Looking for the perfect present this holiday season? Our comprehensive holiday gift guide for kayakers is packed with top gear and innovative gadgets that any river enthusiast will love.
Whether you’re shopping for a seasoned kayaker or a beginner adventurer, these carefully selected items are sure to impress.
The Wish List
Patagonia Micro Puff Jacket
Stay warm on those chilly days on the river or during late-night campfires with the Patagonia Micro Puff Jacket.
Features:
Lightweight and packable
Fits comfortably under drysuits or PFDs
Available in various colors with options for hoods
Why it’s great: Customizable style and essential warmth for every river adventure.
Goal Zero Nomad Solar Panel
Keep your portable devices charged on multi-day trips with the versatile Goal Zero Nomad Solar Panel.
Features:
Available in different sizes
Price ranges from $60 to $400
Why it’s great: Efficient solar charging on the go—ideal for extended river trips.
If you’re looking for a definitive list of things to do in Missoula, you’ve come to the right place. At Zoo Town Surfers, we update our favorite activities throughout the year as we continue to explore and embrace the best our city has to offer. While the Internet provides endless details, here’s a basic guide to help you start your Missoula adventure!
Go Rafting!
When the summer heat kicks in, nothing beats a refreshing rafting trip. Local outfitters are ready to handle the logistics, whether you’re squeezing in a quick sunset float through Hellgate Canyon or planning a full-day excursion along the crystal clear Blackfoot River, just east of Missoula.
Go Hiking!
Discover the natural beauty of the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, located just north of Missoula. With endless hiking and biking opportunities available at your own pace, this area is a true gem. Please note, canine companions must be leashed within a few miles of the main trailhead.
Go Biking!
Rent a bike from your local shop and set off for an adventure on the trails. Explore Blue Mountain or venture back to Rattlesnake Recreation Area for some of the state’s best mountain biking. With diverse trails available, you’re sure to find a route that suits your style.
Eat Local Food!
Missoula’s dynamic food scene is a must-try, especially after a day of outdoor fun. In the summertime, visit the Saturday Clark Fork Farmer’s Market at Caras Park, right along the river. Also, don’t miss “Out to Lunch” every Wednesday from June through August, where food trucks and live music create a lively midday atmosphere. At Zoo Town Surfers, we’re happy to share our favorite local haunts—just give us a call!
Drink Local Beer!
No trip to Missoula is complete without sampling the local brews. After a river trip, unwind with a cold one from Big Sky Brewing Co. at their westside taproom near the popular Big Sky Brewing Co. Amphitheater. Enjoy Draught Works beer—often served alongside a food truck—and catch summertime shows at the new Kettlehouse Amphitheater on the banks of the Blackfoot River. For an after-work hangout, visit the Kettlehouse Southside taproom. And for a unique local experience, head downtown to Charlie B’s for a game of pool, classic cocktails, and a taste of southern fare at Dino Cafe.
Get ready to hit the water this season with our comprehensive guide to spring paddling gear. Whether you’re guiding a trip or enjoying a leisurely paddle, these 17 must-have items ensure you stay safe, comfortable, and ready for any adventure.
Essential Paddling Gear Checklist
1. Kokatat Dry Suit
An essential piece for working on the river and swimming in cold water, the Kokatat Dry Suit is a top choice for keeping dry and warm during your spring paddling trips.
2. Capilene Base Layer
Layer up with a Capilene base layer for superior moisture management and comfort, making it a perfect addition to your spring paddling gear.
3. Kokatat Dry Top
A versatile alternative if a dry suit is out of budget, the Kokatat Dry Top pairs well with Kokatat Bibs (see item #8) and works year-round.
4. Kokatat Habanero Unisuit
This unisuit is a favorite for its warm, lightweight design and reduced bulk around the waist, ensuring you stay comfortable on the water.
5. NRS Helmet Liner
Keep your head warm with the NRS Helmet Liner. If needed, a swim cap can be used as a budget-friendly alternative.
6. HydroFlask Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is key. Secure your HydroFlask water bottle inside your boat and enjoy refreshing sips throughout your journey.
7. A Sweet Helmet
A reliable helmet option that adds an extra layer of safety to your spring paddling gear.
8. Kokatat Bibs
When combined with the dry top, these bibs help keep you dry. They’re highly versatile and preferred over a dry suit for activities like prepping lunch, rigging boats, and rainy camp days.
9. Rescue PFD (Personal Floatation Device)
An industry standard for river guiding, the Rescue PFD comes equipped with a river knife, whistle (on an elastic band), and watch for added safety.
10. Neoprene Socks
Worn over your drysuit or bib socks, neoprene socks protect against pin-holes and wear from gravel and dirt.
11. Neoprene Mitts
These mitts are a must-have for keeping your hands warm in cold water.
12. River Booties/Shoes
Invest in a pair of secure, non-slip shoes or booties that won’t come off when you take a swim.
13. Salamander Guide Throw Bag
Always have a ready-to-go bag for quick access to essential items during your trip.
14. Ridgerest Sleeping Pad
Spoil yourself with comfort on shore by upgrading to a high-quality sleeping pad.
15. Sprayskirt
Keep the water at bay with a sprayskirt that ensures you stay dry and safely inside your boat.
16. Personal Lap Bag
Pack extra layers, snacks, sunscreen, and other necessities in your personal lap bag. We’ll dive into what to pack in another blog post. For a trusted option, check out Watershed Ocoee.
17. Gear Bag
Finally, organize all your spring paddling gear in a sturdy gear bag. Use carabiners to secure items and avoid separating your gear during washes.
By keeping these guide school tips in mind, you can launch your river guiding career with the right training. During guide school, you’ll learn essential skills that lay the foundation for a lifelong passion for river guiding. From mastering boat control to understanding basic river hydrology, every lesson is designed to boost your confidence on the water.
Embrace the Learning Process
Guide school tips:
Boat Control & Rowing: The first day may feel overwhelming as you adjust to handling oars. Remember, rowing can seem nonintuitive at first, but with practice, you’ll be navigating rapids with ease.
Understanding the River: Learning to read the river is one of the most challenging skills. With time and guidance from experienced professionals, you’ll develop an intuition for the water’s flow and behavior.
Guest Experience & Safety: The fundamentals of guest interaction and safety protocols ensure that every trip is both fun and secure.
No one is expected to be an expert right out of guide school. Instead, the focus is on learning basic techniques that serve as a stepping stone for continual improvement.
A Welcoming Community
The first day of guide school is filled with both excitement and a few nerves. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned whitewater veteran or new to the river, you’re joining a community united by a shared love for the water. The river community is known for its warmth, support, and eagerness to share knowledge. Experienced guides are always ready to help newcomers, ensuring that you benefit from their years of experience.
Tips for Navigating the Training
One of the more daunting aspects of guide school is learning how to maneuver the boat with oars. Initially, the oars might feel like an uncontrollable extension of your arms. That’s perfectly normal. With persistence and practice, you’ll soon find yourself handling even the most challenging rapids with style.
A critical skill developed during training is the ability to read the river. This skill, which can take years to perfect, is best learned by shadowing an experienced guide and asking plenty of questions. Understanding river hydrology is essential for safe and effective navigation at varying water flows.
Building Relationships for Long-Term Success
The most important goal of guide training is to build strong relationships with fellow guides. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, expert guiding skills develop over time through shared experiences, mistakes, and continuous learning. By forming connections with experienced guides who offer valuable insights and tips, you set the stage for rapid personal and professional growth.
Join the Adventure
Guiding is not just a career—it’s an adventure. Your enthusiasm and willingness to learn make it easy to create unforgettable experiences for your guests. Ready to dive in? Join a guide school today and become part of the most passionate river community on earth.
At the end of a long day on the river you’re gonna need to put some food in your belly. Camp cooking can seem like a chore at times but the payoff is well worth it.
You can choose cheap and easy or full gourmet. Sometimes the simplest meals can be the best.
Meal Planning and Preparation for Your River Trip
Prep work can be a camp cook’s best friend. Working in your home kitchen with the proper tools not only cuts down on cleanup but can move your dinner time hours ahead.
Pre-cooking tough vegetables like carrots or potatoes frees up more precious campfire and cocktail time.
Choosing the Right Ingredients and Equipment for Outdoor Cooking
Cooking on the open fire will always add to the flavor but you can’t just throw a meal in the coals and expect it to work out. Potatoes wrapped in foil and poked for venting will take hours, while corn (still in the husk) soaked in the water will be ready in 20 minutes. Plan ahead so you’re not eating raw veggies with an overcooked steak.
The Dutch oven is a tool all river rats should be familiar with. It could be breakfast, brunch or dinner. The Dutch is the perfect outdoor cooking tool. It’s a skillet and a pot, and anything you cook in an oven can be prepared in the Dutch. Don’t be afraid to experiment with recipes. It takes a couple of meals to learn your Dutch and cooking environment, but a basic rule of thumb for heat is to take the size of your Dutch and double that number for coals. Then pull four coals and place them on top. For example, if you cook in a 12-quart Dutch you will need 24 coals. Eight on bottom and 16 on top. When in doubt, wait until you catch your first smell of the food and load the bottom coals on top. If you’re looking, it’s not cooking – so let the heat do its thing! Keep the lid closed!
Safety Tips for Camp Cooking on the River
Washing the dishes is the most important part. No one wants to get sick.
It’s super easy to keep your kitchen clean and ready. The three-bin wash system has been used for years on many multi-day trips and is based on the same wash system seen in five-star restaurants. Hot water is your best friend. It’s nice on the hands and cuts grease down easily.
Sloppy meals like chili should use a four-bin system with two soapy (hot water), one rinse (cold or tepid water), and the last should be cold with a cap full of bleach in it.
Dishes should be air-dried and packed clean in the morning. Dutch ovens should be boiled with clean water with no soap, scrubbed clean, and oiled for the next use. No soap ever on your Dutch oven! Dish water then needs to be disposed of properly depending on your area.
The most important thing to remember is the camp cook is the hero. Even a PB&J is delicious when you’re miles from home, but a true home-cooked meal will keep you and your crew going all day long!
In today’s hyper-connected world, constant notifications can pull us away from real-life moments. A digital detox on the river offers the perfect escape—from both the digital noise and the everyday hustle—to truly reconnect with nature and loved ones.
The Need for a Digital Detox
We all know the distraction of an incoming text message during an important conversation. Whether in class, at the movies, or even during a quiet moment at dinner, that familiar “ding” can interrupt our focus and meaningful interactions. When someone breaks eye contact to check their phone, it can feel like their priorities are elsewhere. This modern distraction compromises genuine human connection and distracts us from our responsibilities, creative pursuits, and even our daydreams.
Even as I write this on my laptop while staying connected on a device that glows with fresh notifications, I recognize that technology is a double-edged sword. While it enriches our lives with convenience and connection, we must decide how much it intrudes into our most important moments.
The Healing Power of River Environments
Imagine a river trip where the only signals you receive come from nature itself. People flock to the river to feel the raw power of natural forces, to share meaningful moments with family and friends, and to infuse a little adventure into their lives.
While technology can help with safety and logistics, it should never distract from the true beauty of a river corridor.
Ask yourself:
How can anything on a screen compare to the beauty of a wild river?
Can you really savor the feel of water on your skin or the warmth of the sun while checking your phone?
When you’re surrounded by nature, put your phone aside. Look up, listen to the natural sounds, and feel every moment. By focusing on what’s real, you let go of digital distractions and immerse yourself in the present.
Embracing Mindfulness on the River
On the river, distractions fade into the background. The roar of whitewater, the laughter of friends, and the guidance of an expert crew create a unique space where mindfulness naturally thrives.
The familiar pull of social media or constant texting simply can’t compete with the immediate beauty and energy of nature.
Benefits of a digital detox on the river include:
Enhanced Connection: Build stronger bonds with friends and family by focusing solely on shared experiences.
Increased Mindfulness: Immerse yourself fully in the present, absorbing nature’s sights, sounds, and sensations.
Stress Reduction: Step away from the constant noise of digital devices and enjoy a peaceful, natural setting.
Ready for Your Digital Detox?
If you’re craving a true disconnection from digital life, join us this spring on the Lochsa River. With no cell service and no neon distractions—just wilderness and whitewater—this is your chance to experience a transformative digital detox on the river.
