A River Guide's Advice

An extra pair of dry socks would go good right about now!

If you're unsure about any part of RiverWatch, the best place to get information is from an expert source - a RiverWatch guide. These skilled professionals make a living being on the river, day after day, in good or bad weather.

Here's what one guide - Stu - recommends for staying comfortable out on the river:

The Secret

Enjoying the day comes down to staying warm and dry.

A typical day at River Watch can involve any type of weather. Enjoying the day may come down to staying warm and dry.

The secret to staying comfortable out on the river is having the right clothes and then constantly adding or losing layers as the weather changes. Here's what I mean about clothes constantly going on and coming off…

Pants - check. Long-sleeved shirt - check…

Getting Dressed

I'll start off most days with a basic pair of pants, a long sleeved shirt, a sweater and windproof jacket. If it's chilly, I'll start with my long underwear and also throw on a toque.

Early Morning

After we've overviewed the day and prepped for the trip with the whole group, I'll usually lose the sweater (a PFD will add a little extra insulation), but keep a light jacket on to keep out the wind. I always have a pair of gloves handy, because paddling is cold on the hands even on good mornings.

Afternoons

Pants - check. Long-sleeved shirt - check…

If the sun peaks out, out comes the sun hat and shorts. If the winds pick up and the clouds come in, I'll put on my storm jacket and storm pants to keep myself dry during any rain.

Paddling Generates Heat

My sweater is a key ingredient I take on and off as my activity level changes. For example, if we're working hard paddling the rafts, I won't need the sweater to keep warm. In contrast, I'll put it on while I'm sitting down for lunch so that I don't lose all the warmth I generated while paddling.

Rainy Days

I bring two sweaters on days that look like one of those long rainy days. There's nothing worse than sitting on a raft on the river, being wet and having a cold wind come along and make you feel miserable.

Being able to layer-up under a good rain jacket (which River Watch can provide you for the day), throw on a toque and a pair of gloves makes it hard for even the toughest weather to ruin the day.

Toasty Feet

Inevitably, my feet get wet, so having a spare pair of wool socks to switch into part way through the trip is icing on the cake!