Friday, November 26, 2010

Grand Canyon trip equipment supplier

http://www.CanyonREO.com/

and some useful links that I'm modifying this post with
(there were on NPMB and useful to me and others over the past year for getting useful beta about GC trips)
http://www.npmb.com/cms2/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?164593.pos

http://www.npmb.com/cms2/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?158914.0

http://www.npmb.com/cms2/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?186512.0

and always worth doing a search on MountainBuzz.com

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Housatonic

by Arshile Gorky



is in tonights Sotheby's Contemporary Art auction
(estimates between $800,000 and $1.2 million)

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=41971

Friday, November 05, 2010

Grand Canyon launch date December 19

My friend pulled a permit last month for a Grand Canyon trip. In truth, I got a permit, and another friend on this trip got a permit. Three of us had applied, thinking we might have a chance to go this winter. Apparently the usual plans for Christmas and New Year's Eve are more exciting than a Grand Canyon trip, for most people. Considering how long many people wait to get on the canyon, I am a bit surprised that we were actually turning down two permits so we could all go on one.

After the initial excitement/confusion we decided that everyone on this trip needs to have a drysuit. I can't imagine winter paddling without one. I've used bibs that roll into a drytop, but it still does not compare to the comfort and actual dryness of a drysuit. I have an NRS Inversion Drysuit, that works well. A few people have Kokatat Meridian Drysuits, and we will order some of the new Level6 Barrier Drysuit

Two weeks (or more) in a drysuit made me wonder how to keep clean and dry. A drysuit will keep the river water out, but there is bound to be perspiration that will not totally escape, no matter how "breathable" a suit it. After hearing several suggestions of alcohol, or other wipe down scenarios for feet, pits, etc, the simplest solution came from a local Housatonic River paddler who was on the canyon two winters ago. He brought a new pair of wool socks for every day of the trip. Foot rot is a real issue for boaters. I thought that this sock idea made perfect sense. I'm going to add one or two extra layers of polypro base to be kept with the clean socks. Having a dry, clean base layer will go a long way towards maintaining comfort and cleanliness.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch