Recent content by Patrick Corry

Come on man.... you can't just go over to the dark (non-wood) side! Just kidding. For me the aesthetics and feel of my wood/canvas canoes justify the extra effort. My favorite solo shown below is 52 lbs. I'm 73 and fortunately still somewhat agile. I just have to plan my moves a little...

Al, your wool-jacketed canteen fits well with your Duluth style packs! I imagine that when the wool is wetted, evaporation helps keep the water cool. Does anyone remember lister bags? They provided water for a large group and the water soaked canvas kept the water somewhat cool. Our Boy Scout...

My headlamp journey began many years ago one Vermont winter when my pal bought two Eveready headlamps powered by a 9 volt square battery. The thing looked like the classic doctors disc reflector they wore on a headband back in the day. The lens had to be 3" in diameter, and about 2" projection...

I needed a new strap for my Black Diamond headlamp. I guess my big head finally wore out the elastic!! I found this young guy in California and decided to buy from a small business instead of the big box store and was pleased indeed when I received the new strap (and he included an extra as a...

A number of you fine folks have shared your map interest-thank you. In a continuation of the thought about my Allagash map I thought I'd include this photo from 1967 illustrating the taped-together topo maps we used. I don't think there was an official Allagash route map at the time. That's a...

Recped, if so, perhaps you are a geologist, or student of geology. I received degrees in geology and botany a lifetime ago, and though I didn't pursue careers in either I still retain my interest in the sciences. Years ago I read and thoroughly enjoyed: I encourage you, and of course anyone...

Searching for a long time, I finally found this on eBay. Created by Augustus Phillips of Northeast Harbor, Maine, who made a business of tourist oriented maps and postcards of Maine primarily. Having paddled the Allagash several times spanning 1967 to the present, this one reminds me of great...

I bought my Tourist set and 123 stoves in the late 60’s, and have always loved it. Stable, largely windproof, versatile and I highly recommend acquiring the Svea 123 stove. I bought sets for my brother in law and my son. If you do, I recommend the 123 over the 123R (so-called self-cleaning)...

Years ago, 1967 to be exact, after having finished canoeing the Allagash (so this is a canoetripping-related story) our crew of Boy Scouts decided to climb Mt. Katahdin before heading home. We ascended via the Abol Ridge trail. Above tree line one of our guys that day was wearing shorts and...

Another winter project. Some time ago I found a Yellow Birch tree that a local mountain bike club had cut up to open a trail. There was a potentially nice crotch there so I wheeled my wheelbarrow about a 1/2 mile into the woods and collected it. I sliced the piece on my band saw and now 1...

Thanks for posting this. I'm very interested to see the variations. It appears to me that the canoe built on the newer form, the canoe in the middle, is not as beamy as either of the others. What a sweet looking canoe! I don't particularly care for the appearance of the babiche seats in...

Thanks Steve and Jim. I love my barn! I grew up here when the area was dotted with active dairy farms. My first summer job as a kid was bicycling to work by 6:00 AM to milk cows at a neighboring farm about 3 miles away. I have always thought of barns as cathedrals of American agriculture...

Thanks Steve. It's a mid-19th century Pennsylvania/German bank barn. Only the foundation is stone, the rest is mortise & tenon post & beam construction, and it's clad in 1x12 Spruce board & batten siding which I just renewed in 2020. This view is of the upper level of the bank, and just...

Like Robin, my winter projects are focused on wood/canvas canoe repair and restoration: 1938 Old Town 50 pounder being restored for a gentleman in Yorktown Heights, NY. Shown here after 24 ribs replaced, new inwales, lots of red cedar planking and mahogany outwales being prepared prior to...

My best canoe & plane combo? These two: 15' Island Falls Canoe Co. Willow model Stanley #5, Type 11 bench plane (circa 1902-1919)