Thanks for the kind words C1, and best wishes on your trip! Canadian stroke: Its hard to get the muscle memory of turning the top thumb down and bringing that paddle down across your chest - its counter intuitive, but it is more efficient than a stern pry stoke, and it links fluidly with other stokes. Once you get it, it stays with you for life. Best way to learn is to hire an instructor who can work 1 on 1, and in a day you should get it - then practice to smooth it out.
Thanks Mark! Yes I could easily stay there for a long time. There was even more blowdown further back - a winters worth of firewood for sure. Turns out I later, I caught walleye casting from shore. It was deeper than I thought and great fishing. I could probably catch hundreds of walleye there!
Thanks Jim! I have winter camped in the south end of Savant. Some of my photos on the e-book portion on the website are taken there. I have done two winter trips a few years back on Savant, one week each. But I have to snowmobile in, and its logistically difficult being a 6 hour drive from home, and I am not a snowmobiler by training!
...continued: Most of all I recommend taking paddling courses, and some canoe safety and self rescue (usually bundled into the same paddling course). How-to-canoe-trip course if available in your area. The biggest difference from hiking (other that the boat) is waterproofing clothing and gear you want dry. Your packs will be sitting in pools of water in the canoe when it rains, and when wading a boat, getting in and out with wet boots draining into the boat. I use many dry bags!
Wow, this series has been fun to watch. You made the right choice by stopping and choosing a campsite. If the weather had gotten worse you might have been in trouble.
Thanks M Sato! I am lucky to be in northern Ontario, that's for sure. Its canoe country! Those are the 1.4L and 2L Evernew Titanium "deep" pots. I drilled them near the top rim, made some aluminum offset brackets which I pop riveted in, and fitted those wire bail handles. Those pots still nest with the brackets and bail handles bent to fold flat against the pot. I need bail handles for lifting the pots out of the fire, and for hanging off a stick when I don't have the grill. I like them.
Hi BR. I have been canoe tripping for about 35 years, so I have acquired a gear and skill set that saves me time when prepping for a trip. I am always buying new gear, replacing old gear, but the gear stuff is ready to go as-is. For a beginner, gear acquisition/prep might be a significant amount of time. Paddling skills: I learned at a canoe camp as a kid, and then moved on to whitewater training courses, so that is under my belt now. For a whitewater trip, training is recommended..see next..
Call me crazy but I kinda like the wind noise! ;) I am always amazed at the amount of blow-down up there, you really do have to watch for widow-makers! Great video as always! Thanks for sharing...
Thanks MTS! Luckily I had more time built into this trip to "waste" than I realized. Its only when you get to about the half way or 3/4 distance of a long trip that you really know if you are ahead of schedule, or lagging behind. Turned out the decision was the right one here.
Thanks A-81! I actually do alot of bushwhacking into thick bush, no trails, usually just day trips with a buddy - we scout out new areas around here for fun. Never done one with a backpack for over-nighting. Good idea for a video though. I might try that with my hammock one day, but I would have to have a destination, like a brook trout stream or something ;-)
On canoe trips I use a heavy plastic 60L food barrel with a good O-ring seal and steel lid clamp. Its the green barrel you will see in this video series. I leave this on the ground and keep it totally clean on the outside. It contains food smells very well. My food is also all dry, and double bagged inside to control smells even more. So far in black bear and grizzly country, no problems. When backpacking (no barrel), I do hang food from trees. But I want to try an Ursack one of these days.
'mornin Trekker; Another great video.You definately needed that meal after all the prep work for your spot.Glad we got to follow along,& waiting for part-4 Stay-Safe & Happy !! Happy trails From Down East
Thanks Cjtf! Yes I really like the Fjallraven trousers. The G-1000 fabric is very comfortable, dries very fast, and in the heat they are way more comfortable than 100% nylon quick dry pants IMO. I like the cotton component of the fabric. Mosquitoes cannot bite through either. G-1000 sheds fire sparks OK. But big embers can burn a hole through the G-1000. I got a new ember hole in this trip. But they are easily mended back home with a backing patch on the inside, by professional seamstress.
Awesome! Things are looking up! Let's hope the wind stays down and the water without a wave! I always pack good ear plugs when I am tripping I like to have the option of hearing silence! I can't wait for the next leg!#
In the process of packing for a 5-6 day canoe trip on my old Blue Water 16' Kevlar/fiberglass Tuesday morning into the back country of eastern Manitoba not far from Woodland Caribou Prov Park, ON. Very similar country but sadly heavily traveled. Your vids are a great primer Hoop, you may not realize the wisdom and experience you bring but it is truly an inspiration. Have tried to mimic your Canadian stroke and no joy so far but I'll be working on it :D
Thanks CJ! I have winter trekked south of there on the south end of Savant Lake, but that was before I made videos. The banner photo on my channel page was taken during a winter camp on the south end of Savant Lake. I hope to go back one winter.
Enjoying the video series, Thank-You for taking the time to share. Those trees creep me out, last year 2 people died in the BWCA in storms that blew in from the North
Thanks again Nate! Ya, I sometimes don't sleep too well on windy nights, knowing those trees can come down anytime. Boreal species are all shallow rooted, no tap root, so they come down frequently. I remember that sad news from the BWCA which is not far from where I live. I try not to think about it when I am out in the bush, but when that wind picks up, its an issue. My favourite places to camp are young burns that are 15-20 years old. Trees are all still spindly, but are stocked thickly and block the wind. They mostly just bend a bit in the wind. If they come down in a wind storm they are light, mostly thin branches. Boreal old growth is very dangerous and I avoid it if I can, because its a domino effect waiting to happen in a wind storm.
Thanks Lonnie! Savant is huge (40K long) and no doubt there were fly-in fishermen in the south end. But almost no one seems to use the upper north arm of the lake - had it all to myself.
...continued....There are some good books out there also. I recommend Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle and Song of the Paddle. He has it all covered. The gear photos will look old, some of the canoe models he discusses are gone (there are new models to choose from), and modern gear is available, but many fundamental things don't change in bush travel: paddling, portaging, fire, shelter, food, bugs, weather and clothing, etc. His movie "Waterwalker" is also fun to watch, and shows skills...next
In Norway this summer we almost got wind bound too on the second day. Gladly we just made it round the nearest bend and got into less wind in another part of lake Isteren. -- But this way you got a really nice place for the night and your open fire cooking looked just fabulous from here :o)
Hi M2churc. See my response below to Cjtf on the Fjallraven trousers. Those are the Berents high waist model model (not the 'pro'), with double butt and double knee. Their G-1000 fabric is the best I have found for what I do spring through fall. Fjallraven cost huge dollar in Canada to import, but I really like them so its worth it for me. Their sizing fits slim and the Euro sizes are hard to figure out. They have a US/Euro conversion size chart, but I use one size bigger than they recommend.
Thanks Joe! Pots: Those are the 1.4L and 2L Evernew Titanium "deep" pots. I drilled them near the top rim, made some aluminum offset tabs (bent outwards around the rim so as to not interfere with the lid seating), and pop riveted on the tabs (you can see the aluminum pop rivet, smooth side inside, when I am stirring the beans), and fitted those wire bail handles. Those pots nest with the tabs and bail handles bent to fold flat against the pot. The deeps won't tip and spill when using a bail.
Thanks MrMycoo! Unfortunately, not retired, and I have nearly a decade to go, so it was just vacation. I have a good employer and can get several weeks vacation per yeat, and in busy years I can bank unpaid overtime and take the time later. This year work is smothering me, otherwise I would have been paddling much of the summer!
Hi Rob! See my response below to M Sato's question on the pot specs and bail handle mod I did. The depth means they won't tip and spill when using the bail handle. I purchased these Ti Evernew pots from Traildesigns online. Only downside is that they are non-stick, so only plastic or wood utensils can be used. Another option for Ti is FourDog Stove's bail handle mods he sells using Ti Snowpeak pots. But Snowpeak's biggest is only 1.4L. My Evernew's are 1.4L and 2 L.
What no bow drill practice:-). thanks for the video and keep them coming. If you make it to the winter camping symposium I hope you are able to set up a presentation.
Another captivating video, I am really diggin this series man. What type of pots were you using in this vid? I'm glad the wind calmed down for ya, it is easy to forget how much wind comes into a factor.
Thanks Shane! For canoe tripping I will definitely be sticking with my barrels. For backpacking trips where I am cutting weight, I would like to try the Ursack.
But I want to try an Ursack one of these days. hello again I saw this quote from a post you responded to. I use this system here in Maine instead of throwing a bear bag up over a limb. You just tye it to a tree and you are all set. The bear might crush some food but he won't get into it. But in the bush in Canada I would stick with the bear barrel for one reason less smell than the Ursack, i dont need to tell you that bears can smell food for great distances. I love mine though.god luck shane
Good afternoon Hoop, I ordered a percell trench grill and I received it today in the mail. The first thing I noticed was how light it is. I have a bush buddy stick stove that I will bring also an alcohol stove but hopefully I will be cooking on the open fire weather permitting. I wanted to thank you for the help. Being from Maine hiking, camping, hunting And fishing is a part of life but when you go to a diffrent country it's a little nerv racking you keep going over equipment, food lists, and all the odds and ends hoping you haven't forgoting anything that you should add to the check list. You know what I mean,,, I'm making my trip reservations for the last week in August and the first week of September, I am trying to get away from the bugs as much as I can, they are murder in maine so I can imagine how bad they are in Canada... Thanks again and any help is always welcome from an outdoors man with the knowledge of the area. Shane A Maine
***** Hey Shane, you will love that Purcell Trench Grill, and it should last a lifetime. Virtually weightless in the pack, but very nice to have a flat platform for the pots and pans. There will be days that the rocks maybe are just not right, so look for little shimming rocks to level it off on the corners. There are always little shim rocks you can find, and you can make some by dropping a rock to split off a narrow flake for a shim. You will get the gist of it soon enough.
Thanks Mike! No bow drill on the canoe trip, but maybe a b-d vid in the works at home with a new wood species for me. I have been in contact with the Symposium organizers, and if they need a presenter, I may be able to help out.
I'm enjoying these videos a lot. I do wish you would make more to do with meals and prep. I don't think I could afford the MRE. meals. Maybe keep a couple for a backup but personally couldn't rely on them. Way back when, I use to get invited on camp trips just to cook. It was with a big group who ATV'ed. All I brought was my cook ware and they supplied all the food , wood. Like an entire equipment trailer was dedicated to food. That wouldn't work on a river trip. I need ideas on how to pack food for several days. I'm sure lovin these vids , Thanks👍
Thanks Phil! I don't like the MRE's either, nor the commercial freeze dried complete meals in a bag. Too much salt and other ingredients I don't know about. I find that I can prepare a one-pot meal that is delicious and nutritious, without all the artificial ingredients and excessive salt, by re-hydrating by simmering in water for just under a half hour. I dry de-fatted ground beef, and I dry the canned flakes of chicken, tomato sauce, mushrooms, and olives, and I buy dried onions. With liquid olive oil (that I carry in leak-proof Nalgenes), and garlic powder and seasonings, I can produce great meals with rice and pasta, and store-bough scalloped potato dried mix. I have about 7 meals that I rotate, and never seem to get too tired of them, and they keep me going day after day, trip after trip. I finish a trip in great shape and feeling really healthy, so something ins working.
Check out the Lakeland PP near Lac La Biche. It's got some nice back-country campsites with a few portages thrown in. They've got a 3 day(ish) loop you can do or just make your own plan. I've definitely enjoyed my time there.
How much prep time do you need for summer camps? I'm planning a Minnesota canoe route and I'm really enjoying these vids. Trying to meld some UL hiking skills with your type of knowledge... any general advice? Thanks in advance...
Thank you so much for sharing your tour, im really enjoying it so far. Do you like the fjällräven trousers ? They are from the town i live in here in sweden, Örnsköldsvik !
Thanks SC! The wind in ones' ears sort of sounds like that, but it comes across harsh through the speakers. I need to tape some foam or something over the camera mic.
Thanks for those kind words Frabisher! The book - maybe one day! :o) Axe is a Grans fors Bruk s Scandinavian Forest Axe, my favourite! These are sold by many stores in many countries. YT will not let me place links in this response, but try searching online and you will get many stores. Tarp is a 10x10 ft silnylon tarp by Cooke Custom Sewing, in Minnesota. Best tarps on the market IMO. CCS sells direct. You can also purchase in Canada from Red Lake Outfitters.
Wow Hoop. Very nice spot you've got there! Enough fire wood to last for a winter! To bad you didn't bring your Snowtrekker tent;-) Then it could be a 200 day trip.... LOL;-) Luckily the wheater is somewhat better. Love your dinner, I could allmost smeel it! Cheers!
Thanks Tim! It turned into really good luck, and I stayed an extra rest day at that site, and caught walleye from shore. And it was only day 4-5, so on a 17-18 day trip its not a bad thing to be slowed down at the beginning. I stress too much about my progress, but always manage to make up my km's later int e trip. I worry too much! :o) In the arctic Barrens here on big water solo trips, I probably average about 1 in 4/5 days windbound, but the hiking is always great!
Beautiful place, do you supplement your rations with the odd trout or two, it looks like a nice place to go fishing, i do similar things as you do, over here in England well Wales which is a part of the uk, at a lake called llyn brianne but it's tiny compared to where you are, there is one good thing about the place thou hardly any body else canoes it, and it's full of brown trout, and fairly remote, it just an eighty mile drive from where i live in Newent in the county of Gloucestershire.
The tent is restricted to a site that is flat and with drainage. Flat is rare, and tent site is limiting. I keep my cooking and food area away from the tent as far as reasonable, to keep food smells away, since this is all black bear country, and we have many bears. The tarp also is limited to where it can go since it needs the space, trees, and needs to be sort of level. Cooking occurs underneath it in the rain, and hence the food smell precautions again. Fire cannot go on organic soil.
I'm looking for an ultralight traditional style prospector. 15 - 16'. I'm planning a 7 day backcountry down in woodland Caribou so I'm thinking of outfitting the trip to get a better idea b4 buying. I'd like you to know that I picked up a Purcell trench grill and a Gransfor small forest axe too...all set lol hey thanks for the shot of inspiration I'll let you know how I made out. Meanwhile I'll keep watching and enjoying your journeys. Thx
+Dave McMahon Thanks Dave! Looking forward to your report back. Good choice on the grill and axe! The solo canoe is always a tough choice. I still have not bought a true solo boat, because I still cannot find a boat that meets my specs. So I work with the next best thing until that holy grail solo appears!
Thanks for the response.Yup, I like locking bails and have an old set of Mirro pots but weight was also the issue. I too have a set of Coleman locking small stainless pots, but gave them up for weight. I'll keep looking for those tall pots. Will let you know if I hit paydirt. Thanks for the series. I'm "graduating" from BWCA trips so want to upgrade. One last thought, for late Sept./mid Oct travel is O reg f. bag overkill? Also I still like rectangular bag. They are less efficient I know but if using the new downtown they don't weigh much.
Thanks Steve! The 0F (-18C) is maybe a tad overkill for the average mid October in the BWCA, but it does get that cold, and we had a -18C night in mid/end of October here. Having extra capcity in the bag is huge peace of mind. Don't forget a second sleeping pad (closed cell) under your main sleeping pad, as that will make a huge difference. I think in Celcius, and I think that a -10C bag would cover most situations at that time using 2 pads, but being prepared to add an upper body fleece and toque for sure, and maybe fleece pants as well. It certainly requires a clothing base layer for sleeping in. In theory it could get down to -20C in mid October. Check the historic weather records for that area for an idea of how low it can go.
Thanks Fepowson! Yes I see black bear scat on just about every portage. This trip is early to mid August, and it is a great year for blueberries (I will show you more berries in parts to come), and so the bears are happily gorging on blueberries and are not interested in bothering humans to much when its a great berry season.
Thanks B57ecv! Although Savant Lake has lake trout in it, they are hard to catch with the gear I take, and require trolling in deep water out in the canoe, meaning battling with wind. But casting from shore I am able to catch walleye and pike, and yes I do use them to supplement diet. Solo traveling I find I am often exhausted and have little time to fish. Next part in the series though I will be cooking up some fresh walleye caught from that very campsite!
Wintertrekker, looks like you have had some awesome adventures!!! A question for you though, what type of pants are you wearing in this video!!! My wife and I and our four kids love getting out here in northern BC, but a lot of the equipment/clothing just does not stand up!!! Thx for sharing all your hard work!!!
Thanks U-man! Pants are Fjallraven "Barents" trousers, made in Sweden. These are the regular model, high waist, not the "Barents Pro" which is a low waist. The fabric is their G-1000 which is very tight weave 65-35 poly-cotton. Dries very fast, and is way more comfortable (IMO) than quick dry nylon, especially in the heat. I live by fire, so spark resistance is important. The G-1000 fabric is not fully spark resistant, but much more so than pure nylon. It will shed small sparks (but a big ember landed on them and burned a small hole through - just patched it though, they are working bush pants). They cost big bucks to import from Europe (made in Sweden, several Brit and Euro online stores carry them), but for me its worth it for what I do. Fjallraven has a US online store now, but last time I checked, they don't carry the Barents (they carry the pro which will not fit me right).
Hi Hoop, I am watching this sedies again. I always pick up an idea or two, especially from the comments. So, I noticed a lot of interest in your pots. You even gave me some info on installing those brackets. Why do you like the taller pots? It would seem lower and wider would be more stable, especially on camp stoves. I did check out Everlast on their website and Trailsend. Neither seem to offer a 2.0L tall. just the 1,4. Any thoughts on alternative sizes? I am more curious thkugh, on why you use the talls. Safe Camping Openboat (Steve Shapiro - remember the hair ties. )
Thanks OB42! Yes I get more questions about my modified bail handles pots than anything else! :-) Evernew I think stopped making the titanium 2.0L tall. Sad because it is a very useful size, and is the nesting size for the 1.4L inside it. You are right the wider bottomed pots will boil water faster and are better for simmering a meal. However a wider than tall pot, if suspended by a wire bail without a bail handle lock, will tip over. The contents slosh to one side or the other. I have a set of Olicamp stainless locking bail handled pots which are super robust and I used them for over 20 years. They are wider than tall, and are just awesome pots. But I switched to thin walled Ti pots to save substantial gear weight, and no one seems to make a locking bail handled Ti pot set? An entrepreneur could make alot of money if they designed and manufactured these. Trouble is that the backpacking lightweight crowd dominates the gear media, and they think that bail handles are extra weight, but they carry pot grippers, ha ha! I don't need pot grippers, and can hang my bails from a stick, and lift a pot out of a fire with a stick using the bail, and carry water back to camp without no pot grippers which can be lost. Bail handles for me! ;-)
Hey WT, just wondering, did you make all the dehydrated food? what was the sauce? can you dehydrate the sauce too? Im totally new to dehydrating, looking to buy one for Jerkey and stuff, love to be able to make my own meals. Thanks ! Beauty spot you had
Hi Maritimer. I make the dehydrated food at home on my food dehydrator. I use the solid plastic fruit roll up (liquid) tray inserts on all the trays for everything. The sauce in this meal is the baked beans' sauce itself, plus olive oil and water. (these are the canned baked beans with a tomato-based sauce). Baked beans are easy, just pour out on the plastic trays, spread to one bean deep, and I run it for 24 hours. It pops off when done, and I store in mason jars in the freezer until I need it for a trip. Keeps forever.
I'll have to look into that, I love to cook, and eat good, I tried the Mountain house stuff and wasn't impressed, I think home made stuff would be better.
+Dave McMahon Thanks Dave! That canoe is an old one, no longer made to my knowledge. It has a "Trailhead" label on it (Ottawa store), but it was made for them by an unknown manufacturer. Its a kevlar-S glass composite, very strong. Never weighed it, but the catalog stated it was 54 lb's (I suspect its a little heavier). Its a small tandem called a 16 foot, but its actually 15' 8", and almost too small for big tandem paddlers. I use it for solo, sitting in the bow seat facing the other way. Narrow beam at 34", and a depth in the middle of 14", and less towards the sides due to the rounded bottom, so it leans up nice in solo, and can carve a turn. The shoe keel is un-necessary and I wish it did not have that, but it does add strength for hauling over beaver dams fully loaded, and it takes abuse that keeps some scrapes off the hull. Rocker is about 2 inches on each end (symmetrical), so I find as a long distance tripping boat with heavy cargo, its excellent.
Oh ya and the blowdown up here, it can be very heavy at times: Yes the hazard issue of widow-makers is very serious. Our tree species are short lived and get root and stem rot very easily. Pine, spruce and poplar forests are usually fire-origin, even-aged, and so when they start coming down, they often do so en masse, since they are all the same age after the fire, and all declining at the same aprox time.
Thanks Ade! It looks like that from the angle, but the 2D video does not show depth well. My left leg is still well back. However that was a poor angled stroke. Good eye on that one. I also use a damped and arrested swing, so even with that extra follow through, I am arresting and decelerating the swing after impact. Its supposed to be more down than across. This is a higher risk technique. I definitely do NOT recommend this vertical pole cutting technique for axe novices. Best to use a saw!
Thanks Scott! I have been resting a bit from YT video making. But I have some footage from last summer that I am starting to think about editing soon. :o) This winter was a disappointment for footage, so I may not have any frosty vids for a while :-( The knife is a Fallkniven F1 in the leather sheath option they make. It has a snap-over retention cover which I like for being in the boat and for wading in rapids. If I go for an unplanned swim, the retention is safer than an open pouch sheath design.
Wintertrekker awesome thank you for the reply! No worries I understand what it takes to make these films and sometimes its just nice to be outdoors and not worry about filming :). I'll just watch this series again hahahaha
So now I feel bad about my comments on part-2, suggesting you should try a different camera when you just recently purchased this one - lol. Using a second camera was the better part of my suggestion :) . What kind of camera were you using? I love your little grill for the rock stove. What method do you use for keeping the soot from the pots off the rest of your gear (when packing up, transporting, etc.)? Thanx again for sharing.
Thanks Q! I do need a second wide angle waterproof like a Go Pro or Rollei. I miss alot of good footage packing the camera away from wet conditions. I am not happy with this new Canon G15 - it has constant mechanical audio noise in the videos (maybe autofocus or image stabilization?). My old G7 never had that problem. Re soot on pots: I don't worry about soot at all. I leave it on. I pack my pots in a thin cotton shopping bag so no worries at all - rest of gear stays clean. Shake out bag occasionally, good to go.
Great videos Hoop, I live in maine and have solo canoed alot of the lakes here. Planning a trip up north to your area at the end of July but have two questions. One. Where do you obtain the maps for that area and also what lake did you put in. I don't want to know the travel way just the start point. New to the area just need a little help.
Thanks Shane! I got all of the Savant Lake area route info from "The Wabakimi Project" Canoe Routes Vol 2. It costs $35 Canadian, and I think its a bargain. They paddled the routes and re-cut out the trails covered in blowdown, so I like to support them. Link www.wabakimi.org/maps/ I buy paper 1:50,000 topo maps to mark their info on, and I navigate with my topo's. Canadian paper topos can be bought from many outlets (Google). You can also download topo JPEGs and PDFs for free from the Fed's Canmatrix2 website: wmsmir.cits.rncan.gc.ca/index.html/pub/canmatrix2/
I solo'ed up until I was 22, then I got married. No regrets, she's the love of my life for 32 years! I would love to camp out there with her. Problem is we moved to Alberta. I miss Ontario. This summer the ticks were out in Dryden where we camped so it was not fun, and only a short one week. How were the bugs on that trip? Any ticks on Savant?
hey hoop i hope all is well up there in Ca. I am starting to plan my food for my trip in August and am wondering if you dehydrate your own black olives? if so do you cut them small and just dry them?
***** Hi Shane. Yes I dehydrate black olives. I buy the canned sliced black olives. They are packed in water so there is no oily mess, and no labor to pit and slice. I use plastic fruit roll up tray inserts in the trays. Fresher oil packed whole olives obviously have much more flavor. But the canned sliced works for me - they last indefinitely and add some flavor and texture.
Good day hoop, I know the questions can be overwhelming but I was hoping to get your thoughts on my trip in August, do you think it would be ok to take a tarp and a hammock (war bonnet with bug netting) I use the setup here in maine all the time but I'm not sure about the forest conditions up there. I know all I need is two trees but in camping spots they can be hard to get two without undergrowth all around. You understand what I'm talking about. Or do you think it's better just to take a tent with the tent. Your expertise is appreciated. Thanks Shane
***** Hi Shane. My entire paddling career (about 35 summers or so), has been with a tent. Because the bush is so thick up here, and ground so rugged, if camping with a tent you are a slave to a few campsites that you have to look for. That said, if its on a canoe route and a decent lake, there is usually some campsite. I have checked out landings that are low sloped rock so I could land and unpack if necessary, looked promising, but upon checking never found any level ground for a tent, and had to move on. On these sites a hammock may be do-able when a tent is not. On campsites originally made for for tents, you may find an opening in the trees, but often the tent site is on the edge of the trees, or out on open rock, so there may be no tree to use unless you go back into the bush. You should bring a saw and an axe anyways because you may have to clear branches, shrubs and debris, to make a hammock site, but I have to do that with a tent often as well. I think it is worth a try, but I have never done it so I cannot guarantee anything.
Hi HB. Painters are twice the length of the boat (2x16ft =32 ft). Painters for solo have to be longer for a solo paddler when lining rapids. Solo paddler has to to able to hold the bow painter with the boat downstream, as well as the stern painter at the same time. A pivot eddy out move when lining is when you line the boat into an eddy from above, and you may have to let go of the stern painter and heave on the bow painter to eddy in the boat. That requires a long painter line. You will find solo that lining is very tough and the lines have to be longer than the boat. I limit it to twice the length so that it limits the temptation to let the boat get to far away from you when lining a gnarly set of rapids. Two paddlers for one boat is much easier, because one paddle can be downstream and one upstream, so they can be closer to the boat per each line. Solo lining is one of the most dangerous things for a solo tripper. Slippery rocks, jumping boulders, getting tangled lines in current around your legs, etc, and the possibility of wrapping and pinning a boat! Sometimes its better to portage! :o)
My underlying thought has been how easy and entertaining it's been to watch these - you're doing all the work - LOL! Excellent series!
Man, we are so lucky you are out there on these trips so we can enjoy them without doing any of the work! Many thanks.
Thanks for the kind words C1, and best wishes on your trip! Canadian stroke: Its hard to get the muscle memory of turning the top thumb down and bringing that paddle down across your chest - its counter intuitive, but it is more efficient than a stern pry stoke, and it links fluidly with other stokes. Once you get it, it stays with you for life. Best way to learn is to hire an instructor who can work 1 on 1, and in a day you should get it - then practice to smooth it out.
Thanks Mark! Yes I could easily stay there for a long time. There was even more blowdown further back - a winters worth of firewood for sure. Turns out I later, I caught walleye casting from shore. It was deeper than I thought and great fishing. I could probably catch hundreds of walleye there!
Thanks Jim! I have winter camped in the south end of Savant. Some of my photos on the e-book portion on the website are taken there. I have done two winter trips a few years back on Savant, one week each. But I have to snowmobile in, and its logistically difficult being a 6 hour drive from home, and I am not a snowmobiler by training!
...continued: Most of all I recommend taking paddling courses, and some canoe safety and self rescue (usually bundled into the same paddling course). How-to-canoe-trip course if available in your area. The biggest difference from hiking (other that the boat) is waterproofing clothing and gear you want dry. Your packs will be sitting in pools of water in the canoe when it rains, and when wading a boat, getting in and out with wet boots draining into the boat. I use many dry bags!
Wow, this series has been fun to watch. You made the right choice by stopping and choosing a campsite. If the weather had gotten worse you might have been in trouble.
Thanks M Sato! I am lucky to be in northern Ontario, that's for sure. Its canoe country! Those are the 1.4L and 2L Evernew Titanium "deep" pots. I drilled them near the top rim, made some aluminum offset brackets which I pop riveted in, and fitted those wire bail handles. Those pots still nest with the brackets and bail handles bent to fold flat against the pot. I need bail handles for lifting the pots out of the fire, and for hanging off a stick when I don't have the grill. I like them.
Hi BR. I have been canoe tripping for about 35 years, so I have acquired a gear and skill set that saves me time when prepping for a trip. I am always buying new gear, replacing old gear, but the gear stuff is ready to go as-is. For a beginner, gear acquisition/prep might be a significant amount of time. Paddling skills: I learned at a canoe camp as a kid, and then moved on to whitewater training courses, so that is under my belt now. For a whitewater trip, training is recommended..see next..
Call me crazy but I kinda like the wind noise! ;) I am always amazed at the amount of blow-down up there, you really do have to watch for widow-makers! Great video as always! Thanks for sharing...
Thanks MTS! Luckily I had more time built into this trip to "waste" than I realized. Its only when you get to about the half way or 3/4 distance of a long trip that you really know if you are ahead of schedule, or lagging behind. Turned out the decision was the right one here.
Thanks A-81! I actually do alot of bushwhacking into thick bush, no trails, usually just day trips with a buddy - we scout out new areas around here for fun. Never done one with a backpack for over-nighting. Good idea for a video though. I might try that with my hammock one day, but I would have to have a destination, like a brook trout stream or something ;-)
Thank you Paul! Hope you are getting some good trips in where you are!
On canoe trips I use a heavy plastic 60L food barrel with a good O-ring seal and steel lid clamp. Its the green barrel you will see in this video series. I leave this on the ground and keep it totally clean on the outside. It contains food smells very well. My food is also all dry, and double bagged inside to control smells even more. So far in black bear and grizzly country, no problems. When backpacking (no barrel), I do hang food from trees. But I want to try an Ursack one of these days.
The wind layed down nicely for you that night...those are the kind of evenings i really enjoy also...looking forward to more vid's of your trip.
Thank you Taro! You have a good weekend too!
'mornin Trekker; Another great video.You definately needed that meal after all the prep work for your spot.Glad we got to follow along,& waiting for part-4 Stay-Safe & Happy !!
Happy trails From Down East
Thanks Cjtf! Yes I really like the Fjallraven trousers. The G-1000 fabric is very comfortable, dries very fast, and in the heat they are way more comfortable than 100% nylon quick dry pants IMO. I like the cotton component of the fabric. Mosquitoes cannot bite through either. G-1000 sheds fire sparks OK. But big embers can burn a hole through the G-1000. I got a new ember hole in this trip. But they are easily mended back home with a backing patch on the inside, by professional seamstress.
Awesome! Things are looking up! Let's hope the wind stays down and the water without a wave! I always pack good ear plugs when I am tripping I like to have the option of hearing silence! I can't wait for the next leg!#
In the process of packing for a 5-6 day canoe trip on my old Blue Water 16' Kevlar/fiberglass Tuesday morning into the back country of eastern Manitoba not far from Woodland Caribou Prov Park, ON. Very similar country but sadly heavily traveled. Your vids are a great primer Hoop, you may not realize the wisdom and experience you bring but it is truly an inspiration. Have tried to mimic your Canadian stroke and no joy so far but I'll be working on it :D
Thanks CJ! I have winter trekked south of there on the south end of Savant Lake, but that was before I made videos. The banner photo on my channel page was taken during a winter camp on the south end of Savant Lake. I hope to go back one winter.
Thanks Stillhunter2114! I liked that spot so much, I stayed another day for my first "rest day" on the trip. I show that in the next part.
Enjoying the video series, Thank-You for taking the time to share. Those trees creep me out, last year 2 people died in the BWCA in storms that blew in from the North
Thanks again Nate! Ya, I sometimes don't sleep too well on windy nights, knowing those trees can come down anytime. Boreal species are all shallow rooted, no tap root, so they come down frequently. I remember that sad news from the BWCA which is not far from where I live. I try not to think about it when I am out in the bush, but when that wind picks up, its an issue. My favourite places to camp are young burns that are 15-20 years old. Trees are all still spindly, but are stocked thickly and block the wind. They mostly just bend a bit in the wind. If they come down in a wind storm they are light, mostly thin branches. Boreal old growth is very dangerous and I avoid it if I can, because its a domino effect waiting to happen in a wind storm.
Thanks Lonnie! Savant is huge (40K long) and no doubt there were fly-in fishermen in the south end. But almost no one seems to use the upper north arm of the lake - had it all to myself.
Thanks Marc! Ya the Purcell Trench grills are awesomely light and strong. Love 'em!
really nice camp and great trip, wish you a nice sunday, Taro
Ya its an awesome grill, very light and strong. That is the "Traveller" model which works great for solo.
...continued....There are some good books out there also. I recommend Bill Mason's Path of the Paddle and Song of the Paddle. He has it all covered. The gear photos will look old, some of the canoe models he discusses are gone (there are new models to choose from), and modern gear is available, but many fundamental things don't change in bush travel: paddling, portaging, fire, shelter, food, bugs, weather and clothing, etc. His movie "Waterwalker" is also fun to watch, and shows skills...next
In Norway this summer we almost got wind bound too on the second day. Gladly we just made it round the nearest bend and got into less wind in another part of lake Isteren.
-- But this way you got a really nice place for the night and your open fire cooking looked just fabulous from here :o)
Thanks YW! It was a great place, I could have stayed there a week and not even put a dent in the firewood supply!
Hi M2churc. See my response below to Cjtf on the Fjallraven trousers. Those are the Berents high waist model model (not the 'pro'), with double butt and double knee. Their G-1000 fabric is the best I have found for what I do spring through fall. Fjallraven cost huge dollar in Canada to import, but I really like them so its worth it for me. Their sizing fits slim and the Euro sizes are hard to figure out. They have a US/Euro conversion size chart, but I use one size bigger than they recommend.
Thanks Joe! Pots: Those are the 1.4L and 2L Evernew Titanium "deep" pots. I drilled them near the top rim, made some aluminum offset tabs (bent outwards around the rim so as to not interfere with the lid seating), and pop riveted on the tabs (you can see the aluminum pop rivet, smooth side inside, when I am stirring the beans), and fitted those wire bail handles. Those pots nest with the tabs and bail handles bent to fold flat against the pot. The deeps won't tip and spill when using a bail.
Thanks MrMycoo! Unfortunately, not retired, and I have nearly a decade to go, so it was just vacation. I have a good employer and can get several weeks vacation per yeat, and in busy years I can bank unpaid overtime and take the time later. This year work is smothering me, otherwise I would have been paddling much of the summer!
Hi Rob! See my response below to M Sato's question on the pot specs and bail handle mod I did. The depth means they won't tip and spill when using the bail handle. I purchased these Ti Evernew pots from Traildesigns online. Only downside is that they are non-stick, so only plastic or wood utensils can be used. Another option for Ti is FourDog Stove's bail handle mods he sells using Ti Snowpeak pots. But Snowpeak's biggest is only 1.4L. My Evernew's are 1.4L and 2 L.
What no bow drill practice:-). thanks for the video and keep them coming. If you make it to the winter camping symposium I hope you are able to set up a presentation.
Another captivating video, I am really diggin this series man.
What type of pots were you using in this vid?
I'm glad the wind calmed down for ya, it is easy to forget how much wind comes into a factor.
Thanks Shane! For canoe tripping I will definitely be sticking with my barrels. For backpacking trips where I am cutting weight, I would like to try the Ursack.
Good job Hoop. Carry on my friend. Great trip. Take care...Rod
Thanks SD! More to come!
But I want to try an Ursack one of these days.
hello again I saw this quote from a post you responded to. I use this system here in Maine instead of throwing a bear bag up over a limb. You just tye it to a tree and you are all set. The bear might crush some food but he won't get into it. But in the bush in Canada I would stick with the bear barrel for one reason less smell than the Ursack, i dont need to tell you that bears can smell food for great distances. I love mine though.god luck shane
Good afternoon Hoop,
I ordered a percell trench grill and I received it today in the mail. The first thing I noticed was how light it is. I have a bush buddy stick stove that I will bring also an alcohol stove but hopefully I will be cooking on the open fire weather permitting. I wanted to thank you for the help. Being from Maine hiking, camping, hunting And fishing is a part of life but when you go to a diffrent country it's a little nerv racking you keep going over equipment, food lists, and all the odds and ends hoping you haven't forgoting anything that you should add to the check list. You know what I mean,,,
I'm making my trip reservations for the last week in August and the first week of September, I am trying to get away from the bugs as much as I can, they are murder in maine so I can imagine how bad they are in Canada... Thanks again and any help is always welcome from an outdoors man with the knowledge of the area.
Shane A
Maine
***** Hey Shane, you will love that Purcell Trench Grill, and it should last a lifetime. Virtually weightless in the pack, but very nice to have a flat platform for the pots and pans. There will be days that the rocks maybe are just not right, so look for little shimming rocks to level it off on the corners. There are always little shim rocks you can find, and you can make some by dropping a rock to split off a narrow flake for a shim. You will get the gist of it soon enough.
Good to Savant Lake again. Been through there and McCrae Lake walleye fishing many times.
Thanks Randy! Savant is relatively unknown treasure! I have been through McCrae too, but its busier there. I like the solitude of Savant! ;-)
Really enjoying this. It's funny I also have the same grill.
Thanks Mike! No bow drill on the canoe trip, but maybe a b-d vid in the works at home with a new wood species for me. I have been in contact with the Symposium organizers, and if they need a presenter, I may be able to help out.
Another nice one! Keep em coming!!
I'm enjoying these videos a lot. I do wish you would make more to do with meals and prep. I don't think I could afford the MRE. meals. Maybe keep a couple for a backup but personally couldn't rely on them. Way back when, I use to get invited on camp trips just to cook. It was with a big group who ATV'ed. All I brought was my cook ware and they supplied all the food , wood. Like an entire equipment trailer was dedicated to food. That wouldn't work on a river trip. I need ideas on how to pack food for several days. I'm sure lovin these vids , Thanks👍
Thanks Phil! I don't like the MRE's either, nor the commercial freeze dried complete meals in a bag. Too much salt and other ingredients I don't know about. I find that I can prepare a one-pot meal that is delicious and nutritious, without all the artificial ingredients and excessive salt, by re-hydrating by simmering in water for just under a half hour. I dry de-fatted ground beef, and I dry the canned flakes of chicken, tomato sauce, mushrooms, and olives, and I buy dried onions. With liquid olive oil (that I carry in leak-proof Nalgenes), and garlic powder and seasonings, I can produce great meals with rice and pasta, and store-bough scalloped potato dried mix. I have about 7 meals that I rotate, and never seem to get too tired of them, and they keep me going day after day, trip after trip. I finish a trip in great shape and feeling really healthy, so something ins working.
Check out the Lakeland PP near Lac La Biche. It's got some nice back-country campsites with a few portages thrown in. They've got a 3 day(ish) loop you can do or just make your own plan. I've definitely enjoyed my time there.
Thanks DS! More to come!
Another great video....keep up the good work..!!!!
How much prep time do you need for summer camps? I'm planning a Minnesota canoe route and I'm really enjoying these vids. Trying to meld some UL hiking skills with your type of knowledge... any general advice? Thanks in advance...
Thank you so much for sharing your tour, im really enjoying it so far. Do you like the fjällräven trousers ? They are from the town i live in here in sweden, Örnsköldsvik !
Thanks SC! The wind in ones' ears sort of sounds like that, but it comes across harsh through the speakers. I need to tape some foam or something over the camera mic.
Another great video Hoop! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for those kind words Frabisher! The book - maybe one day! :o) Axe is a Grans fors Bruk s Scandinavian Forest Axe, my favourite! These are sold by many stores in many countries. YT will not let me place links in this response, but try searching online and you will get many stores. Tarp is a 10x10 ft silnylon tarp by Cooke Custom Sewing, in Minnesota. Best tarps on the market IMO. CCS sells direct. You can also purchase in Canada from Red Lake Outfitters.
Wow Hoop. Very nice spot you've got there! Enough fire wood to last for a winter! To bad you didn't bring your Snowtrekker tent;-) Then it could be a 200 day trip.... LOL;-)
Luckily the wheater is somewhat better. Love your dinner, I could allmost smeel it!
Cheers!
Very beautiful! Is that the same place where you snow trek to? I'd love to get up there one day.
Thanks Tim! It turned into really good luck, and I stayed an extra rest day at that site, and caught walleye from shore. And it was only day 4-5, so on a 17-18 day trip its not a bad thing to be slowed down at the beginning. I stress too much about my progress, but always manage to make up my km's later int e trip. I worry too much! :o) In the arctic Barrens here on big water solo trips, I probably average about 1 in 4/5 days windbound, but the hiking is always great!
Another enjoyable video, have you seen any sign of bear activity. Looking forward to next edition, Best Wishes......Les.
Beautiful place, do you supplement your rations with the odd trout or two, it looks like a nice place to go fishing, i do similar things as you do, over here in England well Wales which is a part of the uk, at a lake called llyn brianne but it's tiny compared to where you are, there is one good thing about the place thou hardly any body else canoes it, and it's full of brown trout, and fairly remote, it just an eighty mile drive from where i live in Newent in the county of Gloucestershire.
The tent is restricted to a site that is flat and with drainage. Flat is rare, and tent site is limiting. I keep my cooking and food area away from the tent as far as reasonable, to keep food smells away, since this is all black bear country, and we have many bears. The tarp also is limited to where it can go since it needs the space, trees, and needs to be sort of level. Cooking occurs underneath it in the rain, and hence the food smell precautions again. Fire cannot go on organic soil.
I know the feeling. Thanks for nice vids mate.
Thanks KWC! More parts in the series to come!
I'm looking for an ultralight traditional style prospector. 15 - 16'. I'm planning a 7 day backcountry down in woodland Caribou so I'm thinking of outfitting the trip to get a better idea b4 buying.
I'd like you to know that I picked up a Purcell trench grill and a Gransfor small forest axe too...all set lol
hey thanks for the shot of inspiration I'll let you know how I made out. Meanwhile I'll keep watching and enjoying your journeys.
Thx
+Dave McMahon Thanks Dave! Looking forward to your report back. Good choice on the grill and axe! The solo canoe is always a tough choice. I still have not bought a true solo boat, because I still cannot find a boat that meets my specs. So I work with the next best thing until that holy grail solo appears!
Thank you Maggiefay1! Very nice of you to say!
Thanks!! I'll look into all of that!
Thanks for the response.Yup, I like locking bails and have an old set of Mirro pots but weight was also the issue. I too have a set of Coleman locking small stainless pots, but gave them up for weight. I'll keep looking for those tall pots. Will let you know if I hit paydirt. Thanks for the series. I'm "graduating" from BWCA trips so want to upgrade. One last thought, for late Sept./mid Oct travel is O reg f. bag overkill? Also I still like rectangular bag. They are less efficient I know but if using the new downtown they don't weigh much.
Thanks Steve! The 0F (-18C) is maybe a tad overkill for the average mid October in the BWCA, but it does get that cold, and we had a -18C night in mid/end of October here. Having extra capcity in the bag is huge peace of mind. Don't forget a second sleeping pad (closed cell) under your main sleeping pad, as that will make a huge difference. I think in Celcius, and I think that a -10C bag would cover most situations at that time using 2 pads, but being prepared to add an upper body fleece and toque for sure, and maybe fleece pants as well. It certainly requires a clothing base layer for sleeping in. In theory it could get down to -20C in mid October. Check the historic weather records for that area for an idea of how low it can go.
Thanks Fepowson! Yes I see black bear scat on just about every portage. This trip is early to mid August, and it is a great year for blueberries (I will show you more berries in parts to come), and so the bears are happily gorging on blueberries and are not interested in bothering humans to much when its a great berry season.
Thanks B57ecv! Although Savant Lake has lake trout in it, they are hard to catch with the gear I take, and require trolling in deep water out in the canoe, meaning battling with wind. But casting from shore I am able to catch walleye and pike, and yes I do use them to supplement diet. Solo traveling I find I am often exhausted and have little time to fish. Next part in the series though I will be cooking up some fresh walleye caught from that very campsite!
Where'd you get the pots? I like the handles, and that fact they are deeper rather than wide.
Thanks Rod! Walleye in the fry pan in Part 4 to come!
Wintertrekker, looks like you have had some awesome adventures!!! A question for you though, what type of pants are you wearing in this video!!! My wife and I and our four kids love getting out here in northern BC, but a lot of the equipment/clothing just does not stand up!!! Thx for sharing all your hard work!!!
Thanks U-man! Pants are Fjallraven "Barents" trousers, made in Sweden. These are the regular model, high waist, not the "Barents Pro" which is a low waist. The fabric is their G-1000 which is very tight weave 65-35 poly-cotton. Dries very fast, and is way more comfortable (IMO) than quick dry nylon, especially in the heat. I live by fire, so spark resistance is important. The G-1000 fabric is not fully spark resistant, but much more so than pure nylon. It will shed small sparks (but a big ember landed on them and burned a small hole through - just patched it though, they are working bush pants). They cost big bucks to import from Europe (made in Sweden, several Brit and Euro online stores carry them), but for me its worth it for what I do. Fjallraven has a US online store now, but last time I checked, they don't carry the Barents (they carry the pro which will not fit me right).
Thx, will check them out!
Thanks Mike!
Hi Hoop, I am watching this sedies again. I always pick up an idea or two, especially from the comments. So, I noticed a lot of interest in your pots. You even gave me some info on installing those brackets. Why do you like the taller pots? It would seem lower and wider would be more stable, especially on camp stoves. I did check out Everlast on their website and Trailsend. Neither seem to offer a 2.0L tall. just the 1,4.
Any thoughts on alternative sizes? I am more curious thkugh, on why you use the talls.
Safe Camping
Openboat (Steve Shapiro - remember the hair ties. )
Thanks OB42! Yes I get more questions about my modified bail handles pots than anything else! :-) Evernew I think stopped making the titanium 2.0L tall. Sad because it is a very useful size, and is the nesting size for the 1.4L inside it. You are right the wider bottomed pots will boil water faster and are better for simmering a meal. However a wider than tall pot, if suspended by a wire bail without a bail handle lock, will tip over. The contents slosh to one side or the other. I have a set of Olicamp stainless locking bail handled pots which are super robust and I used them for over 20 years. They are wider than tall, and are just awesome pots. But I switched to thin walled Ti pots to save substantial gear weight, and no one seems to make a locking bail handled Ti pot set? An entrepreneur could make alot of money if they designed and manufactured these. Trouble is that the backpacking lightweight crowd dominates the gear media, and they think that bail handles are extra weight, but they carry pot grippers, ha ha! I don't need pot grippers, and can hang my bails from a stick, and lift a pot out of a fire with a stick using the bail, and carry water back to camp without no pot grippers which can be lost. Bail handles for me! ;-)
Hey WT, just wondering, did you make all the dehydrated food? what was the sauce? can you dehydrate the sauce too? Im totally new to dehydrating, looking to buy one for Jerkey and stuff, love to be able to make my own meals. Thanks ! Beauty spot you had
Hi Maritimer. I make the dehydrated food at home on my food dehydrator. I use the solid plastic fruit roll up (liquid) tray inserts on all the trays for everything. The sauce in this meal is the baked beans' sauce itself, plus olive oil and water. (these are the canned baked beans with a tomato-based sauce). Baked beans are easy, just pour out on the plastic trays, spread to one bean deep, and I run it for 24 hours. It pops off when done, and I store in mason jars in the freezer until I need it for a trip. Keeps forever.
I'll have to look into that, I love to cook, and eat good, I tried the Mountain house stuff and wasn't impressed, I think home made stuff would be better.
I'm curious about your canoe, material, weight ect. I'm learning quite a bit from your vids thanks.
+Dave McMahon Thanks Dave! That canoe is an old one, no longer made to my knowledge. It has a "Trailhead" label on it (Ottawa store), but it was made for them by an unknown manufacturer. Its a kevlar-S glass composite, very strong. Never weighed it, but the catalog stated it was 54 lb's (I suspect its a little heavier). Its a small tandem called a 16 foot, but its actually 15' 8", and almost too small for big tandem paddlers. I use it for solo, sitting in the bow seat facing the other way. Narrow beam at 34", and a depth in the middle of 14", and less towards the sides due to the rounded bottom, so it leans up nice in solo, and can carve a turn. The shoe keel is un-necessary and I wish it did not have that, but it does add strength for hauling over beaver dams fully loaded, and it takes abuse that keeps some scrapes off the hull. Rocker is about 2 inches on each end (symmetrical), so I find as a long distance tripping boat with heavy cargo, its excellent.
Thank you Xmassi1! There will be more!
im envious loving your trip
atb paul
Oh ya and the blowdown up here, it can be very heavy at times: Yes the hazard issue of widow-makers is very serious. Our tree species are short lived and get root and stem rot very easily. Pine, spruce and poplar forests are usually fire-origin, even-aged, and so when they start coming down, they often do so en masse, since they are all the same age after the fire, and all declining at the same aprox time.
Thanks 44musher! There will be total quiet when I wake up to glass calm the next morning, shown in part 4 to come next!
The leave no trace guys aren't gonna' like all those pits along the way...haha! Personally I love this! Great trip brother. Now that's Canadian eh ;D
You are fire making savante!
Thanks Ade! It looks like that from the angle, but the 2D video does not show depth well. My left leg is still well back. However that was a poor angled stroke. Good eye on that one. I also use a damped and arrested swing, so even with that extra follow through, I am arresting and decelerating the swing after impact. Its supposed to be more down than across. This is a higher risk technique. I definitely do NOT recommend this vertical pole cutting technique for axe novices. Best to use a saw!
Thanks K-man! Oh, we have only begun to explore fire - there will be more!
Thanks Sun Seeker! More to come soon!
I am a wind magnet. Somewhere in my life I insulted the wind gods, and they have it out for me almost every time!
I'm dying to know what sheath knife you carry Hoop?! Also when are you gonna make another trip video I'm craving some more adventure :) cheers Scott
Thanks Scott! I have been resting a bit from YT video making. But I have some footage from last summer that I am starting to think about editing soon. :o) This winter was a disappointment for footage, so I may not have any frosty vids for a while :-( The knife is a Fallkniven F1 in the leather sheath option they make. It has a snap-over retention cover which I like for being in the boat and for wading in rapids. If I go for an unplanned swim, the retention is safer than an open pouch sheath design.
Wintertrekker awesome thank you for the reply! No worries I understand what it takes to make these films and sometimes its just nice to be outdoors and not worry about filming :). I'll just watch this series again hahahaha
So now I feel bad about my comments on part-2, suggesting you should try a different camera when you just recently purchased this one - lol. Using a second camera was the better part of my suggestion :) . What kind of camera were you using?
I love your little grill for the rock stove. What method do you use for keeping the soot from the pots off the rest of your gear (when packing up, transporting, etc.)?
Thanx again for sharing.
Thanks Q! I do need a second wide angle waterproof like a Go Pro or Rollei. I miss alot of good footage packing the camera away from wet conditions. I am not happy with this new Canon G15 - it has constant mechanical audio noise in the videos (maybe autofocus or image stabilization?). My old G7 never had that problem. Re soot on pots: I don't worry about soot at all. I leave it on. I pack my pots in a thin cotton shopping bag so no worries at all - rest of gear stays clean. Shake out bag occasionally, good to go.
What pots are those? I wish we have places like yours here.
Thanks Skillet210! Part 4 is in prep....
Great videos Hoop,
I live in maine and have solo canoed alot of the lakes here. Planning a trip up north to your area at the end of July but have two questions.
One. Where do you obtain the maps for that area and also what lake did you put in. I don't want to know the travel way just the start point. New to the area just need a little help.
Thanks Shane! I got all of the Savant Lake area route info from "The Wabakimi Project" Canoe Routes Vol 2. It costs $35 Canadian, and I think its a bargain. They paddled the routes and re-cut out the trails covered in blowdown, so I like to support them. Link www.wabakimi.org/maps/ I buy paper 1:50,000 topo maps to mark their info on, and I navigate with my topo's. Canadian paper topos can be bought from many outlets (Google). You can also download topo JPEGs and PDFs for free from the Fed's Canmatrix2 website: wmsmir.cits.rncan.gc.ca/index.html/pub/canmatrix2/
I solo'ed up until I was 22, then I got married. No regrets, she's the love of my life for 32 years! I would love to camp out there with her. Problem is we moved to Alberta. I miss Ontario. This summer the ticks were out in Dryden where we camped so it was not fun, and only a short one week. How were the bugs on that trip? Any ticks on Savant?
hey hoop i hope all is well up there in Ca. I am starting to plan my food for my trip in August and am wondering if you dehydrate your own black olives? if so do you cut them small and just dry them?
***** Hi Shane. Yes I dehydrate black olives. I buy the canned sliced black olives. They are packed in water so there is no oily mess, and no labor to pit and slice. I use plastic fruit roll up tray inserts in the trays. Fresher oil packed whole olives obviously have much more flavor. But the canned sliced works for me - they last indefinitely and add some flavor and texture.
Thanks Eqlzr2! More hard work coming up soon in the next parts of the series!
At 4:50 he almost takes out his leg.
But I clicked LIKE.
I give you 100 points for getting out there. Nice job :-)
I will watch part 4 now.
Thanks!
Good day hoop,
I know the questions can be overwhelming but I was hoping to get your thoughts on my trip in August, do you think it would be ok to take a tarp and a hammock (war bonnet with bug netting) I use the setup here in maine all the time but I'm not sure about the forest conditions up there. I know all I need is two trees but in camping spots they can be hard to get two without undergrowth all around. You understand what I'm talking about. Or do you think it's better just to take a tent with the tent. Your expertise is appreciated. Thanks Shane
***** Hi Shane. My entire paddling career (about 35 summers or so), has been with a tent. Because the bush is so thick up here, and ground so rugged, if camping with a tent you are a slave to a few campsites that you have to look for. That said, if its on a canoe route and a decent lake, there is usually some campsite. I have checked out landings that are low sloped rock so I could land and unpack if necessary, looked promising, but upon checking never found any level ground for a tent, and had to move on. On these sites a hammock may be do-able when a tent is not. On campsites originally made for for tents, you may find an opening in the trees, but often the tent site is on the edge of the trees, or out on open rock, so there may be no tree to use unless you go back into the bush. You should bring a saw and an axe anyways because you may have to clear branches, shrubs and debris, to make a hammock site, but I have to do that with a tent often as well. I think it is worth a try, but I have never done it so I cannot guarantee anything.
Wintertrekker
thanks for the help hoop, I thank you very much I now that replies can be overwhelming
Thanks MrPop369!
Nice! Wish I was there.
I really like the purcell grill..
How long are your painters? they seem longer than most, and why the length? new to canoeing and you seem pretty experienced. thanks.
Hi HB. Painters are twice the length of the boat (2x16ft =32 ft). Painters for solo have to be longer for a solo paddler when lining rapids. Solo paddler has to to able to hold the bow painter with the boat downstream, as well as the stern painter at the same time. A pivot eddy out move when lining is when you line the boat into an eddy from above, and you may have to let go of the stern painter and heave on the bow painter to eddy in the boat. That requires a long painter line. You will find solo that lining is very tough and the lines have to be longer than the boat. I limit it to twice the length so that it limits the temptation to let the boat get to far away from you when lining a gnarly set of rapids. Two paddlers for one boat is much easier, because one paddle can be downstream and one upstream, so they can be closer to the boat per each line. Solo lining is one of the most dangerous things for a solo tripper. Slippery rocks, jumping boulders, getting tangled lines in current around your legs, etc, and the possibility of wrapping and pinning a boat! Sometimes its better to portage! :o)
I see, thanks for the info.