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Some dramatically strong storms hit our camp two nights a couple weeks ago. Sideways rain and strong winds. I was snug inside my Exped Venus II, which shucks wind like no tent I can remember. Last night at home, strong storms kept me and the dogs awake. I’ve been tinkering with reducing my...

My partner had an Ursack this past trip. It didn’t look too bear resistant, but neither did my blue barrel. I’m thinking my next trip should be one pack. Maybe 3 days. No tent, just a tarp and a quilt, possibly a 3/4 length thermarest (cause rocks are harder nowadays). Anyone else do this...

Anyone installed this type of track on a canoe? I’m wondering if bending the track to be flush with the hull would inhibit lockup of the pedal clips. Those little notches would definitely be smaller.

Any secrets to getting a canoe pack on your back without hurting yourself? I’d be interested in knowing your technique after the barn door is off the hinges. 10 days post trip and I’m still messed up. I think it was the blue barrel, but not sure. It was difficult to get on my back with my...

My lining ropes are heavy. The material holds water, doesn’t float like I thought. It’s not a big deal, except when tripping, carrying everything on my back. I was able to dodge one 35 rod portage in the whole trip. Had water been a little higher, there would have been more. What material &...

Boges and me just got back from 6 days in BWCA. We entered at Island River, down the Isabella, around to the South Kawishiwi system and out Lake One. Not much time to fish, a couple bad storms, and a lot of moaning in camp from portage humping. This was the 2nd trip for my Northwind Solo. It...

I picked up the new Esquif Echo 2.0 yesterday. Boges and I took it out for a brief paddle on the Wisconsin River just below a dam. The positioning of the thwarts is unique on this craft. The end thwarts are moved inward and there is no middle thwart. The area in front of me is eumongous, and...

Upper Peninsula rivers take some finesse. Most are mostly impassable. The runnable ones (and stretches) are well covered in Jerry Dennis’ and Craig Date’s 3rd edition of Canoeing Michigan Rivers. The two authors did their field research as young men in the mid-80s. This latest edition is an...

Air quality in the UP is “Very Hazardous” and wind is supposed to be from the NW most of next week. So much for Sylvania Plan B. We need about 3 days of drenching rain across the whole of Ontario and MN. If it clears by mid-August, I have another permit for BWCA. My alternative plans for...

Anyone know whether there are navigable upriver portions of the Black River near Bessemer? Any other paddling suggestions that aren’t whitewater or waterfalls in the vicinity of the Black River Harbor Campground? Working on plan B for next week. Thanks.

I don’t understand the e-bike craze. 10 year olds riding those things. No wonder we live in an obese culture. Some restaurants have nothing green on the menu at all, yet 4 different fried sides. Our culture seems to be allergic to healthy choices. I recently got back on the road after a 3...

I know they don’t mean anything, really. Dark sky reserves are way down the ladder of priority when it comes to policy making. I don’t even have a yard light, to the dismay of one neighbor. So they matter to me. I can’t remember any sight that affected me spiritually more than the Milky Way...

Hello Folks, Anyone do fly-ins with your dog? I have some ear muffs I’m offering to anyone who needs them. Bogan was only a year old when we used them, so they’re small for him now. We used them for the one and only fly-in (and out) we’ll ever do, so they’re in good shape. PM me if you need...

As some here may recall, I had a bicycle mishap in 2023 involving a teen driver and a cell phone. It certainly took years off my backcountry tripping career. Doc said I can’t fall anymore, and if I do fall, I shouldn’t put my arm out to catch myself. Well, now I’m considering a new bicycle...

We picked up the new trailer and I was excited to try some old Yakima canoe cradles on the square crossbars. I had to trim the round rubber flaps out and the resulting square holes were perfect. Carrying a 3rd canoe will come in handy on my trip this month. Wife and I went to the factory in...

Having a cable and cadaver parts in my shoulder, I’m a little worried about a fall in the backcountry. My surgeon said, “Don’t fall, and if you do, don’t extend your arm to catch yourself.” It is an involuntary reaction to extend your hand to catch yourself, so that’s just minutiae. My camp...

Im looking for ideas to convert a homemade portage yoke designed for threaded anchor gunwale inserts to one that will grip standard Northstar carbon fiber gunwales without damage.

This is the uppermost landing on the Little Miami River, just south of Clifton Gorge. Seasonably navigable with augmentation from only one village sewage plant on a tributary. Several low level dams to negotiate. I would struggle to get my tandem Tformex boat down to the water, and the...

After a couple shake down trailer runs, I’m thinking of camping north of Armstrong near Little Caribou or Caribou lake. Anyone familiar with boondocking opportunities up there? I’d like to get close to the water and away from other camps unless a commercial campground is the only option...

We’re hoping to make it to Ted Roosevelt NP. The LMR is likely to be low in October, but I’m wondering if there are some shorter sections that might be navigable for daytrips.