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PART 2 Eventually we made Clear Creek State Park campground. We’d gotten a map at the Cooksburg park office where we left the car that had a more detailed view of the campsites, which helped. The canoe campsites are all the way at the downstream end past all the RVs and car-tent sites and below...

PART 1 Following extremely helpful input from this group, my friend Justin and I had planned to do the Clarion River together. We were coming from a day's drive in opposite directions and had to take off work, so we were committed to the dates. Heavy rains leading up to the trip had us a bit...

Very nice, Bob, thanks for sharing. I have a GP but it's only 96 in or so. Not sure if I could source 10ft lengths of nice lumber to make one that long around here....what type of wood is yours?

@Bob B. is that a Greenland paddle you're using with the Eaglet? What length? I assume it works well for you? I've been eyeing the Eaglet as a nice all around solo that could be poled but still paddles efficiently. Seems like there aren't a lot of boats in that width range of 32-ish in...

'Blood River' will not. I happened upon that book a few months back and devoured it. Gripping, scary in so far as seeing what happens to society when law and order really breaks down. My sister lived and worked in DR Congo for several years. She loved the spirit of many she met, joyful...

Well, long story short we went for it and had a great time. Trip report will be forthcoming.

Thanks @MichaelMerry , very useful info! We're sitting at a brewery in Ridgway watching the gauges and weather and clutching our pearls.

Super helpful, @NoelCanoeDad , thank you again! Ever the optimist, I did already pack the collapsible pole, but sounds like we might be leaving it in the car haha.

@NoelCanoeDad thank you for pointing this out! I've been watching the gauges but didn't realize about the launches getting closed. We're planning to put in at the outfitter in Ridgway and take out at Cooksburg, so hopefully we won't get kicked off the river. I was also banking on the water...

Well I finally got to it (actually got the audio CDs from the library). Echo others here in their strong recommendation. I was interested to learn that much of the expedition was accomplished in dugout canoes. Didn't see that coming!

Thanks for sharing, Glenn, this is indeed useful info. I was without phone last week after I topped my waders and discovered that my phone, previously waterproof, was no longer waterproof after 5 yrs of use. It's getting harder and harder to get by in "civilized society" without the darn...

Interesting! I'd heard they'll chew wood paddles for the salt left from sweat. Had heard of them chewing cabins. Hadn't heard of them chewing into a cooler!

Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm worried about bears....more about helping varmints of all kinds not get habituated to stealing human food. A fed bear is a dead bear. Though I agree in most places the raccoons are a more likely threat. But for raccoons a cooler with an NRS strap usually does the job.

Oops, thought of another question- do folks in that area bother with hanging food because of bears and other varmints?

Thanks, all! You've been most helpful!

Looking at the forecast and current gauge levels, we're thinking we can do the Clarion, getting on the water mid-morning on Friday to try to beat the weekend rush. We're debating boat selection. Is royalex a better choice over composite for this creek? Is the bottom hard enough and the creek...

Bear vaults are a good table and a good stool. Too bad mine's heavy as all get-out.

Thanks, @PortageW/Cerberus , that's helpful. No use in reinventing the wheel!

Very nice, Glenn, one of my fav spots. I need to get down there while the water's up. Too bad I have canoe camping trips planned for the next two weekends, and attending the poling races the week after. :)

@PortageW/Cerberus very nice. Looks like you have a cam strap going to ground and well as a line angling up to the tree? Stability/capsize prevention? What are your dimensions, and if you were making it again, would you change them? Did you add a curve in the side facing the tree?