesn’t mean the same thing Down Under!

I’m so glad you’re finally getting around to your dream. It was mine, too, 37 years ago. Only I just never woke up from that first magical time. A hundred and twenty-something times later, I’m still dreaming!

— River God

The post Ask A River God: Back Support appeared first on River Currents.

Thanks for the opportunity to ask the guides (gods) a couple questions. My wife and I have a trip from Phantom Ranch to Whitmore Wash coming up at the end of July. I believe we’re ready as far as having all the items recommended on the packing list. My question is, as a guide what are some additional items have you seen travelers bring that made you say, “Wow, that was a great idea to bring?”

— Troy & Kathy Blair

Dear Troy & Kathy:

You’re going to have a ball. Show up in shorts, sneakers, sunhat and sunglasses, and the world will be your oar-ster. Don’t fret about what you’ll absolutely need or else. Once you’re down there, everything will drop away. €“I’ve even seen teenage girls forget about their cell phones.

O.A.R.S. has spent years putting together a great list of stuff. That said, some things you might never use (say, for example, your million-dollar Patagonia raincoat if there’s no rain on your trip). Some things might have been handy if we’d only known you like to crochet whilst listening to Beethoven running backwards.

What’s critical will be that you keep your eyes open, your spirit free, and your attitude ready to appreciate the most incredible place on the planet.

With those caveats, here’s some hints that might help you through:

• Imagine how many beers you might drink while barbecuing prawns on the barbie on a hot day. Multiply that by how many days you’ll be down there. Bring just a smidgen extra for the new friends you’re going to make. (Guides can be your friend, too!)
• Bring enough spare batteries for your camera, or even a cable and small backup/solar charger. Also enough memory on your flash card for a couple thousand photos. Seriously.
• July is monsoon season. It hasn’t hit yet this year, but if it does, you’ll be glad you didn’t ignore the part about bringing GOOD raingear. The K-Mart crap is just that, and will leave you wondering how you got hypothermia in the desert.
• I bring my Kindle, but any way you like to read, bring just one really good book each. Trade if you finish. You probably won’t. Check out the O.A.R.S. suggestions regarding the Grand Canyon.
• Bring some earplugs for the chopper.
• Bring extra medical scripts, just in case. If you tend to get “cold sores,” bring a lot of lysine (an amino acid available in the vitamin section). Pound it before and during. Your lips will thank you for this little miracle.
• Make sure all your eyeglasses and hats have a string or clip to attach to your life jacket. May the wind at your back not be your own.
• Bring face wash pads. Comes in handy for when you get in late to camp and don’t want to bathe in the beautiful, frigid Colorado. They’re not restricted to the face, if you know what I mean.
• DON’T bring extra snacks. We’re going to gorge you, and the ringtail cats and ravens just love to tear your tent or bag open when they smell that Ghirardelli’s chocolate. Then we get to patch your stuff, and stow your extras where we keep our dirty socks.
• If you’re knees are a bit fragile when pounding them with a hammer for 5 hours, consider walking sticks for the hike down. Takes 20% of the stress off your knees. You can stow them for the rest of the trip if you want. Eat calcium-magnesium tablets like candy for a week before your hike, and practice hiking downhill a lot. Then you won’t need as much Ibuprofen when you get to the bottom.

My best advice? It’ll be hot. Bring a good, Zen-like attitude. It’s the desert. Forget the rest of the world exists. They didn’t name it the Grand Canyon for nothing.

— River God

The post Ask A River God: Thoughts On Packing appeared first on River Currents.