Search results

I think shaft diameter has more to do with strength and weight than comfort. If you want a wood paddle with a thicker shaft you'll want to use a light softwood to keep the weight down. I always thought I preferred a narrow shaft, but if the weight is right I like a wide shaft too. I also...

In the OP it states that this could be useful info for someone new to the sport. That's why I would recommend a symmetrical, stable, dry boat at least 16 feet long. A shorter boat might be easier to handle at first but with some instruction a longer boat should be a better choice in the long run.

I have cheaper ones that I got at Costco, where thy come at least three per pack. I take at least two on a trip plus a small hand held flashlight that has a very bright beam. Sometimes I'll take three, because I'm never sure which ones have good batteries. I can hang one from a D ring in the...

I hear ya on the pain thing, I couldn't even turn a door knob before I took those pills a few weeks ago. The key to minimizing pain is not to bend it. I don't think you need that finger to hold a paddle, even though it is the dominant finger on your dominant hand. You may want to think about...

The Tripper would also be my list, but it's too bad they weren't made in a lighter sleeker composite. I don't think you can go wrong with a Prospector or Northstar Seliga either. I like a symmetrical large volume hull, deep enough and with enough flare to keep you dry. There are faster hulls...

As we all know there are differences of opinions on tripping styles. I would never recommend a centralized seat because of all the correction required and the lack of forward power you can generate, compared to the bow seat backwards position. Also for seat height, I'd recommend 11" as a...

Why not consider the Seliga? Although a little shorter it has about the same water line and stem hight as the Boreas so should paddle almost as well. It lacks the tumblehome of the Boreas but probably has better secondary stability. I think that 32 inch beam of the Boreas would make loading and...

I have problems with trigger thumbs. I had the left one operated on a few years ago, and was scheduled to have my right one done last week but had to cancel. The right thumb had been swollen, sore and immobile (locked up) since early summer and I was looking forward to the surgery. Mid December...

I think the Kom or Rossi BC125 are good choices for back country soft snow, but they lack the torsional rigidity for skiing the hardback at the resort. The Voile's are a full on Alpine ski that will hold an edge on hard snow. My wife and I mostly ski the Voile Vectors. They are more directional...

I've noticed that the bottom of my Seliga, under where the foam core is, gets permanent dents where I've hit or slid over pointier rocks or sticks. I've always assumed the foam core is there for stiffening, and I'm sure it does that, but I also think it adds strength that could limit damage in a...

My Bell Seliga is the lighter layup,( starlight?) and I agree that it is more durable then it's weight would imply. I'm ok with it in white water as long as I can keep my speed down. So far it seems ok with low impact collisions with rocks as long as they aren't sharp and pointy. If I took it...

Ticks are also supposedly carried by migrating birds. It's a wonder they aren't everywhere. One time after returning to Ak. from a vacation in Pa. my wife found a tick on her head. She worked in a hospital at the time and the doctors were very interested in getting a look at it.

The hay day of telemark was over in the early 2000's. At one time it may have been the preferred gear in the back country but never at the resort. I started skiing xc in the 70s and didn't have much interest in resort skiing. I started telemark in 84, and although I went to the resort to...

It is surprisingly fun and if you're properly prepared I don't think you would qualify for a Darwin Award. If there is ice present on a lake but your launch is ice free and you can paddle to open water you should still have the right tools along. Even on my little lake I have been affected by...

I think you are right that different cultures have different tolerances for personal space but I also think it has to do with the number of other people you run into. For example, If I'm hiking and run across just a few people on the trail I'll say hello, but at a certain point as the crowd...

Yeah, at a certain point it may not be practical or possible to continue, that's why I said it "may" have been possible. I can see that you guys have experience with ice so you probably made the right decision. I would think there are situations where if you could get past the frozen pools, the...

CTC, the skis are alpine powder boards from Voile in Utah. The bindings are Switchbacks, also from Voile, they have a free pivot function for climbing, or as I use them for cross country skiing. The boots are 30+ year old Garment Excursions that I bought new for my wife cheap but they never fit...

With the proper equipment and skills the trip may have still been possible. It would be different for sure, but traveling over and through ice is a fun challenge. All the info you need is in Garret Conover's book, "Beyond the Paddle"

I've had a few of those trips that didn't happen. They were mostly ski trips though. My wife and I refer to them as "dress rehearsals"

I'm neither an introvert or extrovert. As long as I'm still happy to see other people I'm OK with the level of solitude. When I cease to be happy, I need more solitude. Different situations require different levels of solitude. When on my home lake, one other boat in my back bay can ruin my...