Pole pike for crossing ice

[Jonas Sjöblom]

Hello, I just wanna give a heads up for this amazing tool which makes it much easier to canoe in winter. I haven't read about it anywhere on the net so I thought I might spread the word. And at the same time make some sneaky advertisement of my newly started blog.

http://paddlereflections.blogspot.se/2015/02/winter-canoeing-on-ice.html

 

[Robin]

How does your canvas canoe hold up to crossing ice?

 

[Jonas Sjöblom]

It depends a bit on the ice. The best is when there is a thin layer of snow on the ice. That protects the canoe really well. Usually if the ice is thick enough I'll just walk and push the canoe, if there's no luggage it won't hurt it much. The worst is if I have to pull myself forward on uneven ice thats too thick to break by the canoes weight. In those cases I try to sit as close to the bow as possible since then the outer stem will take the beating, and the ice will break under the canoe easier.
But so far I haven't seen any big wear on it. My canvas is tared and under the waterline it's shellaced. So if it does make scrapes or wear I can just put on new shellac and it is like new again.

 

[Murat V]

Very interesting tool and great photos on your blog of some winter canoeing. I'm not so brave to go very far alone on ice covered water but you have me wanting to try this technique out. Thanks!

 

[yellowcanoe]

I'll bet there are pike poles just waiting to be discovered in many Maine barns... those relics from old time logging.. They are still made but Grainger wants over a hundred bucks!!

a little cheaper

http://www.oshkoshtools.com/products/pikepoles/pike_poles2.htm

firemen use them too but the points are blunter.

time for downeast dickering.