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| The "Big Tuna" 2014 Yellowstone |
Summary
Headwaters Kayak (Dan) and I have teamed up yet again in
2015 for another Yellowstone fishing expedition!! My crew and I can’t say
enough “THANK YOU’S” to Dan for how much he has helped out with our trips! He
has Sponsored us with everything from fish finders to Go pro’s and of
course geared our team up with the best fishing kayaks on the market!!!
As Always – Thank you Headwaters Kayak!
Every year my brother and I, with some family, try and find a remote
place in the USA to get away for a while, away from people and find some
extraordinary fishing and wildlife. We normally stick to forest service
wilderness areas but for the last 5 years we have been going back to Yellowstone.
This will be our 6th year in the backcountry of this wonderful
natural resource.
Years 1-3 we hiked in from the Bridger-Teton wilderness (90 mile ish
round trip)and crossed the southern border of Yellowstone to fish the
Yellowstone River for its native cutthroat trout. Years 4, 5 and now 6, we have
teamed up with Dan and Headwaters kayak to Kayak
across the lake, fishing the entire time, drop kayaks at the other side and
hike into the backcountry fishing the river. Then we turn around and make our
way back fishing as we go.
I have done a couple of write ups that Dan has posted that talk about
how we fish, what gear we use and the techniques we deploy to catch Lake trout
and Cutthroats. Take a look at the fishing blog for past discussions.
This year I would like to focus on “Camping from Kayaks”. I would
consider myself quite versed in hiking/camping gear…………………… and will leave the
advice on kayaks where it belongs, with the crew of Headwaters!
Camping From a
Kayak
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| 2014 Yellowstone Lake - Fist Night Camping |
I am, well, I was, primarily a backpacker, so I spent a lot of time and
money on my gear to save weight and space so that I could take 10-12 day trips
without being resupplied. That same gear has traversed well into being able to
camp from a kayak.
I take a lot of precautions placing my gear in the kayak. My backpack
goes in the front of my YAK, is tied down and a waterproof covering is placed
over it so it doesn’t get waterlogged. This works great on the Big Tuna since
it has a lot of open space on the front but is different for each YAK layout.
Other than making sure my gear is tied and/or placed inside the YAK the only
thing I really do different that when I am hiking is waterproof a bit more. I
waterproof anyway due to the weather we always encounter but I take a little
more precaution with some of my core gear placing it in safe a location. My
boots and other items not being used and not stored in my backpack are placed
in a heavy-duty sea to summit waterproof bag and put in the main storage
compartment.
Something to note, the gear that I will be sharing with you, I have
accumulated over the course of quite a few years of trial and error. The gear I
carry is light, effective and does not come at a cheap price. I have done many
hours’ research as well as field-testing on the trails but everyone is
different. For example, I love my boots, I do not get blisters and I will not
wear anything else (For now) because of their stability and because I DO NOT
GET BLISTERS!!!!! Everyone’s feet are different and just because some magazine says
certain boots are the best thing since sliced bread that doesn’t mean your feet
will like them! An ultra-lighter would tell you to buy trail shoes (Upgraded
Tennis shoes). With the weather I encounter I would never wear trail shoes but
to each their own.
Disclaimer : I am not an ultra light hiker, a section hiker, thru hiker or a
“go bag the next peak” hiker. I find places to go fishing that will be
difficult for others to get to so that I can be as far away from the grid as
possible, enjoy the wilderness and catch fish at the same time.
Core Gear: “They Say” – not
really sure who they are but, they say to start with your backpack, sleeping
bag and tent. On just these 3 items I have spent over $1000.00!
- My Pack – 2014 Gregory Boltoro
75.
- An ultra-lighter would tell me that I am crazy to have
a pack that weighs in at about 6lbs. I like its stability, how it forms
to my shape and the options it has in terms of storage.
- The new 2015 Boltoro 75 is sweet and weighs a lb less! Maybe next year I have already spent enough on other upgrades/necessities
- Sleeping Bag – Marmot Helium
- Temp rating at 15 degrees
- 850 goose fill down and
- Weighs in at just over 2 lbs.
- I like this bag, our trips are normally at high elevations so it can get quite cold even in the summer. “Quality Down” – don’t leave home without it.
- Tent – Big Agnes Copper Spur
UL3
- I split the weight with my brother and use a 2 person
tent on our trips. They say this is a 3 person tent but I do not know who
those three people were. My brother and I are both over 6ft and weight in
230 – 260 lbs. We fit in this one just fine with a couple of inches left
over
- Under 4lbs
- 2 Entry points– Nice for two people having their own
entry point
- 2 vestibules – IMPORTANT for keeping gear dry and
close at hand.
- This is a new tent so I will have to see how it holds
up over time
- ALWAYS use the company-designed footprint. This will
save from getting holes in the bottom as well as stop water from pooling
underneath your tent. It is well worth the extra cost.
Clothing:
I have to wonder
why God created Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes
can easily turn a wonderful trip into a miserable one. I am not a big fan of
the nasty buggers, I have run into them across the globe and I do everything
possible to keep them away from me!
I used to say that
the only thing that will keep the bugs away from me is 100% Deet. I really do
not like Deet but I like it better that being bit all this time so I have
primarily used it, especially when the bugs are bad. I am trying something new
this year, Permethrin treated clothed and ultrathin time released 34.6%deet
lotion. I have tested it in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains with good
results but the bugs were not bad. I will report back on how they do with the
Yellowstone Biting Buzzards!
Permethrin has also
been proven to repel ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, midges and is approved by
the EPA. That being said, I would like to note that I initially purchased the
spray bottle and sprayed my own clothing. I do not think it was very effective
so I did some more reading and the studies have shown that when manufactures
“Bind” Permethrin to the clothing it is very effective.
- Pants – Railriders Eco Mesh with Insect Shield
- I am really starting to like these pants. They have a
zippered leg section that opens exposing a mesh lining to let the air in
to keep you cool. AND KEEPS THE BUGS OFF!!! I saw a mosquito try and land
on my leg and it got close and then took off
- Pants for the Kayaking portion – REI Sahara
- They zip off into shorts. I wear the shorts portion on
the water and zip the legs back on when I hit land if the bugs are around
are around.
- I have a really old pair (7 years?) that the bugs
cannot bite through and they only weight in at 12-14 ounces. The newer
ones are not made quiet as well and the bugs can bite through them so
until they fail I use these. When they fall apart I will figure something
else out.
- QUICK DRYING
- Shirt – Railriders Journeyman with insect shield
- I don’t really like hiking with long sleeves but I
hate the bugs even worse so I have moved to a long sleeve shirt that
rolls up and buttons if needed
- Its great on the water as well, rail riders were
founded by a guy who sails and his gear was to stay cool and help keep
the sun off you.
- Underarm and torso mesh lining to keep you cool
- Back cape vent for additional breathability
- I like this shirt!!!!
- QUICK DRYING
- Underwear – Exofficio Give-N-GO
- 9’’ inseam
- Sports Mesh
- Treated with Aegis Microbe Shield to eliminate odor
causing bacteria
- Their gimmick is “500 miles of trail, 7 days, one pair
of underwear"
- These are awesome and well worth the cost
- QUICK DRYING
- For the Rain – It always rains on us, the only variable is how much
and how long. It has rained, hailed and snowed on us on our summer trips.
- Arcteryx Theta AR gore-text shell
- My favorite piece of gear
- Arcteryx
gore-tex pants
- Boots – Asolo TPS 520 GV – Yes they are heavy and they took me
about 20-30 miles of walking/hiking to break in but I like them!
- Full grain leather
- Waterproof with Gore-tex
- About 4lbs a pair – yes they are heavy but they are stable
and can handle the hiking I do.
- They are leather so I treat them with repellant each
time I go out. It really sucks if you get a heavy pair of leather boots
waterlogged.
- Shoes For Kayaking - I use
two different pairs
- Merrell lightweight shoes that double as shoes when I
have to do water crossings in the backcountry. They work good when I have
to take my boots off and cross a stream as well as when it is not too
cold on the kayak. I do not remember the name of them but they are
similar to the Bare Access 4
- When it is cold I use Kokatat Nomad Paddling Boots
- Kind of a pain to get on and off but they work!
The Rest of My Gear:
I am attaching a
spreadsheet (well i tried to attach it but i couldn't figure it out so i cut and pasted most of it) where I list and weigh all the gear that I carry. Please take a
look and feel free to post questions and I will do my best to answer in a
timely manner. I will be in Yellowstone from July 22 – August 2nd
so if you post then I will answer when I return.
Conclusion Kayak camping provides some pretty increadible experiences and i hope this write up helps those that want to get out for multiple night |
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| Yellowstone 2014 - What more can you ask for????? |
