Dinosaur – Ultimately, the outdoor world is divided into two types of people, separated by a three-letter acronym: DIY.
Within the outdoor alphabet, however, DIY can have vastly different meanings. Among one camp, it’s an exciting opportunity to get out and live on the wild side by creating a custom adventure tailored to their liking. In the other, DIY represents nothing but headaches and hassles, worth what- ever fee a guide might charge to tend to all the details necessary to make the associated phrase – “Do It Yourself” – disappear.
Philosophical differences aside, though, all trips generally begin the same: A plan is hatched of desire and the mind runs wild with possibilities. Turning those possibilities into realities, however, is where the effort comes in. The question is, how much burden are you willing to take on?
“It is a lot of work for the organizer,” said Greg Kelchner, co-owner of Vail-based whitewater rafting company Timberline Tours and a 35-year DIY adventurer. “But it doesn’t take a lot of experience to get into doing river trips on your own. Places like the Upper Colorado River, where there are some great campsites and lots of access, are a great place for people to get started. That’s how I got started in the early ’70s, when there weren’t a lot of out- fitters around.”
In 2006, there’s no shortage of guides and outfitters offering their outdoor expertise to anyone with a credit card. And to get the most out of any outdoor undertaking – be it a multiday river trip, backpacking the Colorado Trail or heading out on a bicycle tour – it’s wise to consider first going with an authorized guide who can safely introduce and educate you to the fun of your chosen exploit.
But for most prospective adventurers, the ultimate goal is self-reliance, learning what it takes to get out and DIY. Despite the inherent effort, there are ample rewards even beyond the monetary savings.
“The reward on any sort of river trip, other than the aesthetic value of the river, is really the human aspect,” Kelchner said. “When you do a trip on your own, you wind up sharing the experience with friends and family. With a guided group, you share that experience with a bunch of strangers who eventually become friends.”
Perhaps more than anything else, the freedom to roam the rivers, mountains and trails at your leisure remains the ultimate attraction of DIY adventures. A good comparison might be planning and booking your next vacation online, rather than simply signing up for a packaged cruise.
With freedom comes responsibility. Responsibility for yourself and your partners. Professional guides note that you need to understand not only your physical limits, but also those in your group. Appropriate skills and equipment must be procured for the task at hand, and regulations and requirements necessary to travel through restricted areas must be met. Trial and error will only get you so far.
“A lot of outfitters offer guiding schools in the early season (May-June),” Kelchner said. “They are aimed more toward people training to become commercial guides, but more and more we’re seeing people who are just interested in learning basic skills on the river, how to read water and handle a boat. Swift water rescue courses are also a prime learning tool.”
So how do you know when you’re ready?
Kelchner suggests honing your river skills with small parties of friends on day trips and camping skills on the side before attempting to meld the two on a larger-scale adventure. The same holds true for backpacking excursions or bicycle tours, where outfitters advise sorting out your strategy on short trips close to home before tackling a multiday epic.
When you feel confident enough to take it to the next level, have at it.
Ultimately, the DIY adventure is a never-ending learning experience that begins on your first journey into the wild. Guides and experienced friends all can serve as de facto instructors, so pay attention and ask questions to take advantage of their expertise. Eventually you’ll make sense of it all and become DIY sooner than you think.
Planning, equipment key parts of process
Food, water also essentials on DIY trips
Here are a few considerations emerging from my decade of guiding and a recent DIY trip down the Green River through Gates of Lodore and Dinosaur National Monument:
Planning: Every successful adventure begins with a plan. Whether you hope to follow John Wesley Powell’s path through Canyon Country or camp in the footprints of Lewis and Clark, you first need to map out a strategy and make sure everyone involved is on the same page. Big trips – anything more than four days outside – should be considered well in advance (a Gates of Lodore permit, for example, must be applied for in January), with a thorough study of guidebooks, maps, journals and websites. Consider elements such as weather, water levels and trail conditions around your trip date. It’s also a good idea to poll experienced friends, guides and locals.
When examining your options, remember you are a group. Try to realistically evaluate how strong and efficient the group will be as a whole and plan accordingly. If you intend to cover any significant mileage, consider a rest day. Trouble typically arises when you are pushing to meet a deadline. It’s never a bad idea to add time reserves for the unexpected.
Equipment: The biggest hurdle to DIY adventures may be gathering all the gear you need to pull them off. More and more guiding companies are offering the so-called “painless private” trip option (check out www.riverrunnerstransport.com for Lodore trips), where you show up at the launch site with your permit and the outfitter provides everything else. It costs a little more than a true DIY trip, but a lot less than hiring a guide (or buying a raft).
If you intend to pursue the DIY lifestyle, eventually you’ll wind up investing in all the camp comforts. But it’s wise to begin with some basic necessities (the standard “10 essentials,” good shoes, appropriate packs, repair kit, tent, sleeping bag and the like), matching any extra equipment to the conditions of the specific trip (length, temperature, weather, insects, etc.). Your equipment needs will become more refined with experience.
If your trip passes through designated wilderness or areas requiring permits, be sure to note forbidden and required equipment (such as a fire pan or toilet system), or access may be denied.
Food and water: Although these are part of the “10 essentials,” they deserve special consideration. On any self-powered trip you will expend excess energy and need three meals a day, plus snacks. Hot food requires some sort of stove (note weight) and prep time. You’ll also require more water than usual, although it’s unlikely you’ll want to carry it all. Filters are a good investment, but you still need to consider distance between water sources. Reliable opportunities to restock food and water will help you remain light and fast on the trail.
Waste: If you are human, you generate waste. Plan to deal with it with a “leave no trace” mentality that includes the “pack it in, pack it out” philosophy, or your selfishness will diminish the experience for future visitors. Remember that not all soils are appropriate for catholes and plan to deal with human waste accordingly.
Transportation: If you are traveling point-to-point, don’t forget to make arrangements for your return. It seems obvious, but this detail (and the associated cost) often is overlooked until the last minute.
