RIVER TIME PACK LIST
(See lower down the page for more in-depth reading on camping on the Mississippi
Time to pack
Quapaw will provide large (3.8 cubic feet > see banner picture above) drybags for you to use for your gear. We recommend that you bring a waterproof daypack (see below) to keep often-needed items (like camera, notebook, water bottles and snacks) nearby during paddling. (Dave may have drybags new or second hand to loan or sell - feel free to ask him)
Essentials
Passport
Covid Vaccination confirmation (you don’t need to take a pre-flight test)
Travel insurance
Pack for summer and winter weather
Please note: you can leave any big bags and belongings not needed for the river trip, for safe storage with our shuttle. Your belongings will be waiting for you once we get off the river and head to Clarksdale at the end of the trip.
You will experience a mix of temperatures. Nighttimes and mornings can be below 10 degrees C, daytimes above 30 degrees. Here is a suggested list of what to bring - prepare for all eventualities.
Smaller pack divider drybags to ensure that all gear is double-dry-bagged
Shorts, t-shirts, casual trousers
Long sleeve shirt for sun protection
At least two warm layers
Swim wear
Towel
Sandals/Tennis/water shoes that can get wet and/or muddy
Warm socks, hat, gloves
Wetsuit Boots
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Bug protection
Wide brimmed hat
Personal medication
Head lamp
Toiletries (toothpaste, lotion, contact lens solution, etc. the less plastic the better!)
Toilet paper
Notebook
Camera
Entertainment: books, musical instruments, sketch book, binoculars
2 x wide mouth reusable water bottle and/or Thermos (why not get a SayYesMore bottle? :)) - We’ll have water supplied in larger containers for you, these bottles are for your personal use
Pack any electronics or books or paper goods in dry bag, dry box, or zip lock bags
Day bag - ask Dave as sometimes he has some new/almost new bags for sale
Snacks!
What we provide
One backpack style drybag (either 3.2 or 2.2 c/f) for each participant
3 big meals a day cooked over the open fire on the edge of the river
Driftwood coffee and tea. And more coffee. And more! The fire is lit early each day :)
Cookware and eating utensils
Camp tables and camp chairs
Emergency equipment
Full first aid kit
Individual PFD (personal flotation device)
EXTRA: Sleeping bag, sleep mat and tent (if you don't have or would rather not carry to and fro the river, these can be provided for £100 extra [Sleeping bag and sleeping bag can be provided for £50. Tent for £50])
For any help contact Dave, or if you’re in the States call John on +1 662-902-7841, or Mark River 662-902-6479, if you’d prefer to talk! Sincerely yours in service of the big river,
Notes on Mississippi Camping by John Ruskey, Quapaw Canoe Company
The camping is spectacular on the Mississippi River — it’s like having an entire ocean beach to yourself! Full of wildlife, and the wonders of nature. The stars are almost as good as western skies. You can find 5-star camping on land, but on the river it’s million star camping! It is primitive camping, so no bathrooms or showers. But, you can swim in the Mississippi, and there is plenty of privacy when you need it. We carry everything with us for all of our trips, and go completely self-contained with all canoe and survival gear, food, water, camp and kitchen equipment, and personal items.
Route: We’ll be paddling out of Memphis and downstream through what we call "the Muddy Waters Wilderness." This is the wildest stretch of river along the Lower Miss, full of big islands, wildlife, culture, history, back channels, and the big river meandering through it all.
Island Exploration: We will camp on Mississippi River Islands with big beaches, swim holes, birds, turtles, and other wildlife, with an incredible variety of giant sandbars, wetlands, gravel/fossil bars, deep willow forests, and miles of beaches to swim from or walk along. So — a little bit of everything! We arrive as visitors, and respect the landscape and the river as such, the home of the richest biota in the heart of our country, including superlative birds, fish, crustaceans, and amphibians. Micro-biotas on the Mississippi include deep water, shallow water, forests, wetlands, sandbars, and meadows.
Quapaw provides all necessary river gear & emergency equipment. Normally we prepare all food & refreshments, drinks include spring water, juices and milk. Alcoholic beverages BYOB. We will pack all necessary cookware and eating utensils, as well as camp tables and camp chairs.
Bring all personal gear and stuff into our waterproof drybags before launching (or use your own). These are backpack-style bags made of tough waterproof material - great for packing on a rainy day! It takes three complete folds to make them water-proof, be sure to lock all four buckles! Your guides including Dave will show you how if this is your first time securing a dry bag.
Be prepared for rain or intense sun UV exposure! Sunlight is surprisingly intense on the river (you get the sun twice – once from above and once reflected from below). Sunburn is our number one complaint and has caused more than one Mississippi River paddler very painful days and sleepless nights. Be forewarned! Sunglasses, sun screen, long sleeve clothing and a wide brim hat are all good ideas, especially for anyone particularly sensitive.
We can supply tents & sleeping bags to anyone who needs them for a pre-arranged fee. Otherwise, bring your own and pack with your gear into our dry bags.
Camping: Remote islands, sandbars, towheads, usually sandy places, in inclement weather it might be necessary to find shelter within the forest. This is primitive camping on a river island, no services of any sort. Bring everything you need to make yourself comfortable. Bring your own toiletry. Bring a change of warm clothing, including summer months, when mornings can be cool. It’s always cooler on the river.
Swimming: great swimming from ocean-size beaches and possible blue holes along the way. Blues holes are greenish or bluish pools of water carved directly into the sand & mud during high water, the low water leaves them in unexpected places. It’s the best swimming in the Mississippi Delta! Pack swim gear and towels.
My top seven equipment "don't forget to pack" recommendations are
1) Foot protection you don't mind getting muddy & wet. An old pair of tennis. River sandals. Go barefoot if you want, but bring old tennis shoes also for the rough places. Bring extra pair of shoes & pack into drybag to change into at camp.
2) Sun protection: Sunglasses, sun screen, long sleeve clothing and a wide-brim hat that doesn't blow off in the wind. Sun-protective swim wear if you are a swimmer. I highly recommend sun-protective clothing for children and anyone particularly sensitive. We find ours at www.nrsweb.com or www.sungrubbies.com, but most outdoors outlets carry them. Quapaw guides often wear head-to-toe sun protective clothing all day long.
3) Water Protection even if it doesn’t rain, you might get wet from splashing waves, paddle drips, early morning dew, etc. Start out with polypro layers, top that with fleece or wool, and in case it gets really bad, pack a pair of top-to-bottom rain gear. This combination will provide sufficient all-weather protection, whether it’s a full rain or just cold & windy. Remember, it always feels colder on the river, especially in the winter!
4) Head lamp for after-dark reading, eating, whatever. When the mosquitoes come out after dark, the only secure place is your tent!
5) A towel. Good Swimming from sandy beaches and islands of the Lower Mississippi River! Towels are also great for all kinds of things, from drying your face after a morning splash, to wiping sand out of your tent, to a makeshift pillow, etc.
6) A knife. Useful for everything from cutting steaks to making tent stakes!
7) Notebook, journal, sketchbook, camera. You will want to record some of your experiences and the amazing sights & sounds of the Mississippi River. Always a surprise when you least expect it! You might have life-changing thoughts, ideas for a new business, or maybe just a sweet note to a loved-one. Also, you might want to pack your bird guide and binoculars. Maybe a star chart? The skies are dark over most places along the Lower Mississippi Valley, and on clear nights the stargazing is superb.
ALSO: bring several changes of clothes, and dress in layers in cool evenings. A sweater, fleece pull over & rain jacket for cool mornings/evenings. Camping close to the river is similar to camping on a Pacific Ocean beach in the Fall & Spring, the day might be warm, or even hot, but it feels cool by the water's edge, and even cooler if there is a breeze blowing over it.
Cooking & eating considerations: We do all of our cooking on the campfire with cast iron cookware, pans, pots & Dutch ovens. Smoked Cowboy Coffee (our specialty) poured from enamel coffee pots, we always keep hot water in a separate pot for soups & tea.
We'll have on board big coolers with ice and several dry boxes for dry goods in case you have something extra you want to bring (ie: BYOB). Meals served on enamel camp plates, bowls & cups. Any personal food requirements? Let us know, otherwise we'll go with whatever looks freshest & tastiest!
Bug Protection: the Mississippi Mosquito has evolved way beyond DEET and other commercial grade repellants. Some people swear by Avon “Skin-so-soft.” The only thing that really works for me is long sleeve shirt and pants and shoes, My personal preference is fleece. The skeeters still haven’t grown their noses long enough to get through a thin layer of pile fleece! If all else fails be prepared to jump in your tent after dark. Check beforehand to make sure your tent screens are complete (not a bad idea to double check stakes, poles and fly. Maybe apply seam sealer?) The persistent skeeters will find the hole you forgot about last year when you packed it away!
