| Go Light Outdoors |
About Us
We are a couple of seasoned river rats. Collectively we have over 35 years of experience on rivers
around the western United States and even internationally. We bring different skills to Go Light
Outdoors. Lacey specializes in meal planning without excess bulk and weight, recipes that don't
require perishable ingredients, and are lightweight. Neil's expertise is in designing, building and
selecting lightweight whitewater boating equipment and surfing catarafts.
Lacey is a former backpacking and rafting guide with experience guiding in California,
Arizona, Utah, and Mexico. She received training and has led trips for many different respected
companies such as: Mariah Wilderness Adventures, CSUS - Peak Adventures, the National Outings
Department of the Sierra Club, Green Tortoise Adventure Travel and Tributary Whitewater
Tours. She has been trained in the principles of Leave No Trace and practices those policies while
in the wilderness. As the owner of "Travel Afoot" she organized and led the first commercial
descent of the Rio Urique in Mexico's Copper Canyon region. Her experience as a backpacking
guide allows her to provide expert meal planning, packaging, and preparation guidelines to
groups of all sizes.
Neil purchased his first raft in 1983, but was rafting with friends and family long before that. His
rafting "resume" includes most of the classic rafting runs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and
California as well as participating in first (commercial) descents of rivers in Peru and Mexico's
Copper Canyon. He has extensive adventure travel experience and has organized trips to
Guatemala and Peru for adventurous rafters and kayakers. His specialty at Go Light Outdoors is
selecting and building the equipment we use and recommend to others. The frame (and some
boat) designs are his own and are based on his years of experience selecting or building
equipment that works for this style of boating.
Here is a little bit of history about ourselves and why we like to Go Light Outdoors.
About seven years ago I developed a herniated back disc making it so that I could not walk - that
was when I had to give up professional guide work. At the time of the injury I thought whitewater
boating was no longer possible for me, especially extended trips. Three doctors suggested back
surgery - my response - NO WAY! So, over the years I took an alternate route to recovery and it has
paid off. With the modifications we have made to our whitewater boats and gear, I can do extended
trips once again. A key element has been my development and use of recipes that are lightweight.
Over the last fifteen years I have pulled together and created a unique combination of recipes
that work well for boating, sailing, camping, and other outdoor activities. Check out my new booklet
"Camp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers" and order your copy today.
Lacey
For years, I was the "typical" rafter, packing a ton of stuff on multi-day rafting trips, eating way
too much on these trips, and rowing hard just to make the craft move. Then I discovered
catarafts! First the larger ones that can carry a lot, and then the smaller ones that wont. The
advantages of this type of craft were pretty obvious given that I disliked bailing and loved surfing.
Over the years, I've run cats of all types, sizes, and designs - including a few of my own designs.
Yes, the tube shape does make a difference. Since small playboats will not carry substantial
weight without losing their play ability, I learned (with Lacey's help) how to minimize the amount
of gear needed on a multi-day trip. Besides, I really didn't enjoy carrying heavy coolers and
kitchen boxes or rowing a half-ton boat. Over the years, I have designed our boats, frames, and
other gear to be lightweight and functional, enabling us to continue running rivers and surfing
waves for years to come.
Neil
We are a couple of seasoned river rats. Collectively we have over 35 years of experience on rivers
around the western United States and even internationally. We bring different skills to Go Light
Outdoors. Lacey specializes in meal planning without excess bulk and weight, recipes that don't
require perishable ingredients, and are lightweight. Neil's expertise is in designing, building and
selecting lightweight whitewater boating equipment and surfing catarafts.
Lacey is a former backpacking and rafting guide with experience guiding in California,
Arizona, Utah, and Mexico. She received training and has led trips for many different respected
companies such as: Mariah Wilderness Adventures, CSUS - Peak Adventures, the National Outings
Department of the Sierra Club, Green Tortoise Adventure Travel and Tributary Whitewater
Tours. She has been trained in the principles of Leave No Trace and practices those policies while
in the wilderness. As the owner of "Travel Afoot" she organized and led the first commercial
descent of the Rio Urique in Mexico's Copper Canyon region. Her experience as a backpacking
guide allows her to provide expert meal planning, packaging, and preparation guidelines to
groups of all sizes.
Neil purchased his first raft in 1983, but was rafting with friends and family long before that. His
rafting "resume" includes most of the classic rafting runs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and
California as well as participating in first (commercial) descents of rivers in Peru and Mexico's
Copper Canyon. He has extensive adventure travel experience and has organized trips to
Guatemala and Peru for adventurous rafters and kayakers. His specialty at Go Light Outdoors is
selecting and building the equipment we use and recommend to others. The frame (and some
boat) designs are his own and are based on his years of experience selecting or building
equipment that works for this style of boating.
Here is a little bit of history about ourselves and why we like to Go Light Outdoors.
About seven years ago I developed a herniated back disc making it so that I could not walk - that
was when I had to give up professional guide work. At the time of the injury I thought whitewater
boating was no longer possible for me, especially extended trips. Three doctors suggested back
surgery - my response - NO WAY! So, over the years I took an alternate route to recovery and it has
paid off. With the modifications we have made to our whitewater boats and gear, I can do extended
trips once again. A key element has been my development and use of recipes that are lightweight.
Over the last fifteen years I have pulled together and created a unique combination of recipes
that work well for boating, sailing, camping, and other outdoor activities. Check out my new booklet
"Camp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers" and order your copy today.
Lacey
For years, I was the "typical" rafter, packing a ton of stuff on multi-day rafting trips, eating way
too much on these trips, and rowing hard just to make the craft move. Then I discovered
catarafts! First the larger ones that can carry a lot, and then the smaller ones that wont. The
advantages of this type of craft were pretty obvious given that I disliked bailing and loved surfing.
Over the years, I've run cats of all types, sizes, and designs - including a few of my own designs.
Yes, the tube shape does make a difference. Since small playboats will not carry substantial
weight without losing their play ability, I learned (with Lacey's help) how to minimize the amount
of gear needed on a multi-day trip. Besides, I really didn't enjoy carrying heavy coolers and
kitchen boxes or rowing a half-ton boat. Over the years, I have designed our boats, frames, and
other gear to be lightweight and functional, enabling us to continue running rivers and surfing
waves for years to come.
Neil
