July 1st, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
Unless you’ve been taught how, dealing with a swamped canoe can seem about as manageable as changing a tire on your car – while you’re still in motion. This quick video shows how to right the boat and get it safely to shore. This guy does it without even losing his shades; wow, he’s good.
June 18th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Art, Canoeing
Give yourself a minute to drool (like we did) over this latest project from Murat, a traditional paddle maker we’ve featured before. We’d love to have taken it on its maiden voyage in the BWCA. The warm tones of the birch bark, the natural lashings, the meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail… lust lust lust.
But […]
June 16th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
By Jove, they’ve done it! Chaska residents (and overall canoeing rockstars) Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte, have completed their paddling voyage. A message to their families via locator beacon confirmed their Hudson Bay arrival at 2pm on Sunday.
The final days of the journey seem to have proven to be among their most challenging. They’ve not […]
June 12th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte, both ‘08 graduates of Chaska High School, are paddling 2,250 miles from their hometown to Hudson Bay, this summer. Though inspired by Eric Sevareid’s similar journey there from Minneapolis, (as told in his classic book “Canoeing With the Cree”) the duo may reach their goal in half of Sevareid’s time. […]
June 5th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing, Gear
Shopping for a new canoe? Could I borrow it when you get one (uh, actually that wasn’t a joke).
Before you shell out your life savings for that new escape pod, have a look at Backpacker’s recent list of testers’ top canoe picks. You’ll find best-of’s in six categories and even tips on what to look […]
June 2nd, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Camping, Canoeing
In Part 1, we laid out some guidelines on how to tweak your BWCA trip planning, to allow for your kids. Today, let’s talk about what best solidifies a trip as a good memory for your kids: Co-owning it.
May 28th, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canoeing
Saturday, rescue teams had to bail out two separate parties of canoers –– ten people in all –– from the rapids off of Fall Lake in Ely.
A sure reminder that even in the otherwise serene and placid Boundary Waters, be sure you know what you’re getting into, before you get into it. End of lecture.
May 22nd, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Canoeing
Think you’ve had a few grueling portages worth bragging about (or whining about)? Before you do either, meet Jim Kurz. The 63-year old resident of Ladysmith, WI is toting his aluminum canoe and 320 lbs of gear, on a very long portage to the BWCA. Seeing as how he’s not been there since his days […]
May 1st, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing, Kayaking, Outdoor Living, Resources
In the weeks before our family trips to the BWCA, my dad used to warm up by portaging our canoe around the block. This wasn’t a bad idea, or even uncommon today. But the thing isn’t exactly street legal and it’s hard to hand-signal your turns.
So, earlier this year, I asked a trainer at my […]
April 25th, 2008 | by Andy | published in BWCAW, Camping, Canoeing, Food, Outdoor Living
I couldn’t even begin to cover half of the presentations, speakers, demos and exhibitors scheduled this weekend for Midwest Mountaineering’s Outdoor Adventure Expo. I certainly won’t be able to attend all the ones that I’d like to. So help a guy out and go to the Expo yourself. We’ll compare notes and share our goodie-bags […]
April 24th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
…but i do know which end of the paddle goes in the water at least! Will you fare better? Test your Canoeing IQ on this quiz, over at Field & Stream. I answered a shameful 9/16 correctly. How’d do you, bigshot?
April 23rd, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
This promo for a canoe poling clinic, feels like a waterborne version of all the Rocky movies’ training sequences.
Now don’t get me wrong… I would be thrilled, no! Most Honored to learn the lost art of Canoe poling. I would even kneel and submit to the teachings of rare experts like Dr. Palmer here. […]
April 17th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
Dang, this looks fun enough to try, and soon! And it’ll be even better without the extra-thick syrupy rendition of Kaw-Liga being piped in for a soundtrack.
April 9th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
I can imagine this guy out on a lake as other paddlers approach, warmly admiring the fine craftsmanship. Admiring, that is, until they begin to feel nauseous from the smell of rancid wasabi. The craft is made up of 7382 chopsticks and its builder, Shuhei Ogawara of Japan, will be launching it this spring.
I’m still […]
April 4th, 2008 | by Andy | published in Canoeing
Neither had I, or at least not as an actual technique, until I read this article on ‘canoeing without a paddle.’ Advantageous for navigating shallow waters as well as scouting rapids, poling seems best suited for travel on rivers. Definitely something that would be fun to learn. Although, by loose definition, I’ve ‘poled’ my way […]