How much have you paddled this year?

[ABT]

I’ve never really tracked my mileage before, but I started keeping a log this year of each outing (mostly to track river conditions, levels, flow, etc). I know some of you have the privilege of paddling almost daily, while others paddle less frequently but on much longer excursions. I think some folks set a mileage or “number of outings” goal every year, and for others it’s the last thing they’d think about doing.

I didn’t start with a goal, but it appears I have clocked about 177 miles this calendar year on mostly day trips. Of course now that I’ve looked at it, I think I’d like to hit 200 before the year is out, which should be very doable. I know there were several missed opportunities as well, and I certainly would have liked to go more than I was able (such is life for a working stiff).

So I’m just curious how much everyone else has paddled this year. Can be an estimate or exact. If you set a goal, are you on track to meet it before the year is out?

 

[GeoBoy]

We didn’t get out much at all this year, the high daytime temperatures, two trips abroad and life just didn’t allow us much time to paddle.

 

[Tryin']

With the breakdown of our main transportation for canoes, we are down a lot from our goal. Probably barely 100 miles total. But, the transmission is finally back together, so hopefully we can get the van back running in the next couple of weeks and squeeze in some more short paddles. It is hunting season now, so that occupies most of my free time. I would like to do a trip on the Current River this January or February.

 

[snapper]

I'm embarrassed to say my boat hasn't touched water yet this year. Between work and the incredible heat, plus I'm dealing with some heat & overuse related injuries, I've been mostly MIA this year in the paddling world. The best I had was a visit to a local paddling program.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[Mason]

Yeah, big trips are good for the miles. 365 this summer on the Horton. I had planned a weeklong Quetico trip following, but had to cancel. In the process of planning another month-long trip next summer. If you can fit them in, those long trips are good for the soul (not that I have one).

 

[NikonF5user]

Yeah, big trips are good for the miles. 365 this summer on the Horton. I had planned a weeklong Quetico trip following, but had to cancel. In the process of planning another month-long trip next summer. If you can fit them in, those long trips are good for the soul (not that I have one).

That must have been AMAZING - guessing that can only be done fly-in / fly-out? And clearly in polar bear country, at least near the mouth. How long did it take to go 365?!?

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I think I've spent more time in a canoe this year than any year since covid. Not as much as I'd like, but I'm getting better. A thread was started on another forum to encourage members to log 365 miles under human power by the end of the year - preferably in an "unpaved" context. I've passed that with a mix of paddling, poling, BC skiing, hiking, and biking. But the canoe mileage is not completely relatable because I modified it by reducing any entirely downstream trips by two thirds for the record - accounting for the fact that so much of the distance is actually provided by "river power".

Going back to recalculate isn't something I want to do, but a quick scan of my records shows that I was in a canoe at least 25 different days so far. It also shows that I slacked clear off during the busy and stormy month of October. Weather (mostly wind) permitting though, I'm not done yet. The river stays open all winter.

 

[MichaelMerry]

I really prioritize outdoor time and find that the older I get, the more I require it for mental health. Fortunately, my wife is completely on board with this; perhaps even more than me. We also have a nice group of friends and family often willing to accompany us on backpacking, paddling, skiing and climbing trips.

This year, I’ve spent 14 nights camped out on paddling trips. It equates to around 200 miles traveled. No day trips. However, this weekend we are taking our first trip to Jesse Owens state park in SE Ohio for day paddling, fishing and hiking. We will base camp 3 nights. The weekend after, we plan to paddle about 40 miles on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania spending a couple of nights on the river.

After that, it will be a winter of backpacking- hopefully much of it on skis and snowshoes.

 

[Mason]

That must have been AMAZING - guessing that can only be done fly-in / fly-out? And clearly in polar bear country, at least near the mouth. How long did it take to go 365?!?

Yes, fly in and out (we use PakCanoes). We didn't see any polar bears, but we did see 8 grizzlies. We spend a very leisurely 32 days on the river--some weather days but mostly for hiking.

 

[Pseudonym]

This was a particularly sedentary year for me and I missed my annual trip due to work. That said, I started logging my rowing and paddling distances for the first time, starting in April. I certainly missed "tracking" several of my day paddles in the OC1, so this isn't quite comprehensive, but here are the logged totals:

• 10,574 meters (6.5 miles) paddled - very sad!
• 171,894 meters (107 miles) rowed on the rowing machine

Given that my average rowing duration is about 4 miles, a 365 baseline goal seems achievable. That would require 91 sessions in a year (once every four days) which is very manageable. Though perhaps the rowing machine is "cheating."

I'd like to do at least 100 miles of actual paddling too. Call that one 60 mile trip and ten 4 mile day paddles.

 

[Art D]

30 miles a week x 30 weeks=900 miles give or take in 2025

 

[Patrick Corry]

I have been in the canoe for a total of one hour this year!

I had a fall from a scaffold at work in the early Spring before paddling season arrived, and couldn't paddle due to injury. Then, my wife had two surgeries and some ongoing medical issues, so I have become her nurse. I have however spent a bit of time in the barn restoring several canoes; 1927 & 1938 Old Town 50 pounder canoes.

 

[Jmharrick]

I have to estimate, because I didn’t keep a log or use a tracking app, but I imagine I paddled somewhere between 75-100 miles this year. This is combining solo and with my family.

I expect to have no trouble doubling this next year. I didn’t go on any major trips this year, and we moved right in the middle of paddling season, which impacted some peak paddling weekends.

 

[tketcham]

It was a funny summer, we were traveling (sans canoes) for almost a month and then I broke some ribs in late summer and that set me back a month or so. Otherwise, I don't have a lot of miles to claim but there were some quality paddling days spread out over the season.

 

[Rhollat]

I really prioritize outdoor time and find that the older I get, the more I require it for mental health. Fortunately, my wife is completely on board with this; perhaps even more than me. We also have a nice group of friends and family often willing to accompany us on backpacking, paddling, skiing and climbing trips.

This year, I’ve spent 14 nights camped out on paddling trips. It equates to around 200 miles traveled. No day trips. However, this weekend we are taking our first trip to Jesse Owens state park in SE Ohio for day paddling, fishing and hiking. We will base camp 3 nights. The weekend after, we plan to paddle about 40 miles on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania spending a couple of nights on the river.

After that, it will be a winter of backpacking- hopefully much of it on skis and snowshoes.

I have spent quite a bit of time at Jesse Owen’s State Park but mostly when it was known as AEP and Ohio Power. Be aware that pretty much all the lakes are actually ponds. Most can be paddled in 15-30 minutes. Wear hunter orange if hiking. Lots of bow hunters down there right now.
Beautiful area. Enjoy.

 

[zekabl]

I have been out a total of 7 times for about 50miles in 2025.

 

[wjmc]

I had a fairly typical summer. Two trips, one for 18 days, 270km/166miles, in the southern NWT in July: the other a short 6 day, 85km/53 miles in Saskatchewan in September. The Saskatchewan trip was rather a sad one, many of my favourite trails and places having been razed by fire in the last few years.

Hoping to be able to continue this pattern for a few years yet.

wjmc

 

[Neophyte]

Patrick that looks like quite the project, good luck and I hope you're able to get out more next year.

My wife and I can only get out on the weekends, just because of work schedule and the time it takes to get to water. We paddle a little less this year because she was doing stuff with community theatre, but still managed to get in 1-2 times/month in the spring and 2-3 month over the summer. And of course almost every day for the week we vacationed in Saranac Lakes, NY.

 

[ABT]

With the breakdown of our main transportation for canoes, we are down a lot from our goal. Probably barely 100 miles total. But, the transmission is finally back together, so hopefully we can get the van back running in the next couple of weeks and squeeze in some more short paddles. It is hunting season now, so that occupies most of my free time. I would like to do a trip on the Current River this January or February.

I love me some Current River in the winter. You can see so much more of the geological features without the foliage. Feel free to give me a holler if you’d like some company or help with a shuttle!

 

[ABT]

I think I've spent more time in a canoe this year than any year since covid. Not as much as I'd like, but I'm getting better. A thread was started on another forum to encourage members to log 365 miles under human power by the end of the year - preferably in an "unpaved" context. I've passed that with a mix of paddling, poling, BC skiing, hiking, and biking. But the canoe mileage is not completely relatable because I modified it by reducing any entirely downstream trips by two thirds for the record - accounting for the fact that so much of the distance is actually provided by "river power".

Going back to recalculate isn't something I want to do, but a quick scan of my records shows that I was in a canoe at least 25 different days so far. It also shows that I slacked clear off during the busy and stormy month of October. Weather (mostly wind) permitting though, I'm not done yet. The river stays open all winter.

That’s a cool goal and something I may consider for next year (although I’d count all the free “river power” I can get ).