Recent content by tketcham

And as a canoeist, I think your article makes the case very well, Marc. But I find the distinctions between a canoe and a kayak are secondary, it's the advantages of open vs decked, single-blade vs double-blade that I believe make the difference. I'll edit my post to better reflect that.

Gore-tex and it's variants aren't as dependable as a good neoprene fisherman's jacket/pants but it does work well for cold weather use when a downpour is unlikely. In cool, wet weather it can be OK as a wind shell but needs an insulating layer like wool. I've begun wearing NRS Hydroskin under...

Marc makes a good case, especially if you're a canoeist. :) I agree on the overall benefits of open canoes and single-blade paddles, that's why I still use both exclusively. And there are important advantages in using closed cockpit kayaks, decked canoes, and big seagoing canoes (or as Glenn...

https://www.wcax.com/2026/02/03/stuck-skaters-rescued-lake-champlain/

Woodchucks are fairly tasty because they eat what cows and rabbits eat, but I'd try eating nutria. Probably similar to muskrat, which is OK if cooked well. That makes sense.

Yup, that's why I like a longer, narrow snowshoe for deep snow bushwacking. They allow a more natural stride than wider shoes but still provide decent flotation. I had a pair of Alaskan Trappers (56"x10") that I enjoyed so when it was time to replace them I went with MSR's Lightning Ascent...

Great to see you got a chance to get out on the shoes and take advantage of the storm! And breaking trail is the way to go, that's what snowshoeing is all about. Perfect cold weather activity. I love snowshoeing, ever since I was a kid. My grandpa used to salvage snowshoes from the trash pile...

Danners were probably what I would have ended up with but there was a place in Milton-Freewater, OR that sold Nick's boots. (He was a former boot builder at White's.) I started with the Forest Service out of Walla Walla in 1979.

White's? That was THE boot when I went looking for field boots that met firefighting requirements. I ended up getting a pair of Nick's boots, they were basically the same boot but a bit less expensive. Got the rough-outs and they lasted me through 30 years of field work & fire fighting. They got...

I had the opportunity to paddle in the bow of Grumman canoes a few times when I was younger and enjoyed it but wasn't overly impressed with its fun factor. I much preferred rowing a boat and dreamed of having a sleek rowboat to cruise around on our local lakes and reservoirs. Fast forward to my...

You mean an Illusion? ;)

They mimic NRS's website very, very well. At first I thought it was some kind of alternative online store for water sport/safety professionals. Something similar to what Filson offers for foresters, loggers, ranchers, etc. Darn artificial intelligence is going to ruin web retailing if this is...

Those little suckers also need a host so deep snow with bitter cold can help control their population if enough deer starve to death. Seems cruel, but that's how nature works.

That's a work of art. Beautiful. I got pretty good at growing quality timber but never did figure out how to make use of the lumber.

Not sure what you mean about pushing the design envelope. If it's shallower depths to decrease wind resistance, I don't think so, because Wenonah's expedition Odyssey has been around for over 35 years and it was advertised as having "High sides (13 1/2") to achieve exceptional volume and...