Canoe Camping Adirondacks Trip Report September 2009 – Part 1

Posted on July 28, 2010 by PennPaddler
Canoe Camping the Aidrondacks
Click map for larger image

 

It’s a place in New York that you can only get to by canoe or on foot. A place with pristine lakes and streams, wild sunsets, and mysterious wildlife calling in the night. It’s a place know best by past generations and largely left untouched. It’s not easy to get there; you have to really want to do it.        

This is part 1 of a 4 part Adirondack wilderness canoe trip report.        

Green Pond Boat Launch

Green Pond Boat Launch

St. Regis Canoe Area
 
To date I’ve done what I would consider two actual wilderness canoe trips in the St. Regis Canoe Area. On my first Adirondack trip in May, 2007  we made the easy journey to Saint Regis Pond where we set up a base camp. However, on this latest Adirondack trip the goal for our small group of four was to base camp on Fish Pond, and that meant portaging our entire camp into one of the most remote ponds of the St. Regis Canoe Area, approximately 10 portage miles in total.
 
Little Clear Pond
Little Clear Pond

Our First Day          

It was a cool misty morning with a strong hint of rain in the air when we started across Little Clear Pond, but I wasn’t concerned about the weather on this trip because over the years I’ve learned how to keep dry even in extreme wet conditions. But the canoe  journey across Little Clear Pond is some distance and by the time we reached the portage trail to Green Pond most of the mist and fog had burned off and it was shaping up to be a very nice day. The Green Pond portage was short (about 1 hour) but I thought it was a little challenging  because it actually required us to do two portage carries to transport all the gear.          

Once completing the portage to Green Pond we wasted no time paddling through Green Pond and make the very short portage to Saint Regis Pond. It was still early in the day as we paddled across the familiar Saint Regis Pond so I had developed a sense of relief that we’d made it to our destination early and the rest of the day would be an easy day spent slowly working our way to our actual base camp location at Fish Pond. I was even thinking that I should have brought along a fishing rod because there would be some time to kill. I had no idea that most of the remaining day would be spent on a single portage trail.            

St. Regis River Tributary

St. Regis River Tributary

We made the long canoe journey across Saint Regis Pond to the very narrow St. Regis River tributary that would permit us to paddle to Ochre Pond instead of using the portage trail. I was excited about paddling this small creek as it was one of the highlights on our last trip (dashed red line between Ochre and Saint Regis Pond). It takes about thirty minutes to paddle this small creek to Ochre Pond and it’s a lot of fun if you don’t mind a little wear and tear on your canoe (kevlar owners be cautious). If you ever do a St. Regis canoe trip I recommend you paddle this tributary for various reasons.           

  • Reason #1 it’s one of the few opportunities on this trip to paddle moving water.
  • Reason #2 it’s great fun testing your ability to negotiate the creeks sharp turns and natural obstacles.
  • Reason #3 it flows through a remote wilderness environment that few people have the privilege to experience.
  • Reason #4 it’s just makes more sense to paddle than portage.

But it’s after floating the St. Regis River tributary to Ochre Pond when things really begin to get challenging. You’ll see on the map above the distance from Ochre Pond to Fish Pond is one of the longer portages, and there are two portage trail options you can take, the extremely difficult mountain trail (solid red line) between Ochre and Fish Pond and the longer but flatter fire road (solid blue line) that will take you from Saint Regis Pond or Ochre Pond to Fish Pond. We chose to portage over the mountain trail into Fish Pond.   

Mountain Trail Between Ochre and Fish Pond

Mountain Trail Between Ochre and Fish Pond -

Trail Warning – If you portage this trail with only a canoe you will find this trail fun but very challenging, as I did on my 2007 trip. But if you portage your canoe and entire load of camping gear on this trail you will most likely regret it as I did on this trip. This trail isn’t a nicely groomed portage trail but more of a mountain hiking trail that comes complete with mud, rocks, stream crossings, logs, stumps, steep rocky grades, fallen trees, narrow trail, biting insects and sections where the trail redirects off into the woods and your canoe is knocked off balance from your shoulders by the large trees around you.            
If you portage your entire canoe and camping gear over this trail expect to make at least two portage trips that take about three hours.
 
The many steep grades on this trail never seem to end, you go down one steep slope and up another; your lungs are burning and your shoulder muscles are in pain from the weight of your canoe, and you are taking baby steps because you don’t want to stop and use precious energy to get moving again. About half way through the carry you come arrive at a refreshing stream crossing that looks like a perfect spot to take a break, but if your unlucky you might break an ankle while balancing your canoe overhead and stepping around the rocks in this very slippery stream. Once you’ve made it through the stream you feel slightly refreshed as the cold water on your feet feels good, but then it’s up another steep slope that requires every bit of energy you can muster.
 Preparing to portage, again!
Finally you are carrying on level ground but just as you begin to build momentum you encounter a log blocking the trail and you are  forced to make the quick decision whether to carry over the log or carry around the log through the woods. Either way you run the risk of losing your balance and dropping your canoe to the ground, which is not something you want to do because everytime you throw that boat back over your shoulders you are using precious energy. Even a 40 lb boat wears you down on this trail.
You ask yourself if you are crazy and how many others have done this because it’s the kind of trail that would be a challenging hike for many people, and here you are carrying a canoe and four days worth of camping gear over it. You promise yourself  that you will never step foot onto this trail again. You complete this portage exhausted, bedraggled and in no mood for anything but an easy night at camp. When this portage ends you might say something like, “Thank God, I’ve finally made it to Fish Pond.”
At least that’s the way I saw it.                   

Fish Pond Camping           

Late in that afternoon we arrived at Fish Pond. I can’t tell you the relief we all felt because we knew the massively painful portage was over and we could enjoy hanging around camp for a while. And I guarantee that if you like remote wilderness camping then you will love camping at Fish Pond. The remoteness of Fish Pond makes a unique camping experience and depending on how crowded it is you might have the choice of setting up tents or camping in a lean-to shelter.        

Our View from Remote Fish Pond

Our View of Remote Fish Pond

We shared Fish Pond with a few other paddlers but we still had the entire north side of the pond to ourselves. Two of our paddlers slept in the lean-to where they seemed to be protected from all but the worst weather that might come through. Although there is something luring about sleeping under these shelters, they offered me the          

Adirondack Lean-to Shelter

Adirondack Lean-To Shelter

opportunity but the shelters are just big enough to accommodate two adults – three would be a crowd. As far as a campfire goes we were too tired to collect wood and deal with maintaining a fire so we didn’t have one. Headlamps and small lanterns provided us the light we needed. Our first evening was spent eating quick meals and then watching the sun set on the shore of Fish Pond. After dark we gathered around the lean-to and discussed wilderness canoeing until about 9:30 pm then called it a day. We slept well without interruptions. Camping at Fish Pond is everything I thought it would be, remote, primitive and serene.          

The Second Day             

It was our first morning at Fish Pond, and we started it off with a camping stove malfunction that nearly burned down the lean-to structure (it was still standing when we left, honestly). After we extinguished this near disaster the rest of the day was spent exploring the Fish Pond area by canoe and foot (shown by the red shade on the map). Immediately after our very early breakfast we set out on Fish Pond and paddled to the west end where we portaged into Little Fish Pond. We had two options to get into Little Fish Pond, the easy way over the short portage trail (about 100 ft) and the hard way. Jerry and I naturally opted for the hard way over logs and small beaver dam like structures (it’s called bushwhack or combat style canoeing).          

We spent some time paddling Little Fish Pond then we attempted to paddle to Lydia Pond but gave up due to a blocked water trail. We then made the steep portage into Little Long Pond where we ate lunch, and afterwards we walked a portage trail to another small isolated pond (Kit Fox Pond, I think) where we spent some time resting at the waters edge.          

Jerry lowering canoe into Little Long Pond

Jerry lowering his canoe into Little Long Pond

We found a shorter portage back to Fish Pond; it was one of the steepest and most technical canoe portages we ever managed but it did cut off about an hour of retracing our trail. If you do a wilderness canoe trip be sure to have detailed canoe route maps of the area because they will lead you to alternative routes and campsites.          

Steep Portage into Fish Pond

Our very steep portage back to Fish Pond

Combat (Bushwhack Style) Canoeing           

Later that afternoon I attempted a paddle up the St. Regis River tributary for some photos but I didn’t make it too far and decided to turn back after crossing the second beaver dam (I’ve canoed this tributary once before from Ochre Pond down to Fish Pond and do recommend it if you’re in the mood for some bushwhack style canoeing). Although we did do quite a bit of exploring on Fish Pond and the other nearby smaller ponds we never made it to a few of the more isolated ponds in the area. It was a disappointment to be so close to the famously remote Lydia Pond but not having the chance to explore it, but that’s also a good excuse for another trip.          

Later that day we occupied time by taking videos and photos, hiking a few of the portage routes, and trying out each other’s canoes on Mud Pond. I saw two canoe campers from another group fishing but I’m not sure if they had any luck.             

Fish Pond Outhouse

Something we didn't expect to see at Fish Pond

That second evening was much the same as the first evening with meal preparation, talking, and a quick cold swim in Fish Pond. And that night was uneventful except for when the lean-to campers woke in the middle of the night to attach a tarp to the structure because of a passing rain storm and someone who made a few trips to the privy due to his freeze dried dinner. Again we had no campfire and no campsite visits from bears or other wildlife but we did have a visit from a raccoon.               

Go on to part 2 of this Adirondack canoe trip report  –>           

View a photo gallery of this Adirondack Canoe Camping Trip –>          

           

           

           

       

Posted in Canoeing New York | 3 Comments

Bannock Camping Recipes

Posted on July 20, 2010 by PennPaddler

Are you looking for something different to cook at the campground, why not try bannock? I just found out about it myself and I will definitely give it a try on the campfire.

In case you don’t know bannock is a type of flat bread that is usually cooked in a frying pan and is very popular with campers because it’s simple and adaptable enough to be cooked over a campfire, on a hot rock, in foil, around a stick or in a mountain pie maker. And with recipes ranging from simple wilderness to kitchen gourmet, bannock can be improvised allowing you to get as creative as you want even around the campfire. 

FYI – bannock is often referred to as scones when cut into wedges.

Check out these easy bannock video recipes.

 

Posted in Camping Recipes | 1 Comment

Canoeing the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

Posted on June 24, 2010 by PennPaddler
Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

Canoeing the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River

Located between Alexandria and Altoona, PA, the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River is one of those local rivers that somehow seemed to be just a little too far out of the way to paddle. But on June 12th, 2010 our small group of three decided to paddle the small river, we had two adults in one canoe and one child in a kayak. 

The Vehicle Shuttle
 The 40 mile drive from home to the river took much longer than we anticipated; I’ll blame it on the slower weekend traffic and a long rest stop at the Sheetz in Bellwood, but once arriving at the put-in the trip quickly began to take form. One very nice feature of canoeing this section of the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River is the very short (approximately 20 minutes) vehicle shuttle; it’s short because the river flows nearly perpendicular to Route 22 then loops back again to meet Mt Etna. This river has to be the easiest and quickest shuttle of any river I’ve paddled, but you still get a nice 12 mile canoe trip. 

Paddling the River
The section we paddled was approximately 12 miles and took us about 4 hours, not a bad average considering we were in no hurry. We launched at the Flowing Springs canoe launch, near Canoe Creek State Park, and ended the trip at Mt Etna. At Flowing Springs the river is slow and it does flow parallel to the highway for a few miles allowing the annoying sounds of traffic and the sight of some commercial property to invade what you might expect to be a more scenic paddle. This section is also paralleled by the Lower Trail Rails-to-Trails bike path.

The first hour into our trip we paddled consistently to keep a decent pace in the warm dead water, but as the noise of the highway grew distant we noticed the shores of the river growing steeper, the landscape growing greener, and the river flowing faster. Once we were about one hour into the trip things began to get more interesting with occasional obstacles and fun riffles.

Canoe Full of Water

Canoe Full of Water

While doing my river research I was told to expect some class 2 rapids just before approaching Williamsburg. And although I didn’t see what I considered to be class 2 rapids there were a few areas with some tricky current that required some attention. And it was just before Williamsburg when a rock spun us backwards and flipped us in about 1.5 ft of water. Unfortunately it wasn’t the cool refreshing kind of swim that canoers enjoy on a blistering hot day, but more of a painful body slam onto a rocky stream bed complete with small scrapes and multiple bruises on my body, and a very soggy lunch. Our nine year old kayaker had no problem negotiating these riffles and rocks in his new recreational kayak. 

I was worried we would be exposed to the sun’s intense heat the entire trip but as we paddled into the more remote section of river we had a pleasant surprise by the green forest canopy above that shaded us during most of the remaining trip. And as the landscape changed from commercial to a seemingly forest view we were met with wildlife and natural landscape photo opportunities. And the tricky riffles and rocks were there to greet us often enough. 

Paddling through Williamsburg is your typical “canoeing through town experience” with remnants of old commercial and industrial interference upon the river, but once through Williamsburg the scenery again turns to the natural landscape I anticipated from my view into the valley during the vehicle shuttle.   

Canoeing Frankstown Branch Juniata River

Frankstown Branch Juniata River

If you are in the Altoona area I recommend canoeing the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River, and take your fishing rod because the Juniata is popular for fishing. Be prepared for casual canoeing with a few tricky riffles and rapids and maybe some fun class 2 rapids under higher water conditions.  

If you have any questions of comments about canoeing the Juniata River or others you can ask them on our canoeing forum. 

Enjoy more images of our canoe and kayak trip on the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River. 

Posted in Canoeing Pennsylvania | 2 Comments

Black Bears in the Camp! How to Deal With the Fear and Reality

Posted on May 3, 2010 by PennPaddler
Black Bears

Campground Black Bears

We run away from them, we lay awake in our tents listening for them, but why are we so afraid of the black bear? The answer to that question might be wrapped within our fear of the unknown; the unknown being our own lack of education. People warn us about bears in the woods, we hear stories about deadly bear encounters ( Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard being one of the most frightening bear attacks) and some people become so petrified over the thought of their own gory demise by an angry black bear that they won’t step foot in the woods. But if people knew the reality of black bear attacks they would realize that the chances of a life threatening black bear encounter while camping are very low here in the United States and in Canada. And I should point out that this article was published on 5/3/2010 and only applies to the less aggressive black bears and not the highly aggressive grizzly and brown bears. 

So how dangerous are black bears?

Did you know that most black bear attacks are a defensive reaction to a person who is too close to the bear, and with the black bears shy personality, getting too close is usually an easy situation to avoid because it’s actually very difficult to corner a black bear in its own environment? Injuries from these defensive black bear reactions are usually minor. 

Roaming Black Bear

North American Black Bear

But then there are the very rare offensive black bear attacks that account for most of the human fatalities by black bear. These unprovoked attacks are usually predatory in nature and occur in remote areas where bears have very little contact with humans. Black bears that habitat near campgrounds, backyards, and other areas with human activity almost never attack people. An interesting statistic from the North American Bear Center says that the 750,000 black bears in North America kill less than one person per year on the average. According to that statistic you have more to fear from people. 

Here are a few more interesting black bear facts from the North American Bear Center that might surprise you. 

  • There are only 12 cases of black bears killing humans in the contiguous United States in the last century.
  • Forty-five other black bear killings have been reported in Canada and Alaska during the same period.
  • With more than 750,000 black bears in North America, less than one of those bears will become a human killer.
  • Black bears will almost always avoid confrontations with people, including black bears with cubs.

After reading those facts black bears don’t seem so threatening, and there are certainly greater threats in nature that most of us don’t even give a thought. 

  • There have been 12 fatal alligator attacks in Florida in the past decade. Compare that to the 12 fatal attacks in
    Rattlesnake

    Rattlesnake

    the United States by black bear in the past century.
  • Between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the United States each year, and about five of those die. How often do you walk clumsily through the woods without any thought to snakes?
  • People are more than 100 times more likely to be killed by bees in the United States than by a black bear.
  • A person is one 150 times more likely to be killed by tornado than by a black bear in the United States.
  • A person is 375 times more likely to die by lightning than to be killed by a black bear.

It’s important to understand the bears body movements.

One key to getting over the fear of black bears is to understand what the bears movements are telling you. For example, black bears have body movements that may look like they are stalking or being aggressive, but they are really only reacting to their own nervousness or curiosity, and unfortunately humans often interpret those body movements as aggressive behavior. 

Blustery Black Bear Photo Courtesy of North American Bear Center

Blustery Black Bear

Blustery Bears – bluster is a black bear movement that appears to be threatening, but it’s an indication that a bear is nervous or afraid. Unfortunately many bears in this movement are shot unnecessarily by people who think blustery bears are attacking. People see bluster from mother bears with cubs, or from bears feeding in areas of human activity, such as campgrounds, hiking trails, or in a backyard. A common form of bluster is jaw popping or clacking teeth. Another is the pounce and blow. See a great example of bear bluster in the video at the top right. 

So what should you do if you encounter a black bear in the woods?

According to the North American Bear Center, you should just enjoy the moment. You can make yourself inconspicuous to watch them longer, and when you want the bear to go away just step out, wave, and shout at the bear. The North American Bear Center says, “no matter how bold and confident bears seemed, they still recognized aggressive behavior and ran away when someone yelled and ran toward them. Besides pepper spray, throwing stones is also effective, especially if you yell and act aggressive at the same time. If a person doesn’t want a black bear to come closer, act aggressively. Black bears that come into campgrounds are looking for food, not people, and can easily be chased away in most cases.” 

black bear and cubs

Black Bear and Cubs

What if  I get between a black bear and her cubs?

Black bear researcher Dave Garshelis of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says, “Generally with black bears, there’s no indication that females with cubs are more dangerous than a single bear. That comes from grizzly bears,” Garshelis said. “Black bears generally aren’t aggressive. But when any animal feels cornered, they’ll sometimes act. Not very often, but it can happen.”  Garshelis also says that black bears will almost always avoid confrontations with people. Minnesota has more than 20,000 black bears. 

Here are a few basic rules for black bear encounters:

  • Don’t feed bears—feeding rewards them for approaching people, which can lead to dangerous encounters.
  • If you see a bear, remain watchful. Do not approach it. If your presence causes the bear to alter its behavior (it stops feeding, changes travel direction, watches you, etc.), you are too close.
  • Getting too close to a bear may provoke aggressive behavior, such as running toward you, making loud noise or swatting the ground (bluster). Slowly back away from the bear, but do not run.
  • If a black bear persistently follows or approaches you without vocalizing or paw swatting, change your direction. If the bear continues to follow, stand your ground and attempt to intimidate the bear by stomping your feet or throwing rocks or sticks. Do not run, and do not turn away from the bear.

Question – Is bear pepper spray an effective bear deterrent? Yes it is and you can read more about it here. And you can buy bear pepper spray here. 

So there you have it, a few facts about the North American Black Bear. For more information about the black bear visit the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minnesota and consider joining one of their educational programs. 

Photos Sources: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morristownnps/ / CC BY 2.0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leeco/ / CC BY 2.0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/searchnetmedia/ / CC BY 2.0

Posted in Camping Basics | Tagged | 6 Comments

Five tips to improve your group canoe camping trip

Posted on April 26, 2010 by PennPaddler

Group Canoe Camping Trip

There are few outdoor activities more enjoyable than a canoe camping trip with others who enjoy the outdoors as much as you do. But canoe camping is one of those activities where things can go from great to bad with even the slightest interference from mother nature or a hazardous paddler. While it’s never possible to guarantee a good time for everyone on the trip there are a few steps that might make your trip easier, more enjoyable, and safer. 

Here are five easy tips to make your canoe camping trip more enjoyable for the entire group. 

  1. Plan according to the weather. Some people are always prepared for the worst and some are never prepared, so schedule your group trip to occur during good weather conditions and have an alternative date to reschedule if necessary. For many paddlers the most enjoyable canoe camping season is from mid spring to early summer.  
  2. Plan your trip in detail and ahead of time.When rushed into a trip we increase our chances of unpreparedness, so begin planning the trip well in advance and communicate your efforts and individual responsibilities to the group to eliminate any surprises. Example: the entire group should be aware of trip distance, arrival time, exact location, daily itinerary, vehicle shuttle responsibilities, and any specific campsite responsibilities well in advance of the trip.
  3. In large groups everybody is responsible for their own food and cooking. This might sound like an inefficient way to prepare for a group trip but my experience tells me this method works best. When group members are responsible for their own meals they usually come well prepared and have plenty to share. So even the slackers who don’t bother to pack any food will eat like kings. And don’t be surprised if using this method results in some of the best camping meals of your life.
  4. Be aware of the inexperienced paddlers and make an effort to keep the entire group together. This might seem like a no-brainer but on more than one occasion I’ve experienced seemingly confident paddlers who actually had no paddling experience and resulted in a hazard or mishap. And remember there is inherent safety within a group of paddlers as opposed to paddling alone.
  5. As the trip leader select one experienced group member to co-manage the trip with you. Most paddlers will go with the flow but you occasionally get the outlier who disrupts the group by wanting to do things his own way. Having another paddler back your decisions increases cooperation, builds harmony and confidence within the group, and ultimately is a safer, more enjoyable trip for everyone.

And remember that as your group gains experience the planning gets easier because with experience comes the confidence to take care of yourself. 

Posted in Canoeing Basics | Leave a comment

How to Introduce Someone to Canoe Camping

Posted on April 18, 2010 by PennPaddler
Canoe Camping at "The Rock"

Canoe Camping at "The Rock"

I’ve been canoe camping for over twenty years now and I’ve seen many people come and go from the sport. And let’s face it, canoe camping is not glamorous. Tent up, tent down, tent up again, wet tent, wet sleeping bag, bugs, mud, rain, rattlesnakes, cold, suntan lotion layered over sweat, campfire smoke layered on top of suntan lotion, no shower for days. It’s no wonder people give it up. But who are the ones who stick with it and why do they?

I think there are two personality traits that draw people to canoe camping and it’s important to recognize how strong these traits are in a new paddler before committing him to the mercy of the outdoors. One trait is the sense of outdoor adventure and the other is tolerance. Estimating the paddlers sense of outdoor adventure is easy because canoe camping opportunities are as endless and as primitive as you want them to be. I mean you can plan a leisurely canoe camp on the local river or go into a remote wilderness trip. It’s the paddlers choice. But tolerance is the tricky trait because there are so many elements that can change the game. Example: I could easily spend five or six days wilderness canoeing in the Adirondacks if the conditions are right for me, but a combination of cold rain and wet gear may lower my tolerance to only endure one or two nights under the sky. But despite the occasional horrible canoe camp trip I’m aware of better times ahead. But most inexperienced canoe campers do not have an established tolerance or awareness and they just have expectations of what the trip will be, and if those expectations fall far short the canoe camper will likely never return.  

So how do you introduce someone to canoe camping as a lifetime hobby? Whether it’s your son or daughter, wife or neighbor it’s all about meeting their expectatations of a good time in the outdoors. When I think of the ones who never returned to our canoe camping trips they were usually introduced to the sport during bad weather conditions and they were almost always unprepared by no fault of their own. You can always see it in their eyes; they’re excited to be part of the outdoor experience but the rain and cold isn’t allowing them to enjoy it the way they really want to, and you know they are never coming back.

That First Date Canoe Trip
So maybe think of that first canoe camping trip like a first date. If you want to impress your date you won’t take her to a fast food restaurant – at least I hope you won’t. So you take her out for a nice time with some good food and fun. And you’ll want to introduce your new paddling partner to canoe camping in the same way. Begin with a short one day canoe trip on a warm, sunny day. Pack a light lunch, take some photos, hit a few small waves and riffles, and show your new paddler a few paddling techniques. And be sure the water levels are adequate because dragging a canoe down a river bed will be a definite deal breaker for future trips. This first trip should be mild. No serious whitewater, no portaging, no rain, cold, no dangerous encounters, no wind. It should be a good day trip.

Slowly Build the Tolerance
Once your new paddler is comfortable with basic canoeing you’ll want to arrange an overnight trip. And remember this is an introduction to canoe camping so save the extreme stuff for some other time. This time you will place emphasis on both canoeing and camping with a slight emphasis on luxury. This is where the tolerance is important because although canoe camping may be a true fit for your new paddler if the first trip exceeds your paddlers tolerance he/she may never return. I put together a few suggestions for a first canoe camping trip that I based from past experiences; although following them will not  guarantee that your new canoe camper will have a good time the chances he/she will return to the water with you will be greatly improved.

Remember, the goal is to show them a good time.

Suggestion #1, wait for good weather before going on this first trip. Cold and wet weather conditions are the #1 reason most canoe campers never return.

Suggestion #2, plan an easy trip. Plan two short days with four to six hours on the water each day. Forget portaging or anything extreme.

Suggestion #3, pack all appropriate gear.  Proper gear not only builds confidence but creates comfort and comfort is key to a good experience.

Suggestion #4, engage your new paddler by planning activities such as fishing, photography, hiking, campsite cooking, story telling or whatever you are comfortable with.

Suggestion #5, teach your new paddler. How to build a campfire. How to paddle the canoe. How to pitch the tent. There is much to learn about the outdoors.

Suggestion #6, build a nice campfire for roasting marshmallows, cooking mountain pies, telling stories, and remember that it’s alright to have a few adult beverages at the campfire. Everybody knows the campfire is often the highlight in the evening.

Suggestion #7, go the extra mile with your camping meals. Nice weather and excellent camping meals are the deal clincher. Unless I’m portaging I always eat better on my canoe camping trips than I do at home.

Posted in Canoeing Basics | Leave a comment

Canoe Camping Checklist

Posted on April 10, 2010 by PennPaddler

Canoe camping is a very relaxing sport under the right circumstances but forget a few of the essentials and suddenly your trip can be unpleasant or even unsafe. I’ve started this checklist of items to take along on a basic canoe camping trip. I’ll be adding new information to the list and you can also submit a comment with any items you’d like to add.

Canoe Gear
Dry bags
Yoke pads
Spare paddle
Life jackets
Emergency whistle 
Rescue throw bag
Seat pads
Duct tape
Knee pads
Sponge
Bailer

Clothing
Waterproof boots
Gore-tex socks
Water shoes
Extra clothing
Splash Clothing
Windbreaker
Rain Gear
Waterproof cap
Cap
Sunglasses
Garbage bags for wet clothing 

Cooking & Camp Kitchen Gear
Cookware
Utensils
Plates 
Water bottle
Water purification filter
Silverware
Potholders
Pot scrubbers
Biodegradeable soap
Salt & Pepper
Fire starter
Camp stove
Camp saw
Disposable lighters
Waterproof matches
Paper towels
Camp kitchen knife
Foods
Coolers

Shelter Items
Tent
Rainfly
Ground cloth
Sleeping bag
Mattresses/pad
Camp rope 
Parachute cord
Pillows
Lantern
Chair

Safety, Communication & Electronic Gear
Flashlight
Headlamp
Fresh batteries & bulbs
Binoculars
Camera & waterproof containers
Cell or satellite phone
GPS
Compass
Tracking device – Find Me Spot
Bear repellent
First aid kit
Watch

Posted in Canoeing Basics | Leave a comment

Solo Tripping – A website resource for solo wilderness trippers

Posted on March 27, 2010 by PennPaddler

Solotripper.comHere’s a great canoeing resource for solo trippers, appropriately called Solo Tripping.

Solo canoers are different from most other trippers in that they handle the situation alone. They travel at their own pace, dealing with the weather, portaging and any emergency situations that may arise on their own. I can tell you from experience that wilderness canoeing is a major challenge and a successful wilderness canoe trip takes a bit of skill and confidence. But solo tripping takes it to an entirely different level. Treading alone on unfamiliar ground deep in remote locations takes confidence and skill that even many group experienced wilderness canoers are not ready to venture.

Visit Solo Tripping and browse through the trip reports and read the experiences of others. Join the forums and learn from an amazing community of paddlers who love to explore the wilderness on their own! It’s a paddling Website worth visiting.

Posted in Outdoor Resources | Leave a comment