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Canoes-only here... have used kayaks, never "got it"... pack canoe is lighter, faster, easier in/out, greater cargo capacity, can move around more, etc. Full sized canoe is even better because you can stand up and stretch if you need to. I've tripped with people who kayaked because it's what...

I use boots for different things... for canoeing, I have a pair of neoprene NRS Boundary Boots, and they come up to just below my knee, for which I am grateful. for hunting, and canoeing before the NRS boots, I have a pair of Muck Boot Edgewaters... again, almost knee high. for snow, I have...

I usually paddle a sit-on-bottom Hemlock Nessmuk XL, with a double paddle... My Chum is a single stick, but I bring a double on some trips, in case of wind... I know there are tricks to it, but I just feel like I'm making better use of my energy in the wind with a double paddle.

Can't remember when I last posted here... latest books are Forest Walking, Grant's autobiography, History of Western Philosophy, and Life of Trees, among others.

I have a pair of 911s, and previously had some Proppers... both have velcro kneepad pouches, and they are a game changer for those over 40.

I too prefer a cook fire to a stove, and I always carry a small, ultralight alcohol stove and a few ounces of fuel for first night and emergencies. I also don't like mornings at all, and if it's chilly, I'll lay in bed while my oatmeal/tea water boils on that stove. I'm not a rabid "LNT" guy...

I've lost mostly small stuff; a washcloth got away from me while swimming/bathing once, and I accidentally left 30' of Kelty TripTease Lightline wrapped around a tree another time. I was given my first pocket knife at age 4, and kept it through my entire childhood. My mom still had it at her...

Useless/unused gear... where to start! but I guess that's all of us. I've been through almost every kind of cookpot, and have settled on a 5-cup aluminum boiler with a bail. I use a few smaller 'brew kits' for day hikes, all in the 20oz range, but still with a bail. I still have many pots and...

I got over any fear of the dark in the Army... leading patrols or movements during overcast/moonless nights, night vision goggles, starlight scopes, red-lens flashlights, thermal imaging systems, glow-in-the-dark lensatic compasses, and blackout-markers for driving; it all "normalized" operating...

Context re my way of doing things: There are several items I carry on lanyards in my pockets while camping; a pocket knife and compass on one side, and a lighter, whistle, and micro-light on the other. I also have a Photon mini-light attached to my backpack's drawstring (sort of like a closet...

Steve, So sorry for the ridiculously late response... Just now saw it. Yes, that is a West Marine CO2 inflatable PFD.

Couple thoughts... having raised 2 daughters, now in their 30s. If they're not having fun, they will quickly lose interest. Portaging is not fun if it's more than a few feet. Being wet, too cold, too hot, too thirsty, too tired, too hungry, bug bitten, sunburned, or footsore is not fun...

I found an extendable magnet at the dollar store, on a similar 'tube', took off the magnet and worked a bit on smoothing the end so it doesn't cut and doesn't get pushed in too far, and it works fine at 1/16th the price. I agree; well worth carrying.

Wind from front, load front heavy. Reverse if rear wind (within reason... I recently got hit by a couple waves from the back and took water on, because I was too heavy/low). Beyond that, since I solo a sit-on-bottom and use a double paddle, I sometimes shift my center of paddle to one side or...

I tend to solo trip almost exclusively, and ration myself pretty closely. There is seldom leftover cooked food (cold meal parts, like landjaeger, candy, bread, cheese, but you can easily save them for the next day). One of the easiest ways to ensure this is with dehydrated food; measure out...

I don't carry either/or... it's always both or none. I have various combinations for various means of transport and portage difficulty. When backpacking, I seldom carry either, as I'll generally be WAY deep, and then it's easy to find good firewood that doesn't need cutting and splitting, just...

I grew up in NYS. If I were to pick a location solely based on canoeing, it would be along Hwy 30 from Saranac Inn to Lake Clear to Paul Smith's. If I factored in the winters, it would be either Potsdam (above the Tug Hill/Ontario snowbelt) or Utica/Little Falls/Gloversville (also out of the...

Very nice... Looks like you had a great time. Like the mouse story... I carry a couple mousetraps sometimes, when I plan to stay in a lean-to. I will also set figure-4 traps loaded with firewood if I have to. Had one chew a hole through a bandanna once; that was enough. I was out later that...

I have two. The one I use most often is a West Marine inflatable. Light, doesn't interfere with my back rest, not hot (this was more an issue when I lived in LA), fairly comfortable neoprene neck liner, and for short portages (1/4 mile or less), I can stand wearing it with my backpack and...

A few years back, I experimented with building and using some traditional equipment.... a couple "side opening" duffle bags (like Warren Miller used), as well as some waxed muslin bags for things like dried fruit, bannock mix, and sugar. I also made up a couple pot sacks for my various cooking...