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Good weather yesterday so I installed the roof rack on the wife’s new RAV4. The crossbars don’t point the same direction; the bars’ profiles are at different angles. Also, the factory rails on the car are not parallel. The rear feet are 3” inches closer together than the front. On my...

I ran across this old engineer's scale, from my cartographic drafting days. I started hand drafting maps from pencil manuscripts to scribe coat, which could be used as a huge negative in the dark room to make copies onto photosensitive mylar, which could then be used for field blueprints. Back...

These bindings are similar to some I’ve been looking to try, but the two vendors shown won’t ship to the U.S. Anyone know of another source? The goal is to speed up getting my shoes on at the trailhead, without freezing my digits by fiddling with laces. I’ve tried several bindings and they...

Doc said I’ll be normal in 8 weeks. I’ll likely want to get out before then. March and April days can be lovely paddle days here. Would kneeling take some of the load off my power stroke? I’ll likely just J stroke on the left, but wind and current are pretty ubiquitous on the local lake. My...

What waterproof outer layer do you recommend? I’ve gone through several. My current one has an undersized hood, no hand pockets. I tried using it in a snowfall with a hat, and ended up with a sore neck. I’m not big on rain pants in the summer but my jacket must be solid.

I’ve been looking for support gloves for my achy breaky hands. After buying several crappy pairs, I found these 1.5mm NRS Guide Gloves. I bought a size down which help. They stretch out a little after a week of wear, but are comfortable and effective keeping me from hurting myself shoveling...

It occurs to thst since some canoes are designed to be paddled with “kayak” paddles, they must not be canoes at all, but something else. How can something designed for a kayak paddle be a real canoe? We need a new term - maybe a “kayoo”. Henceforth those designs with floor mounted seat...

I’ve been dealing with Trigger Finger, which makes it hard to grip smaller circumference items. Is there a custom shaft diameter, or a diameter option paddle out there? Surgery might be in the future but not this year, by golly gosh darn. Thanks Tony

My son got Lyme last year and I’ve had several nasty bites in recent years with suspicious symptoms. Doc has given me antibiotics 3 times in as many years. It seems that ticks are more infected than in the past. In Wisconsin, I completely stopped hiking in June after removing more than 30...

Not much to do with bad weather, but I got the Yakima landing pads installed on the wife’s new (2025) RAV4. If you remember, I was fastidiously measuring every midsize SUV model’s roof rail contact points to discern the potential spread of roof rack crossbars. I want to be confident hauling 2...

The Remote Area Border Crossing permit is officially kaput until September, at least. Unless the powers that be set up “Call-In” border crossing stations (whatever that means), this essentially cuts off American access to the southern Quetico park entry points. I had a pretty neat plan B trip...

It’s going to be a looong recovery for Bogan after TPLO (ACL) surgery on his left rear knee. I put a ramp off the porch, a pen in the house so the other dogs won’t interfere with his convalescence. He’s pretty drugged up, but will soon begin therapy. I had to create a spreadsheet for tracking...

Just spoke to the service center about sending my PLB to them for service. It’s been 7 years. It will cost roughly $300 to get this accomplished. That’s crazy, it’s a 12 year old piece of equipment! So I’m in the market for something new, that actually works. Saw the InReach Mini2 at REI...

I’d love to hear impressions about the Allanwater River between the RR and Wabakimi Lake, if anyone here has experience. I have the maps, trip reports (which are tough to correlate), and it seems a viable route, but first hand experience is always helpful. YouTube videos are interesting but...

Well I didn’t hide it from the wife, but everything’s cool. I told her it was red so rescue aircraft can locate my camp easier. That seemed to satisfy her inquisitiveness. It’s been a while since I’ve hoisted a 60lb canoe. Gonna take some practice. First order of business (after the weather...

My new iPhone takes better photos than my camera. On canoe trips, I’ve been using an older Nikon Coolpix, which works well, is small, rugged and waterproof, but resolution sucks, especially when zooming. I’d like to get some better pictures on my next trip. I’d be interested to know what you...

This 2015 galvanized canoe trailer has been garage kept and serviced annually. Without a place in Wisconsin or a tripping partner, I’ve decided to part with it to make room for the wife’s new car. I’m asking $3K but will be open to a lower price for CT.net members with local pickup. This is a...

I can see using this type of shelter. It’s rigged closer to the ground in storms, but I’m skeptical it would be dry enough to sleep in.

Time to replace some cordage for suspending canoes from the ceiling of my garage and the lacing of my canoe trailer. I also need some for a camp tarp ridge line. Weather resilience, strength and lack of stretch are important. Any thoughts on what I should look for and where to look?

Anyone installed kayak style footbraces on a canoe? The crossbar type won’t work for the new boat.