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Well...I spent almost all last year doing training hikes for the Colorado Trail. This year, I'll be spending most of the summer preparing to bikepack the Colorado Trail. If I've gotten my canoe out for a paddle in the last two seasons, I don't remember it. Rather than have it continue to...

Just posted a video about my DIY "gear" hammocks: https://youtu.be/jDrmQFHf5yw I started using a gear hammock for hammock camping, but realized they're equally handy for canoe trips. I especially appreciated that they keep my tent's rain fly (or tarp if you use one of those) away from the tent...

I finally finished editing the video from my Algonquin trip last September and got it posted. I switched to PC from Mac this past year, and Adobe Premiere was not as easy-to-use as iMovie. Hope you're all having a very merry Christmas and have a happy new year. Jim

I've got to say upfront that I had absolutely NO need of a GPS to navigate on this trip -- I was on the lower Au Sable river and was almost constantly near (too much!) civilization. However, the device met or exceeded my hopes for how I actually intend to use it -- showing my speed over ground...

Just took my first trip with the Mountain Hardwear 75 liter waterproof duffel and it went well. It replaced a 115 liter SealLine pack that was way too big for my needs. I sold the pack on eBay and, while taking the pictures to post for the sale, I was surprised to see the Innegra interior of...

I hope this is the right place to post this. I finally got out this year for a canoe trip and posted the video on YouTube. Jim

Hello all, Winter sure is long when you've got a new canoe. ;) I finally got out for a paddle on a local lake yesterday. It was a nice day with a bit of wind, but not exactly what I would call "windy". To the point, how often do you find it is "windy" on your trips? (I have an ulterior...

Hello again, Hope everyone here has had a good winter. So...as previously posted, I bought my first canoe last August and upgraded it in September. I waxed the bottom and stored it carefully in the garage throughout this past Michigan winter. But now, the lakes around here are about half...

So after getting lots of useful info here, some may recall that I ended purchasing an expedition layup Swift Keewaydin 15 with cherry trim. I was very happy with how the canoe paddled and performed in the water, but the thought of the extra pounds from the expedition layup and the maintenance...

Finally edited and posted some video (17-1/2 minutes) of my second ever canoe trip, three days in Algonquin. FWIW Jim

Algonquin PP: 4 Days - Canoe Lk -> East Arm Joe Lk -> Little Otterslide Lk > Canoe Lk I've commented about this trip in other topics about this trip, so I'm going to keep this post simple. This was my first-ever canoe trip and I suspect it may be a typical first-timers trip in Algonquin; Canoe...

Just finished my first-ever canoe trip: four-days, starting from the very popular Canoe Lake access point, the Sunday after the Labor Day holiday. The weather forecast was consistent sunshine and warmer than normal temperatures with light winds for the entire trip. The forecast was accurate...

Hello all, but especially anyone who has yet to go on their first backcountry trip: I've just returned from a four-day trip in Algonquin Provincial Park. I'm a moderately experienced backpacker and a former big water sailboat owner. Most of the navigation on my just-completed trip was as easy...

I always like to practice emergency maneuvers in controlled conditions before there's an emergency. So today, after paddling a bit over five miles, I went to the far end of the swimming beach, dropped off my hat, glasses, etc, and waded the canoe back out into four feet or more and swamped it...

Time to pick your brains again. So...I now have one canoe, one paddle, one PFD, and a bailer/rope-in-a-bag thing with a whistle as part of the buckle. I've had the canoe out a number of times on local lakes and am looking forward to my first real trip in a few weeks. (Probably 3-5 days in...

While driving the several hours back home with my new canoe lashed to the roof of my truck with four of the small foam wedge things and straps running through the cab, it rained heavily several times. While traveling at freeway speed, no problem. But after I got in traffic and slowed down...

Trying to decide on a first boat for 3 - 10 day solo trips in Algonqin PP, Michigan rivers, and the BWCA and the point was made in a different post that I should first choose between standard canoe seating with kneeling as an option (what I'll call "high" seating) or go with...

Backpacking the past few years has sustained my desire for being "out", but watching Youtube videos of canoe tripping has infected me with a new fever -- and the desire is all I currentIy have. I'm well equipped for backpacking, but I don't (yet) have a canoe, paddle, or PFD. I've been doing a...

Hello all, An active retiree here who's been backpacking the past few years and I'm on the verge of diving in (figuratively, I hope) to canoe tripping. I've already found some really good info while lurking here on the forums but still have lots of questions. I had a 16+' sea kayak I paddled...