Recent content by Ralph

I echo what Gamma said. I generally consider 2 hours to get ready in the morning as a standard, keep moving but not rushing, timeline. As part of the description of a typical day for "people who are new to us" trippers, I tell them "up about 7:00 a.m. and on the water by about 9:00 a.m."...

Wow, two installments for the price of one. Keep writing! I am really enjoying your report. Many thanks.

I'm a but late to this discussion and likely the only one who really like the Keen Arroyo II sandals. They are the shoes I use most often by a large margin. The first thing I do with my new Keen's is to remove the bungee tensioning closure and replace that bungee with cord. This allows me to...

Consider Saskatchewan, starting at Missinipe or Lac La Ronge or a variety of other places. Research Saskatchewan Documented Canoe Routes or contact Churchill River Canoe Outfitters or Montreal River Outfitters for more info. So many options and many of them drive to and from. You can increase...

Our local river. Sorry that the image is blurry but you get the idea.

Just to further muddy the waters, consider the Hellman Solitude. I have one and find it to be very versatile. https://hellmancanoes.com/the-solitude/ Or, the Clipper Tripper S, set up for solo. https://westerncanoekayak.com/tripper-s-166-canoe/

Thanks for the great report and pictures. Makes me want to go there.

I can't see it working where I live and trip because almost all of the trees are densely branched black spruce, lodgepole pine or jack pine. We don't try to put our food up a tree but rather put it away from our tents on the ground. I have a method of getting a tarp line up quite high but it...

Beautiful scenery. Sooo peaceful. Thanks so much for posting.

For paddling in northern Saskatchewan, it's not that far up there. We've been doing the portage clearing in consultation with Ric D. formerly of Churchill River Canoe Outfitters. Ric continues to own the cabins at Missinipe and continues to promote paddling in the area. He wanted us to go a...

How about using the outflow from a vacuum cleaner?

Dickens Lake to French Lake Portage Clearing Trip August 31 to September 8, 2024 This trip was done in consultation with Ric D. from Missinipe and with the aim of clearing portages along this route. We had a chainsaw and other cutting instruments with us. We were able to improve most of the...

Jasper is a large part of our "playground" and we are deeply saddened by what has and is happening. We are sad for the people of Jasper for their losses and for the long process ahead of them. We are sad for ourselves in that a number of trails that we have hiked many times will be forever...

A good sense of humour is a great attribute on a canoe trip or in life. Well done. It's good that the fish got away since it would have taken you days to consume such a monster.

Quite a struggle indeed! Well done for keeping your hold on your canoe.