Dirty Devil Packrafting in March

[regehr]

In March some friends and I floated the DD between Robbers Roost and Poison Springs, it was super fun!
https://blog.regehr.org/archives/1659

 

[b.stark]

Great trip. Going to have to get in on the packraft thing sometime soon myself.

 

[Titans]

Nice! The narrows in Happy Canyon look incredible and you got some nice reflections in the photos. Frozen wetsuit? Ugh.... I cannot even imagine trying to get back into that. What did you use on this trip? Like a 5 mm? shorty or full length? Did your feet stay warm enough in the neoprene boots?

 

[regehr]

@Titans: Tim and I had I think this model of wetsuit:
https://www.sierra.com/camaro-mono-voltage-shorty-wetsuit-3mm-for-men~p~9946j/
We looked like major dorks. And you know I'm not even sure a wetsuit makes sense-- there's no reason to get your upper body wet on this kind of trip. Something like waterproof pants+socks and then puffy layers on top would probably be quite a bit better. In the wetsuit (+ rain jacket / puffy jacket / puffy hat) we got a bit cold bit not too bad. My raft had a spray deck that kept me pretty nice and toasty, but I cooled off really fast when out in the wind.

Anyway I think hypothermia is a legit risk in early season and makes sense to take it pretty seriously...

Also it's not really clear a PFD makes sense, since the water was rarely more than waist deep and probably almost never over our heads. The only way to drown would be to get hit on the head, which would also be difficult.

I had some super nice NRS neoprene booties with thick soles that were totally awesome, they never came off even in the worst quicksand. However, the zippers (even those big fat ones) were really getting jammed up with sand.

 

[o2bav8]

I've been wanting to do that for a while! Looks like a blast...