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The extreme bimodal distribution of the responses is ... interesting. Clearly there are few Real Canadians on this forum.

I'm no help about the kit, but I do have a P15 which I have had for 2 years and like a lot. It's a high volume, dry, and stable solo canoe. I have even poled it a few times, which is supposed to be difficult with a 15 foot canoe. However, the stock configuration is not optimized for solo...

Glenn, I think the usefulness would be limited, depending on your location. On a lake or in very flat terrain, you might be able to hit a 2 meter band repeater. Down in a stream valley or a deep canyon your signal would go nowhere. I was backpacking last week and took a handheld ham...

No, the doctors did not sew his head back on. This article may be of interest in case anyone encounters a severe C-spine injury. The patient sustained an "internal decapitation," in which the skull was dislocated from the top of the spine; in this case there was no fracture of any bones. The...

David R. Brower, ed., Going Light With Backpack or Burro. San Francisco: Sierra Club (1951). A portrait of wilderness travel 70 years ago. Cooking over an open fire, hobnail boots, external frame backpacks, mouth suction for snakebites. The chapters on burro management especially piqued my...

Understood, Erica! It's probably best to learn one thing at time and concentrate on Zoleo, since that's your emergency communication. You already know how to find your way with the paper maps.

You can use the free version of CalTopo to make maps of any scale you want. They are georeferenced pdf files that you can save to your device's memory. CalTopo lets you add icons for campsites, parking areas, water sources, and most anything else you want. Then you can use the Avenza app...

Here is the Mark I Proof of Concept version of the Cab Roof Bumping Preventer mentioned in #32. It is basically a pressure treated 2x6 notched to fit between the Yakima gunwale brackets. The Preventer requires a means of restraining the canoe from lateral and fore-and-aft motion, normally a...

You primarily canoe in winter. You can't count on being in cold water for only "a minute or so." Compare the cost of a drysuit to the cost of rescue and ER treatment for severe hypothermia. Kokatat make drysuits in other fabrics that are less expensive than Gore Tex. They also make a...

I have helpers lined up for tomorrow, and did not really intend to flip the boat today. But I removed the ratchet straps and webbing, so only the rope slings were supporting the boat. Then I gave one rope a little tug, and over she came halfway. I was surprised how easy it was. Ain't physics...

Glassing the sheer strakes and stem was the last step with the boat upside down. So, time to prepare for flipping. I supported the weight of the boat with webbing and ratchet straps, and also rigged rope slings. With the boat levitated, it was time to remove the strongback. All that...

Sheer strakes and stem glassed, the last step before turning the boat right side up.

Riddle of the Sands is a real thriller for any boat nut, or any spy nut. Download from Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2360 Borrow with a free account from archive.org: https://archive.org/details/riddleofsands0000chil Or watch the full movie on YouTube:

SUCCESS! Thanks, Devil, for this helpful video. The key to remagnetizing the compass is swiping the magnet lengthwise along the needle. I have to wonder if the author of the blog cited above ever really tried his method, because it sure didn't work for me. Here are a couple of videos...

"Geologic time" is a REALLY long term investment..... It's hot right now in the attic where the compass is. I'll try the solution from YouTube in the morning. Thanks, guys.

Glenn, thanks for keeping on top of the game when the electrons let us down!

A couple years ago, I was delighted to find a Brunton Type 15 compass in a second hand store for $18 (current list is $60). I tucked the compass into my pocket next to the cell phone and headed for home. Big mistake. Now the polarity of the compass is reversed. The red end of the needle...

.... even though the latter song is closer to the truth. If you do not already have an advance directive or DNR order, think about getting one soon. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/05/29/1177914622/a-natural-death-may-be-preferable-for-many-than-enduring-cpr...

Glenn, you must have read Winnie the Pooh when you were a kid. Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/

If you are concerned about the canoe holding its shape when you remove the thwart, attach temporary thwarts fore and aft with C-clamps. Can be about any kind of scrap lumber.