Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M 33 LISTEN TO THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ADVICE ABOUT WATER. You need at least one gallon per day per person. Not only is water needed for drinking, but for doing dishes, washing hands, brushing teeth, and cooking. Bring food that doesn't require much water in its preparation (see number 9). FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD. For the three-day float, you need two suppers, three lunches, and two breakfasts. For the first night, bring a frozen dish like chilli, home-made hamburgers, or pulled pork. It will have defrosted just in time for supper. For the second night, choose something that won't spoil in the heat. If you boil some pasta in advance for 2 to 3 minutes less than the time stated on the package, cool it, and pack it into Ziploc bags (see number 10), you can heat it up with pesto, pine nuts and parmesan for an easy supper that doesn't require any of your precious water (and only one pot). Dry salami, hard cheeses, bread, and fruit keep well for lunches. Trail mix with M&Ms is a good on-board snack — the M&Ms provide energy and entertainment for the kids (swapping green for yellow or counting how many reds in each handful). Mornings can be chilly, so instant oatmeal is the perfect breakfast. Dried milk is handy as it's light and doesn't go off. YOU CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH ZIPLOC BAGS. ey were invented for this trip! ey keep dry food dry. Bring extra. KAYAKS TO THE RESCUE. One of our friends brought along his kayak. e kids loved it for its speed and closeness to the water. It also helped prevent blisters by giving small hands a break from canoe paddles. Because kayaks use a whole different set of muscles, the kids also found it gave them a bit of a rest. FACTOR IN AN EXTRA NIGHT. We did the 42-mile trip in two nights and three days according to BLM guidelines. But paddling with small children is slower and the distances take longer to cover. Having two nights in the same spot means you can do some hiking and exploring on land. BRING THE LEWIS AND CLARK DIARIES. We read these out as we went. For the kids to hear descriptions of the cliffs and scenery they had just paddled past unchanged from 200 years ago really brought history to life. GATHER FIREWOOD AS YOU GO. Many of the campsites have very little, if any, firewood. You will appreciate the wood when it comes to s'mores time. If you find a long stick, hang onto it. You can use it to pat down any long grass before pitching your tent. is ensures you don't accidentally lie on a rattlesnake. DISCUSS THE DREADED 'POOP TUBE'. is National Park has a strict 'pack in, pack out' policy. If you camp at a primitive campground with no latrine, make sure you arrive prepared. Our group of kids loved the idea of the 'poop tube'. We didn't have to use it in the end as we chose campgrounds with toilets. e adults won that one! Go up the lazy river with dogs: www.distinctlymontana.com/river162 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

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