By Joe Ferronato
There’s not many places I’m happier than in the rower’s seat on a raft or a drift boat. If that boat just so happens to be floating down a remote river in the middle of Montana for multipole days, even better.
That’s exactly where I found myself just a couple of weeks ago—the pristine Smith river in Montana with Schoby. The Smith is traditionally done in four to five days of floating. It’s remote; there’s no amenities. What you pack is what you get, so pack plenty of booze or you’ll be stuck drinking a jug of God knows what that you can pick up at Heaven on Earth about halfway through your float. Is it a bad drink? No. But it ain’t my first pick.
For this last trip, we packed my 13-foot Maravia raft with Schoby, his wife, my wife and myself, along with all of our gear for the duration of the trip. It sounds like too much, but with the right gear, it’s easy packing and generally a comfortable ride.
Packing for the river is similar to really any other hunting or fishing trip you’d pack for, but the stakes are raised. Weather isn’t the only thing you’re worrying about. Being on a raft in a river necessitates waterproof storage for everything but primarily your camping gear. Packing with Yeti’s premium boxes, bags, and, of course, coolers makes it simple.
Yeti Panga Bags
For clothing and some sleeping gear and smaller essentials, we used the Panga 75L and 100L, along with the 28L backpack. I’ve used these bags for years without issue, taking them to some of the most remote places on the planet when I needed to ensure my gear stayed completely dry. They are rugged, durable, and fully waterproof. The bags are simple with minimal internal organization. The backpack is set apart by its computer sleeve and zippered accessory pocket, but that’s about it. These bags are built for one purpose: to keep shit dry, and they do a damn good job of it.
Loadout GoBoxes
The majority of camping gear—tents, sleeping bags, etc.—was loaded into Yeti’s GoBoxes. The 60 box held Argali’s Yukon and Absoroka tents, a sleeping bag, a couple of camp chairs, and a packable wood stove in case of inclement weather, along with miscellaneous gear like headlamps in the organizational pockets in the lid. Two 30s held all the cookware and dry food. These boxes make it easy to stay organized and keep the gear dry. They’re lockable to abide by the bear regulations on the river and meet the IP67 rating for waterproofness. This was my first trip using the GoBoxes, but it damn sure won’t be my last.
Tundra 125
Yeti built the brand around the Tundra series of coolers—and they are worthy of praise. They may be heavy and expensive, but they work and they last forever. The 125 served our needs excellently on this trip. It held all the food and booze needed for the duration of the trip—well, we had to switch to the suspiciously mixed cocktail from Heaven on Earth later on, but that’s no fault of the cooler. Maybe we should drink less? The cooler held ice well and kept all of our food cool even with frequent opening for another drink. The 125 is a bit wide for my raft, but it fits and made for a perfect bench for the ladies in the front of the boat.
Packing with these loadout options made loading and packing the boat a breeze. The GoBoxes fit perfectly on the floor beneath the rowing frame and made a good platform for stacking the rest of the gear on top. The duffels sat atop the frame and allowed ample room for another tote for firewood and a Born Outdoor Badger bed that made an excellent back rest for the rower. A few NRS tie-down straps locked everything in place.
This Yeti gear just works, plain and simple. If you’re planning a river trip or just need to ensure your gear is organized and protected from the elements, this gear will work for you, too.
Pros: Good organization, rugged and durable, waterproof, and long-lasting ice in the cooler.
Cons: Expensive.
