Paddling into 2015

Something else. An aluminum military test set Hardig case that I have had for many years and used as a medical kit.

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So what do you do when you want to go for a cold weather float and you cannot find a canoeing partner? This guy from Arkansas has the answer.

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Good to see some canoe-heads prepping for summer.
I'm in Northern Minnesota waiting for my next trip right after the Blade Show. I'll be doing a solo Boundary Waters trip somewhere up the Gunflint.
Got this one finished just in time for an early, cold Fall to roll in.
Barely got it wet before hard water showed up.
But all my gear is ready and waiting. :D







 
A beautiful canoe Karl. I could only wish I had the skill and patience to produce something like that. I certainly don't stop thinking about canoes and canoeing when winter sets in. At times all I can do is read about the ongoing trips and equipment upgrades/hacks of friends who are able to canoe (and kayak) year round. There are some really friendly, innovative people in the paddling community. And a lot of good humor as well. FOr instance this recent conversation on a forum (reposted here without permission):


Reasons no one open boats anymore:

1. Kayaking is easier
2. Kayaks are easier to physically carry than canoes
3. Kayaks are easier to store and transport
4. Kayaks require MUCH less maintenance and custom outfitting
5. Kayaks are less expensive
6. Sitting in a kayak is much easier on the body than being bound up on your knees
7. You can run more challenging and smaller creeks than you can in a canoe
8. Less swimming
9. During the winter you stay warmer in a kayak, assuming you adhere to # 8
10. Kayakers are a lot better looking]
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Why paddling an Open Boat still rocks!

1. It's harder, thus you are a real Bad a** if you can do it well.
2. You can show off your manly guns when you schlep the boat off your vehicle single handedly.
3. More space to carry stuff.
4. Easier on the back or so I'm told
5. Arguably some of the maneuvers just seem more fun such as surfing
6. You can introduce your small child or dog (or cat I suppose) to paddling (as a passenger in an OC1) w/o having to invest in a second boat
7. You get to use those really kick a** boat extraction rope tricks more often, especially if you tend to paddle with other open boaters
8. You are positioned better to rapidly exit your boat and assist a worthless kayaker as he or she screams "help", "help" "get my boat" etc etc while being flushed downstream, thus increasing your status as a total bad a** river god.
9. You don't have to wear a skirt
10. All your non paddling friends are gonna call all of your boats a canoe anyway so you might as well just paddle one.
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All in good fun of course. :D
 
Pretty chilly here at the moment. But should be warming up in a couple weeks. The Daffodills frequently are blooming here by mid Feb. Last year they were later as it got much colder in the later part of the winter here. I suspect my brother will want to do a trout fishing jaunt and this year since he just got a kayak. We may well hit Eagle or Hazel Creek which requires a float across Fontana Lake to get there.
 
Karl B, that is a beautiful solo thanks for sharing the pics.

I'm itching big time. Last year I didn't have the time to go at all but this summer we're planning on going up to the BWCA twice. One trip with the family. My wife doesn't like to be too far in and has about a four day cap so the SOP is to paddle in a mile or two set up a base camp and day trip, fish, and explore from there. My oldest which is 14 wants to do a 7 day adventure loop trip and I'm all about that. For now it's been fun just going over the maps and through the books making a plan with the ladies. The only piece of gear that needs to be purchased will be a drop in third seat, food, and permits once we get the entry points and dates nailed down the rest has been ready since the last trip. Dad may need a new pair of boots too.

Funny conversation with wit my oldest, "Dad, will I be sore from portaging when the trip is over"? My reply was honey that'll happen on day one. The facial expression that followed was priceless.
 
I went to the "big city" today with the intent of finding some specific items related to my spring canoeing but came up pretty well empty handed. The MSR mugmate and other coffee filters were not in the stores.

I did buy a Zippo fire starter block and a Duraflame Firestart block. I haven't opened them yet but assume both will be variations of the Coghlans/Coleman firestarter sticks I have used for several years. Mostly wax impregnated sawdust. This will give me a variety to try though as I still have some of those other brands of sticks. Also a bag of BBQ grill hickory chunks and some birchbark coming.

I was going to begin stocking up a few freeze dried meals but when I counted available coin, I put that back and instead bought a new water container. Years ago I had a water bag for canoeing and found it very handy. So I looked at the various offerings by Plattypus and others and settled on a MSR Dromlite 4 liter bag. Sucker was still $30 and change so it had better be a good product.

The only other item of note I came away with was a lexan cutlery set by Coghlans. I have had a similar set by GSI and have been very pleased with them. They also had a set in the store brand, Sportsmans', but I passed on them for now as they seemed lighter and maybe less durable. If, by chance, I wind up taking the family on an overnighter they can either use plastic cutlery from Wendy's or buy their own like mine. I'll eventually buy another set or two but not yet. Same for the plate/bowl/cup. I have two of the polypropylene Cascadian sets and have been pleased with them.

Web find pictures will have to do for the moment.

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Ever heard of Ray Mears? Want to watch him make a birchbark canoe? Always been a fantasy of mine to build one and do a wilderness trip in it. The closest I ever got was a raw hide boat that was hastily built without instruction and abandoned after the trial float. I enjoy watching Ray and this is a good video, IMHO.

[video=youtube;ZqmHqrHr8xg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqmHqrHr8xg[/video]
 
Codger- If you haven't already, may I suggest you read John McPhee's, The Survival of the Bark Canoe. McPhee is a great writer. While I'm at it, his Coming into the Country is also excellent. As I remember it, it is in three sections. One of those sections is all about canoeing in Alaska! I'm sure you'd enjoy both of his books.

I have "birch bark canoe" as a saved search on eBay. I have no intention of buying one. I just like to look at them when they show up. :)
 
I am still wrangling for the OCA and working on a way to relay it here via knife and canoe friends across the country. We shall see,

Bark and Skin Boats of North America by E. Tappen Adney might be of interest to you as well as finding a video of that Canadian canoe museum in Ray's film.

Say, have you ever watched open boaters surf? This old film just got posted on the ACC forum. Big Piney River in Arkansas where I learned to paddle whitewater back in the early 70's in the OCA!

[video=youtube;BgRBIqpLBdc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgRBIqpLBdc[/video]
 
Codger_64 said:
I am still wrangling for the OCA and working on a way to relay it here via knife and canoe friends across the country. We shall see,

Bark and Skin Boats of North America by E. Tappen Adney might be of interest to you as well as finding a video of that Canadian canoe museum in Ray's film.

Say, have you ever watched open boaters surf? This old film just got posted on the ACC forum. Big Piney River in Arkansas where I learned to paddle whitewater back in the early 70's in the OCA!
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Hope you get that OCA. I'd be happy to know that I had a small part in making it happen.

Up until a a year ago, there was a very small "canoe museum" a few miles from my house. They had three bark canoes on display. I probably stopped in a half dozen times to admire them.

In my younger days, I used to (usually) be able to surf an open boat. I don't know if I could still do it or not as I'm old enough that I don't like swimming alongside a boat full of water. :)

BTW, I learned to paddle in the early 80's. I guess I'm an almost old codger. :)
 
Scott Free said:
Hope you get that OCA. I'd be happy to know that I had a small part in making it happen.

Up until a a year ago, there was a very small "canoe museum" a few miles from my house. They had three bark canoes on display. I probably stopped in a half dozen times to admire them.

In my younger days, I used to (usually) be able to surf an open boat. I don't know if I could still do it or not as I'm old enough that I don't like swimming alongside a boat full of water. :)

BTW, I learned to paddle in the early 80's. I guess I'm an almost old codger. :)
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My paddling began in the early 1960's. Keep going and you'll get there! :D

As you can see in that video from the 90's, with enough air bag floatation, you won't get a canoe full of water. Also note they all wear skull buckets. That never occurred to us back in the day. I did fill my canoe with styro dock billets at one point though. So maybe I was one of the first in Arkansas to augment floatation for whitewater?
 
Paddling since the early sixties??? Wow! You've been around a looong time! I hope I do make it to being an old codger!

Yes, I have float bags for all three of my boats. Even so, it's still no fun getting an upturned canoe to shore. I got away from paddling (due to travel and a couple of moves) for several years. I've been back at it for the last six. At this point, I'm not really trying to improve or test my skills. Now it's more about just having a good (and mostly dry) day on the river. I mostly stick to nothing more than Class II. Last year, though, I had a few "kids" watch my back during a (Class III) Youghiogheny "Loop Run."
 
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Class III+ would be pushing it for me these days. Particularly solo. I won't be doing IV+ again for sure. At least not on purpose. But Papaw can still surf. No enders or boofing. And no rolling.

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Or waterfalls.
 
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