As a long-time resident of Fort Kent, your presentations provide excellent advice and guidance that will ensure a fun and safe adventure in our "backyard". It also reminds me of how fortunate we are to live in a region of the world that we can proudly call home. Merci!
Just came across your channel, and i *love* it!! Looking forward to the rest of the series. Keep up the good work. I'll be following you on your journeys. Safe travels.
I am about 4 years into my canoe tripping adventures and into my third season as a solo paddler. I have been learning from youtube (your channels is BY FAR the best info, and instructional out there in my opinion) and by taking courses here and there. The shift from tandem to solo was a little rocky as I had no idea about load and trim in the boat, I just jumped in and started going. When I found I was basically just a weather vane, I started looking into what the issue was and man, what a difference. I have taken my moving water basics course and the light bow for rapids was not even mentioned by either of our instructors. This valuable bit of info will hold me in good stead on my Bowron Lakes trip in may. We will also have 4.5 km of upriver paddling to tackle on that trip. What is the best trim for paddling against the current? Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom, it is so helpful.
Thanks so much for watching and reaching out. Traveling upstream in a rapid, I’m usually Poling. But my trim going up a rapid is the same going down. Just a hair light in the bow. I haven’t got to it yet in 3 Minutes but upstream travel, historically, has 3 tricks. #1 Poling upstream, #2 Cordelling. This one in my opinion has become lost with time. It consists of one canoeist in the stern of the boat with a setting pole and one canoeist on shore with the bow line. As a team they work upstream in stronger rapids. The canoeist on shore with the bow line keeps the proper angle with tension to move up the rapid while the Poler in the stern is pure power and propulsion. It takes, skill, communication, but both stay dry. #3 is in the water just hauling. The most dangerous and least effective option with the most risk. You can also work bow and stern lines from shore to stay dry and make upstream progress, but that takes A LOT of skill. Best of luck. My website 3MinutesMaineGuide.com has my 2025 schedule of classes, if you’re able. Good luck. 👍
Paddling upstream is also strategy Eddy hop the shorelines and behind the rocks sticking out of the water. Like a salmon. It saves strength rather than just bulling your way up. A poling class is the best thing. Such a powerful option for any canoeist to have in their toolbox.
@ OMG Lisa, I would absolutely love to take all of your classes, but I unfortunately live in Vancouver BC and it would be a bit of a commute. The paddle culture here is not nearly as strong as it is back east. If you know anyone on the west coast teaching poling classes I would love to get that list. As far as the against currant paddling goes, it will mostly be a little wider and slower/boilers. We are going in may and the water levels should be pretty high. I don't expect anything above a class I and was wondering if the trim is different on a 5km upriver haul, as a light bow might be easier for the river to push to one side or the other as you nose into the current. Even though I live out west, it is high on my list to come take one of your classes in person sometime. Thanks again!
I think about times when I was a teenager paddling my first canoe across a windy lake and being blown everywhere because my bow was sticking out of the water so high. Please send this video back to 1979 so that kid can see it!!
Trimming the boat is the difference between a good time and a bad time. Every paddler should have a Kit/overnight/oops bag. That bag serves as both ballast and can save your life!
The blue tank looked like 5 gallons to me. maybe 4? I often see the poling guys from across the Atlantic, in Scotland etc. standing and poling down stream and they will step forward of the center yoke to put the bow into the down stream current trying to get the stern out of the current. but I do like to equal my boat out in moving fast water not too front heavy nor super light in the front. and for sure in a wind I hunker forward and it makes a world of difference. On a side note Lisa, I'm reading Above the Gravel Bar by David Cook in it he got to paddle with a crew in a 30 foot canoe across the the Bay of Fundy from Herring Cove, New Brunswick to Nova Scotia, 50 mile trip, to prove it was done by the native people. Its a fantastic read on the canoe routes of Maine and covers much of the state.
I’ll definitely check that book out. Yes. No weight in the bow forces you to the center and removes one point of contact. Your calves braced against the front of the seat. When you move center towards the yoke, I always ended up smashing my shins against it. Braced against the seat you can take a real pop if you have to. Thanks for watching.
I found this out the hard way. If I'm on a lake by myself with little gear, day tripping, I'll bring a few buckets with lids. I can fill the buckets with lake water, stick them in the bow, and empty them before a portage. If you want to be really cute, make them nesting buckets.
@3_Minutes_With_a_Maine_Guide, Lisa, you should change the channel to 5 Minutes With a Maine Guide for three reasons: 1. 3 minutes is too short of a video. 2. Most of your videos are longer than 3 minutes (closer to 5-6 minutes.) 3. More of your great paddling wisdom in 5 minute videos. -Cheers
Once again Lisa great video. It amazes me on how people mess this up. But That's why we have guides to teach people the right way.
It's all about that 'learning curve' right? Thanks for watching.
As a long-time resident of Fort Kent, your presentations provide excellent advice and guidance that will ensure a fun and safe adventure in our "backyard". It also reminds me of how fortunate we are to live in a region of the world that we can proudly call home. Merci!
I appreciate you watching and glad the videos are helpful! Fort Kent what a place! I’ve got a whole bucket list for up there.
Just came across your channel, and i *love* it!!
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Keep up the good work. I'll be following you on your journeys. Safe travels.
Welcome to 3 Minutes and thanks for watching!
Amen! Great discussion.
Thanks Kevin. Happy Canoe year!
Excellent video!
Thanks for watching!
As usual, thanks for the tips! 👍🏻
You bet!
I am about 4 years into my canoe tripping adventures and into my third season as a solo paddler. I have been learning from youtube (your channels is BY FAR the best info, and instructional out there in my opinion) and by taking courses here and there. The shift from tandem to solo was a little rocky as I had no idea about load and trim in the boat, I just jumped in and started going. When I found I was basically just a
weather vane, I started looking into what the issue was and man, what a difference. I have taken my moving water basics course and the light bow for rapids was not even mentioned by either of our instructors. This valuable bit of info will hold me in good stead on my Bowron Lakes trip in may. We will also have 4.5 km of upriver paddling to tackle on that trip. What is the best trim for paddling against the current?
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom, it is so helpful.
Thanks so much for watching and reaching out. Traveling upstream in a rapid, I’m usually Poling. But my trim going up a rapid is the same going down. Just a hair light in the bow.
I haven’t got to it yet in 3 Minutes but upstream travel, historically, has 3 tricks. #1 Poling upstream, #2 Cordelling. This one in my opinion has become lost with time. It consists of one canoeist in the stern of the boat with a setting pole and one canoeist on shore with the bow line. As a team they work upstream in stronger rapids. The canoeist on shore with the bow line keeps the proper angle with tension to move up the rapid while the Poler in the stern is pure power and propulsion. It takes, skill, communication, but both stay dry. #3 is in the water just hauling. The most dangerous and least effective option with the most risk. You can also work bow and stern lines from shore to stay dry and make upstream progress, but that takes A LOT of skill. Best of luck. My website 3MinutesMaineGuide.com has my 2025 schedule of classes, if you’re able. Good luck. 👍
Paddling upstream is also strategy Eddy hop the shorelines and behind the rocks sticking out of the water. Like a salmon. It saves strength rather than just bulling your way up. A poling class is the best thing. Such a powerful option for any canoeist to have in their toolbox.
@ OMG Lisa, I would absolutely love to take all of your classes, but I unfortunately live in Vancouver BC and it would be a bit of a commute. The paddle culture here is not nearly as strong as it is back east. If you know anyone on the west coast teaching poling classes I would love to get that list. As far as the against currant paddling goes, it will mostly be a little wider and slower/boilers. We are going in may and the water levels should be pretty high. I don't expect anything above a class I and was wondering if the trim is different on a 5km upriver haul, as a light bow might be easier for the river to push to one side or the other as you nose into the current. Even though I live out west, it is high on my list to come take one of your classes in person sometime. Thanks again!
I think about times when I was a teenager paddling my first canoe across a windy lake and being blown everywhere because my bow was sticking out of the water so high. Please send this video back to 1979 so that kid can see it!!
I think we would all like to tell our 1979 self something. Thanks for watching.
Trimming the boat is the difference between a good time and a bad time. Every paddler should have a Kit/overnight/oops bag. That bag serves as both ballast and can save your life!
I couldn’t agree more, be sure to tie it in! Thanks for watching.
The blue tank looked like 5 gallons to me. maybe 4? I often see the poling guys from across the Atlantic, in Scotland etc. standing and poling down stream and they will step forward of the center yoke to put the bow into the down stream current trying to get the stern out of the current. but I do like to equal my boat out in moving fast water not too front heavy nor super light in the front. and for sure in a wind I hunker forward and it makes a world of difference. On a side note Lisa, I'm reading Above the Gravel Bar by David Cook in it he got to paddle with a crew in a 30 foot canoe across the the Bay of Fundy from Herring Cove, New Brunswick to Nova Scotia, 50 mile trip, to prove it was done by the native people. Its a fantastic read on the canoe routes of Maine and covers much of the state.
I’ll definitely check that book out. Yes. No weight in the bow forces you to the center and removes one point of contact. Your calves braced against the front of the seat. When you move center towards the yoke, I always ended up smashing my shins against it. Braced against the seat you can take a real pop if you have to. Thanks for watching.
I found this out the hard way. If I'm on a lake by myself with little gear, day tripping, I'll bring a few buckets with lids. I can fill the buckets with lake water, stick them in the bow, and empty them before a portage. If you want to be really cute, make them nesting buckets.
Great idea. Water is heavy and easy to get rid of when you need to. Thanks for sharing.
I'm always looking for large rocks when I'm out for the day, good substitutes are dogs, children, partners, friend who just came to fish
True. The best part is they all portage themselves.
@3_Minutes_With_a_Maine_Guide, Lisa, you should change the channel to 5 Minutes With a Maine Guide for three reasons:
1. 3 minutes is too short of a video.
2. Most of your videos are longer than 3 minutes (closer to 5-6 minutes.)
3. More of your great paddling wisdom in 5 minute videos.
-Cheers
Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoy it.