Growing up, camping for me was a tent, some great hiking, a stove, and some gorp. Although I have become a bit of a gear slut as I have grown older and the camping experience has become a bit more cushy thanks to the help of the crazy creek chair, inflatable matresses, and even the backcountry espresso maker, I have never experienced anything like I did last weekend on the Lochsa River just outside of Missoula, MT.

Asked by a friend to join her family on their annual kayak trip, I figured it would be a great four day getaway in the backcountry and a chance to meet up with some friends I hadn’t seen in a while.

Little did I know that not only would the river be raging with class 3 and 4 whitewater, and the amount of people exploding off of rafts, duckies and kayaks at each rapid would require at least four or five safety boaters, but the Lochsa experience included much more than a tent and a stove.

It turns out the new essentials of camping require the following:
1) 12 bottles of various tequilas for tasting
2) Full costumes for nightly theme parties
3) iPod boom boxes and a generator to charge them
4) Pro kayak skills
5) Food to feed 30 at least four times a day
6) A wig collection, polyester pant suits, high heels, and cigars

After this, camping will never be the same in my eyes.