While walking in the parking lot today I found a penny from 1958. I held it in my hand for a while and marveled at the 50 year old coin. Just think of all the things that it has been around for....the first moon landing, JFK, Vietnam, the Bay of Pigs....the list just goes on and on.
I have placed it inside my wallet where I keep my ID and plan to keep it. I feel an odd attachment to it's history.
Is that strange?
Just a quick word of thanks to Mark for sending me a copy of his 2008 Algonquin Calendar. It's filled with pictures from his numerous trips to the park and the photography is breathtaking.
It has now hangs on the wall with my other Algonquin pics and has replaced the boring generic calendar I have in my office.
Thanks buddy.
PS- Any chance I could get a digital copy of the bottom right August pic to use as my PC desktop?
Thanks again Mark....Simply stunning!
One of my favorite books is Into the Wild, by John Krakauer. I am sure many of you have enjoyed it as well, but for those that may not have read it yet, here is a summary courtesy of Wikisummaries:
"Freshly graduated from college with a promising future ahead, 22 year-old Christopher McCandless instead walked out of his privileged life and into the wild in search of adventure. What happened to him on the way transformed this young wanderer into an enduring symbol for countless people. Was Christopher McCandless a heroic adventurer or a naive idealist, a rebellious 1990s Thoreau or another lost American son, a fearless risk-taker or a tragic figure who wrestled with the precarious balance between man and nature?
Each strand of his journey is woven into Sean Penn's screen adaptation of Jon Krakauer's acclaimed bestseller, Into the Wild, which is as much about the insatiable yearning for family, home and connection as it is the search for truth and happiness.
McCandless' quest took him from the wheat fields of South Dakota to a renegade trip down the Colorado River to the non-conformists' refuge of Slab City, California, and beyond. Along the way, he encountered a series of colorful characters at the very edges of American society who shaped his understanding of life and whose lives he, in turn, changed. In the end, he tested himself by heading alone into the wilds of the great North, where everything he had seen and learned and felt came to a head in ways he never could have expected"
Hockey, hockey and even more hockey!That pretty much sums up what went on and excluding going to Algonquin, is there a better way for a Canadian to spend the weekend?
Jacob had his final tournament of the year on Saturday and his first playoff game Sunday morning and I could not be more proud of what he accomplished. Now both days were a blast and here are the highlights...
About a month ago I was invited to go on a trip with Mark from "Mark In the Park". I have always been a fan of his site and being asked to go with him on a 9 day trip was very cool.
But the times just didn't work for me, so I reluctantly had to pass.
Well things have changed a bit and I am now able to meet up with him for an abbreviated trip. I will post more in the days to come, but it looks like I will be returning to the Cedar Lake area for 4 days and will be spending at least one of those days on Wendigoes Lake. A smallish lake that is off the beaten track.
More details to come, but this is looking like it will happen. Very cool!!!
I want to add kevlar skid plates to my new/used canoe and found this great "How to".
Original found HERE.
Skid plate installation for Souris River Canoes. May or may not work with vinylester resin canoes by other companies such as Wenonah, Mad River, Bell, Novacraft, Swift, etc., due to the epoxy resin used. Because you are working with epoxy resin which is a skin sensitizer, it is recommended that you work in adequate ventilation or outside like I'm doing in the following photos. Avoid skin contact and wash off if it gets on your skin.
Skid plates need only be installed on canoes that are showing wear through about 3 layers of material. It will appear as a worn spot right where you see my hand (with the rag) in picture #2. Like rings of a tree stump, you can see the wear in your bow or stern. If you only have scratches and no real visible sign of wear into the third layer of material, you wouldn't need to have skid plates installed just yet. If, however, you wanted to purchase the skid plate set, it'll just sit on the shelf and wait for you. One final IF: If you don't slam your canoe into gravelly/rocky shores at 20 MPH trying to make the portage 6" shorter, you may never need skid plates as a private owner. Remember that both of you need to drag your paddles on opposite sides of the canoe at final approach to slow way down. Then your bow person reaches out and gently stabs shore in shallow water to absorb the final shock so you can creep up to shore. For boarding in and out of a loaded canoe without getting your feet wet, visit HERE.
If you have a question, email me: redrock@redrockstore.com
| 1. Prop canoe upsidedown on two sawhorses. Sand both the bow and stern where skid plate is going to go, using a piece of 80 grit sand paper. |
2. Wipe down sanded area with clean, lint free cloth. It wouldn't hurt to pour a little acetone on the rag and wipe off both sanded ends of the canoe with it. |
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3. Take a packet of resin, fold it in half on seam between resin and hardener. Squeeze contents down, rip off the top of both halves. |
4. Pour contents of 3 packets total into clean cup. soup can, small container, etc. Avoid skin contact with the resin. |
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5. Mix with a stir-stick, clean popsicle stick, tree branch, etc. |
6. The canoe doctor is in... |
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7. Drop into skid plate into resin. |
8. Mush it around making sure that you get it completely wet with resin |
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9. Another mushing shot |
10. Lift out of resin cup |
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11. Lay it on canoe, pointy end towards to the front. |
12. Make sure it's centered and smooth it out with your hands. Repeat Steps 3-12 on the other end of the canoe. |
| 13. This step is not required but will leave a nicer finish on the skid plate and make it a bit tougher since resin is drawn to the surface. | 14. Stretch out plastic film (Saran wrap) over the plate so it's smooth. Remember to check the plate to ensure that it is still straight on the canoe. You can move it around under the plastic and you don't need gloves during this part. |
| 15. Squeeze out the air bubbles that you can see trapped under the plastic. Slide them out towards the edge of the plastic. | 16. Smooth it out a couple more times and then leave it alone. Come back in about 6 hours or the next day and peel off the plastic. |
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Finished plate under plastic wrap | Canoe touch up and repairs |
I love Algonquin, but it doesn't take long for the cost of having to rent a canoe for every trip to start adding up and that limits the number of times I can go. Sucks to say it like that, but like many things in life...it all comes down to money.
That's why I'm so excited that in just a few months I will purchasing my first canoe. I have been saving for it for a while and have saved enough to have my pick of the used canoes available at the Portages Store, located on Canoe Lake in Algonquin. I posted a while ago about my intention to buy one from them, but they hadn't posted what canoes would be available. Well yesterday they posted all the canoes available for 2008 and I am pleased to tell you that I have decided what canoe will be a part of our adventures for years to come.
16 ft Langford Ultra-light Kevlar –
Prospector, white gel-coat kevlar/epoxy, weight 42 lbs, length 16ft. 6 inches, width 35 inches, capacity 825 lbs. $850 - $1050
I plan to spend around $950 for one that is less bumped and scratched and have been told that they will move on the price a bit if you pay in cash.... something I planned to do anyway.
I am not sure if canoes are given names the way boats are, but I want "her" to have a name anyway and have promised Lauren that she could pick it. Her first thought was "Butterfly" and although I don't hate it, bu I can just imagine the smirks and finger pointing Gerry and I would get cruising along in old "Butterfly", so I asked her if she could come up with some other options.
The canoe is an Ultralight Kevlar and is a symmetrical design. I haven't paddle this canoe myself, but I have been told by those that have that it is remarkably stable, tracks well and is the perfect tripping canoe. For me it will be perfect for my trips with Gerry or Lauren , but just as good when going solo.
Mark has a similar canoe and offered this advice for going solo in a tandem canoe...
"Paddling my Novcraft prospector solo, I sit in the bow seat facing the stern seat. Some would describe this as paddling backwards. Since the bow seat is placed closer to the centre of the canoe(than the stern seat), your weight is better balanced with respects to the load placed in the canoe, adding your gear in between the stern seat and thwart/yoke should give you excellent balance. Experiment till you find the sweet spot with respects to proper weight distribution."
From Langfordcanoe.ca:
"The Langford 16.6 Prospector is the ultimate symmetrical canoe. The performance of this modernized traditional design is the envy of all. This canoe is the choice to make when one has to paddle with dogs, children and heavy gear aboard. The efficiency, exceptional maneuverability, and tracking provided by an industry leading 7th Generation Hydro-dynamically Sound Hull is simply unsurpassed. The safety and responsiveness afforded by this model is unrivaled due to the specific curvatures and shapes found in her hull. There is a literal list of unique qualities that separate this Langford from other "prospectors". The modified shallow arch design, depth, volume, moderate to high rocker, which is coupled with extreme sweep in the gunwale and a very pronounced spray rail all contribute to the Langford Prospector 16.6 being the most trust worthy vessel to deliver the paddler through the roughest of conditions. Solo, Tandem, or Loaded, there is not a dryer hull on the market."
Having my own canoe means I will be able to go to the park more often and not be limited by having to go to access points that have an outfitter at or near them. I am so excited and can't wait to go exploring....with "butterfly".
While browsing Lebarons online catalogue recently I found an inexpensive, collapsible stool that I thought would be perfect for Lauren to use on out trip this summer. I had seen a few people on the AA forums that have used them in the past, so put up a post asking what people thought of it. Many people responded and the reviews were mixed at best. Before long, people started to post chairs they use and for the most part, I had seen most of them before,
...until a member by the name of Dale posted a link to a chair that has the potential of becoming one of my favorite pieces of gear.
Introducing the Trail-Sling Ultralight!
" The Trail-Sling™ Ultralight's patented collapsible frame makes it a portable genius! When packed down in its handy sack, the Trail-Sling™ Ultralight is as small as a water bottle! In addition to its amazing compactability, the Trail-Sling™ Ultralight unfolds to create a remarkably comfortable off-the-ground seat with back support, ideal after a long day of outdoor activities. The Trail-Sling™ Ultralight's small size is ideal for backpacking but it's so comfortable you'll use it for all your outdoor activities!"
It has received glowing reviews for it's comfort, weight and size. All this seem to good to be true? If you are like me, at this point you are thinking, "That's great but how much does it cost"?
Would you believe $19.00? Seriously, it's only $19 (+ delivery, tax)....crazy eh? You can even check HERE to find a retailer near you and avoid the shipping costs all together. I am luck enough to have a retailer fairly close to my home, so I went there yesterday to try it out. WOW....is it ever awesome! They had one set-up in the store and it is hands down the best portable chair I ever ever sat in. It's even better then those larger and much heavier portable chairs we all use....much better. I plan to do a full review in the weeks to come, but this sums up the experience.... I went there thinking it might be a product worth looking at and left the store 15 minutes later after buying two.
I go looking for a cheap stool and end up finding the piece of gear that will change my comfort for every future canoe trip....I love the Internet!
I will post more detail in the days to come, but the trip that I recently wrote was all but dead, is now back on and I couldn't be happier!
Whooooo Whooooo!!
Have a great weekend everyone...
Today I formally booked the canoe trip I will take with my daughter this summer with Parks Ontario. I outlined the trip in detail HERE, but for some reason never got around to making the reservations. Kind of silly actually, but now that it's all booked, let the planning begin!
Things to do:
I was sent this video yesterday by a friend with a simple message...."Please take the time to watch this". Well I did and it has inspired me to change the way I interact with my family and friends. It was like someone flicked a switch and showed me the person I want to be and even better, exactly how to do it. I am going to try not to take things so seriously from now on and try to enjoy my kids for who they are. Also, I am not someone who is overly material, but I do get hung up on keeping things neat and clean. There is a part of the video where he talks about his new car saying "it's only a thing"...this comment really hit me where I live. Too many times I have raised my voice at the kids for spilling a drink or making a mess and I want that to change.
I am not sure if I can do these things long term and I know that this is going to be hard, but I don't want to waste any more time before I try....so today is day one for me.
Below is the video I was sent and if you have 10 minutes to spare please do...it may just inspire you.
What a great extra LONG weekend! Very busy, but that's the way I like it baby! Here are the highlights...
Just imagine pulling up to your favorite Algonquin access point with you canoe secured to the roof of an electric car. Although it may seem like just the kind of thing some tree hugging, canoe toting, Algonquin lover might dream of, Chevy promises their new Volt will make this dream a reality.
Electric vehicles have been around for years, but for the most part have been unable to replace gas powered cars for one main reason....lack of range. If you wanted a vehicle to run around town they were great, but for any trip beyond 100 kms they were useless. So given the choice consumers always choose the gas powered car. I mean, who wants a car that is only good for half of the trips that make the vehicle a necessity.
In 2010 Chevy plans to turn the electric car market on it's ear by mass producing the worlds first electric car with an on-board biodiesel powered generator.
How it works:
This is one of many things I had intended to post a while ago, but never got around to it. I am a BIG fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and have always said that if they ever came to Canada that I would be all over it. Well on February 3rd, tickets went on sale for the first ever UFC event in Canada and we managed to snag 6 decent tickets for what could be one of the best UFC events of all time!
From the official UFC 83 site
"UFC comes to Canada for the first time ever on Saturday, April 19th! One year ago, Matt "The Terror" Serra shocked the world by defeating Georges "Rush" St-Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Championship. Now, after defeating Matt Hughes in December, St-Pierre
enters the Octagon as the Interim Welterweight Champion to face the man who took his title - this time, in his home province of Quebec. Can Serra beat St-Pierre for a second time? The undisputed king of the 170-pound weight class will be determined at UFC 83: SERRA VS. ST-PIERRE 2- Saturday, April 19, live on Pay-Per-View from Montreal, Quebec "
Since there will be 6 of us going , we decided to make it a true guys weekend and will be traveling up together and spending the weekend. We have a hotel next to the Bell Center and plan to go to the fight, eat, drink and enjoy all the city has to offer. Should be a blast!
Yes, it seems to be true. Gerry and I have been going to Algonquin for our "Capsized Canoe" trips since 2005, but sadly, it looks as though the 2008 trip will not happen. Without getting into detail, Gerry is in the process of making some major changes in his life and these changes make it difficult for him to know his availability. It's not completely dead, but at this point if the trip was a person, it would be getting last rights while the vultures circled overhead.
I am not sure how to feel about it either. I want to hold onto hope that the trip that has become one of the highlights of the season for me will still happen, but that seems like a real long shot. I feel sad that what was a fun and very quickly becoming a stable tradition may be gone for good. Of course I can still go to Algonquin, but for me it was as much about the park as it was sharing time with one of only a few people that I felt 100% comfortable with. In my life, such a friend is a rare thing.
Now the "kids trip" will still happen, but it will now be a time for me to spend some time 1:1 with my daughter Lauren. I wish Gerry and his boys could have come, but having 3 days to show Lauren why I love the park will be a very unique experience and I look forward to sharing it with her.
Well it's been decided! Booth lake will be the place where Lauren, Patrick and Mark will have their first Algonquin experience. You know, I am more excited about this one then any other....and trust me, even I didn't think that was possible! But we both love the park so much that the idea of sharing that with the kids has a level of appeal that is difficult to measure. Let's just say it's off the chart exciting!
Now I looked at a bunch of different routes, but after considering all the factors that go into canoe tripping with kids, Booth Lake offered a unique balance. It allows the kids to experience what true interior camping is all about, but shouldn't be too much for them to handle....after all, this will be the start of what we hope will be another annual tradition and we don't want to push them to hard and extinguish the hope of further trips in the years to come.
THE ROUTE:
Day 1, Wednesday July 8, 2008:
Leave the house by 4 am and make our way North to Access point 17, Shall Lake. Gerry will rent his canoe from Algonquin Bound Outfitters located before the cut off to Shall Lake road and then we will make our way up the winding road that leads to Access Point 17. Lauren and I will be in our new/used canoe ( will be purchased in the spring). Our goal for today is to make our way from Shall Lake to an island site on Booth Lake. We will have 2 portages today. The first, a P 90 from Farm to Kitty Lake...a good warm up for the young ones. The second is a P 550 from Kitty to Booth. It's hard to estimate how long this will take, but I would guess about 2-3 hours tops. Once we find a suitable site, the rest of the day will be spend fishing and exploring the highlands that all dotted all over Booth lake that provide an amazing view.
Day 2, Thursday July 9, 2008:
Today we pull up camp and venture out to the low maint portage trails. Out goal for today is the lone low maint campsite on Godda Lake. To get there we will do more portaging then canoeing, but I have been told it's worth the hike. The portages are 380,590 and 1365 which at first might seem a bit much for a group as young as ours, but we are in no rush and plan to double all the portages. This site will be the first time any of us (Gerry and Me included) that we have camped on a low maint site and the fact that it is the ONLY site on the lake made it all the more interesting. Once we arrive we plan on doing some fishing by day and the fire by night...again, being the only ones on the lake should be very cool. What a great way to spend our last night.
Day 3, Friday July 10, 2008:
Today we go home and much of the day will be spent making out way back to Shall lake. Only two portages today 550, 90 and the kids should be pro's by now!
WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS TRIP?
Today I came across RedZee, which gives you a visual representation of your search query results – not unlike Microsoft Vista's Flip 3D feature or Apple's Cover Flow for album artwork.
For example, if you type "Golden Retrievers," you'll be able to use your mouse to scroll through the golden retriever-related website snapshots by holding down the button and dragging left or right – so you can easily locate the site (or kind of site) you need thanks to this visual information. When you see a site you want, simply double-click it to bring up the page full-screen.
I haven't played around with RedZee for any great length to see how accurate the search results are – which, after all, the most important quality of a search engine – but I like what I've seen thus far. But if you happen to be searching for porn....don't bother, it doesn't work for "sex related sites"....I've been told.
Oh, and can anyone tell me what kind of animated, er, animal, greets you on the RedZee main page? Anyone?
If you are on Facebook and enjoy readying my blog...why not join the Official Algonquin Canoe Trips fan page on Facebook!
Benefits:
When I was a kid living in Labrador, my Dad and I would often go fishing and some of my favorite childhood memories were from those times. It wasn't really about the fishing for me. I just liked to spend time with my Dad and loved that we would do things differently there. Like using my 1970's Montreal Expos hat to drink from....seriously, how many times in life do you get to drink out of your hat? We would pack sandwiches, talk and occasionally even catch fish.
Posted From HERE:
It takes a certain amount of touch to fillet a fish, but expending a little more effort at the cleaning stage is worth it because it means no bones at the eating stage. When you get the hang of filleting, you can zip through a pile of fish pretty quickly, and it gives you a sense of accomplishment that you can do something as well as the old-timers.
Don't worry too much if you don't get absolutely all the meat off the fish when you first start filleting. The idea at the beginning is to get some. If you skin the fish, as recommended, you do not have to scale it first. Obviously, if you are going to use the skin, scale it unless you like to eat scales. Figure 1 shows the basics of filleting a small fish (up to about 5 pounds).
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Figure 1: Filleting a small fish. |
1. Cut off the head just behind the gills.
2. Hold the fish by the tail. With the knife blade pointing away from you and across the body of the fish, begin to cut toward the head (or at least where the head used to be). Use the backbone to guide your knife.
3. To take the skin off, begin by holding the fillet by the tail, skin side down.
4. Hold the knife crosswise across the fillet and insert the knife between the skin and the flesh. Don't worry if you don't get this perfect at first.
5. While holding the skin, cut in the direction of where the head used to be.
When you have a larger fish, the tail-to-head method of filleting can be a little awkward. In this case opening the fish like a book is an effective method, as shown in Figure 2.
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Figure 2: Try this technique for filleting larger fish. |
Follow these steps (shown in Figure 2) to fillet a larger fish:
1. Make a deep cut just behind the gills (about halfway through the thickness of the fish).
2. Cut a slit a few inches in length along the top of the fish (the dorsal side).
3. Using the tip of the knife, separate the flesh from the bones, as illustrated. The fish should open up just like a book.
4. When completely open, finish cutting away the fillet by moving the knife along the "spine of the book."
To tie the Improved Clinch knot, as shown in Figure 1, follow these steps:
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Figure 1: The Improved Clinch Knot. |
1. Run the tag end of the line through the eye of the hook and pull 8–10 inches of line through the hook eye.
2. Wrap the tag end around the standing end for five wraps or turns.
3. Now pass the tag end through the loop next to the hook eye.
You have formed another loop that includes your wraps.
4. Pass the tag end through that loop.
5. Wet the loops with some saliva to lubricate the knot.
6. Hold the tag end and standing end in one hand and the bend of the hook in the other; then pull with steady pressure.
If you are not sure about safely holding the hook, grip it firmly but not super firmly with needle-nose pliers.
7. Tighten slowly.
8. Clip the tag end so that only 1/8-inch is left.
I am still plugging away on the trip report on Gerry and my trip last year, but while doing so I stumbled across this video I shot the morning of our first day on Robinson.
Enjoy....
It seems like an eternity since I last updated the blog and judging by the number of emails I have received about it, I guess I am not the only one. Thanks guys!
Christmas was AWESOME! We all had so much fun and the kids, who are all prime "Santa age", were so excited. Lauren's favorite gift was her pixel chick (...I have no idea what it is, but she is very happy with it), Jacob's main gift was goalie equipment and a net and Ethan loved all the star wars figures I found for him on eBay. It was Jack's first Christmas and even he had a stocking, but I put my foot down when Tanyia wanted to strap foam atlers on him. Tanyia and I agreed not to buy each other anything this year, but Tanyia surprised me by buying " the family" an Xbox 360....maybe I will let the kids use it before next Christmas. We spent the day at home and had dinner with my parents, sister and niece up in Uxbridge. It was the best holiday I have had in years!
I have booked the kid trip, that I affectionately call the Algonquin Brats Tour for July 8 - 10. We will be going to Booth Lake and spending some time doing some day trips and fishing. I have not had the chance to talk to Gerry about the dates, but I hope this works for him as well.
I have been using Craigslist.ca lately and really like it. I sold my old road bike on there recently and some other things that I had planned on putting on eBay, but found Craigslist much easier. No packaging, shipping or Paypal, just post it, answer email and arrange a time for them to come get it. Much easier.
Tanyia and I are going to buy a tent trailer in the spring. It will make going to visit her parent in Nova Scotia so much easier. In the past we have always rented a tent trailer and it is so expensive. In fact, with all the money we have spent renting trailers, we could have bought a decent used one! Having a trailer opens up lots more possibilities for camping in provincial parks and travel vacations. We are all excited at the possibilities.
I don't make resolutions, but I promise to update with more regularity in 2008.
Thanks for stopping by!
While looking for places to buy a canoe barrel I stumbled across a company called Envirosponsible. They are located in Whitby, Ontario and have started a very ingenious business where they collect items from builders, contractors and pharmaceutical companies that would normally end up in a land fill and re-sell them to the public. What an awesome way to make a living and help the environment at the same time!
They have antique doors, windows, sinks and of course blue 30 liter barrels. The barrels are sold for $30 each and are available for pick-up or they will ship them anywhere in Canada.
Here is a short video tour of the warehouse...
After extensively researching the subject, I have made a big decision.....well not really a BIG decision, but one that will have lasting impact on future canoe trips. I have decided to start using a food barrel and harness. The reasons are simple, all the food will be in one place, food no longer has to take up space in my pack (...and risk it's sent staying on my pack) and foods that are prone to being squished....won't be. But the most important reason comes down to numbers. With 6 of us going on the "kids trip" next summer (Me, Lauren, Gerry and two of his boys), we simply won't be able to get away with putting food in our packs....there just won't be enough room.
There are two sizes although I fairly sure the 30 liter would be the right size, I would love to hear from any of you who have used barrels to know if I should just go for the 60 liter. Thoughts?
Anyway, the barrel is a 30 liter and is your standard blue barrel. Nothing special about that, but the key is choosing the right harness and I think I have.
The one I plan on getting is from Headstrong.
Check out the incredible reviews it received from Mycc.
Here's what they say on their site...
While surfing for info about the advantages of using a barrel to carry food, I found this great article on Paddling Canada. As you many of you already know, I have problems with my lower back and it's got all kinds of helpful hints. Check it out!
Bower’s Barrel Baskets Beat Backache!
A couple of hours at your sewing machine can
save miserable back strain on the portage.
By Carol Bower
The members of our annual canoe-camping expedition are all over 55 years old, and all of us have suffered back problems. To lessen chances of delay due to back spasms on our expeditions, we’ve developed some guidelines – and a handy method of carrying those awkward barrel packs so necessary to keep food secure.
#1 Use a pack board.
Nothing is harder on a delicate back than carrying heavy items in your arms. We organize our portage loads so that almost everything is carried in backpacks or strapped to a pack board. We have an old aluminum army surplus pack board with its own straps, and with it anyone can carry two barrels in great comfort high on the back. Paddles, a fishing rod and a net are the only items we can’t carry on our backs, so we tape them together in a bundle which can then be carried over one shoulder.
#2 Carry a sail bag.
Balers, lines, maps, wet shoes and jackets, and other miscellaneous items are tied separately to the thwarts during paddling. They considerably increase the weight of a canoe and make it much more difficult to portage, often flopping around and snagging on trees. Instead of securing all these small items separately onto packs (time-consuming and awkward) or carrying them by hand (uncomfortable and dangerous on a rough trail), we toss them all into a tough nylon drawstring sail bag, then lash the bag to a pack board, along with a day barrel. This is a quick, simple, and convenient solution, as long as you don’t buy a sailboat in order to obtain a sail bag.
#3 Portage the canoe half way... and switch.
It goes without saying that if you have back trouble, a Kevlar canoe is a good choice. After stripping our Kevlar canoes, their empty weights are 30 kg (66 lb.) and 25 kg (55 lb.).
On long portages, there are many advantages to taking the canoes one at a time. Instead of lifting the canoe alone, avoid that dangerous manoeuvre by having a partner hold it up while you get underneath. Then your partner, perhaps carrying a backpack or the paddles, can lead the way over difficult terrain, lending a hand over deadfalls and pointing out obstacles in advance. Every 400 metres (440 yd.) switch loads. In two trips, just as in the normal method, both canoes and two packs are still carried across, but with less strain on either back.
#4 Weigh those packs.
We use one waterproof pack each loaded with personal and camping gear. Each weighs 20 to 22 kg (44 - 49 lb.). On our latest trip, we also had two large and a small food barrel, for a total weight of 22 kg plus two day barrels, one for each canoe, weighing a few kg each. We also carry the pack board and that sail bag of miscellaneous items, adding up to another 10 kg (22 lb.). Aside from that we had a taped bundle of 5 paddles, a fishing rod, and net.
This gear was enough for 3 people for 17 days in the wilderness, and could be portaged in three trips. To keep light we replaced books with crossword puzzles, ground beans with instant coffee, wine with rum, and wore the same clothes the whole trip (laundered daily by immersion for hours in flowing water).
#5 Make Barrel Webbing.
We use plastic barrels in two sizes: 19-litres (5 gal.) for day barrels and 29-litres (8 gal.) (which have a wider mouth) for food. (See Edward T. Neal, “Get Tanked”, in KANAWA ‘s Summer 2000 issue) Both are awkward to lift and carry. The smaller ones have no handles at all, and lifting and carrying the loaded food barrels by one or even both side-mounted handles can easily lead to back strain.
Therefore, I made “baskets” with handles at the top for each barrel (see photo). The black plastic webbing I used is inexpensive and sews easily by machine using a normal needle and thread. A basket for a 19-litre
(5 gal.) barrel requires less than 6 metres (7 yd.) of webbing, costs under ten dollars, and takes less than an hour to make.
The handles on top make it easy to pass the barrels from one person to another during loading, unloading or on a short “bucket brigade” portage. Loops on the sides make it easy to attach the barrels to a pack board in any combination, and also to a canoe.
Buying a ready-made backpack harness is another possibility, but then the barrels can only be carried one at a time. Also, the straps of the harness are inconvenient around the campsite if left attached, whereas the baskets become a permanent and unobtrusive part of the barrel.
#6 Bring medicine.
Sometimes back problems are inevitable. On our last trip, we had a lot of upstream work to do, which required pulling the loaded canoe from a stooped position through shallow water almost all day long. The constant bending and straining was tough on bad backs, and we had problems. Obviously more rest periods and muscle stretches would have helped, as well as warm ups before beginning the upstream work.
For those times when all else fails, your medical kit should include several types of medication for pain and spasms, as well as stomach settlers, since anti-spasm medication often causes indigestion. Also of great use is a good heat rub, which acts immediately to relax muscles and prevent further spasms. Massage the area lightly every ten minutes after application, and the heat returns. Adhesive patches impregnated with the same active ingredients as rubs can be applied and left on for a day or more; again, when rubbed they reactivate. Be sure to try them first if you have sensitive skin.
#7 Set back-saving rules for the trip.
Make a very conservative estimate of trip duration so you don’t have to rush. This means including one or two days off in the estimate of trip length, and planning for short work days. We generally leave camp at 8:30 a.m. and stop no later than 3:30 p.m.
We also promise each other to avoid hasty decisions during adrenalin surges, and to monitor each other for signs of these adrenalin surges or exhaustion. It’s up to everyone to do some back-strengthening exercises for several weeks before the trip, but en route we continue these exercises every morning or evening. We also take frequent breaks, do a few stretches and warm up our muscles before lifting.
Carol Bower’s back survived a gruelling 160-km (100 mi.) trip which began on the stunning West Magpie River, sometimes called one of America’s “ultimate” rivers. After paddling the Magpie, the travellers spent days hauling loaded canoes through almost continuous rapids, to cross to the Moisie River watershed beyond Lac Vital, Quebec.
I have added Mark's new blog to the "Blogs I read" section of the sidebar. If you are even a casual fan of all things Algonquin, you will love this new addition to an already awesome site.
You can check it out at http://markinthepark.com/blog/
I have also added a banner to the top of the sidebar where I will post my progress saving money for my spring canoe purchase. If you are feeling generous please feel free to contact me ASAP....lol.
Thanks for reading folks!
...that pretty much sums up the general sentiment of the emails I have received from readers lately. The past month or two have been a bit crazy and something had to give, so the blog took a back seat for a while. Sorry folks, but as some of the folks that have been reading my blog for a while can attest, this is nothing terribly unusual for me. I will admit that November was a particularly bad on the blog front, with just two posts for the month I am not surprised many of you thought I had jumped ship....or canoe in this case. But rest assured that I am still here and don't plan on leaving. With that said...how 'bout an UPDATE people?
Bow - The front or pointy end of the boat. Stern - The back or blunt end of the boat. Port side - The left hand side of the boat when you are in the boat facing forward. Starboard side - The right hand side of the boat when you are in the boat facing forward.
This is one of those things that I know I should know, but sometimes get confused about. So just in case I am not the only one that gets port and starboard mixed up, here is a reminder...
For a while I have been thinking about using a barrel to carry food, but since it was always just Gerry and Me, it just wasn't practical to carry a big barrel.
But now that we are going to start bringing the kids into the park the whole " barrel thing" starts to make a lot of sense. I have been checking out harnesses and I am sure I can get a used one off of MEC's gear swap. For the barrel itself, I stumbled on a great source...thanks to Pete from Algonquin Adventures for posting the info!
This guy charges $10 per barrel ANY size. and will ship via greyhound if you can't make it to Hamilton. The barrels i got were super clean, and work great.
Recycling Service
250B Lottridge St.
Hamilton ON Canada L8L 8J8
(905) 516-1877 cell
(905) 545-5577 phone
(905) 525-5577 fax
RecyclingService@cogeco.net
www.RecyclingService.ca
Just three weeks into the job, Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield has angered environmentalists over whether to curb, or even ban, logging in Algonquin Provincial Park.
She'll probably come under more pressure next week, when provincial environmental commissioner Gord Miller releases his annual report.
Although it's not usually evident to the million or so people who camp, canoe or hike each year in Ontario's oldest park, trees can be cut down and hauled out of more than three-quarters of the popular "wilderness" preserve.
While logging areas and seasons are separated as much as possible from tourist routes, "it's not a park with logging in it; it's an industrial zone that permits canoeing," says Evan Ferrari, of CPAWS Wildlands League, an advocacy group – and chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – originally formed to preserve the park....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING
Well I am happy to report that the CC2007 trip log is about 1/3 completed and after a bit of a hiatus from all things Algonquin, my head is again swimming with trip ideas. Yeah!!
I am still looking at ideas for the trip with my daughter next summer. I want a challenge, but not too much of challenge. I want portages, but too many. I want comfort, but don't want to be overburdened with gear. I have decided that I will bring a collapsible chair, but will not be bringing any other bulky luxury items. I am looking at this trip as a solo trip with company, so although I will be bringing items like the chair that I normally wouldn't, I will be planning the food , route and most of the gear like I will have to carry it all...'cause I will! LOL! Lauren will be responsible for her clothes and personal items, but the rest is up to me, so I have to be careful not to bring too much.
The portages will all have to be double carries, so again this factors into what we bring and the route. Lots to think about, but fortunately I have the winter to plan it all out.
Ever since Gerry and I started our annual trip into the Back-country, I have been considering buying a canoe. The only thing (other then the money...) that prevented me from buying one was that I couldn't justify it for one trip a year. Well next year I plan on doing as many as three trips:
