As you may be able to tell from the above photo, gear is crucial. On this particular rafting trip, nobody prepared for a torrential downpour, or at least, a majority of us did not. So we combined forces and made a rain shelter that actually worked quite well! 

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The moral of the story is to prepare for everything, but when you're not prepared, approach it with ingenuity and a smile.

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In this section, you will find my very biased opinion on the gear that I use. Here's the thing: everyone is different. My feet are "above average" and my backpack is fitted for "a twelve-year-old boy" (yes, those are real quotes from fittings). I am also frugal and like to browse secondhand shops, yet tend to splurge on other things I deem "essential." When reading my insight on gear, keep in mind that we have different bodies and needs. Buy what you feel most comfortable with, because in the end, you're the one using it!