Paul Schurke and I have been working with our Brazilian team mates to organize and pack all of the gear we will need for our canoeing expedition on the Rio Roosevelt. A 35 day unsupported canoe trip in the Amazon Rainforest takes a lot of careful planning and high quality equipment. One hundred years ago this year President Theodore Roosevelt and Cornell Rondon completed the first descent of the River of Doubt, which was renamed the Rio Roosevelt. Poor planning and equipment choices cost their expedition dearly. Three members of their party died and the epic journey almost killed President Roosevelt.
We hope that proper planning and high quality, modern equipment will help us have a safe journey without serious mishap. Probably the biggest difference between our equipment and the Roosevelt Rondon Scientific Expedition’s equipment is our canoes. Paul and I will be paddling a 17 foot folding canoe made by Pak Boat and our Brazilian team members will paddle lightweight, modern canoes made of kevlar and fiberglass. Roosevelt’s team used waterlogged dugout canoes that weighed over a thousand pounds each. They lost several canoes in the numerous rapids and had to stop and build new canoes out of giant trees they chopped from the rainforest several times.
Below is as breakdown of the personal items that I will carry during our Amazon Rainforest canoeing expedition.
Rio Roosevelt expedition gear list
Shelter:
Sea to Summit Specialist Solo Tent
Hennessy Deep Jungle Hammock
Hennessy insulating pad
Sea to Summit Cool Max Adaptor Traveller sleeping bag liner
Small Items:
Sea to Summit micro fiber travel towel
Sea to Summit Hand Cleaning Gel
Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash soap
Adventure Medical Kits Bath Wipes
Bug spray x 4
toothbrush and tooth paste
Multi vitamins
Gold Bond Powder
Sunglasses
SOL survival pack
Chapstick with sunscreen
Sunscreen x 3
Petzl Tikka RXP headlamp
Petzl Tikka XP headlamp
LifeStraw (water purification)
Klean Kanteen 40oz water bottle
Klean Kanteen insulated water bottle
Sea to Summit Delta Spork and Bowl
Multitool
Lighter
Thin rope (40 feet)
Clothing:
ExOfficio Nio Amphi Shorts
ExOfficio Nomad Pants
ExOfficio Nio Amphi Pants
ExOfficio Sol Cool Long-Sleeve Tee
ExOfficio Baja Sur Long Sleeve Shirt
ExOfficio Give-N-Go Underwear x 2
ExOfficio Purdom Venter Hiker Socks x 2
ExOfficio Cape Hat
ExOfficio Sol Cool Neck Gaiter
ExOfficio Short Sleeve Tee
ExOfficio Rain Logic Jacket
Original Bug Shirt
Tennis shoes
Rubber boots
Sandals
Paddling equipment:
Mitchell canoe paddle x 2
MTI Adventurewear Slipstream Life Jacket
North Water throw bag
Helmet
