Last summer, when I told friends and family that I’d be rafting 225 miles from Lee’s Ferry��to Diamond Creek, Arizona, on the Colorado River, I received all kinds of remarks. Some said,��“That’ll be the trip of your life,” while others noted, “That place will change you.” While both��proved��true, most folks��were surprised to hear I’d be going in��the heat of July, and there was justified concern for heat exhaustion. With the chilly, 50-degree water discharging from Glen Canyon Dam��and temperatures soaring��over 100 degrees most days,��it took considerable��tact to regulate between such��extremes. As often as our crew would joke about joining the “Grand Canyon Swim Team,”��being in the water the entire trip just wasn’t feasible or safe. At high noon on day six, the reading at Phantom Ranch was 114 degrees. No number of dips in the river could turn that heat down. Luckily, I had gear along that kept me cool, protected, and comfortable for the duration of the adventure. Here are some of the essentials.

Patagonia Tropic Comfort II Hoodie��($59 and Up)

The heat of the Southwest’s��sun can beat through cheap polyester T-shirts, so I opted to pack��something that was light but also provided long-sleeved protection—the��. Rather than lather up my skin with��SPF 50 every two hours, this was a great way to both��stay cool and avoid exposure to��harsh��rays. It dried off quickly but retained��a nice level of moisture between my skin and PFD.

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NRS Drag Bag ($35)

On a rafting��trip like this, hydration is a no-brainer. All of us on the river��accepted that our water would likely be boiling in our bottles and our beers would be sandy and warm—until someone showed up with��, that is. It easily held a 30-pack��of ��and chilled our half dozen water bottles throughout the day. Though we tried to remember to take it out of the water and secure it to the top of the boat during the big rapids, it may or may not have taken a ride��down the infamous while clipped to the outside of the rig. This bag is��durable and affordable, and bringing it with you��will put you in the running��for trip MVP.

Yeti��Panga 100 Duffel��($400)

I was skeptical that this zippered duffel could really��be submersible, but after a test run in the Atlantic Ocean, I decided to bring it along. Over the course of 16 days, it’s��what kept my��key items—a sleeping bag, pillow, tent, cell phone, and journal—dry. ��is truly watertight, and you don’t have to dump all your stuff out to access things like you do with traditional roll-top bags. Thanks to its ample exterior webbing, it’s easy to lash a water bottle or second set of shoes to the bag��for easy access.

Adidas Terrex CC Voyager Parley Water Shoe ($90)

I’m a tried-and-true Chaco advocate, but on this trip I liked ,��because it added a layer of protection from the sun for my feet.��I was also��glad to have a closed-toe option for side hikes and better traction when cacti and snakes lurked with one misstep.��The soles of��this��shoe are��designed to be self-bailing and breathable, so they’re best worn without socks.

Jack’s Plastic Paco Pad ($215)

For this adventure,��a small camping air mattress suited my needs. However, the smart folks brought along these��. Based on their��shape and waterproofing, they��allowed my companions��to sleep on the boats, which proved to be the coolest place��at night. These pads��can also serve as a fun floating mechanism, turning a meager��rapid into something much more exhilarating.

StreamMachine Water Cannon ($22)

Even though it’s�� from Walmart, the Water Cannon��played three crucial functions:��spraying the scalding rubber rafts so they were cooler to touch, rinsing ourselves down, and cleaning the sand from our boat. It proved its worth within the first few days, and everyone wanted to borrow it to douse their boats. Be mindful:��it’s still cheap plastic, so it bent from the heat under direct sunlight. (StreamMachine��also makes a more durable one of these, .)

Hala Atcha��SUP ($1,300)

While we all anticipated the burly whitewater, it was easy to forget just how many flat sections we had to row. This ��provided our group with a new way to play around in the river when things were more mellow.��It performed best in the crashing waves��but could also be surfed in some of the small holes off��the current. At nine feet six inches,��it was a great board for everyone to jump on. But it did��pose��two��drawbacks: it took��up a large amount of raft storage space��when inflated��and required��its own pump. Depending on your skill level, riding a SUP in the��whitewater may turn out to be��half paddling and half swimming, so in terms of keeping cool, it was worth bringing along.

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Every April, great storytellers in adventure film descend Carbondale, Colorado, for . The festival is always intimate, with just over 900 in seating capacity, but it felt even more so this year as attendees remembered climber Hayden Kennedy, son of 5Point founder Julie Kennedy and husband Michael. The 27-year-old died in October.��In the��trailer��for this year’s event, Michael narrated��a letter to his son about the pair’s passion for public lands and wild landscapes, which shaped this year’s��theme, “Our Stories, Our Lands.”

Here are a few of our favorite films from the festival.

‘Climbing Out of Disaster’

After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico was in a state of disrepair. Streets were flooded, trees were hanging on power lines, and families were fleeing to higher ground. For climber and native Puerto Rican Bryan Huffman, the event presented an opportunity to give back to his community and put his climbing skills to good use by cutting down trees, climbing up buildings, and making rescues. Climbing Out of Disaster also highlights some of Puerto Rico’s budding climbing potential—the territory has great deep water soloing and more sport climbing routes are developed every year.

‘Shots From Above’

Chris Dahl-Bredine is a landscape photographer based out of Colorado and northern New Mexico. He uses an experimental trike aircraft to capture aerial photography of the landscapes near his��home. This film, from Renan Ozturk and Chris Burkard, gives a behind-the-scenes look at Dahl-Bredine’s unconventional photography style and the stunning images he creates.

‘Walls Are Meant For Climbing’

A short animated film from Drew Christie, Walls Are Meant for Climbing hands the microphone over to Alex Honnold to relive his free solo of El Cap in 2017. In classic Honnold fashion, the whole thing is quite understated. “People ask about risk or calculations for risk,” he says. “With something like free soloing, it feels very elemental. It’s almost like, ‘Oh my gosh, you could actually die,’ and you’re like, ‘Well, yeah, of course.’” Leave it to Honnold to put it so bluntly.

‘It’s All Yours’

Aligning with this year’s theme surrounding public lands, Chad Jackson and Jon Klackzeiwcz's film It’s All Yours features athletes reflecting on their experiences in national forests. Well-known adventurers like Conrad Anker, Camille Egdorf, Travis Rice, and Jimmy Chin have developed careers that benefit from the preservation of these lands. Klackzeiwcz and Jackson give the athletes airtime to talk about this connection, and also show them out in their element, of course.��

‘Cabin Jams’

To make Cabin Jams, backcountry athlete and director Leah Evans got four Revelstoke musicians to assemble in a hut deep in the British Columbia backcountry. At 7,000 feet, they were inspired to write and record the song “Think I'll Stay.” The crew flew all the way to Carbondale to perform their song in front of the audience during the festival. “When you walk or ski a piece of ground, you start to notice things about it,” Evans told ���ϳԹ���. “You learn the names of the mountains, the way the sun rises and sets, the plants and animals, and maybe if you tune in enough, the song exists.”

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Nothing screams summer quite like hanging out in a huge field, lounging in a camp chair, and��listening to your favorite musicians rock out. Whether it’s tucked into the woods of Michigan or on a beach��in Rhode Island, the summer months hold a thousand ways to blend��love of the outdoors and good tunes.

Mountain Jam:��Hunter, New York

Perched on a hillside of Hunter Mountain in the Northern Catskills, offers rides on one of the country’s highest and longest ziplines. If you’re looking for a mellower way to experience things from��above, there are lift rides available to the top of the mountain. The festival also offers vendor exhibits of local nonprofits and environmental groups.��

Artists to Catch: , , , and

Electric Forest:��Rothbury Michigan

At EDM-centric��,��expect to be totally immersed in a carefully curated selection of music, art, and panel discussions in the forests outside��Rothbury, Michigan. There are numerous��volunteer opportunities, if you want to expand your festival experience beyond entertainment. Or just��kick your feet up for a while in one of��the dedicated hammock zones.

Artists to Catch: , , , , and��

Newport Folk Festival:��Newport, Rhode Island

Held in Fort Adams State Park at the mouth of Newport Harbor, the offers awe-inspiring views of the water—and an incredible lineup. The festival has two beer gardens and four stages of music, and is easy to access by bike, bus, or even boat.

Artists to Catch: , , , , and

Forecastle Music Festival:��Louisville, Kentucky

��started out as a humble neighborhood gathering and has grown into a staple of the southeast's music scene, drawing thousands of fans to Louisville’s waterfront park each year. The organizers’ dedication to the environment is more than just a tagline on the website: for every ticket sold,��$1 goes to the��Forecastle Foundation, which��works to protect ecologically diverse areas by partnering with such nonprofits as the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, the Nature Conservancy, and the Guayaki Foundation.��

Artists to Catch: , , , and

Pickathon Music Festival:��Happy Valley, Oregon

Too much sun��in front of the main stage? Pendarvis Farm, home to the Portland, Oregon,��,��has plenty of shade available in the adjacent forest. Unlike most festival campsites, which are usually��packed together in��a field without any privacy, Pickathon’s��are cool and comfortable, and the pristine environment is complimented by a��dedication to sustainability, including a ban on single-use plastic��since 2010. (Festival attendees are given a plate and a cup to use over the entire weekend.) And with all the local food trucks and microbrews available, your plate and cup will never be empty.��

Artists to Catch: , , , , and

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For the last ten years, has been inspiring the outdoor community with adventure film screenings in Carbondale, Colorado. The festival draws international filmmakers and global talent, but it also gives shout-outs to hometown heroes. We spent last weekend in Carbondale watching films and meeting some of the filmmakers. Here’s the best of what we saw.

'The Time Travelers'

Best Triumph-in-Tribulation

When , , Forest Woodward, , and all get together, it's magic. The Time Travelers tells the story of the . The whole team descended on Carbondale to celebrate the film and show off their custom-built raft. During a panel, Chaco Brand Manager��Josh Weichhand��shed some light on the project's inception. They��wanted��to make an impactful film, as well as honor��their roots as makers of water shoes.

'Poverty of Perception'

The One That Moved Us

On Sunday, the festival took a . The focus of this afternoon's selection of films was inspiring stories that make a difference covering topics such as conservation, humility, and positive impact. Poverty of Perception is a story from director Stephan Hunt about Aleksandra Ørbeck-Nilsen, a��. The film follows her as she learns about��the San tribe's experience and their fight for cultural existence.��

'Dreamride 2'

Most Mind Blowing��Footage

Combine cinematic excellence with the jaw-dropping riding of Mike Hopkins and you get Dreamride 2. treated the audience to a spirited Q&A on Saturday night with emcee Wade Newsom, promising��that they are currently sitting on a ton of footage that'll be released in the near future. In search of a diverse ecosystem, . They filmed landscapes filled with volcanoes, lush rainforests, and stunning beaches. This second iteration of the Dreamride series sets the bar for cinematic adventures. ����

'Denali'

Best Blast From The Past

What more can be said about Denali? The story of , first released in 2015, has made us cry on more occasions than we'd care to admit. Screened during 5Point's “Best of Ten Years” program, Denali is a timeless film that continues to deliver. Give your pup an extra scratch under the ears tonight.��

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