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Useful Youtube for Canoe Tripping

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IMO there are few topics that Social Media doesn't distort and undermine .... I think that so many people feel compelled to provide answers or have comments on everything, even when they aren't versed on the topic, Couple this with the ineffective chaff filters most people actually have and it is a recipe for people moving from "not knowing" to "knowing the wrong thing".

I am not saying there isn't actual good info there, just that you have to dig for it and sort through a lot crap to find it .... most browsers seem a tad lazy at the sorting part .... and that chaff content is only getting bigger and bigger

Having said that, maybe a thread on your favourite content providers would open a few avenues for other folks here ... I know I am always looking for quality ideas

Credit to @Cruiser for the suggestion.

My list:

Lost Lakes


Canoe the North


Jim Baird, Adventurer


Northern Scavenger


Xander Budnick


River Kings


Outdoor Boys


The Dutch Explorer


Nemadji Hermit (much older than your usual YT personnas)


Adventure Chasing


TheOneCanoe


HamerNaturePhotos (the pan pipes can be a bit much)


Kevin Wild


Explore the Backcountry


Gorpcore Studios


Solo Schmitty


CanoeCampClimb
 
I was inspired by this channel for a while. I don't know why he stopped posting. He used to also have an online gear store, but it's gone.

 
This one is a classic that I've watched many times.

Norwegian Lars Monsen spent 947 days traversing 8252 kilometers across Canada from West to East. He used dogsled in the winter and in summer canoe. Many beautiful moments but also many dangerous close calls while crossing icy rivers, run ins with bears and close calls with polar bears, moose and extreme cold spells. Great theme music too. I've caught myself humming it many times while out alone on some forest river.

It's subtitled, except when he is trying to scare off the bears when he is naturally speaking English.

playlist is here:

8252 kilometers. 947 days. Extreme temperatures and wild animals. Lars Monsen was given the perfect challenge in one of the most desolate wilderness areas on the planet.
 
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No love for Camper Christina? She comes across decidedly as an every (wo)man rather than the stereotypical outdoorsperson.
 
Some of my favorites-

Recently completed an impressive solo trip in the NWT, his channel is somewhat all over the place but well worth the effort to follow.

Impressive young Canadian, lots of nice canoeing/trapping/dog sledding

Every Sunday a new video, nice canoe camping, tips both on the trail and in the shop. He talks a lot, but I enjoy his accent.

A local Maine guy who logs, guides and does some nice canoe trips.

Another Maine Guide, lots of good info with group trips in mind, some informative poling videos

Quiet young man from PNW, always nice videos.

He’s done some great solo trips.

My favorite, for me what it’s all about. Not a lot of content but always well done.
 
Thank you Tryin’…..
Best tread start on these pages in a long while. Something good to watch while waiting out the last few dark days of winter.
Thanks too to everyone else that chipped in. Gave us something to dream about.
 
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it's no tripping - but very intresting play around with white water ...
 
No love for Camper Christina? She comes across decidedly as an every (wo)man rather than the stereotypical outdoorsperson.
One of my favorites hands down. Her route ideas are great for flat-water trips, and her meal planning is exemplary - WAY WAY better than anything I have done!
 

it's no tripping - but very intresting play around with white water ...
I wish they would make more - the chanel has been dormant for a while, however the creaters are quick to respond if you ask a question. This channel inspires me to do more with my Camper to be sure - I plan on making a pedestal seat this spring to use the Camper on the George Washington Canal once them open the loop...
 
What do you like to see from these YouTube channels?

If I’m planning a trip to a spot I’ve never been before its awesome to find a video of someone there and use it for scouting/recon. I like the guys that show you maps and talk about their plan. Nature B roll shots are fine but I want to see you at camp too. Even doing mundane tasks like dishes and firewood. Most of the time I’m watching these and living vicariously through them…I’m on that adventure.
Like to see how they are surviving out there. Maybe they got a good system or gear. Love to see them preparing meals to see if maybe I can get an idea or two. How are they portaging? What are they packing?

Narrate to the camera like I’m on the trip with you. Don’t like those silent ones. Feels creepy in a stalker type way. When solo I’m always talking to myself.
 
Narrate to the camera like I’m on the trip with you. Don’t like those silent ones. Feels creepy in a stalker type way. When solo I’m always talking to myself
Not that I was destined for YouTube fame but that's actually the reason that I stopped carrying GoPros on trips. Babbling to the camera made it feel like someone else was along. It cut into my feeling of solitude enough that I enjoyed it less. (silence is truly golden IMO)

What do you like to see from these YouTube channels?
I like to see where they're going, what their plans are for the trip and an idea of campsite layouts. I could care less about what they're cooking and really wish more would tell the dates (month & year) that they filmed. Water levels vary year to year but some routes would, I think, consistently be better than others for Fall trips.

I suppose that varies with the watchers' intent. Scouting, I want to see the route, living vicariously, I suppose I might want to see the fire or supper; good wildlife encounters are welcome either way.
 
Not that I was destined for YouTube fame but that's actually the reason that I stopped carrying GoPros on trips. Babbling to the camera made it feel like someone else was along. It cut into my feeling of solitude enough that I enjoyed it less. (silence is truly golden IMO)

I shot a lot of video on one trip. It was fun in its own way, and I still had a great trip, but it did make it a different experience. Not better, not worse, just different. Thinking about what to film, what would be the best angles, and narrating to the camera were definitely something that was always taking up space in my head. Sometimes it turned out to be a distraction but other times it forced me to really look and think about where I was and what I was doing and I saw and appreciated things I would have otherwise missed.

I used to be pretty seriously into photography and I found it to be the same way. Sometimes it was an distraction that took me out of nature and other times it focused my attention on things most people never notice.

I've never had the desire to shoot much video since that trip. I had some fun editing it when I got home but I never go back and watch those old videos. But I do go through the photos of my trips regularly. For some reason I find the photos bring back more memories than the videos.

As for Youtube channels I've never really enjoyed watching other people do canoe trips and I don't follow any channels. The ones I have enjoyed have usually been long and difficult trips that focus on the physical and mental challenges rather than the mundane day to day process of tripping.

Alan
 
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As far as useful goes, I will be drawn to trippers following routes I'm interested in scouting, or revisiting. Otherwise it's all pure entertainment.
Which is also a good thing. Over the past year or so I've taken to watching them without sound, for two reasons. One, my viewing laptop has broken speakers which results in distorted fuzzy sound (unless using headphones). Two, I'm not much bothered listening to the babbling in canoe, camp, or trail. There are enough voices in my head already, I don't need to add to the crowd. And the vloggers soundtrack while sometimes nice, is never necessary. You can't beat the natural soundscape much less add any other special FX. To me nature itself is beautiful, seems a shame to apply lipstick and rouge. (Not a rant, just two coffees into another good day.)
note There can be times the tripper(s) have dialogue worth listening to but that to me is seldom.
 
I have always written journals on canoe trips and then went to filming the trip to be edited into videos. I enjoyed doing that and the main purpose was to be able to go back years later and revisit trips when I could no longer get out there. I can still get out there but the trips are more laid back now. Just yesterday I played one from about 10 years ago and really enjoyed it. Especially looking out on the frozen landscape. I usually sort the clips into the different aspects of scenery, camp etc. I do post them on youtube for the few that are searching for info on the places I visit as they are on the tame side but still in areas that few travel and have virtually no information available for those looking. I am putting a link here to a playlist of Atikaki videos, one such place that is fantastic but seldom visited.
 
The Chris Prouse videos from 6-7+ years ago are what turned me on to Algonquin Park. They're a bit cheesy on the production, but they give a good idea as to what the park is (could be) about.
I was going to include them in my list, but they haven't put up much content lately. After the bear incident, I think they were pretty well done for a bit.
 
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