I run a 12 foot 1.5 inch wide NRS strap widthwise as a belly strap under the boat and over the top of the rear thwart. So basically all the way around the boat with the buckle on top so I can have a quick release if it ever got hung up. Boat gear weight was over 150 lbs but not exceeding 200 lbs. I definitely took a lot of gear. Typically re-flipping my raft only requires grabbing that belly strap hand over hand like you would get into an upright raft with a cheat line. But with the heavy gear I had to at least get both knees on the upside down raft and then just leveraged the boat back over with the belly strap. This allowed me to flip my boat back over in just 15 seconds my first flip and climb back in and start paddling in just 10 more seconds. A speedy reflip wasn't my priority though. Neither was preventing a flip. My main priority was to stay with the boat if I did flip by grabbing my perimeter line. I recommend for my own boat a full perimeter rope line at max diameter of 1/2 or 5/8 inch. This is my main defense to stay with my boat. I grab this line just about everywhere around my boat especially upfront so it is super handy. Sidenote on reflipping rafts - my methodology is that I want a system that I could still flip my boat back over and climb in even if I sustained a minor/major injury. Having a full width strap across the thwart really gives me this piece of mind. Even if I am beyond tired from swimming after my boat at the wave park I can still hand over hand - brace my elbows - and get myself back into my raft. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I did take a RSQ Link emergency transponder. This was looked down upon from the ranger as my only way of communicaiton. It wan't enough but it passes the requirements. On my permit check off list that the ranger gives you that day SPOT/RSQ Link/InReach/GrdtoAir are in that check off. A satellite phone was what the ranger wanted to see. It made me think twice about having a sattelite phone. Down there the most important tool is to contact a helicopter and give an accurate location. You can have a chopper down their in 2 hours. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- My gear was heavy because I took a lot. I definitely didn't pack like a solo kayaker. The main weight is that I took 20 days of food at 2.5 pounds per day totaling 50 pounds. I took no stove or fuel. My food was soaking buckwheat 2 meals at 1/2 pound each. 1/2 pound dried bananas. 1/2 pound dried mango. 4 oz pouch tuna. almond butter pouch. And Repeat. Two screw top Nalgene food containers and a spoon was my only utensils necessary. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I used 2-10L MRS Dromedary bags for water and filled them full each day totaling 45 pounds. I brought a 5 gallon bucket to settle out sediment with alum powder but never needed to since the river wasn't that brown. I did clog both my filters by the very end of the trip though. At the put-in someone told me that alum powder is nasty toxic stuff so I just didn't use any. I had a katadyne and an MSR hand pump water filter. ------------------------------------------------------------------- I wore my drysuit with thin thermal longjohns and longsleeve. I used my helmet to douse myself every 5 minutes to stay cool. The water is frigid so that was easy to stay cool even in 100 degree heat. That water is so cold that in street clothes you will hit the point of no return at the 10 minute mark if you haven't made a huge concerted effort to get yourself to shore or have a team fish you out. A guide lost his live in that exact scenerio. So I wanted to make sure I could spend at least 30 if not 60 minutes full submersion if I had to swim after a runaway raft. I did bring a 3-4 wetsuit as a backup if my drysuit tore or had zipper issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------- A cot would be ideal for hot weather camping but I can only sleep if I am in a tent. (tent, sleeping bag, groundcloth, therma rest, full pillow). I used a full sized ammo can for a groover and insert it into a NRS Bill's Bag so it wont scratch or wear my boat. My 50 pounds of food set on the floor in the front compartment and my ammo can was in the back compartment. My light weight yet bulky sleeping gear is that yellow bag on top of the rear compartment. Weird FYI, the 50 pounds that was upfront as dried food will become 50 pounds of weight in the rear ammo can. So rearranging weight may need to take place. Grand Canyon requires ammo cans or schedule 40 fully glued and sealed with screw top opening tubes for kayakers. I haven't made one yet but that is the way to go because solo kayakers get the green light when using this system that basically turns your PVC pipe into a depository for wag bags that are easily disposed of at the end of your trip. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I used a one gallon plastic apple cider jug as a pee container while on the boat and in camp. This makes awkwardly standing up in your raft or walking to the rivers edge while in camp way simpler. It did decompose over the 16 day trip and leaked on me which was not cool. So I now use 64oz Walmart cheap Ozark Trail $15 stainless steel water bottle that can be carbinered easily to my raft. --------------------------------------------------------------------- I brought 2 k-pumps just incase one crapped out because sand gets everywhere. My first aid kit was moderately small and that was noted by the ranger. I did review there first aid kit list and had what was needed though. There are some essentials though that need to be taken down to check off. A signal mirror and the two orange x's need to be made by purchasing those cheap as orange Coghlan's Tube Tent and cut two panels to size. I didn't need a hands free wash station or the 3 tube dishwashing set up because I didn't have any food prep. Be prepared to have these items in a simple or light weight set up just incase. Kitchen Tarp was just my tent ground cloth so that checked out. Kitchen Strainer was needed. You also need at least 1 wag bag or aka hiker toilet. The other requirement that gets overlooked is the PFD's. if any tear or crack in a buckle or any part is not functioning like new that pfd will not check out. This could leave you driving to flagstaff to get a new pfd. That goes for the spare pfd that must be brought. Have a backup plan if that ratty but easily stowable pfd is the one you want for your spare. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I took 2 75 foot spectra NRS throw ropes. Not really a river to get pinned on but having two ropes is piece of mind when rigging at night and the water is coming up and you don't want to worry about your raft not being there in the morning. That extra length always allowed me to tie to something bomber. I always take a good sized wrap/pin kit attached to ,my perimeter line for easy access. I took a decent repair kit. Spare valves and valve tool (know that you can always take from a thwart too!) I took 3 spare paddles. I use the Carlisle Outfitter. They are a touch tougher than the cheaper model but I can bend them way too easy when my boat is so heavy. I don't have the j-stoke with any other paddle so this puts me into a pinch of not being able to take full powered strokes for fear my paddle will snap. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Besides rain gear and warm weather gear if the monsoons started to pour on me that is about what I can remember. I took a DSLR camera for pictures. GoPro. 3 Batteries. Goal Zero Charger. MP3 player. I didn't really need sunscreen because I was always covered head to toe and wore a buff around my neck and Outdoor research sun hat to cover my ears. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I took the most common grand canyon guide book with a clear dry bag that made having it always visible easy. I also took down 500 printed pages from google earth of all the rapids and camps. I just posted a video turning that into a digital guide to the grand canyon that you can download from my google drive. Here is the link to the video. The video is 3 hours but if you get the gist of what I compiled it is worth just downloading from the description and have at the ready. You can easily scout rapids from the photos and look at camps to make your choice of where to stay. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any other questions shout out. I really like to comment because it makes me a better guide and teacher. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mptnZ7xpldGmlHU.html

@@r1-ing super helpful write up thanks for taking the time. What size boat are you in? I have a sb105 rmr, I’d like to learn to r1 like you do…. No river park near me in Asheville tho, any tips?

@@44bluecrew44 This boat is NRS High 5 no longer made (NRS made boats out of urethane for a few years - Revolution or Osprey Series) Dimensions are real similar to your storm 10 foot length 5'3" width 19"tubes. I would take your boat to nearest lake. It seems most towns have lakes within 5-10 minutes away. So an outing wouldn't take more than an hour. A lake has the best advantage in that it has no moving water. You provide the only momentum. You can get a guage of how ineffecient your paddle pry stroke is. Then make some improvement. But mainly you can practice turning the boat both directions with your paddle pry stroke which is the skill you will be using to ferry across wave trains in harder rivers. Learning to kayak is no different. Starting in a lake or pool allows kayakers to just figure out how to keep the boat going straight and basic turns. The big key to R1 is to get your paddle/pry stroke down so you feel like you can generate a bit of momentum. What is needed is a really strong and quick pry stroke to get the boat to track straight with out loosing all of your momentum. Guiding paddle rafts and solo canoeing are the two places people practice and perfect the paddle/pry. Because a solo canoe is so long and tracks so well the pry can be way more relaxed and even be like a soft rudder after each forward stroke to keep the canoe tracking straight. But with R1 the pry has to be very forceful and deliberate. I just made a tutorial video on how to paddle pry. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ntCcYLl70LDKXZ8.html I am practicing on my off side so I give tips that help me which would help people new to R1. Guiding paddle boats even tho you use your crew to power the boat a paddle and real solid pry is necessary to keep the boat straight. I bring up solo canoeing and guiding paddle rafts because most people that R1 rafts usually have a minimum of 2 seasons in those other activities. I don't know your prior experience but I am really curious if complete beginners to could figure out the paddle pry after a few sessions. My goal this summer is to get good at paddle pry on my off side. And my strategy is to take my boat to the lake a handful of times. So that is my best advice!

@@r1-ing unfortunately I will be a poor sample case for your study as I have two years paddle and oar guiding experience on the Arkansas river in CO… I can solo stick pretty much every rapid on the upper bighorn, class 3’s and below. R2’d plenty, but never been in a boat all by myself without an oar frame!

​@@44bluecrew44 Nice! If you decide to get after it let me know how many outing it takes to feel like you can generate momentum reliably. I decided to give R1 a shot when I saw boat after boat paddle with just one person go through Pillow Drop in West Virginia. I saw them paddle one rapid but knew they were able to handle the entire stretch. I was truly amazed. I did run 4 easy stretches of the New river before feeling confident to take my skills to the New River Gorge. So that was my progression. The paddle pry momentum thing is the most important. But after that is getting good at high siding. That is the big difference between R2 or oar framing small rafts. If you expect to sit in your seat while you paddle big breaking waves I find its difficult to square up without feeling like I'm going to tip over. I always paddle in strong then jump for the front or set up a high side to get through most big features. That element of R1 I find the most exciting. Oh, FYI, a lot of those R1 boats in West Virginia were full size 14 foot rafts paddled from the back guide seat. So no one says you have to R1 from the middle. Just a thought. I bet it would be pretty easy to throw a bunch of weight in the front of your storm and R1 off the back. That would give you some options and a way to ease into getting momentum with the paddle pry.

The time index is as next level as R1'ing the Grand Canyon! Great video - thank you!

Thanks Man! I appreciate that you enjoyed your time watching it. I got the idea to show the entire trip from watching Brave Dave's Big Fat Freight Hop. Also at 2hrs I was so amazed at how captivated I was to get that perspective of someone's life for a few days.

@@r1-ing Random question: What mechanism did you use to fasten your GoPro to your paddle's T-grip?

@@Timbarooh I used a GoPro Handle Bar Mount. This video will show you how I set it up - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r7-Th5eqv8ubnYE.html - Amazon sells them for $6.99 and has a bunch of different options for cheap - www.amazon.com/Bicycle-Accessories-Handlebar-Seatpost-Cameras/dp/B076J6QNM3/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2NESPR3V18PUV&keywords=go+pro+handle+bars+mount&qid=1558031865&s=gateway&sprefix=go+pro+handle+ba%2Caps%2C225&sr=8-10-spell

1:33:00

Hey thanks! I hope you decide to put in for a permit! If your crew has dry suits a lot of boaters have easy success pulling in February & March. I checked the data and end of August was easy for me. Anyway, if you ever want to go boat something give me a holler. I am in Helena which is pretty landlocked for people to boat with but makes a good take off point for a lot of rivers around MT.

Sounds good. Thanks! Maybe we’ll catch up one of these days!

Thanks for the support! It has been just this last year that I have just started putting effort into paddling on the opposite side. Not necessarily for fatigue but because some surf waves would require that for staying on their waves. The short of it...its like trying to mix batter in a bowl with your opposite hand. It makes you feel like you are a kindergartener again. For me it is really hard. I could try to do the Lochsa top to bottom on my offside but it would be a SHow. My latest attempt: @ 5:49 I try Old Man on my off side kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mcqelZhp29i9oHU.html And @ 0:20 I can't make the right to left move at House on the lochsa kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ntCcYLl70LDKXZ8.html That video in it entirety is devoted to trying to speed up the process of getting good at offside paddling. My latest video is my secret sauce for trying to accelerate my skills on my off side because I really want to learn to catch and hold a surf from my off side. That would be cool. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kKqVjayKq9C7aIE.html

Thanks for the comments! I also compiled google earth images for each rapids & camps. Can Drop Box them if want. Only really need rapids over GC class 5 rating. Aerials allow you to surgically run a rapid when all you have to look at is a horizon line. I used GoPro3+ with 3 backup batteries & Nomad 13 by Goal Zero. Charged one dead battery & music 2 hours each morning. Religiously turn off camera after every rapid or set min time else battery won't last later in day for the rapid you actually wanted to film and your micro usb could be 2 hours fuller. Brought $50 GoPro knock off as backup camera and 128 + 64GB microSD. No smart phone so used a waterproof Fuji Camera on the boat and $500 Costco Nikon camera off the boat. Don't know what an accu is but hope I answered your questions.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r7-Th5eqv8ubnYE.html this is my video on my gopro placement. I imagine a similar thing could be made for a packraft. just looked this up. This might be for you. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jdegidiaqLHSiHU.html Kayakers with hard mount a post on the back of a kayak to get that view. I used a goal zero charger and would use the last two hours of the evening or even just the first two hours of the morning to keep everything charged. Gopro batteries, dslr camera batteries, & music device. I would even experiment putting it low and just to the side of you. You could have it outriggered quite a bit. It might go through the waves tho and you would be looking into the waves. Maybe wont work but I will say I do not like when people just mount it to the front and face the camera backward. I like brain storming too so I have always wanted to mount a gopro on my helmet at about a foot or a foot and a half back to see if you could capture that 3rd person. If you have two gopros or another cheap action camera. One on the helmet and one on the boat is best for big rapids. Because if you fall out or the boat flips over you can capture the footage of reflipping you packraft. I need to get a helmet mount and start doing that. I brought 3 batteries but had august 100 degree heat. If the weather is cool in march and april be thinking or aware that camera batteries can get zapped in cold weather. So I would put them in your sleeping bag or even have shorts pockets that you could keep your batteries on you and warm and access them through the crotch of you drysuit. Might be unnecessary but I have been bummed trying to get winter footage and they only last 20 minutes. April on the lochsa I always want to get every rapid (10+) and the warmups but that is always pushing it for one battery. And then have a plan what you want to record and what you don't. Like, I really wanted to document every rapid because no one did that. But most that rapids aren't worth watching twice. So footage of every scale 5 and up would be what you would want at least for your personal footage. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i7GWhdtl39HPYGQ.html this is a video I put together of my grand canyon gear list and all the nuances of getting you gear checked and what to bring. Have a Fun Trip!!

I totally forgot about bringing power supplies to charge your devices! I never had them when I went down the grand but now have 2 small Anker power supplies. $25 on Amazon (10,000 mAh) & they can charge 5 go pro batteries (1,720 mAh). So A really good solution would be buy a few of these or borrow some from your friends. Seems like everyone has them but no one uses them. Don't even need to be at camp to charge. Just hook it up and toss it in a dry bag.

Helena, MT If you are ever this way in the spring. I really recommend the Lochsa!

It’s for sure on my list! I spent some time in Lolo a few years ago. 2024 is going to be a multi day R1 filled year out west. Let’s put it together!

I bought the boat with frame and oars. But discovered R1 paddling so I never use it. On all multidays I just load gear right on inflated floor. Up to 100 pounds in front compartment just right on floor. In some ways that helped keep the boats center of gravity low through large rapids. But with a alpacka I imagine you don't want all the weight directly on that floor or any for that matter. And so it seems like a frame to keep gear low is what your going for but not pushing down on the floor. Or maybe you are wanting to oar a tandem alpacka. I like commenting so if you want to go back and forth on this thread. Let me know... I think this might help...the grand canyon is such a long trip. 280 miles that the self supported kayakers and solo kayakers run minimal gear, food, etc. And make the trip in 6-8 days. So if that sounds like your trip and mindset I would look to see the other videos of self supported alpacka trips. For me in a 10 foot raft doing 18 days the gear adds up. So my only recommendation is that you do a multiday prior to running the grand. And if that is not an option. I would run a at least 3 solid class 4 day trips with all the gear you would be taking down the grand with you. The two elements here are running a weighted boat that moves differently...but after getting used to it can be a benefit because it can be less flippy. But the other element that will get sorted out will be just figering out how to strap all the necessary gear to a smaller boat. Even in my 10 foot raft it was my 4 multiday but I still found it difficult to get all the gear I needed for a 18 day trip nicely strapped to my boat. Anyway, hope some of this helps and again...let me know!

@@r1-ing this is a big trip… 25 days with big raft support. My girlfriend and I just prefer to hit the big water in our tandem. The alpacka has a waterproof zippered hull which will carry quite a bit of Our gear, (despite the raft support)… mainly because of the added weight. We have done big water multi day trips up to class 4 in the tandem and it does become less floppy with weight. The idea behind the “frame” is solely to prevent this phenomenon of “taco-ing” when we hit bigger drops. Sometimes on the entry into the drop the boat will bend for a split second creating a folding sensation. The boat always recovers well, it’s just a momentary jolt that I was thinking a frame could prevent. Thanks for your reply. Your video is inspiring and the way you talk to us/yourself about the rapids is stellar.

Canoe & Kayak wrote and article about my trip which might gleam my inspiration to R1 solo the Grand Canyon - candk.me/R1solo - I am a very introverted person so I thrive on solo adventure. Filming while solo is sure a nice way to break the fourth wall and feel a strong sense of company while out there all alone. Packing up my boat late each morning, 20 miles days, setting up camp in the shade, listening to music, reading some book before bed & repeat. I was actually surprised that I didn't really have a ton of downtime. That definitely helped to not feel lonely.

In what boat & rivers have you paddled your hardest multi & day trips? Which ones solo?

@@r1-ing All of my experience to date has been sea kayaking in an eddyline fathom. The rafting experience that I have has been inside of larger rafts on organized trips by professional companies. I will be gaining pack rafting experience on three trips prior to the GC, but don't know which raft will be a better choice for me yet since my experience has in been kayaks to date.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to get back to me!

My choice would be the Alpacka Gnarwhal. Alpacka's store gear inside tubes, right? Size of gear, not weight will be the limit of self-supported kayaking. Self-bailing is best choice. You will be wearing a drysuit and need to dress for 1/2-1hr river exposure in event the you lose and swim after your kayak. Standard floor will just pool water and dumping water on shore is not an effective option because in general you don't paddle to shore on the grand because of massive boils and eddies. The Alpacka Forager seems like a true tandem and very difficult to outfit a reliable cockpit for solo paddling. If a large & more reliable kayak is your route a self-bailing inflatable kayak from any top brand will be better balanced, can haul gear, crash waves, is indestructible, and way easier to get back on top of when thrown out. I need to get a better understanding of your river running experience to I can sleep well at night knowing that you know what your are taking on. A Very Limited Experience / January / Solo / Packraft / First Hopefully Not Final Descent / Of The Grand Canyon. What are the three trips you are planning prior to running the Grand? What things on those trips are you hoping to take away to being better prepared to run the Grand? Basically, where are you now and where do you think you need to get to be ready? I didn't know if you were a spam account because your inquires seamed like you have a very limited understanding of river running and equipment. I am open to give you any information that can help you out. Did you submit for review and get an approval for your application including your river experience titled 'Qualified Boat Operator'? With no solo or trip lead rafting or river kayak experience I would not approve your application. Here is my submission as 'Qualified Boat Operator' to review my application to solo the Grand, Qualified boat-operator river experience: 2017.2016 TL Middle Fork Salmon R1 - 2015 TL Hells Canyon R1 - 2015 Guide.R1 Lochsa 12 trips - 2014 Guide.R1 Alberton Gorge 18 trips - 2012-13 Guide.R1 Skykomish 29 trips - 2012-13 Sea Kayak Guide 1-6 Day Trips - 2011 Guide Wenatchee 39 trips - 2006-7 Guide Gallatin 169 trips - Swift Water Rescue Technitian SRT-1 2006.2012.2013.2014 - Wilderness First Aid 2012 Questions to ask, Do I know how to repair my packraft & drysuit from tears and malfunctions? Do I know that losing my paddle or boat after a flip can lead to permanent separation and mandatory self/air evacuation. Do I know that there can be days of separation between January parties to rely on in an emergency. Do I know that river rangers prefer trips to be equipped with a satellite phone for emergencies? Do I fully understand the massive boils and eddies in the Grand that can drastically increases boat separation exposure times? Do I fully understand that something as small as a sprained finger or back spasms can permanently halt my progress. Have I taken and practiced swift water rescue where I feel confident in navigating by swimming any rapid in my course to effectively aid in another or my own self rescue? And at anytime during my planning do I know what I don't know to make the decision Not To Go?

@@r1-ing Hi David, If you have time to shoot me an EMail at jlraley@coe.edu I would love to share more details regarding exactly what I have planned for my three trips to get more advice from you. I am not at all opposed to pushing back the trip a year and reapplying for a permit since I will have such limited experience. With that being said, I also want to find a way to allocate both my time and finances effectively in preparation for the GC, so some recommendations regarding good trips for me to take prior are greatly appreciated.

RiverMaps Colorado River in the Grand Canyon 7th Ed. Guide Book - purchased from NRS. It only gives brief descriptions on how to run the rapids. No rapid topos. This is why I printed my own from Google Earth. I used every single topo I printed. I liked the guide book because it has precise topo lines of the surrounding canyon making pinpointing your location super easy!

@@r1-ing Thanks for the tip. I am new to the river scene so, just trying to figure things out. I am actually just leaving the house for a five day trip through Cataract Canyon. Guided. This is an educational trip for me as much as anything. Dude, your technique is incredible to watch. One can learn ALOT by watching what you are doing here. The camera angle gives the viewer an nice shot of the river too. Very valuable and informative. Nice job! Cheers!

@@ceb4382 Hey Thanks! I appreciate that! Hit me up for any boating related questions you might have down the road. Enjoy Cataract!! Sounds Awesome! One helpful tip to help you retain more about the rapids then the average customer is try and watch all the boats in your party go through the rapid. Look for where they set up and where they go. See if your boat took a slightly different line. Then look back and try to watch the other boats go through even if to just time a glance to see them run the big parts. Do this because when you paddle your own boat with a group of people running rapids can be as easy as follow the leader and watch out for people behind you.

@@r1-ing Thanks, I will do that. I will be rippin' up like you are doing here in these vids in no time! lol Take care, Brotha!

Its a discontinued Revolution Series raft by NRS called the High 5. Made from urethane. Most similar boats would be Hyside Mini Max, AIRE trib 9.5 or Cub, RMR Storm or Cloud, Star high 5, or if you only have $900 the Saturn 9.6' would work just fine too. Here is NRS's boat specs. Very handy to compare size, weight, tube diameter of most models - www.nrs.com/learn/boat-specs

Since most the harder rapids are 5-8 with only a couple being 9 I considered those the Hard Class 4's were things can go wrong and I needed to pay a lot of attention. If I wasn't sure of my line I would definitely scout the 7's & 8's but read and run the 5's and 6's because I knew the routes fairly well from aerial topos that I printed out for each rapid. So consider 1-4's a fun time. 5-6 Pay Attention! And 7-9's scout if necessary and know the Consequences. Be ready for that first day though. Badger & Soap are 5's but they are steep and long and are a serious wake up call. Badger has a huge boat flipping hole that is hard to avoid at the top of the rapid. Day 2 the Roaring 20's are super fun and a lot different. Short, Steep, and Powerful! They introduce wild boat eating eddy lines at the bottom of each rapid. Those two days set a real good tone and confidence for the later rapids.

Hey I appreciate it! THank You!

You are most welcome. I guided on the Colorado for years, and your video was a joy too watch🕉️‼️