Ammo cans are to river guides what purses are to urban women.

We decorate them with paint and stickers, oil their hinges and routinely (or not so routinely) clean them out. Perhaps you’ve seen your river guide reach into their metal handbag and pull out their toothbrush in the morning, or maybe a tube of sunscreen in the afternoon. Here’s an inside peek at what other treasures are hidden inside my trusty ammo can.

Poetry, Books and River Interp

Those of you that have joined me on the river know that sometimes I read aloud to the group in the morning. I prefer to stick with the classics-Whitman, Abbey, Muir-something to get folks completely tuned into a day on the river and tuned out of their everyday life stresses. As for river interp, I like to be able to look up just how deep the river is at any particular mile marker. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle happened to be my book of choice for my latest river trip.

Personal Hygiene Items

No big surprise here. Considering I sleep on my boat, I think of the frame of my boat as my bedroom and my ammo can as my bedside table. Corn on the cob for dinner? No problem, I can floss from bed (i.e. my sleeping bag). Chapped lips? A quick pop of the ammo can lid and I’m covered. Forgot to put on deodorant in the morning? Mine is just an arm’s length away.

Gloves and Sunglasses

Protective wear is a necessity out on the river. It’s all about shielding yourself from the bright evil oppressor, a.k.a the sun. If my trusty pair of sunglasses aren’t on my face or hanging from Croakies around my neck, they live in my ammo can. Similarly, I always wear gloves when I’m rowing, rigging or washing dishes (during which I sport dish gloves). The constant wet-dry cycle that I’m trying to avoid will quickly lead to the need for this ammo can item.

Crack Repair-New Skin and All Good Goop

As I said, the wet-dry cycle leads to small cracks in my skin, particularly in my hands and on my feet. These tiny cracks which can only be a couple of millimeters wide, can cause a whole heck of a lot of pain. I use All Good Goop by Elemental Herbs to prevent the cracks, and New Skin to seal ‘em up after I have them.

List of Travelers on Roster

Who is allergic to peanuts? Which couple is celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary? What’s the name of the guy who “ran the bull” through Wildcat rapid? All key info to be found on my sheet.

Headlamp

A headlamp is vital on a river trip, especially during those short days on spring and fall trips. You don’t want to trip on your way to the groover in the middle of the night, trust me!

Guitar Picks

I like to bring a ukulele on my river trips, and I attempt to play it. “Attempt” being the key word. When there are more musically inclined folks on the trip, extra guitar picks come in handy.

Compass

In case I forget which way is downstream.

Allen Wrench

I carry one in my Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and another in my ammo can. These are essential in tightening up your stanchions before big rapids.

Here are the final few items you’d find in my can…

Dayquil/Ibuprofen
Emergen-C and Clif Bars
Pens and Sharpie
Band-Aids
Extra batteries
Gum

And last but not least…

Business Cards

Since I’m a professional (a professional who gets to raft down the river every day for work that is). And I want YOU to request ME for your next river trip with O.A.R.S.

The post What’s In YOUR Ammo Can? appeared first on River Currents.

Hi, O.A.R.S.,

I have taken 2 trips with you (the Tatshenshini River trip and the Chilco trip) and was last with you, on the Chilcotin, about 7 years ago. As then, I still have arthritis so am unable to paddle on a river trip, but the Grand Canyon trips always look wonderful from your pics and write-ups. I would especially like to go down that river in a dory.

Would that be possible for me? Would I be better suited, as I would have difficulty rowing, in a raft or is that, too, rather out of my capabilities?

Glad you are still taking people to these many places … Living where I do, in Nelson, BC, I have experienced much of the natural landscape so know how much these kind of offerings mean to an ever more human-imprinted world,

 — Cheers, Glenda

Dear Glenda,

The Tat and the Chilco/Chilcotin are 2 of the coolest rivers ever. The Colorado through the Grand Canyon is more than just an incredible river trip. It’s about the enchantment, being soaked in magic as well as cold water.

It’s just that good. You will love it, or I’ll eat my toque.

You don’t need to paddle, darlin’. Just dance with the water like you already have, and you’re in. I happened to pioneer Grand Canyon river trips for folks with disabilities, so I know what I’m talking about (for a change).

First off, dories are absolutely the most graceful and fun craft on the river. As Grand Canyon Dories’ founder Martin Litton once said: “They just BELONG!”.

There are plenty of places to hang on to in a dory (which is a good thing if I’m rowing), and they’re more comfy to sit in than most rafts. Padded seat. Wood handles. Backrest. Cup holder. Satellite radio. (Just kidding on those last 2).

I have to assume you have meds for your arthritis, and that all that rocking and rolling and leaning into the waves that your body hasn’t done in years is going to be OK after a pill and some sleep on a foam pad.

I also have to assume that you’ll be able to hold on in whitewater (like riding the hood of your car while going through the car wash), and if on the off-chance you end up in the drink, you can dog-paddle around in your life jacket until we pick your soggy behind up. Also that you can walk on sandy, sometimes rocky beaches at camp, just like on your previous rivers.

Riding in a dory is a bit more active than in a raft, since you have to keep the thing “trim” by leaning this way and that, and have to lean into the waves. I have taken some folks in dories that had a weaker grip on things. Come to think of it, I myself generally have a rather weak grip on things.

You just have to be honest with yourself, and with O.A.R.S., about your condition. I’d suggest a chat with Joy in the office, or she can direct you to my lovely wife, Carrie, who has joined me on several dory trips, as well as those original Jumping Mouse disabled trips. She’ll know the questions to ask, can help you evaluate whether you’ll be able to go or not, and whether or not you might consider bringing along a helper for camp.

If you end up going, the crew will need to be aware of your abilities and dis-abilities, so they’re prepared. They might want to put you in a bigger boat, or make sure the water levels will be right, or have a strong hand available to help out when needed.

I’m all about accessing the wilderness for all. I created and led the first Grand Canyon river trips for folks with disabilities, including paraplegic folks, people with M.S., M.D., C.P., all those acronyms. With a little pre-trip planning and thought, I’d say feed your soul.

(Come to think of it, I say that all the time).

— River God

The post Ask A River God: What If I Can’t Paddle? appeared first on River Currents.

My family of five will be going on the Middle Fork Salmon trip August 2. We all love to fly fish for trout. Question is should we bring fly fishing gear, is there room in the boats, and will there be time to do any fishing in the evening or other times?

— Thanks, Craig Adams

Dear Craig,

Asking if you should bring fly fishing gear to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is kinda like asking if you should bring your eyeglasses to the Miss America contest. Tums to the jalapeño festival? Mosquito repellant to Alaska?

If you don’t bring your fly gear with you, you will be kicking yourself. I’ll help. Get a license, make it happen. I’ll bet you dinner at Red Lobster you catch 10 fish a day. And that’s if you only fish at camp.

I know it’s your vacation. Gird your loins. Get up at dawn, before breakfast, and watch the spectacular sunrise while everyone complains about how much you whoop and holler at all those fish you’re catching. Get out your gear after the boats get into camp every afternoon and disappear with your favorite beer. I doubt you’ll have time to drink it.

If you fish off the raft during the day, make that 20 fish. Thirty? Rainbows, Browns, Brooks, Dolly Partons (or is that Varden?) … I’m no fisherman, but we’re talking THE premier trout fishing river in the world. Fishermen and women salivate at the mere mention. They often pay double to do it, too.

There’s room. They’ll make room. The eyeballs of most of our guides up there go a little goofy any time you mention fly fishing, dribble starts in the corners of their mouths. If they find out you’re crazy, too, they will take you in and teach you their secrets and maybe even share their single malt with you. Nuff said.

I like mine with garlic and butter.

— River God

The post Ask A River God: What If I *Really* Like To Fly-Fish? appeared first on River Currents.

Here’s a fact:

If you do a lot of whitewater river trips, you’ll hear stuff that, well, doesn’t make a lot of sense once you leave the river.

Here’s a short list of a few choice pieces of verbage: 

1. “You’re going to have to pull your pants up before you get back in the boat!”
   Not surprisingly, river currents that seem gentle can be, ah, strong.

   It’s not an everyday thing, but people have been known to lose their shorts to the whims of the river. Luckily, there’s a simple fix.

   Tie those suckers.

    

2. “Now it’s time to eat pudding with your face!”
   Family trips rock.

   One reason is because if the kids get messy, all you have to do is throw ‘em in the river for a rinse.

   Simple. Clean. Effective (and fun).

    

3. “When ancient map-makers wrote ‘The End Of The World’ on their maps, they were imagining this next rapid.”
   Guides have been known to, um, exaggerate.

   River stories are the imagination’s most fertile ground for tall tales. A big wave can easily turn into “a tsunami that blocked out the sun!” just moments after running it.

   Interesting fact: River stories get bigger and better details the farther away from the river you get.

    

4. “Actually, when we ran this at high water …”
   A continuation of the tall tales mentioned above, but high water stories are a special breed.

   After hearing a particularly good high water story, you’ll be convinced that everyone involved had just stepped out of Clash Of The Titans, and the river was overflowing because it was filled with unicorn tears.

    

5. “Today is going to be one of the greatest days of your life.”
   Ok, you won’t only hear that one on a river trip.

   But, on the river, you will hear it surprisingly often.

Got a personal favorite not on the list? Let us know in the comments.

The post 5 Things You Will Only Hear On A River Trip appeared first on River Currents.

Bas (short for Basilio) Cakaunivalu has been sharpening his whitewater skills over the past year and gaining hands-on experience on rivers across the western United States. In addition to heightening his reputation as a well-versed river guide, Bas has a range of other responsibilities, including: maintaining ties with native land owners (mataqali), promoting the company and sharing his love of culture with visiting travelers.

Look into the soul of this storytelling, island native in our regular series of guide interviews!

Tell us how you ended up becoming a river guide.

I was still out on my farm when Nate Bricker [Rivers Fiji co-founder] came to the highlands looking for volunteers from Nakavika village, boys that were interested in becoming a whitewater guide. Thumbs up to Moses Vokula for penning my name down, which I found out later that night when we were at our bachelor’s house in the village back in 1998. Most of our friends were laughing at us wearing helmets and PFDs on the river because being a whitewater guide was something very new to our area.

What do you enjoy most about being a guide for Rivers Fiji?

Meeting people from different countries and telling them stories about Fiji, mostly our traditional culture.

What do you do when you’re not busy being a river guide?

I work on damaged rafts and IKs [inflatable kayaks], go on marketing brochure runs, or take photos during river trips and sell them to the customers. I also work on my vegetable garden.

Last year you traveled to the U.S. to train on the rivers of the West. What was the most memorable part of your journey?

Probably rowing my own cat [cataraft] boat down the Tuolumne River at 6000 cubic feet per second; I also really enjoyed touring most of the national parks: Yosemite Valley, the Grand Tetons, Canyonlands and Yellowstone National Park. Not to mention, rowing my own raft down the famous Colorado River through the Grand Canyon for 16 days.

What do people enjoy most about the trips you guide in Fiji?

They really enjoy the scenery, waterfalls and rapids and local stories about the area and our Fijian culture. Last but not least, they enjoy the smiling faces of our river guides and their willingness to serve our guests with their utmost ability.

How has Rivers Fiji impacted your life and your community?

Rivers Fiji has taught me a lot about tourism and has taken me to the United States for leadership courses and further training on my whitewater skills. It provides free health treatment to the community, acts as a source of income and offers job opportunities for the community. It brings awareness to some of the villagers that own land inside our Upper Navua Conservation Area regarding the benefits on how to preserve our forest for future generations. It also helps educate our primary and high school kids on the importance of preserving our forest. We also run free educational trips about this and the Upper Navua Conservation Area for the school kids and other village people, additionally providing free transportation into town and to the put in where we drop off the equipment.

What do you envision can be the future for Rivers Fiji?

Rivers Fiji will get bigger and continue to help the community to preserve other beautiful areas around the country. It has become one of the most famous educational excursions in Fiji regarding the Ramsar site [An intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.]

Do you have any suggestions for how the Upper Navua Conservation Area should be preserved for the future?

Educating the future generations of the local communities about preserving the area and work closely with them to maintain good relationships. Also, encouraging and implementing an annual educational trip for the future generations that will become decision makers one day.

In your opinion, is there any way that we can help the mataqali take more of long-term interest in preserving the Upper Navua Conservation Area?

Yes, by educating them on the importance of preserving our forest and the side effects that will greatly affect their life in the future; by showing them pictures, posters, flyers and videos of the great dangers that will otherwise affect their future daily livelihood.

How can Rivers Fiji help the young people of the villages get more involved in the long-term preservation of their valuable resource?

By educating them about the importance of protecting these valuable resources with the help of some government ministries and NGOs, or organizing weekend camps to bring awareness to youth among different mataqali to bring about different opinions and perspectives; to instill in them the great importance of conservation in their life.

 Would you like to know more about Fiji? Got a question for Bas? Let us know in the comments!

The post Meet Basilio Cakaunivalu, Fiji Guide And Advocate appeared first on River Currents.