Eight reasons to paddle the longest single-state river trail system in the U.S.

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July 25, 2019

The Alabama Scenic River Trail offers more than 5,000 miles of waterways, world-class rapids, free-flowing streams and large lakes, but it remains little known but to a small group of paddlers in the Southeastern United States.

Now river trail organizers there are trying to change that, pointing to water-front campsites, dozens of independent outfitters and a new website with interactive trip-planning tools as reasons paddlers from outside Alabama’s borders should check it out. Paddlers may also be drawn to this fact: The 11-year-old Alabama Scenic River Trail is the longest single-state river trail in the U.S. and it is located in one of the most biologically diverse regions of the country.

Here are eight reasons why you should paddle the Alabama Scenic River Trail.

The challenge

At more than 5,000 miles, the Alabama Scenic River Trail is the longest single state river trail in the U.S. It includes non-contiguous sections, appropriate for short day trips or long-distance runs. The system also includes the original 650-mile, core section of the river trail, which stretches across the state from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico.

Wildlife views

The river trail brings paddlers through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, around pitcher plant bogs, into alligator country and finally to the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico. It offers views of towering waterfalls, waterscapes accented with plush, green foliage and encounters with otters, bald eagles, giant turtles and more.

Great Alabama 650

The core section of the trail doubles as a racecourse for paddlers who take on the Great Alabama 650, an adventure-packed, long-distance paddle race in its inaugural year. The Great Alabama 650 stands apart from other races and is recognized as the longest paddle-only race in the United States and the longest annual paddle race in the word.

Hospitality

About a dozen designated trail angels support the Alabama Scenic River Trail. They are available to offer advice, hands-on assistance, and in some instances, even an overnight stay to trail-goers.

[ Paddling Trip Guide: See all Alabama Trips ]

Accommodations

River trail organizers have established more than 100 campsites along the system, offering long-distance travellers overnight accommodations at the water’s edge. These sites are listed on the river trail website and are marked by blue signs on the waterfront to make them easier for paddlers to find.

Trip planning

At www.AlabamaScenicRiverTrail.com is a mobile-friendly, interactive map of the river trail. Divided into ten districts, paddlers can scroll over or tap any section of the map for detailed information about each section of the river trail. The website also allows users to develop their own account and add content to the site.

Variety

The Alabama Scenic River Trail includes a wide-range of water types. Paddlers can tackle class-five rapids on frothy rivers, schedule tranquil paddle boarding sessions on flat water, or float down narrow streams near city centres.

Access

More than 50 outfitters line the banks of the Alabama Scenic River Trail and are listed on the website. These small, independent shops offer a range of services to include rentals, guided trips, shuttling and boat sales.

You can connect with the Alabama Scenic River Trail on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and it is supported by a team of creative, adventurous ambassadors. You can find more on social media about the river trail by following the hashtag #OnTheASRT.

Text by Laura Gaddy

International Paddle Athletes Buzz About New Alabama Race

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Alabama Scenic River Trail

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July 25, 2019

Four decades ago on a rural Alabama creek, a 10-year-old boy launched a canoe and began a journey that would one day lead him to a serendipitous experience in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Now a 50-year-old river trail promoter, that boy, Jay Grantland, is a canoe guide so experienced he can use the gauges on his 20-year old Wenger watch to clock the speed of paddlers to determine how long it will take to reach their destination. He has paddled thousands of miles on Alabama’s waterways over rapids, on flat water, on slow-moving streams and to destinations with ecological and historical gems like Native American rock paintings and rare flowers and birds. As the Executive Director of the Alabama Scenic River Trail, a 5,000-mile river trail system, Grantland’s latest challenge involves promoting the Great Alabama 650, an adventure-packed, cash-rewarded paddle race that he hopes will launch international interest in paddle sport opportunities in Alabama.

In late June, Grantland and Race Director Greg Wingo, a 40-something ultra-marathon runner and endurance sports aficionado, made a 6,000-mile trek to Whitehorse, Canada to promote the Great Alabama 650. Grantland and Wingo had been in town for less than 12 hours when they were seated across from each other at a tiny wooden table outside Baked, local coffee house, when they learned that word of the Alabama race had already reached Whitehorse.

“We were there having a conversation with a gentleman about trail running and being from Alabama,” Wingo said, recalling the moment. “Another man sitting nearby, named Walter, turned to us and said,

“Have you heard of the Great Alabama 650?” To which we said, “Yes we’re the ones putting on that race.”

The Great Alabama 650 will be the longest paddle-only race in the United States and the longest annual paddle-only race in the world, second in total distance only to the Yukon 1000, which takes place every other year. The Great Alabama 650 will take place on the core section of the Alabama Scenic River Trail and will take paddlers from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico.

“This is a no-frills race,” Wingo said. “It’s more closely aligned with an adventure race than the typical paddle race.“

Participants in the Great Alabama 650 will paddle through long stretches of wilderness as well as some of Alabama’s towns and cities, including Montgomery, the state’s capital. They will portage around 11 dams, encounter a bout of whitewater and face-off with the headwinds from the Gulf of Mexico on the glassy, flat waters of the Mobile Bay. Along the way they will encounter a range of wildlife, to include everything from alligators to otters.

“Our race is going to continually test every one of our competitors right to the very end,” Wingo said. “Racers will be battling the course as much as they will be battling other racers, if not more.”

[ Paddling Trip Guide: See all Alabama Trips ]

Walter, the man from the coffee shop, was one of the racers in Whitehorse to compete in the Yukon River Quest, a long-distance paddle race that takes place on the off-years between Yukon 1000 races. The Great Alabama 650 promoters had timed their trip to coincide with the Yukon River Quest so they’d have a chance to meet paddle athletes and race organizers.

More racers in Whitehorse discovered that Grantland and Wingo were representing the Great Alabama 650 and affirmed what Walter, the paddler at the coffee shop, had already indicated: news of the race in Alabama had already spread to the paddle community in the Pacific Northwest.

“I was pleasantly surprised at how many people were not only aware of the race, but really excited about it,” Wingo said. “Many of the world’s toughest paddlers will get a chance to experience the beauty and challenge of our Alabama waterways during the Great Alabama 650. We are excited to put on the longest paddle race in the country.”

To learn more about the Great Alabama 650, visit www.AL650.com, or use the hashtag #AL650 to find the race on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Interested paddlers can also find out more about the Alabama Scenic River Trail at www.AlabamaScenicRiverTrail.com, or by using the hashtag #OnTheASRT on social media channels.

Text by Laura Gaddy

The Ultimate Kayak Camping Packing List

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Paddling Magazine Staff

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July 25, 2019

Person kayaking along a rocky shoreline — Keep this list handy for quick-packing when an impromptu trip arises.

There’s nothing better than paddling with pals on your way to an epic spot for an overnight. But what do you bring for your kayak camping trip? Paddling Magazine has created the ultimate kayak camping packing list so you can be prepared and comfortable on your adventure.

Don’t forget to check your list twice.

[ Also read: How To Kayak Camp ]

Kayak accessory essentials

● Kayak
● Sprayskirt
● PFD for everyone
● Paddle, plus a spare
● Paddle float
● Drybags

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all kayak accessories]

Kayak camping gear

● Tent or hammock
● Sleeping bag
● Sleeping pad

What to wear kayaking

● Paddling top
● Warm baselayer
● Quick-dry pants and shirt
● Rain gear
● Extra socks
● Hat and sunglasses
● Immersion protection

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View our selection of kayaking apparel ]

Camp kitchen equipment

● Water treatment and bottles
● Stove, fuel and cookset
● Food and snacks
● Mess kit
● Rope to hang bear bag overnight

Kayak safety gear

● Compass and map
● Bailer or bilge pump
● First aid kit
● Lighter/matches
● Sunscreen
● Communications/signalling device
● Weather/VHF Radio

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View our selection of safety & rescue items ]

Camp supplies you don’t want to forget

● Headlamp
● Multi-tool
● Toilet paper
● Bug spray
● Emergency cash

Travel Photographer Paddles And Explores Sri Lanka

By

Cory Leis

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July 25, 2019

an aerial shot of several fishing boats paddling in Sri Lanka — Cory Leis is an adventure and travel photographer based in Whistler, British Columbia. | Photo: Cory Leis

Wonder and curiosity struck me the first time I set my eyes on photographer Steve McCurry’s image of four stilt Sri Lankan fishermen back in 1995.

The very act of fishing while perched atop a single pole was so foreign to me. It’s one of many travel photographs that remains with me and fuels my inner wanderlust.

For years, intrepid travelers skipped over the small island of Sri Lanka in favor of bustling India or the jaw-dropping atolls of the Maldives.

Following a 30-year civil war, it’s only the last 10 years tourists have landed in the busy hub of Colombo and trekked deeper into the rolling hillsides, exploring centuries-old Buddhist temples, tea plantations and wildlife sanctuaries.

Now it’s one of the top emerging travel destinations. As a photographer, I do oodles of research into a destination before my bags are packed.

As I dug deeper, I realized for an area the size of Ireland, Sri Lanka seemed to offer more outdoor and cultural experiences than many other places I’ve visited.

[ Paddling Trip Guide: Explore more adventures ]

Most of the decades-long civil war concentrated in the north and interior of the island, but the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and resulting tsunami decimated the southern coast.

Livelihoods tightly woven into the tides were torn apart, buildings and boats close to the ocean were destroyed, people lost their loved ones, and the rest of the world scrambled to provide aid to the beach communities in the south.

One of the many acts of kindness came from small fishing towns throughout the Netherlands, like the famous herring city of Vlaardingen, which donated fishing boats to coastal fishing families so they could sustain themselves.

These colorful boats sparked my curiosity—on closer look they are adorned with the names and locations of the donors.

As the morning sun rises over the horizon, this particular little spot on the south coast lights up as the fishermen’s boats full of color and texture contrast the clear Indian Ocean.

The bay is shallow, fringed by a massive reef protecting the boats during large swells, and also funneling a right-handed wave perfect for long boarding and SUP surfing. Photographing the ocean, and particularly a coastline with a shallow reef, provides the opportunity to fly a drone and offer a unique perspective.

Though the drone is cumbersome when traveling and I only pull it out occasionally, all the hassle is worthwhile when I get back and see the images.

Travel adventure photography is more than just the photo. It’s the people, sounds, smells and culture, all wrapped up in a digital capture. One of the first days we surfed this wave, we exited to the beach as the fishermen were returning from a night’s outing.

Rama, who seemed to captain a vessel, came over with his big welcoming smile and introduced himself. He offered us some fresh catch and we sat and spoke with him for the better part of an hour.

He explained what had happened to the families after the tsunami, answered our queries about the unique names of the local fishing boats, and became a friendly face on our surf sessions down at what we took to calling Fishermans.

With my own photography, I hope to strike a little wonder in the viewer’s eyes, inspiring someone else to book a ticket, travel a little deeper and snap an image you’ll never forget.

Cory Leis is an adventure and travel photographer based in Whistler, British Columbia. | Feature Photo: Cory Leis

The Paddleboarder’s Guide To Falling In Love With Surfing

By

Dan Rubinstein

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July 25, 2019

several paddleboarders catching waves to surf on a breaking wave — "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." —Jacques Cousteau Photo: Keenan Bush

“Waves were the playing field. They were the goal. They were the object of your deepest desire and adoration. At the same time, they were your adversary, your nemesis, even your mortal enemy. The surf was your refuge, your happy hiding place, but it was also a hostile wilderness — a dynamic, indifferent world.”

Two years ago, these words, written by William Finnegan in his Pulitzer Prize-winning surfing memoir Barbarian Days, would have meant nothing to me. I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, and have spent the past 20 years living in a pair of cities, Edmonton and now Ottawa, far from any ocean.

To me, waves were not a dynamic object of desire; they were entirely foreign, traversed only on big boats and entered only on brief forays from the beach. Surfing, meanwhile, was as alien and abstract as astrophysics or Sunday school—a passion or a pastime for people whose circles rarely crossed mine. Then I got my first standup paddleboard, and over a couple summers progressed from lakes and flatwater rivers to whitewater and ocean touring. And then I caught a wave.

Finnegan’s formative experiences as a surfer were in California and Hawaii. I first tasted the thrill at Sandbanks Provincial Park, near the tip of a headland that juts into Lake Ontario just west of Kingston, three hours by car from home. Sandbanks—site of the world’s largest bay mouth barrier dune formation—has clear water and long sandy beaches. When a swell rolls in or the wind kicks up, the waves are rideable. Even the ankle biters. Especially on a paddleboard.

During a late-September heat wave, no wetsuit required, on my 10-foot hardshell, I pivoted onto a three-foot breaker and rocketed back toward the shore. And then did it again. And again.

Despite the speed, time slowed while balanced on the board. I understood, waiting for the next set, looking over my shoulder and squinting into the sun, why people devote their lives to chasing this intoxicating alchemy of energy and serenity; why I, a middle-aged geographically challenged dad on a family camping trip, felt suddenly compelled to do the same.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all surf paddleboards ]

My next session, a month later at the same beach, with wind gusts topping 60 miles an hour, revealed the extent of those challenges. I had to battle into the onshore wind to reach the water from the parking lot, but it was the only surf in the forecast during a holiday weekend visit to a nearby cabin, and those brief seconds of flying atop the water were worth it.

A few factors prevented me from relocating to a tropical surf break for a month to get the hang of my new obsession. My family. My job. My bank account. Throughout the ensuing winter, watching surfing videos online and reading about the sport stoked an inexorable yearning to get back onto a wave.

When the ice on the rivers that run through Ottawa broke apart, I completed my now-traditional spring ritual: an after-work, one-way, 10-kilometer paddle down the Rideau River on my inflatable SUP, propelled by the current through a patch of class I bumps, and then a rush-hour bus ride home. It feels defiant and deeply satisfying to be standing amid commuters with a paddle in hand and a PFD strapped to an oversized pack. Yet still, it wasn’t enough.

Salvation came a couple weeks later on the Ottawa River. I had heard about locals who river surfed on standing waves that rise with the freshet. Kayakers, conventional surfers and now SUP surfers congregate at Bate Island, near the middle of the river, where an eddy snug tight to a retaining wall provides access to a series of waves that are rideable for maybe two months every spring. I joined the lineup on a crisp Saturday afternoon wearing a borrowed too-thin wetsuit and asked the only other paddleboarder for advice.

“There’s an extra helmet in my car,” he said. “Go get it and put it on.”

When my protective new pal crossed the eddyline and slipped onto the wave, he made it look comically easy, cutting and sliding back and forth across the face for as long as he wanted to remain upright. A half dozen prone surfers did the same. My turns were shorter. Within a second or two, I’d be down and tumbling through the rest of the rapids. When I finally managed to catch the wave for about half a minute, either the next day or the one after that—the sessions blurred together, one turbulent ice bath after another—I knew river surfing would also be part of my future.

Summer is usually considered prime paddleboarding season, but when water levels dropped and the wave at Bate Island disappeared, it felt like I had lost a friend. A really frustrating friend, mind you—the type who might not be good for you, but you just can’t stay away from. Fortunately, trips over the next few months took me to both coasts.

In Newfoundland, a tip from a local sent me to a rocky harbor at dawn to catch the incoming swell. I hoped to build on that success last fall in Tofino, with, for the first time, a proper SUP surf board and, probably more important, proper coaching. And though I did get some waves, the longer I stayed on the water, the more I fell and failed. Which reminded me of a saying I’ve heard about complicated places. Visit for one day and the country will be totally confusing. After a month, you’ll start to figure it out. After a year, you’ll be baffled again. That captures my relationship with surfing. I’m in head over heels, often literally, and can’t wait for more.

Ottawa-based writer Dan Rubinstein loves all forms of paddleboarding. His first book, Born to Walk: The Transformative Power of a Pedestrian Act, was published in 2015, and he’s now working on a non-fiction book about paddleboarding.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” —Jacques Cousteau | Feature photo: Keenan Bush

Why The Real River Story Is In The Little Details

By

Jeff Jackson

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July 23, 2019

person paddling a raft down a scenic canyon — “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”—Mark Twain Photo: Caleb Roberts

I’ve taken to drinking scotch. I’ve never been much of a drinker, really, and I’m still not. I became interested in scotch on a bit of a whim, tagging along on a tasting evening hosted by a kilted guy with a thick brogue. It is an acquired taste, but Mr. MacKilt neatly opened the door to understanding the drink.

There were many samples to taste as one would expect, but there was also wood from the barrels, maps of the different regions, a thousand years of cultural history told with humor, and photos of 100-year-old distilleries still operating today.

There was a whole story. I felt like I understood what I was holding in my hand, even if it tasted like smoky leather and burned my throat. I knew the story of the lovely amber liquid in my glass, and that made all the difference.

How drinking scotch relates to running rivers

Let me explain.

I love river trips—the whole trip though, not just the exciting bits or the paddling parts. I love the early possibilities and preliminary ideas, finding the maps and digging for the info I need to connect the dots.

[ Plan your next great adventure with the Paddling Trip Guide ]

I love the gear lists and sorting and garage floor covered in equipment and food bags; closing my eyes trying to envision where everything will get rigged. I love loading the trucks and figuring out the shuttle.

The importance of details was hammered into me as a guide. One of my early mentors, a trip leader by the name of Walt Wolfe, would quote Laurence Bell: “Show me a person who cannot bother to do the little things and I will show you a person who can’t be trusted to do the big things.”

It’s all about the little things

I grew to take pride in my ability to deliver on the little things. Importantly, though, I grew to realize how big things are made up of so many small details. Which is how it is with rivers.

I love reading about where I’m going. The seasons, the geology, the fish, and who owns the land. Where does this river come from and where does it go, who ran it first and, more importantly, why.

[ Also read: 7 Steps To Plan Your Dream Canoe Trip ]

What else is going on upstream and down, how the locals make a living, or who lived there before my people showed up. The whole story. Not just logistics of a trip, but the story of a whole place. All of the little things assembled into a big, meaningful thing.

This all occurred to me while looking at the large wall map of Scottish distilleries. In those early days, I was somewhat ambivalent about the flavor of what was in my glass, but even then, I really appreciated and felt connected to everything about it.

The real river story

The details of barley and water and a cultural history combined into something much bigger. Likewise, it is for this connection I sow the seeds on my river trips, something I look forward to as much as the river running itself.

Make no mistake, I love rigging the boats every morning, and being pulled by the current, and rapids spice up the adventure.

But it is the story of the river that makes the whole endeavor absorbing and worthwhile.

The thousand details of putting a trip together means the travel goes smoothly; the thousands of details of what makes a place a place provides some meaning to what I see and experience.

Paddling downstream is connecting the dots on the map, combining the little things into something bigger.

Jeff Jackson is an outdoor education professor at Algonquin College and a risk management consultant. His regular column, Alchemy, shares lessons learned from a life on the river.

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”—Mark Twain
Photo: Caleb Roberts

It Is Never Too Cold To Go Paddleboarding

By

Colin Field

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July 18, 2019

Tougher than Sub-Zero. Photo: Sandy Nicholson

One of the first times Geoff Ortiz surfed the Great Lakes was back in 2007 in Toronto. It was December and cold. Ortiz had learned to surf in Costa Rica seven years earlier and was fully addicted. Once he realized he could surf in his hometown of Toronto, he started watching the weather and heading to Bluffer’s Park on the city’s east side whenever the swell was up.

One morning, as he crossed the road in his wetsuit with his board under his arm, a police officer approached him.

“He goes, ‘what are you doing?’” recalls Ortiz. “I told him I was going surfing. He said, ‘what do you mean you’re going surfing?’ And he just had to clarify. He had to make sure I was sound of mind.”

Since then, Ortiz has surfed Ontario, Huron and Erie whenever possible. One look at his Instagram feed shows that if there are waves, he’s out there. The self-employed contractor regularly drops everything to chase the freshwater swell.

[Also Read: The Scary Truth About Capsizing In Cold Water]

“I’ll drop the kids at school and go straight from there. If I’m going to Lake Erie, my wife will drop the kids off at school a little earlier. On those days, I’ll make lunches for the kids and leave as early as possible to beat traffic,” he says of the two-hour drive.

Four years ago, Ortiz stopped taking his surfboards with him and began standup paddleboarding instead.

“I realized I’d be able to catch more waves and spend more time on the water with a SUP. But early on, I wasn’t catching many waves at all. It was quite difficult,” he recalls. “I was always dealing with chop and falling a lot. But I was stubborn. Once I got the hang of it, I got more waves and the rides tended to be a lot longer than on a surfboard.”

Despite the sub-zero temperatures, winter is a great time to surf the Great Lakes. At any given wind speed, waves build higher in cold weather because cold air over warm water transfers more wind energy than warm air over cold water.

[Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View All Standup Paddleboards]

When the water temperature is close to zero, and the air temperature is below zero, a mild 15-kilometer wind will generate two- to three-foot waves. Lower wind speed makes for cleaner waves too.

But how does Ortiz motivate himself to get in the water when it’s -15°C, before factoring in the windchill?

“I’ve done it enough times now I’ve normalized it,” he says. “For the first while it was harder to motivate myself to get out there. And as a paddleboarder, it can actually be quite cold until you get some water in the suit. Even though I know it’ll be warmer once I get in the water, I still avoid it while up on my board. But once I fall in, I warm right up.”

Tougher than Sub-Zero. Photo: Sandy Nicholson

Now an ambassador for Xcel wetsuits, Ortiz wears a 5/4/3 suit—five-millimeter thick neoprene on the body, four-millimeter on the arms and three-millimeter on the hood—and rubs “wind and weather” cream on his face.

He’s usually the only standup paddleboarder out in the dead of winter, but he’s often not alone. There’s a small but mighty band of Great Lakes surfers who claim as long as the lake isn’t iced-over, it’s never too cold to surf.

“With wetsuit technology, it’s really not crazy at all,” says Ortiz. “I can pull my hand out of my glove and shake hands with somebody and my hand will be warmer than someone walking on the beach. It’s not crazy once you start. The session doesn’t end because I’m cold, it ends because I’m exhausted.”

Tougher than Sub-Zero. Photo: Sandy Nicholson

How Human Activity Is Impacting The Great Bear Rainforest

By

Dustin Silvey

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July 18, 2019

The Great Bear Rainforest extends from the Discovery Islands in the south to the British Columbia-Alaska boundary in the north. Photo: Dustin Silvey

Last summer, our small group of paddlers set off from the northern tip of Vancouver Island into British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. We were in search of the fish farms spreading out across the area, which had become a source of political debate between the provincial government and the Indigenous communities.

The farms were not hard to find. The eyesores dotted the area closest to Vancouver Island, right up to the border of the famous Broughton Archipelago Provincial Park. One moment we saw humpback whales breaching around us, surrounded by huge forested islands, and the next we turned a corner to see a massive chain-link fence in the middle of the ocean. These fenced-in perimeters host thousands of Atlantic salmon, swimming in circles, in what is considered by many to be unsustainable fish farms.

[ Also Read: Why Paddling Is Vital For Human Survival ]

We paddled deep into the Great Bear Rainforest to see how far the farms penetrated. During our search, we circumnavigated Gilford Island and as we did, the farms ceased for a time. The break from the farms was a feeling of freedom; our eyes were free to wander the landscape with what we thought would be uninterrupted beauty. Unfortunately, we were wrong.

Human Impact On The Great Bear Rainforest

The area around Gilford Island, like many areas of the Great Bear Rainforest, has tracts of ongoing logging. Roads dotted the landscape, almost all of the forest was second or third growth with little old growth remaining. Most nights smoke from forest fires roaring across the province turned the sun into a blazing red ball in the sky.

Do not misunderstand me. The area is beautiful—dolphins jumped next to our boats, we saw orcas breeding, witnessed bears feeding on beaches and eagles diving for fish. But it was difficult not to feel regret when thinking about how much more beautiful this area must have been before the human impact.

Most mornings, I crawled out of my tent already dressed in my drysuit while the morning rain pelted my face. My companions reminded me, “If you are going to paddle in a rainforest, you should expect regular rains.” But on one morning, we woke up to the sun beaming down on us. A bear was digging for food down the beach, and it being warm and bright, and us excited to see our first bear, we were slow to act.

This backdrop is what I had imagined the whole of the Great Bear Rainforest to be—green, lush, and deceivingly inviting.

As some of our team was packing our stuff sacks into our Boreal Design kayaks, we realized it was already early afternoon. We had a short crossing that day and arrived at camp as the sun was setting after a 20-kilometer paddle. This was when I snapped this shot. The forest behind the kayak was the perfect backdrop, with the sun just over the cusp of Gilford Island, causing a small amount of flare on the lens.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: See all touring kayaks ]

This backdrop is what I had imagined the whole of the Great Bear Rainforest to be—green, lush, and deceivingly inviting. Vast areas of the Great Bear Rainforest were out-of-this-world beautiful, but if I just turned my head slightly, too often I saw the devastation in the mountains and on the ocean. For me, this photo represents what the area could be in entirety, rather than just when your eyes are facing the correct direction.

Gearlab Offers Full Line of Kayak Accessories for Spring 2019

By

Press Release: GEARLAB

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July 4, 2019

Gearlab, pioneer of the first modern carbon fiber Greenland-style paddle with exchangeable tips, debuts their new accessories collections in bags and paddle float. The deck bag is designed to revolutionize a paddlers’ deck with order, convenience and critical safety features. With the deck bag, paddle bag, paddle float, and cabin bag, Gearlab offers the ultimate kayak accessory collection for summer 2019.

The Gearlab Deck Bag

Created by a team of award-winning industrial designers, the Gearlab Deck Bag is designed for integrated kayaking safety, and features custom made slots for pump, paddle float, and a hydration system. All operations can be completed with one hand..

Both sides of the bag have one solid holder; paddlers can simply put in their pump and paddle float without adjusting sloppy mesh. To remove gear, simply click the strap to release the buckle. Bag can fit 3 liter hydration system, with tube hole design that provides easy access. A hidden handle beneath the bag eliminates the possibility of confusing spray skirt with deck bag when capsized. Mesh compartment proves storage inside deck bag and allows water to easily drain out when taking the bag up. Bag fastens to the deck with four buckles. The buckles allow for installing and unleashing with ease, with no need to pair and route for the buckle like conventional deck bags. Dimensions: 44 x 25 x 10 cm.

Paddle Bag

Gearlab Outdoors’ third generation Paddle Bag is made to fit most Greenland style paddles. Featuring an EVA hard bottom shaped into the brand’s signature ProTek Tip silhouette that provides significant improved protection. Full padding with a perfect width is designed to provide a 360° protection. Side zipper, and webbing adjuster improved paddlers’ user experience. Paddlers can now take their paddles on a plane trip without worrying damage the paddles. Full protection, and better traveling experience with Gearlab sticks!

Dimensions: 130 x 9 cm

The Gearlab paddle bag, with one internal divider separates the two paddles, allowing blades to be placed on each side of the divider. Length 130 cm.

The Gearlab Paddle Float

Gearlab’s Paddle Float is an essential safety tool to carry on every kayak outing. The Paddle Float meets all safety requirements for both Greenland style and Euro-blade paddles. Constructed with quality materials, it provides excellent buoyancy and leverage to re-enter a kayak. Pump and Paddle float are essential life savers when paddlers encounter difficulties on the water. With its innovative new design, Gearlab has taken the deck bag to the next level of safety. A key safety tool, Gearlab’s Paddle Float is ideal for self-rescue, as well as for practice learning new rolls and mastering a balance brace. It is adaptable for use with both Greenland and Euro-style blades. A single blow-up valve inflates both chambers of the float, making it quick and easy to deploy. The float is constructed with quality materials, and the bright yellow color and reflective strip provide greater visibility in the water. USD $49

The Gearlab Kayak Dry Bag (KDB)

Gearlab Kayak Dry Bag (KDB) is both lightweight and durable, making it ideal for sea kayaking and long expeditions. The Kayak Dry Bag is shaped and tapered for efficient storage. It offers less weight at the top of the bag, allowing for an easy roll-top closure. The lower shell is fashioned from a more durable TPU fabric. The KDB is available in three sizes: 10 Liter, 14 Liter, and 18 Liter.

The Kayak Dry Bag includes tote-style handles with top webbing and a bottom handle designed for quick cabin grab and removal. The KDB’s unique design also allows dual zones for dry and wet storage. The bag’s bottom half enclosure is designed for dry goods, and the top half provides an open-air stuffing zone for wet goods. The two-tone heather fabric features dual sides coated with TPU and a PU top to allow for a quick spray-down cleaning. While its innovative high-tech design makes it perfectly suited for outdoor pursuits on the water, the Cabin Dry Bag also features a handsome two-tone design that will allow it to carry over for urban lifestyles.

About Gearlab

For the past eight years, Gearlab has designed and manufactured Greenland-style carbon-fiber paddles for ocean kayakers around the world. Created by a team of award-winning industrial designers and outdoor enthusiasts, the paddles are adapted from indigenous Inuit designs. Greenland paddles allow kayakers to travel farther with greater efficiency and precision, while reducing injury and fatigue. Made from 100 percent continuous carbon-fiber material,Gearlab paddles perfect thousand-year-old ergonomics with advanced material strength and durability. Gearlab paddles will open up a new realm of adventure for both recreational and advanced kayakers. Discover the benefits of Gearlabpaddles at GearlabOutdoors.com.

Yakima Unveils New Fishing And Truck Racks

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Press Release: Yakima Racks

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July 3, 2019

Yakima LockNLoad Racks | Photo: Courtesy Yakima

For 40 years, Yakima has built its reputation as the global leader in vehicle racks by providing innovative and reliable cargo solutions for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.

For Fall 2019, the brand is excited to announce its long-anticipated entry into the recreational fishing market, with three all-new rooftop fishing rod holders. Also debuting in Fall 2019 is LockNLoad, a platform roof rack and accessories collection that will appeal to overlanders and weekend warriors, alike.

[ Also read: First Look: Yakima’s New Rack Accessories ]

The new products will be introduced at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, June 18–20, in Denver, Colorado. To book an appointment at Outdoor Retailer to see the new products firsthand, please contact John Taranto at the information above.

The Fish Collection by Yakima

The new line of rod holders consists of three products. The DoubleHaul is a premium, precision-designed rod carrier made specifically for fly and spey rods. The TopWater is a purpose-built storage box for conventional rods and reels with room for tackle and other gear. The ReelDeal is a simple and economical solution for transporting up to eight fully rigged rods on any style of roof rack.

“With 49 million anglers in the United States, many of whom are already Yakima consumers, it only made sense to bring our expertise in cargo management to the world of fishing,” said Garrett Barnum, Category Director – Top of Car, Truck, Camp. “However, this was never going to be an ‘us too’ play.

Instead, we’ve gone all-in right out of the gate, with three smartly designed and well-built products for a wide range of anglers.”

Yakima Overland Adventure

Born and rigorously tested in the Australian Outback, the new LockNLoad Heavy Duty Platform Roof Rack combines smart looks and even smarter engineering for hauling overlanding equipment as far off road as your vehicle will take you. LockNLoad accessories include side rails, a bracket for mounting lights, a high-lift jack holder, a spare tire holder and more. The LockNLoad system offers tremendous utility beyond the overland market, though. With its side-to-side slats, it’s perfectly suited for hauling bikes, boats, boards, and skis, too.

“The LockNLoad platform racks represent a natural extension of Yakima’s existing rooftop offerings,” said Barnum. “With adventurers going farther and farther off the grid, we’re able to provide them the versatility they demand with this low-profile roof rack and line of rugged accessories. At the same time, LockNLoad will also appeal to those simply looking to haul their favorite gear to the trail, mountain, or coast.”

The new fishing rod carriers and LockNLoad platform rack and accessories will be available at retail and on Yakima.com in August.

Yakima’s Fall 2019 Products

Yakima DoubleHaul

Designed with avid flyfishers in mind, the DoubleHaul offers superior protection for up to four fly rods or two fly rods and two spey rods. The DoubleHaul accommodates rods up to 10 feet in length and most reels up to size 12. The best part? Rods can be stored fully strung up for fast and easy access. The four aluminum rod tubes that comprise the carrier each contain a plastic sleeve to securely hold a fly rod and prevent wear and abrasion on the blank and guides. Felt padding prevents marring on the reels, and the reel box features a Yakima SKS lock for worry-free security. The DoubleHaul easily mounts to any vehicle crossbars with its tool-free, low-profile universal mounting hardware, and the carrier can be configured to half its length for smaller vehicles. MSRP: $699

Yakima TopWater

The super-versatile TopWater is easily mounted to a roof rack or trailer for on-the-go access to as many as eight fully rigged baitcasting and spinning rods up to 8 feet in length (or 20 bare rods). The TopWater keeps rods and reels secure and organized during transit thanks to protective foam pads and rubber straps that ensure everything stays in place. Additional space under the rods accommodates low-profile tackle boxes and other gear.

The durable hard-plastic shell features Carbonite, the industry-proven, American-made material used in Yakima’s SkyBox products. With a Yakima SKS lock included, the TopWater is equipped to keep cargo secure. As with the DoubleHaul, the TopWater is compatible with any crossbar style and shape. MSRP: $549

Yakima ReelDeal

For a simple and cost-effective way of transporting fully rigged rods to any fishing hole, look no further than the ReelDeal. This two-piece rod carrier features tool-free mounting to any roof rack, including factory and aftermarket racks. The included Yakima SKS locks secure the rods and rack to the vehicle and the rack opens from the side for easy access to up to eight rods. Full-length rubber padding securely holds and protects rods during transit. MSRP: $169

Yakima LockNLoad

Bringing versatility and customization to far-flung adventures and weekend trips alike, the all-new LockNLoad platform rack was conceived by Yakima’s team in Australia and torture-tested for months in the extreme conditions of the Outback. Its low-profile design with side-to-side slats enables it to haul anything from a rooftop bike or ski rack to jerry cans or a rooftop tent; a series of accessories allow the user to truly maximize the rack’s utility.

The LockNLoad is built to last with corrosion-resistant aluminum construction and powder coating for durability and style. The LockNLoad is available in six different sizes with load ratings of 165 to 440 pounds depending on the vehicle. MSRP: $699–$949

Additionally, Yakima will preview its Spring 2020 collection at Outdoor Retailer, which includes innovative new bike products and a collection of premium rooftop cargo boxes.

About Yakima

A pioneer in vehicle racks and cargo management solutions since 1979, Yakima is known for its rugged and dependable products. Built for a wide variety of recreationists, Yakima products embody the company’s commitment to quality and safety and its passion for the outdoors. Yakima Products, Inc. is headquartered outside of Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit www.yakima.com and follow Yakima on social media: facebook.com/yakimaracks, YakimaRacks on Instagram and Twitter, and youtube.com/yakimaproducts.