Migwetch for sharing your wilderness adventures, Hoop. I admire your self-reliance, self-confidence, and psychological toughness. For most, a solo canoe trip deep in the woods is a recipe for disaster. Takes years of experience. I believe most people could not sleep alone in a tent deep in the woods for fear of the unknown and unseen, and wilderness sounds amplified by fear would prevent sleep from coming. So many things could go wrong, but you've been doing it this way for many years. Migwetch
Wow! Great part 2! Seems like every multi-day trip I go on I always stress about the same thing, stay here or move on... ;) On one trip I was only four hours into my daily milage when I came across the most amazing site I ever saw... I listened to my inner voice and stayed... Glad I did because it was my best night in the field ever... We all feel your pain on this one! ;). You run a great camp...
Thanks BLBfive! My food is all dry, except for Nalgene bottles of olive oil, and some raspberry jam for my pancakes at breakfast. Breakfast: OvaEasy eggs (fantastic!), and pancakes, oil and jam. Lunches are Clif bars. Dinners are home dehydrated ground beef, or flaked canned chicken which rehydrates very well, with pasta or rice and various sauce mixes added, with dried olives, onions and mushrooms, or dried baked beans and burger, etc. Lots of delicious options that keep forever.
Thanks C1! Pads are a dog's breakfast of different foams, but it is all closed cell. I used 1 inch or 3/4 inch "gray" foam - paddling shops know what you mean when you ask for it. The yellow piece is from the thickest Evazote pad MEC sells. I purchased one to use for various foam projects - it works great. I used contact cement on boat and foam on a warm day, let dry few minutes, then activate with heat gun, then apply. Make sure you lay it out perfect because only 1 chance with cc. more...
Hi Tom! When I am further north in the sub-arctic with back bear and griz, or arctic Barrenlands in grizzly range, I carry a 12 gauge, slugs, in a waterproof floating case. In the south Boreal (on this trip), there tends to be smaller lakes and rivers, and many many more portages, and I lighten my kit and don't carry the shotgun. I always am wearing bear spray, have a 2nd bear spray in the barrel, and I have pen launched bear bangers. I have used the bear bangers a few times, successfully.
Thanks Nate! That is a Hilleberg Nammatj, small 2 man. The Hillebergs are incredibly expensive to import here, but I needed a new lightweight "solo" tent with plenty of room, with good ventilation for hot summers, and decided I would give the Hilleberg quality a try, and spoil myself with quality. So far its been a good choice. It has high vents on both ends that are storm proof and which move the air nicely. Its strong enough for the harsh winds for my arctic Barrenland trips too.
Can't wait for the next video. I'm not really a canoe tripper although it's interested me since I was little kid. I have done one guided trip on the Churchill River in northern Sask. That was amazing! I really enjoy your videos.
Thanks SwampDonkey530! When I was a youngster Bill Mason was my hero, and I started solo tripping when I was 14 years old! I have seen all his films dozens of times!
Glen... these Submissions are Fabulous! You should be in a Comic Book! Like Wolverine McAllister, in Journey! If that happens, I'll be buying them!? Looking forward to more!
Thanks PF! Its very cool to come back to a place a year later, and find everything untouched, and a wood supply waiting! I try to cut as little extra wood as possible into fire lengths, because it gets wet, but sometimes I over-achieve, as could be seen in the video. I have found that leaning poles up against trees is the best way to store wood because it sheds rain much better. It takes only a few minutes to cut and split poles into dry firewood billets for the fire.
What a fantastic trip. I am excited for the rest of the series. I'm curious about your food selections for such an extended trip. Take care and thank you for taking us along.
Thanks EB! I have not been on the Atikokan River. Atikokan is a great place to live, especially in winter with all the ice fishing and winter camping opportunities close by.
Ya, its really nice. No exotic earthworms either, so there are no muddy worm castings sliming the site. It is that dry duff that is clean, and absorbs the rain. Sometimes I camp on bare Shield rock - have a site like that to show in part 3 or 4, with only a few lichen tufts on top. Need several big rocks to set up the tent.
Thanks BR! I have Ti pots and several lightweight gear that I take. I carry a plastic wash basin (174 g on my scale), that I find really good for washing pots and pans, and socks and underwear periodically on long trips, so that's a luxury, but its worth it. Barrel is heavy but good for bears. Many things have to be dry bagged for canoe tripping since the canoe fills with water in rain, and shipping water in rapids, so that adds weight and bulk. Another trip on the portage is not bad to do.
I figured if i watched more of your videos and read through the comments that there was a high probability my questions would be there. ty for being nice and re-answering questions too.
He is the best for being patient and answering questions that have been repeatedly asked! Most interactive youtuber i have found and always willing to help and give great advice. :)
Thanks Algonquin81! I used to live in southern Ontario and would paddle Algonquin often. 2 portages back in, up in the west or north side, and I could get away from the crowds and it was great!
That's a big help Hoop! Thanks so much . . . and for the Canadian Stroke tips too, may have to get an instructor for this but not before I try, try, try again. Hope to see part 4 before leaving (hint, hint)!
Thanks Lonnie! I think part 2 was a little boring, had to get it out of the way, but hopefully I will diversify it in parts to come - blueberries, fish, cooking on open fire, fire pit design, blowdown dynamics, paddling through wild rice, portage trail tree blazing etiquette, etc.
Beautiful territory. I would have to spend most of my time fishing in all of those fantastic waters, and that’s where I would stay in trouble with the bears in camp. Thanks for all of your tips, and knowledge.
Thanks again Gregory! When on the move, I find it impossible to fish. Especially when portaging, I don't want bags of smelly fish fillets with me. The bears would be nipping at my heels! :-) Usually when I take a rest-day, I go for a fish if its not too windy. If I am lucky enough to get a deep-water campsite shoreline, sometimes I can catch walleye from shore casting, despite the wind. I show this shoreline catch in a video later in this same series.
Thanks B57ecv. Yes we are lucky. This is a no nothing little back route in an otherwise vast landscape. And its hardly touched. When I cross over into the Little Savant system in later parts in the series, its even more remote and seldom traveled. Firewood supplies are wonderful and abundant. There will be blueberries and fish to harvest in the next parts to come.
Unreal video series so far! I like how you explain what you are doing, mistakes and tips as well as the gear you use etc. very knowledgable canoeist indeed and a pleasure to watch :) subscribed!!
Thanks Bradlee180! I did my first solo when I was 14 and never looked back. I was trained up well at canoe camp when I was young - 7 summers there as a camper and on staff, leading trips. Learned the fundamentals, and trained from there, including whitewater training later. I just seem to feel good when on my own alone in the bush. Its harder though, more work. It is scary at night sometimes, had to use a bear banger this trip to scare a big critter away at night, but otherwise no worries.
Continued....Its really important to wrap the kneeling foam up the sides (chine) of the boat, for solo or tandem, because the knees will need to grip in that chine area, and its painful not to have the foam laterally supporting the side of the knee as well as underneath. Can't stress this enough. Full across and up the sides is what I recommend for a tripping boat kneeling area. I used separate pieces but edged matched them OK, or you cut a thick evazote to desired shape.
I see that decision on pushing on, really made your day harder W.T...!! But I suppose wen one feels full of energy and the day is still young that's the obvious decision to make push on...its nice to see the camp places weren't disturbed sense you last were there, saves time and energy if you needs be. Nice one W,T
Nothing boring about it Hoop!? This is a REAL adventure. Educational to watch the decision making processes with unfamiliar territory. Now I know to try and plan for "portage traps" and be more conservative on estimates for unfamiliar routes. What did you use to secure your kneeling pads in the canoe? Recommendations? Like how it spans the whole bottom of the canoe from side to side, have been only able to find the smaller blocks and have been hesitant to permanently fix them.
Thanks Shane! I was south of Pickle lake for this trip (Savant and Little Savant systems). Its a great area. The bugs come with the territory, eh! For the bugs I don't use a bug jacket. Instead I use 25% DEET (Deep Woods Off) pump bottle. Spray on hand and rub thoroughly into face, neck, around eyes, ears, wrists. Long sleeve tight weave cotton shirt and pants, and always a hat. Don't wash hair, just rinse with wet towel at night before retiring. Works great!
Thanks JamesW! That is my arctic expedition PFD, an Extrasport Highfloat with the over the shoulder foam that is good for portaging, and over the hips for gnarly swims in rapids. But its too hot for me most of the time. I have a new smaller PFD at home that would be cooler in the heat, but am having trouble rigging my backup fixed blade knife on it. I have to have a rescue/backup fixed blade on the PFD or its a no-go, because its my backup fixed blade for survival if I lose my belt knife.
Hey wintertrekker, I almost fell over when I saw the Pickle lake sign, my son and I flew into pickle lake and did a three week canoe trip three years ago I have the maps and all the sights we stayed at helps to keep good notes also for future trips we never say a sole after the first day. One of the best trips we have taken except for the killer bugs man the mosquitos were bad thank god we had bug suits for the am and the pm. great vid love watching your vids.wish I was there now...
Thanks SC. Usually when I find a very nice site, I quit early for the day and enjoy the site, maybe get some fishing in. But at the beginning of a long trip when I have to make some miles to be sure to get on schedule, I always feel guilty for stopping too early. If I did not have to be back at work on a certain day, it would not be so bad. I also file a trip plan, and Search and Rescue will come looking for me if I am overdue for 2 days past the due date, so that pressure is there as well.
Hi RWSB. That is a new camera, and its first trip. I set the wind filter to "on", and hoped that it would work as advertised....but apparently it does not work very well. On my last camera I taped some foam across the mic, and it looks like I will have to do that on this camera.
Beautiful Hoop. I feel for you, in that portage trap you put yourself in. It's like being at an all you can eat Chinese buffet. Knowing when you should stop but it all looks so good.. HAHA. Enjoying the series. ...Rod
First things first - thank you for working so hard to provide such outstanding videos! That is a very nice looking PFD @ 2.18 in the video, where is it @5.42. Please don't get into bad habits when your are traveling solo, I really like your videos and would like to see more of them. I know your are an excellent swimmer and you know what my reply will be. Take care and thank you again for the great videos!
Hi Art. I am still using a point and shoot, not a "real" video camera. This one is a Canon G15, and it can shoot HD. My old G7 shot only 640 x 320 SD. However as I am learning there is a price to pay for HD. Incredibly huge file sizes, computer crashes, and it takes an overnight upload to save a project, and another 8 hour night to upload onto YT. I went from half hour uploads to 8 hour uploads. And at this rate of storage requirements, soon I will need a new external hard drive! :o)
Thanks Jim. Anyone who has traveled long distances for many days will eventually get themselves into that trap with nightfall coming on..."oops I should have taken that last campsite!". Barrel stays on the ground, which is what I like about it. No food or food smelled hands will ever touch the outside of the barrel - I am fanatical about scent control for the outside of it. I always place it within seeing distance of my tent door, so that if a bear does show interest, I will defend it.
Hi Mike M. I may post a map inside one of the videos to come in the series. The route starts and finishes as a circuit route off Highway 599, which is the Pickle Lake hwy in northwestern Ontario. The put in lake is Fitchie Lake. Route maps with portages marked, and with some campsites (not all), are available in Volume 2 of the route maps sold by The Wabakimi Project. I purchased Vol.2 ($35 if I recall), and then annotated my own 1:50K topo maps with the info.
Hi Shane. I started at Fitchie Lake off the Pickle Lake highway, but you get into the Savant system from many places. I recommend 1:50K topos for the entire area around Savant Lake. The route is all mapped in Volume 2 of The Wabakimi Project trip guides. They charge $35 for each volume, but IMO they are well worth it, and it supports their project, which is to travel the routes and maintain them (cut blowdown on the trails and campsites). Check out their website for ordering the route maps.
Thanks EB! Yes, true back country requires some work to get into. Its always stressful when its unknown country. I had map notes from someone else, but some campsites just were not there, or else brutal. Also some portages were hard to find, and some have virtually no markings, so that ate up some time. But once traveled, I could do that trip again more efficiently, and have more time to fish! But there will be fish soon :o)
+Wintertrekker I live in America, Oklahoma. Born and raised in northern Wisconsin. I spent every summer in Ontario near north bay. My grand parents lived in Paris on. But had a cottage in Restoule near north bay on commander lake. They live in Nova Scotia now. Anyways I really envy you being up there able to do all of that. That's why you need to do more videos :-)
Your videos are very good (quite informative) & enjoyable to watch simply because of the peaceful activity you are doing. I cracked up when you said you were out of shape. I recall every time I did a canoe portage trip I would say the same for the first few days; by day 4ish that feeling would go away; and by the time you got back home you were an ironman - lol. It's a great sport for getting in shape. You should consider a different (or 2nd) camera with wider angle lens so you don't have to worry about where it's pointing. Try the Rollei Action Cam. It's very similar to a GoPro, but has way more mounting options & is quite a bit less money. There's a link on my site for their web page or just search Rollei. Thanx so much for sharing.
Thanks Q! yes, I always come back from long trips just starting to feel really great and in shape - too bad during the trip it never feels like that! :o) Thanks for the heads up on Rollei action cam. Never heard of that brand before, so I saved their website and will do my research.
Wintertrekker quick question mate, how do you deal with lonlyness? 17days is a long time, ive done a week and at the end of that I was about ready for human contact, im from the UK and have to head to Norway for the wilderness, on the 7th day I bumped into some hikers, that didn't understand a word I was saying but I was chattering like a machine gun lol. so you have any tips?
Hi StrataG. I don't get lonely. 17 days is a "short" canoe trip for me. I do 30-40 day solo canoe trips where I rarely see anyone. Its never boring when you have to travel a long route, because you are always working hard, and sleep comes easy when the trip is physically demanding. mentally the tough part for me is the bad weather and being storm-bound. I bring books for reading on the storm bound days. Living by fire is also a way to keep occupied. I use my stove only for the really wet days, otherwise I am always gather wood and processing it, and that uses up lots of time, and its fun. Fishing is always nearby too. Living by fire also is a comfort. Work up to 2 weeks, then 1 week will seem too short. then work up to 3 weeks, etc. :o)
Love your adventure trekker! I have a question though... Have you ever thought about carrying lighter stuff? I am an avid hiker who looks to you for some nice info on upcoming paddling, but I would like to go lighter than you. Titanium this and that, focused yet sensible weight counting (with a scale) has cascading effects that exponentially add to your enjoyment. I suppose paddling it doesn't make much difference, but the portages could be extended? Thanks!
I noticed that you protected your paddle from being damaged by gunwales when paddling, I should do the same, my 200 bucks paddle does not look pretty anymore, my gunwales are aluminum in my 15ft Swift Algonquin.
Thanks Expressyourselfist! Yes that whipped cord on the shaft does indeed protect the paddle neck from wear. That is Mammut 3mm climbing accessory cord that is a very tight weave. Its high quality cord. The actual diameter is more like 2mm, but they call it 3mm. Actual 3mm would be too thick. I varnished the cord wrap with spar varnish (same as paddle), and the spar varnish seems to protect the cord from abrasion. Its impregnated right into the cord, and the cord has not frayed yet. I touch it up with spar varnish before every long trip.
Thanks for the offer Shane, but I am a dedicated solo tripper! :o) If you obtain the Wabakimi Project trip map volumes, you will have everything you need, plus you need the 1:50K topos for the details. For parking a vehicle securely and shuttles, the folks at The Four Winds Hotel (Check website) in Savant Lake do custom logistics support for a fair fee. The hotel is a good start/end option too, but you have to book ahead by phone.
I always hate passing a camp to try to knock out some more miles to find myself scrambling to find somewhere to camp later. Now hoop is that barrel you keep food in bear proof or do you still hang your food ?
Just discovering your videos, enjoying them very much. You mentioned a "Canadian stroke" while paddling, do mean a "J" stroke? Sorry as a canoe instructor a few centuries ago I couldn't help but wonder. I've got an old canoe made in '67, needs yet another recanvasing, had it done at Langford Canoes years ago but I'm out west now, might have to tackle it myself...anyway, I'm starting to take a tangent, great videos, please keep it up.
Hi CC! The Canadian stroke is a refinement of the J. The Canadian keeps moving and slices back for the correction stroke in the water, and comes out of the water at or forward of the hip. Its more like a U than a J. In solo cruising leaning up the boat, the re-entry of the blade slices back into the water almost on a diagonal with little gurgle or splash, unless one wants alot of power and goes for re-entry more vertical and more forward. I have a couple of videos sort of showing the stroke with my limited camera abilities. One here: ua-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=_7y6slRCokM , and one here: ua-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=HaQ73fuCR1Q In this latter one I insert some text to explain some of the technique.
I have to admit that while soloing I have done the stroke you describe, I would call it a 'lazy j with a partial draw stroke for good measure' however it shall no be and forever more a Canadian Stroke! Keep your tip wet!
Epic trip you took! Who maintains the portages and if these aren't well used routes, how do you go about finding your information on them? I like getting away from it all and heading to the back country!
Thanks Rob! This route was re-cut out about 3 years ago by a non-profit organization called "The Wabakimi Project" out of Thunder Bay. They publish trip route volumes with info on portages and campsites. www.wabakimi.org/maps/ They sell volumes of maps for $35 that cover alot of geography (they are up to 4 volumes now), and I think it is worth the price, seeing as they do the work to clear the trails with volunteers, and document it. My trip is contained in Vol. 2 which I bought from them.
Good afternoon Hoop,, I am still chopping at the list of things to do before the trip. I'm heading out in August 1st to the 16th. I made all the reservations for the sights and permits. One item I still need to get is the harness for my bear barrel. Who makes the one you have it looks real sturdy. The ones I have been looking at only have one strap top and bottom.. Looks flimsy so I was hopping to get the name of your harness or the Co. Who makes it. This is going to be a long wait but it will be worth it.
***** Hi Shane. My barrel harnesses were made by Ostrom Pack, no longer in business. But you can get barrels and harnesses from Recreational Barrelworks, link here: recreationalbarrelworks.com/
+Smile Always Hi S-A. The barrel is completely full with food, cook kit, extra bear spray, and SAT phone. No extra room. However I double and triple bag many food items, and although I try and remove as much air from the plastic bags as possible, there is still the extra volume occupied by air in plastic bags. I had about 19-20 days of food in case I was delayed. Without bagging and food all loose, there would be room to spare, but with bagging, it fills up fast.
hello wintertrekker, I was wondering if you put in at Harold Lake then headed north to the sevant lake system? I did a simaler trip in pickle lake and I am trying to put a trip plan together for next spring, I was wondering if you could e-mail me a copy of the map you used for that trip.. being from Maine it is hard to get good info and have a good time ,,of course I would get more in depth maps of the area but a helping hand to get started would be greatly appreciated, Shane A. chelsea ,maine
Thanks Fishingbreath! As I get older I find that I can no longer rely on natural fitness, and I need to train better before heading out to the bush! :o) For bugs I use Deep Woods Off pump bottle with 25% DEET. The clothing system is essential to get right (long pants, long sleeve shirt, hat, etc), and then its easy to use the repellant on face, neck, wrists, and keep the bugs away. The call of nature requires a spritz down of legs and backside - all part of living with the mosquitoes and blackflies :o)
I've been using Permethrin on my clothes and deep woods off on exposed skin. The main bugs are mosquitoes and dog and deer ticks. I prefer to hit the woods with my camera during the winter.
Migwetch for sharing your wilderness adventures, Hoop.
I admire your self-reliance, self-confidence, and psychological toughness. For most, a solo canoe trip deep in the woods is a recipe for disaster. Takes years of experience. I believe most people could not sleep alone in a tent deep in the woods for fear of the unknown and unseen, and wilderness sounds amplified by fear would prevent sleep from coming. So many things could go wrong, but you've been doing it this way for many years. Migwetch
Wow! Great part 2! Seems like every multi-day trip I go on I always stress about the same thing, stay here or move on... ;) On one trip I was only four hours into my daily milage when I came across the most amazing site I ever saw... I listened to my inner voice and stayed... Glad I did because it was my best night in the field ever... We all feel your pain on this one! ;). You run a great camp...
Thanks BLBfive! My food is all dry, except for Nalgene bottles of olive oil, and some raspberry jam for my pancakes at breakfast. Breakfast: OvaEasy eggs (fantastic!), and pancakes, oil and jam. Lunches are Clif bars. Dinners are home dehydrated ground beef, or flaked canned chicken which rehydrates very well, with pasta or rice and various sauce mixes added, with dried olives, onions and mushrooms, or dried baked beans and burger, etc. Lots of delicious options that keep forever.
Thanks C1! Pads are a dog's breakfast of different foams, but it is all closed cell. I used 1 inch or 3/4 inch "gray" foam - paddling shops know what you mean when you ask for it. The yellow piece is from the thickest Evazote pad MEC sells. I purchased one to use for various foam projects - it works great. I used contact cement on boat and foam on a warm day, let dry few minutes, then activate with heat gun, then apply. Make sure you lay it out perfect because only 1 chance with cc. more...
Hi Tom! When I am further north in the sub-arctic with back bear and griz, or arctic Barrenlands in grizzly range, I carry a 12 gauge, slugs, in a waterproof floating case. In the south Boreal (on this trip), there tends to be smaller lakes and rivers, and many many more portages, and I lighten my kit and don't carry the shotgun. I always am wearing bear spray, have a 2nd bear spray in the barrel, and I have pen launched bear bangers. I have used the bear bangers a few times, successfully.
Thanks Nate! That is a Hilleberg Nammatj, small 2 man. The Hillebergs are incredibly expensive to import here, but I needed a new lightweight "solo" tent with plenty of room, with good ventilation for hot summers, and decided I would give the Hilleberg quality a try, and spoil myself with quality. So far its been a good choice. It has high vents on both ends that are storm proof and which move the air nicely. Its strong enough for the harsh winds for my arctic Barrenland trips too.
Can't wait for the next video. I'm not really a canoe tripper although it's interested me since I was little kid. I have done one guided trip on the Churchill River in northern Sask. That was amazing! I really enjoy your videos.
Thanks SwampDonkey530! When I was a youngster Bill Mason was my hero, and I started solo tripping when I was 14 years old! I have seen all his films dozens of times!
Glen... these Submissions are Fabulous! You should be in a Comic Book! Like Wolverine McAllister, in Journey! If that happens, I'll be buying them!?
Looking forward to more!
Thanks PF! Its very cool to come back to a place a year later, and find everything untouched, and a wood supply waiting! I try to cut as little extra wood as possible into fire lengths, because it gets wet, but sometimes I over-achieve, as could be seen in the video. I have found that leaning poles up against trees is the best way to store wood because it sheds rain much better. It takes only a few minutes to cut and split poles into dry firewood billets for the fire.
we often enjoy the atikokan river, put in at sapawe and canoe to atikokan....8 hrs and very scenic...love your vids and valuable tips.
What a fantastic trip. I am excited for the rest of the series. I'm curious about your food selections for such an extended trip. Take care and thank you for taking us along.
LOL I'm exhausted, now off to Part 3, thanks for sharing your adventure......Les.
Thanks EB! I have not been on the Atikokan River. Atikokan is a great place to live, especially in winter with all the ice fishing and winter camping opportunities close by.
To live free and enjoy the outdoors is awesome, excellent to watch!!
Aaahhhh...thanks for taking us along on your adventure...don't you sometimes feel like Water Walker....R.I.P mr. Mason.!!!
Ya, its really nice. No exotic earthworms either, so there are no muddy worm castings sliming the site. It is that dry duff that is clean, and absorbs the rain. Sometimes I camp on bare Shield rock - have a site like that to show in part 3 or 4, with only a few lichen tufts on top. Need several big rocks to set up the tent.
Thanks BR! I have Ti pots and several lightweight gear that I take. I carry a plastic wash basin (174 g on my scale), that I find really good for washing pots and pans, and socks and underwear periodically on long trips, so that's a luxury, but its worth it. Barrel is heavy but good for bears. Many things have to be dry bagged for canoe tripping since the canoe fills with water in rain, and shipping water in rapids, so that adds weight and bulk. Another trip on the portage is not bad to do.
I figured if i watched more of your videos and read through the comments that there was a high probability my questions would be there. ty for being nice and re-answering questions too.
Amy Murphy Thanks Amy! Let me know if you have any questions, I would be glad to respond! :o)
He is the best for being patient and answering questions that have been repeatedly asked! Most interactive youtuber i have found and always willing to help and give great advice. :)
Thanks Algonquin81! I used to live in southern Ontario and would paddle Algonquin often. 2 portages back in, up in the west or north side, and I could get away from the crowds and it was great!
That's a big help Hoop! Thanks so much . . . and for the Canadian Stroke tips too, may have to get an instructor for this but not before I try, try, try again. Hope to see part 4 before leaving (hint, hint)!
Amazing place, very few places like this left in Britain your so lucky.
Thanks Lonnie! I think part 2 was a little boring, had to get it out of the way, but hopefully I will diversify it in parts to come - blueberries, fish, cooking on open fire, fire pit design, blowdown dynamics, paddling through wild rice, portage trail tree blazing etiquette, etc.
Simply beautiful, thanks for sharing. I think if I did anything like this I would simply stop and dream.
Beautiful territory. I would have to spend most of my time fishing in all of those fantastic waters, and that’s where I would stay in trouble with the bears in camp. Thanks for all of your tips, and knowledge.
Thanks again Gregory! When on the move, I find it impossible to fish. Especially when portaging, I don't want bags of smelly fish fillets with me. The bears would be nipping at my heels! :-) Usually when I take a rest-day, I go for a fish if its not too windy. If I am lucky enough to get a deep-water campsite shoreline, sometimes I can catch walleye from shore casting, despite the wind. I show this shoreline catch in a video later in this same series.
Thanks B57ecv. Yes we are lucky. This is a no nothing little back route in an otherwise vast landscape. And its hardly touched. When I cross over into the Little Savant system in later parts in the series, its even more remote and seldom traveled. Firewood supplies are wonderful and abundant. There will be blueberries and fish to harvest in the next parts to come.
Thanks Rod. Some better days ahead next in the series!
Unreal video series so far! I like how you explain what you are doing, mistakes and tips as well as the gear you use etc. very knowledgable canoeist indeed and a pleasure to watch :) subscribed!!
Thanks for the kind words Scott, and thanks for the sub!
Thanks Bradlee180! I did my first solo when I was 14 and never looked back. I was trained up well at canoe camp when I was young - 7 summers there as a camper and on staff, leading trips. Learned the fundamentals, and trained from there, including whitewater training later. I just seem to feel good when on my own alone in the bush. Its harder though, more work. It is scary at night sometimes, had to use a bear banger this trip to scare a big critter away at night, but otherwise no worries.
Can't wait for Part 3!! Great Video.
Continued....Its really important to wrap the kneeling foam up the sides (chine) of the boat, for solo or tandem, because the knees will need to grip in that chine area, and its painful not to have the foam laterally supporting the side of the knee as well as underneath. Can't stress this enough. Full across and up the sides is what I recommend for a tripping boat kneeling area. I used separate pieces but edged matched them OK, or you cut a thick evazote to desired shape.
A tough day camping/trekking is better than the best day of work.
I see that decision on pushing on, really made your day harder W.T...!! But I suppose wen one feels full of energy and the day is still young that's the obvious decision to make push on...its nice to see the camp places weren't disturbed sense you last were there, saves time and energy if you needs be. Nice one W,T
Nothing boring about it Hoop!? This is a REAL adventure. Educational to watch the decision making processes with unfamiliar territory. Now I know to try and plan for "portage traps" and be more conservative on estimates for unfamiliar routes. What did you use to secure your kneeling pads in the canoe? Recommendations? Like how it spans the whole bottom of the canoe from side to side, have been only able to find the smaller blocks and have been hesitant to permanently fix them.
Thanks Yuchiwoodsman! More to come on the voyage.
Thanks Shane! I was south of Pickle lake for this trip (Savant and Little Savant systems). Its a great area. The bugs come with the territory, eh! For the bugs I don't use a bug jacket. Instead I use 25% DEET (Deep Woods Off) pump bottle. Spray on hand and rub thoroughly into face, neck, around eyes, ears, wrists. Long sleeve tight weave cotton shirt and pants, and always a hat. Don't wash hair, just rinse with wet towel at night before retiring. Works great!
Thanks JamesW! That is my arctic expedition PFD, an Extrasport Highfloat with the over the shoulder foam that is good for portaging, and over the hips for gnarly swims in rapids. But its too hot for me most of the time. I have a new smaller PFD at home that would be cooler in the heat, but am having trouble rigging my backup fixed blade knife on it. I have to have a rescue/backup fixed blade on the PFD or its a no-go, because its my backup fixed blade for survival if I lose my belt knife.
Hey wintertrekker, I almost fell over when I saw the Pickle lake sign, my son and I flew into pickle lake and did a three week canoe trip three years ago I have the maps and all the sights we stayed at helps to keep good notes also for future trips we never say a sole after the first day. One of the best trips we have taken except for the killer bugs man the mosquitos were bad thank god we had bug suits for the am and the pm. great vid love watching your vids.wish I was there now...
Great vids. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thanks Randy! Churchill River sounds like a great trip. I have not been there, but read alot about it.
Thanks SC. Usually when I find a very nice site, I quit early for the day and enjoy the site, maybe get some fishing in. But at the beginning of a long trip when I have to make some miles to be sure to get on schedule, I always feel guilty for stopping too early. If I did not have to be back at work on a certain day, it would not be so bad. I also file a trip plan, and Search and Rescue will come looking for me if I am overdue for 2 days past the due date, so that pressure is there as well.
Hi RWSB. That is a new camera, and its first trip. I set the wind filter to "on", and hoped that it would work as advertised....but apparently it does not work very well. On my last camera I taped some foam across the mic, and it looks like I will have to do that on this camera.
Beautiful Hoop. I feel for you, in that portage trap you put yourself in. It's like being at an all you can eat Chinese buffet. Knowing when you should stop but it all looks so good.. HAHA. Enjoying the series. ...Rod
Thanks Chaulsin! I think there are some route maps of various routes in Alberta that should be available.
nice camp,no grass and gravel,just moss and duff!.
i need to get farther up north while i'm still able to solo canoe
Hi Hoop. To bad for the weather so far, but what a nice landscape!
First things first - thank you for working so hard to provide such outstanding videos! That is a very nice looking PFD @ 2.18 in the video, where is it @5.42. Please don't get into bad habits when your are traveling solo, I really like your videos and would like to see more of them. I know your are an excellent swimmer and you know what my reply will be. Take care and thank you again for the great videos!
Thanks DS! More to come!
Very nice Wintertrekker! Keep em coming
Amazing trip, Glen! Very cool and beautiful. Take care, Sepp
Hi Art. I am still using a point and shoot, not a "real" video camera. This one is a Canon G15, and it can shoot HD. My old G7 shot only 640 x 320 SD. However as I am learning there is a price to pay for HD. Incredibly huge file sizes, computer crashes, and it takes an overnight upload to save a project, and another 8 hour night to upload onto YT. I went from half hour uploads to 8 hour uploads. And at this rate of storage requirements, soon I will need a new external hard drive! :o)
Thanks Jim. Anyone who has traveled long distances for many days will eventually get themselves into that trap with nightfall coming on..."oops I should have taken that last campsite!". Barrel stays on the ground, which is what I like about it. No food or food smelled hands will ever touch the outside of the barrel - I am fanatical about scent control for the outside of it. I always place it within seeing distance of my tent door, so that if a bear does show interest, I will defend it.
As always enjoying your videos! I'm going to have to see if we have any portages here in central AB, that looks like a lot of fun :) .
'mornin,Wintertrekker;trip is aawwssuumm; wish I was there to help with portages.
Keep The Faith, Better Days 'Comin !
Thanks Sepp! More to come!
Thanks Skillet210! Yep the sun came out later in the trip, and fish were caught for the fry pan! More to come in the the series.
Thanks Xmassi1! More to come!
Hi Mike M. I may post a map inside one of the videos to come in the series. The route starts and finishes as a circuit route off Highway 599, which is the Pickle Lake hwy in northwestern Ontario. The put in lake is Fitchie Lake. Route maps with portages marked, and with some campsites (not all), are available in Volume 2 of the route maps sold by The Wabakimi Project. I purchased Vol.2 ($35 if I recall), and then annotated my own 1:50K topo maps with the info.
thanks again, I really enjoy your trip, Taro
Hi Shane. I started at Fitchie Lake off the Pickle Lake highway, but you get into the Savant system from many places. I recommend 1:50K topos for the entire area around Savant Lake. The route is all mapped in Volume 2 of The Wabakimi Project trip guides. They charge $35 for each volume, but IMO they are well worth it, and it supports their project, which is to travel the routes and maintain them (cut blowdown on the trails and campsites). Check out their website for ordering the route maps.
another great day..nice video..
Glad I tired you out Fepowson! :o) I think part 3 may be relaxing, sitting by the fire!
Hey Hoop. Loving the trip so far. It seems like you now have a HD camera. Tell us about it.
Thanks Mark! The sun will come out in the next parts of the series, and wood will be burned!
Thanks EB! Yes, true back country requires some work to get into. Its always stressful when its unknown country. I had map notes from someone else, but some campsites just were not there, or else brutal. Also some portages were hard to find, and some have virtually no markings, so that ate up some time. But once traveled, I could do that trip again more efficiently, and have more time to fish! But there will be fish soon :o)
Thanks Mike! You will want to keep going to see what's around the next bend, next lake, next river! :o)
Great video. Really enjoyed watching this. You need to do more videos!
Thanks Mike! I need to do more trips!
+Wintertrekker I live in America, Oklahoma. Born and raised in northern Wisconsin. I spent every summer in Ontario near north bay. My grand parents lived in Paris on. But had a cottage in Restoule near north bay on commander lake. They live in Nova Scotia now. Anyways I really envy you being up there able to do all of that. That's why you need to do more videos :-)
Thanks Taro!
Thanks a4t5fan! More in the series coming soon!
That is for sure!
Thanks Paul!
Thanks MrFishlots!
Thanks Joe! I have more to come in the series which will show some different aspects of the trip (food, fire, fish and stuff, etc.)
Thanks Maggiefay1! Part 3 is in the editing "studio"!
Your videos are very good (quite informative) & enjoyable to watch simply because of the peaceful activity you are doing.
I cracked up when you said you were out of shape. I recall every time I did a canoe portage trip I would say the same for the first few days; by day 4ish that feeling would go away; and by the time you got back home you were an ironman - lol. It's a great sport for getting in shape.
You should consider a different (or 2nd) camera with wider angle lens so you don't have to worry about where it's pointing. Try the Rollei Action Cam. It's very similar to a GoPro, but has way more mounting options & is quite a bit less money. There's a link on my site for their web page or just search Rollei.
Thanx so much for sharing.
Thanks Q! yes, I always come back from long trips just starting to feel really great and in shape - too bad during the trip it never feels like that! :o) Thanks for the heads up on Rollei action cam. Never heard of that brand before, so I saved their website and will do my research.
Wintertrekker quick question mate, how do you deal with lonlyness? 17days is a long time, ive done a week and at the end of that I was about ready for human contact, im from the UK and have to head to Norway for the wilderness, on the 7th day I bumped into some hikers, that didn't understand a word I was saying but I was chattering like a machine gun lol. so you have any tips?
Hi StrataG. I don't get lonely. 17 days is a "short" canoe trip for me. I do 30-40 day solo canoe trips where I rarely see anyone. Its never boring when you have to travel a long route, because you are always working hard, and sleep comes easy when the trip is physically demanding. mentally the tough part for me is the bad weather and being storm-bound. I bring books for reading on the storm bound days. Living by fire is also a way to keep occupied. I use my stove only for the really wet days, otherwise I am always gather wood and processing it, and that uses up lots of time, and its fun. Fishing is always nearby too. Living by fire also is a comfort. Work up to 2 weeks, then 1 week will seem too short. then work up to 3 weeks, etc. :o)
no pain no gain... chin up...bumps on the way make it more memorable, like the pics at the end.
un lugar perfecto para disfrutar en plena naturaleza un saludo de islas canarias
Thanks Francisco! Good to hear from the Canary Islands! Greetings from northwestern Ontario!
Love your adventure trekker! I have a question though... Have you ever thought about carrying lighter stuff? I am an avid hiker who looks to you for some nice info on upcoming paddling, but I would like to go lighter than you. Titanium this and that, focused yet sensible weight counting (with a scale) has cascading effects that exponentially add to your enjoyment.
I suppose paddling it doesn't make much difference, but the portages could be extended?
Thanks!
great job brother I am enjoying it!!!!!!
Thanks Lateo74!
I noticed that you protected your paddle from being damaged by gunwales when paddling,
I should do the same, my 200 bucks paddle does not look pretty anymore, my gunwales are aluminum in my 15ft Swift Algonquin.
Thanks Expressyourselfist! Yes that whipped cord on the shaft does indeed protect the paddle neck from wear. That is Mammut 3mm climbing accessory cord that is a very tight weave. Its high quality cord. The actual diameter is more like 2mm, but they call it 3mm. Actual 3mm would be too thick. I varnished the cord wrap with spar varnish (same as paddle), and the spar varnish seems to protect the cord from abrasion. Its impregnated right into the cord, and the cord has not frayed yet. I touch it up with spar varnish before every long trip.
Thanks for the offer Shane, but I am a dedicated solo tripper! :o) If you obtain the Wabakimi Project trip map volumes, you will have everything you need, plus you need the 1:50K topos for the details. For parking a vehicle securely and shuttles, the folks at The Four Winds Hotel (Check website) in Savant Lake do custom logistics support for a fair fee. The hotel is a good start/end option too, but you have to book ahead by phone.
This video is totally awesome!! Thanks!!
Thank you Ned! Many more vids from that trip on the playlist if you want to check them out! :-)
Will do. Thanks for letting me know this. I am doing a two week solo canoe trip in Maine in mid August. It's going to be awesome!!
I'll check them out. Thanks so much!!
I always hate passing a camp to try to knock out some more miles to find myself scrambling to find somewhere to camp later. Now hoop is that barrel you keep food in bear proof or do you still hang your food ?
Just discovering your videos, enjoying them very much. You mentioned a "Canadian stroke" while paddling, do mean a "J" stroke? Sorry as a canoe instructor a few centuries ago I couldn't help but wonder. I've got an old canoe made in '67, needs yet another recanvasing, had it done at Langford Canoes years ago but I'm out west now, might have to tackle it myself...anyway, I'm starting to take a tangent, great videos, please keep it up.
Hi CC! The Canadian stroke is a refinement of the J. The Canadian keeps moving and slices back for the correction stroke in the water, and comes out of the water at or forward of the hip. Its more like a U than a J. In solo cruising leaning up the boat, the re-entry of the blade slices back into the water almost on a diagonal with little gurgle or splash, unless one wants alot of power and goes for re-entry more vertical and more forward. I have a couple of videos sort of showing the stroke with my limited camera abilities. One here: ua-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=_7y6slRCokM , and one here: ua-cam.com/users/edit?o=U&video_id=HaQ73fuCR1Q In this latter one I insert some text to explain some of the technique.
I have to admit that while soloing I have done the stroke you describe, I would call it a 'lazy j with a partial draw stroke for good measure' however it shall no be and forever more a Canadian Stroke! Keep your tip wet!
'It shall now be'...stupid auto correct...
Epic trip you took! Who maintains the portages and if these aren't well used routes, how do you go about finding your information on them? I like getting away from it all and heading to the back country!
Thanks Rob! This route was re-cut out about 3 years ago by a non-profit organization called "The Wabakimi Project" out of Thunder Bay. They publish trip route volumes with info on portages and campsites. www.wabakimi.org/maps/ They sell volumes of maps for $35 that cover alot of geography (they are up to 4 volumes now), and I think it is worth the price, seeing as they do the work to clear the trails with volunteers, and document it. My trip is contained in Vol. 2 which I bought from them.
Good afternoon Hoop,,
I am still chopping at the list of things to do before the trip. I'm heading out in August 1st to the 16th.
I made all the reservations for the sights and permits.
One item I still need to get is the harness for my bear barrel. Who makes the one you have it looks real sturdy. The ones I have been looking at only have one strap top and bottom.. Looks flimsy so I was hopping to get the name of your harness or the Co. Who makes it.
This is going to be a long wait but it will be worth it.
Ps made a mistake I reserved my time for September 1st to the 16th.
Sorry for the mistake
Many thanks Shane Aubuchon
Maine.
***** Hi Shane. My barrel harnesses were made by Ostrom Pack, no longer in business. But you can get barrels and harnesses from Recreational Barrelworks, link here: recreationalbarrelworks.com/
Looking forward to more
What a cool trip bro :o) Now that's Canadian eh ;o)
that's one long walk in the bush with the occasional canoe ride.....
Thanks Bushman!
Thanks M-O!
great trip love it
Lovely movie. Thanks :)
How full is your bear barrel starting out? Stuffed, some room left over, other items stored within?
+Smile Always Hi S-A. The barrel is completely full with food, cook kit, extra bear spray, and SAT phone. No extra room. However I double and triple bag many food items, and although I try and remove as much air from the plastic bags as possible, there is still the extra volume occupied by air in plastic bags. I had about 19-20 days of food in case I was delayed. Without bagging and food all loose, there would be room to spare, but with bagging, it fills up fast.
yep swamp , lake, swamp, lake, river, swamp,,, no land in sight... been there
Thanks Greg! Yep it goes like that on the Shield - but we like it! Keeps the tourists thinned out!
Where are you exactly? can you post a map of your route?
hello wintertrekker, I was wondering if you put in at Harold Lake then headed north to the sevant lake system? I did a simaler trip in pickle lake and I am trying to put a trip plan together for next spring, I was wondering if you could e-mail me a copy of the map you used for that trip.. being from Maine it is hard to get good info and have a good time ,,of course I would get more in depth maps of the area but a helping hand to get started would be greatly appreciated, Shane A. chelsea ,maine
Beautiful
out of shape? I wish I was out of shape like you are. I'm sitting here at home with a broken ankle.
what do you use to repel bugs?
Thanks Fishingbreath! As I get older I find that I can no longer rely on natural fitness, and I need to train better before heading out to the bush! :o) For bugs I use Deep Woods Off pump bottle with 25% DEET. The clothing system is essential to get right (long pants, long sleeve shirt, hat, etc), and then its easy to use the repellant on face, neck, wrists, and keep the bugs away. The call of nature requires a spritz down of legs and backside - all part of living with the mosquitoes and blackflies :o)
I've been using Permethrin on my clothes and deep woods off on exposed skin. The main bugs are mosquitoes and dog and deer ticks. I prefer to hit the woods with my camera during the winter.