Planning

Planning your trip \ Photo PaddleMore

Even the most experienced paddlers plan their trips. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of checking river levels, wind conditions or what time the sun sets. Other times you might plan for days, painstakingly checking and rechecking mapped routes, weather forecasts, campsites and lists of kit.

Planning and pre-trip organisation takes many different forms, but is vital to success. On longer trips it’s worth establishing where you can cut short if you are forced by the weather. Sometimes we’re forced to change or abandon plans completely. This book will offer you alternatives which may be more suitable in challenging conditions.

The trip should be appropriate for everyone in the group. As always you are only as strong as your weakest member; this is not always the same as the least experienced. People paddle at different levels and might have different aims for the trip. Be sure it suits everyone and isn’t taking them into environments well above their skill level.