No Cotton Underwear
“Here is our packing list for the Grand Canyon. I printed it off for you.”
These were the passive-suggestive words from my husband as he handed me the seven-page, double-sided list of trip-prep instructions.
His bucket list trip, a two-week rafting excursion through the Grand Canyon, was now just weeks away. A trip that has long been on our horizon was suddenly a reality.
And I needed to pack.
We won’t be completely roughing it under the watchful eye of a seasoned tour company, but careful planning is still required. With our bodies ready for rafting and hiking, we now needed the gear for 14 days on the Colorado River in the Arizona elements.
Overpacking is not an option. We are limited to one small dry bag (to take with us on the rafts) and another personal bag for the night (slightly larger).
Living in Durango, Colorado, we have access to most essentials in town, but others will require ordering online and waiting. My typical waiting-until-the-last-minute packing routine won’t work for this trip.
Knowing my inclinations, I took the printed list as a gentle spousal nudge to get the party moving.
As a frequent paddleboarder and hiker, I was confident that many of the items could be checked off the list (pink highlighter handy) and then added to an accumulating stack of gear in Garrett’s office. The added nuance was a tip I got from a seasoned Grand Canyon rafter…
“Everything you wear will turn red from the sediment in the river. You will throw it all away at the end of the trip.”
This curveball makes packing more complicated. I now must choose the most perishable yet dependable pieces of clothing and coverings.
Feeling confident, I picked up the 7-page printout with the intent to tackle it head-on. Garrett and I had planned a trip-shopping date night (beers then shopping) for items that needed to be purchased. All I needed to do was narrow down the items I already owned.
Page 1 and 2 – WHAT WE PROVIDE
Helpful and interesting, but not of much importance to me in my packing quest now. No pillows listed, but we do get a tent and 1 sleeping bag and camp chair per person… score! And a community portable camp toilet with hand wash. Okay. Sounds good.
Page 3 – MANDATORY ITEMS
2 pairs of sunglasses with 100% UV protection. My throwaway swag freebies were a no-go. Digging through my cycling drawer and car glove compartment, I salvage two outdated, ugly pairs, but they're definitely UV-standard.
A Wide Brim Hat with Chin Strap. Nope. I am a trucker hat fanatic. Will buy a brim model, but put a brewery-logo trucker hat on the pile.
Page 4 – KNOW YOUR FABRICS
Non-Cotton Undergarments. Only Quick Drying, No Cotton. Shit. I have REI-purchased camper girl underwear, but are they cotton? I pull them out of my hiking clothes drawer to check the labels. No labels. Cut off or worn off. Are they cotton or some cotton mix (which I am banished from wearing)? Do I really want to buy new underwear that I will ultimately throw away?
Page 5 – FOR YOUR FEET
River Shoes – Break Them In. Okay. Didn’t think about that. Purchased on sale last fall, I cut off the tags and shelved them. I will break them in as I work on my Grand Canyon puzzle. Yes, that feels safe yet productive.
Overwhelmed by page 5 of the list, I skimmed ahead and found lots of specifics on biodegradable shampoos and soaps for river bathing, as well as the must-have sarong (noting that I don’t own one). No cell service and the need for camera protectors were reminders that Garrett’s bucket list trip would truly be a two-week venture out of civilization.
Specifics on the alcohol count allowed to be packed were well noted.
Feeling lost in the details and facing an REI shopping trip with Garrett, I decided to work through the list one item at a time. Putting the list aside, I went back to the puzzle for a bit.
Later, I met Garrett at Ska Brewery, ready to end my procrastinating ways and get serious about ‘the list’. Garrett patiently explained what he had researched online and his long laundry list of purchases he planned to make at REI, our next stop. Overwhelmed by not knowing what was on my shopping list, I ordered a second beer.
Arriving at REI, Garrett was ready and eager. As he flagged down an employee to answer his questions, he grabbed a shopping basket and handed it to me.
“Here. Start filling it up!”
Wanting to be his eager +1 for his dream trip, I would be prepared (eventually), but one step at a time.
Should I start with the no-cotton underwear, or how about the mandatory wide-brimmed hat? As Garrett gleefully talked battery packs with an enthusiastic REI employee, I went to the hat section.
There were a lot of hats. So, I went to the bathroom instead.
Then I went back to the hats. Garrett had instructed me to make sure of SPF protection and go for better coverage and a darker color (since it would eventually turn red) than on a cute pattern or how I looked in it. Trying on several, I chose a basic army green. It would match much of my hiking clothes, so it was a small concession when I really wanted the cute, colored, patterned one with the sleeker, thinner brim.
Heading toward the underwear section and feeling overwhelmed by choices, I decided to research the fabric content of my at-home stock instead. Garrett looked about done shopping, so it was time to call it a day and spend the last few minutes choosing a chocolate bar (would portion out over the next few nights like a seasoned camper).
Like the good Boy Scout wannabe that my husband is, Garrett bought most of our shared essentials on the list of mandatory items. No need for me to go through pages 5-7. My reliable husband had us covered.
Just noticing my small bag of purchases as we unpacked at home. Garrett watched me place the chocolate bar in the fridge and put my new wide-brimmed hat on my head.
Turning to Garrett to model my solo purchase of a bland-looking but Grand Canyon-suitable hat, I sought affirmation in my first step toward being rafting-ready.
“Hmmmm…. Sandy, I think it’s too big.”
Well, I guess I’m not quite raft-ready yet.
Good thing I bought the chocolate.
