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7 Essentials For Long Kayak Trips

By
Rebecca Grim
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women surrounding by paddling gear

Passion for adventure and enthusiasm to learn more about the Pacific Northwest coast is what’s motivating biologist Leo Mahlke and adventurer Rebecca Grim to kayak the Inside Passage from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia to Glacier Bay, Alaska.

The pair set out in May and will paddle more than 1,300 nautical miles.

[ Also Read: Family Repeats Canoe Trip Up The Inside Passage 43-Years Later ]

Isolated and rugged stretches of coastline are not the only obstacles these two best friends will encounter. Along the way, Leo and Rebecca will be filming a documentary about the environmental issues affecting local ecosystems, wildlife and coastal communities. In their own words, the dynamic duo share with Paddling Magazine what they’re packing for their four-month voyage.

What To Pack For A Multi-Day Kayak Trip

red sails on kayak
Sails. (Red)

1Kayak Sails

When the strong southerly winds are at our back we set up our sails, then kick back and fly with the wind. We can travel up to eight miles per hour, giving us an opportunity to rest our arms and take in the scenery. When not in use, the sails are stored collapsed on our kayaks’ decks.

[ View all kayak gear and accessories in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

2

https://amzn.to/3yeAkVlDehydrated Bananas

We’re both vegetarian and we started processing and drying plant-based meals for our expedition in January. We’ve spent a combined 75 hours dehydrating food. By dehydrating our own meals, we can reduce waste and eat more ethically. Our favorite snack is dried bananas. We have almost 400 bananas for our trip, weighing only 15 pounds.

BUY ON AMAZON

[ Also Read Dry Food: Why You Should Invest In A Dehydrator For Your Next Trip ] 

yellow ukuele
Ukuele.

3 Ukulele

Last year, I carried a ukulele while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,560-mile footpath crossing the United States, from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada. Leo played while she volunteered for the Alaska Whale Foundation on Baranof Island in the heart of southeast Alaska. Naturally, we packed one for this trip. Four months together will make us a harmonious duo—or at least keep the bears away.

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green container
Green sprouting jar.

4 Sprouting Jar Kit - 2 Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Plastic Sprout Lid & 316 Stainless Steel Screen,Tray,Stand and Brush | Sprouts growing kit for Broccoli, Alfalfa,Microgreens Seeds & Mung Bean (White)Sprouting Jar

The longest stretch between resupply locations will be roughly two weeks. Growing sprouts en route ensures we always have fresh vegetables to add to wraps and toss on top of stews. Sprouts are a good source of fiber, protein and iron, and can be harvested every three to four days.

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solar panels
Solar panels.

5 Solar Panels

Between GoPros, battery banks, an InReach Explorer and personal locator beacon, we have quite a few gadgets. This six-watt solar panel is durable and 100-percent waterproof. We leave it on our decks to charge all day as we paddle. We’re not relying on the panel for all our power, but it’s a nice boost when the sun comes out—even if it takes 12 hours to get a full charge.

[View all kayak gear and accessories in the Paddling Buyer’s Guide]
mapping charts
Charts.

6 Charts

We love navigating with paper charts. We have GPS devices and Navionics on our phones as a backup. We’ve mailed the designated sections for each leg with our food resupplies so we don’t have to carry all 359-square feet of them the entire way. We store the charts in a waterproof tube, strapped to the kayaks when not in use.

black cords
Hydrophone.

7 Hydrophone

Leo has been working in marine mammal research and conservation for more than seven years. Our hydrophone is a 380-gram underwater microphone and one of our luxury items. We’re paddling through prime habitat for killer whales and humpback whales, and with this device we can listen and record what is going on beneath us in a non-invasive way.

[ Also Read: Go Kayaking With The Whales In Telegraph Cove ]

Protecting The Okavango Delta By Canoe

By
Kaydi Pyette
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four men in two canoes paddling in Africa

Navigating a twisting, narrow river while keeping an eye out for lions, elephants and hippos is just par for the course for the researchers and scientists on National Geographic’s Okavango Wilderness Project.

The Ambitious Multi-Year And Multi-Expedition Initiative Aims To Safeguard The Ecological Health Of The Okavango Delta Region In Botswana—And Much Of The Research Is Done From Canoe

The Okavango is an area of remarkable biodiversity, one of the last pristine wildernesses in Africa,” says National Geographic photographer Pete Muller.

The delta is the largest undeveloped river basin on the planet and home to the world’s largest remaining wild elephant population as well as lions, cheetahs, wild dogs and 470 species of birds. The recent expeditions have discovered 24 species new to science.

The project began in 2015 when National Geographic Fellow Dr. Steve Boyes and a team of Angolan, Namibian and South African scientists began working together to explore and protect the river system. Eight multi-month expeditions followed, exploring different areas of the delta and its source rivers to chart the biodiversity in the river systems and understand its hydrology.

All with the aim to use the information to protect those areas,” says Muller.

The team uses their research and survey work to inform governments, NGOs and local communities, hoping to establish sustainable management of the watershed.

The Okavango River Basin Encompasses A Texas-sized Area, With Source Rivers Extending North Into Namibia And Angola

Currently, the only part of the watershed protected is an UNESCO World Heritage Site in Botswana. As possibilities of industrializing rivers in the watershed with dams and hydroelectric projects are explored, the future of the delta is uncertain, says Muller. The implications are huge—not only is the Okavango Delta the largest freshwater wetland in southern Africa, it’s also the main source of water for a million people.

In 2017, Muller joined the project for two weeks during a two-month expedition down the seasonally flooded Cubano River, which supplies 55 percent of the water to the delta.

“The canoes are the central means of transportation for every part of the expedition,” says Muller.  The long, narrow fiberglass canoes are called mokoros.

“The expedition uses mokoros because they’re the traditional means of transport in the delta, and they’re the only way to navigate the river, around or under trees and obstructions,” says Muller. “They’re also largely silent. Steve Boyes—the visionary of the project—felt it was essential to minimize sound and impact lest we disturb the animals and things that might be there, which could mess with the biodiversity survey.”

In This Photo, The Team—Boyes In The Stern Of The Lead Canoe—Is Just Starting The Day On The River At Dawn

The team travels from morning until about 4 p.m., getting off the water well before the hippos become active at dusk.

I believe one of the keys to preserving wilderness is convincing millions of people around the world to protect landscapes and wilderness areas they’ll never visit, because they simply can’t,” says Boyes in a recent TED talk. “We want to share our experiences, so they know these places exist and are important.

Into The Okavango, a documentary about the expeditions, screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on Earth Day, April 22, 2018.

“It’s an uphill battle to keep the necessary political will on a big, major undertaking like this,” adds Muller, who spent much of the last decade working as a conflict photojournalist.

“In recent years, I’ve gravitated more towards environmental issues. Environmental issues are as much, if not more, of a timely crisis in many ways than war and conflict.”

Solo Canoe Review: Esquif Canoes’ Extasy Creek Boat

By
Scott MacGregor
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Mel Lindsay paddling Esquif Canoe's OC1 canoe down a rapid
Fast and precise, but only if you pretend it’s not there. Paddle the river, not the boat. | Photo: Scott MacGregor

Esquif Canoes founder and owner Jacques Chasse has never been one to shy away from a new project. In fact, he’s built his brand and his whole canoe building business around chasing dreams.

Esquif Canoe’s Extasy OC1 Specs:
Length: 9 ft
Width: 26 in
Weight: 41 lbs
Gunwales: Integrated
Price: $2,150 USD/$2,150 CAD
esquif.com

Long before Chasse added his Prospector series of tripping canoes to his line up—now his top-selling models, as you might expect—he built his reputation on creating innovative, yet very specialty whitewater solo canoes.

[ Paddling Buyer’s Guide: View all of Esquif solo canoe’s ]

Even today, Esquif offers 12 different OC1 models, not to mention the tandem Blast and the Vertige X, which can be either outfitted solo or tandem. Over the last 20 years we’ve reviewed the Detonator, Nitro, Prelude, Spanish Fly, Zoom, Zepher, Raven, Taureau, L’Edge Lite and Superlite and Spark, a trip down memory lane for any longtime open boater.

What all these boats have in common is the slim chance for even mediocre commercial success, but it didn’t stop Chasse and his team of enthusiasts and designers from cranking out boat after boat they themselves wanted to paddle.

Canoeist Sabrina Barm’s creek boat design for smaller paddler’s

The men behind these designs are a who’s who list of top-level canoeists including Andrew Westwood, Mark Scriver, Dooley Tombras and John Kazimierczyk, just to name a few. An impressive roster of talent, but not one woman.

The Extasy canoe is so radically different than anything we’ve ever tested.

It should be of no surprise Chasse agreed when Sabrina Barm approached him. About building a polyethylene creeking and river running canoe specifically designed for smaller paddlers, namely women.

Barm is the first female canoeist to compete in North Carolina’s infamous Green River Race and has competed in two Adidas Sickline Extreme Kayak World Championships paddling OC1 against a field of kayakers. Let’s just say she’s a badass open boater.

[ Further reading: Find out how Sabrina Barm came up with the design of the Extasy Canoe ]

Barm is also an automotive engineer with a background in boat design with a few theories on acceleration, precision, hull speed and ergonomics.

With a shoestring budget, she crunched her numbers in mathematical models and manually shaped two foam prototypes before sending Esquif the final version to produce the mold.

A radically different solo canoe by Esquif

The Extasy canoe is so radically different than anything we’ve ever tested. But let’s begin the review by not calling it a girl canoe. However, finding test pilots for the OC1 Extasy wasn’t as easy as you’d think. We were looking for intermediate to advanced open canoeists between 110 and 150 pounds.

Mel Lindsay is a Head open canoe instructor the Paddler Co-op with time paddling the Ocoee, L’Edge, Blackfly Octane and Ion and had jumped in the Extasy at Ain’t Louis Fest, just long enough to be excited about helping write this review.

[ Further Reading: What You Don’t Know About Ain’t Louis Fest ]

“I’m a bit shaky, wobbly, unstable, and it’s hard to find my balance,” Lindsay told me after her second swim in the first few minutes in the Extasy. Soon she was able to feel out her tilt and discover how the boats round bottom allows for quick tilts. She had to build up some trust up in the secondary stability and stop fighting it.

Esquif’s small canoe is 26 inches wide

The key to enjoying the Extasy is to stop looking at it. Let me explain. When you first get in the Extasy you feel like you’re paddling a lawn dart. It’s asymmetrical and barely wide enough for my hips to fit between the plastic gunwales and it keeps getting narrower.

At the bow, it is only four inches wide, the same width as a Dagger Axiom 8.5 kayak. Just behind the saddle it’s wider, 26 inches, an inch wider than my Ocoee. So the secret is to stop looking at it and get out of your head the Extasy is tippy. Paddle it like you’d paddle an Ocoee.

[ View all of Dagger Kayak’s kayaks in our Paddling Buyer’s Guide ]

Why an Ocoee? According to Lindsay, “Similar to the Ocoee, it was really easy to get the boat where I wanted it to go. Once I felt smooth in it, I just had to look where I wanted to go and use my lower body to point it there with a few mindful strokes. It took me until the third day to really feel and trust it.”

I can’t get over how easy this solo canoe is to pivot. Being neutral or slightly back you can drop the slightest outside edge and change direction anywhere, it’s crazy. An offside tilt frees the pointy bow and it snaps around. This is critical for running tight rivers; even more fun surfing steep waves pinning the bow.

Cruise into an eddy and be a bit forward on a draw or cross-bow draw and the Extasy carves like an electric knife through hot butter. The secret again is not to look at the bow, just look where you want to go and paddle it like you stole it.

What do paddlers like best about Esquif Canoe’s Extasy creek boat?

I asked Lindsay what she liked most about the Extasy. She couldn’t pick just one thing. Her list reads like the wish list of every female open canoeist I’ve ever met.

“With the beefy, heavy and slower creek boats, I struggle to generate enough speed and maintain momentum. The Extasy allows me to gain speed and maintain momentum with ease, allowing me to enjoy the river and focus on my lines and moves.”

[ Video: Esquif Canoes at Paddlesport’s Retailer ]

“In wider boats such as the Option and the L’Edge, I struggle to roll. But the Extasy is narrow enough to harness my hip flick and effective core motion. To top it off, the Extasy is the lightest solo boat I’ve ever paddled and portaged. Loading the car is a dream.”

So why shouldn’t we call the Extasy a women’s solo canoe? Because dudes are going to paddle it. I loved it. Mel’s boyfriend loved it. By the numbers, we’re both too big for it and barely fit between the gunwales, but we still loved paddling it.

[ Further Reading: Discover the first all-female gathering to offer instruction in kayaking, canoeing and SUP called Women On Water ]

So I called Chasse and asked the obvious question. The answer? The project Extasy X is already in the works. Gentlemen, we can expect to see a larger thermoformed T-Formex version of Sabrina Barm’s rapturous delight sometime soon.

Fast and precise, but only if you pretend it’s not there. Paddle the river, not the boat. Feature Photo: Scott MacGregor

 

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    Inside The Car Of A Kayaker

    By
    Paddling Magazine Staff
    -
    man standing next to his hatchback surrounded by paddling gear

    What’s The Junk In A Paddler’s Trunk?

    If you believe what you see on social media you probably already know that vans are ubiquitous with freedom. Maybe, maybe not, but what they do represent well is the transitory stages in modern life. I don’t own a van. Chances are, I never will. For almost seven years I lived out of a 70-liter backpack. Then everything I owned would fit in a pickup truck. Turns out, with ingenuity and a minimalist’s compromise on comfort, one can be satisfied with the #vanlife in a hatchback. 

    First Aid Is A Thing 

    As a certified wilderness first responder and ski patroller, I accept the responsibility of pulling over at any time to assist in an emergency situation. I can grab numerous parts of this kit to stuff in my SealLine drybag and cover the majority of situations one can reasonably expect. Other essentials packed away in my car include toilet paper, hand sanitizer, headlamp and spare batteries. I assembled my own kit after years of trial and error, but companies such as Adventure Medical Kits offer packs for most conceivable adventure activities, including road trips. What can’t be stuffed in your trunk however is good first aid training and years of experience.

    Down-Dry Hugs

    Temperature fluctuations catch even the best of outdoor enthusiasts off-guard. Depending on your geographic location, hypothermia is a legitimate concern. My go-to synthetic down stuffy puffy is the Sierra Designs Tuolumne. I have been testing this jacket all winter and it’s due to hit shelves this fall for under $100. Along with this, I pack the Eddie Bauer Men’s Cloud Cap Flex rain jacket. Both of these scrunch up small beside my first aid kit. I’m prepared for any unexpected weather changes—two quality jackets for less than $250. What’s not to love?

    Shiver-No-More

    Finding a $29 Double Black Diamond down duvet at Costco cemented its inclusion in my four-wheeled kit. It is also perfect to stuff inside your kayak—as well as for picnic cover, a shivering friend or waiting for help in the wintertime. I have used it as a sleeping pad along with the First Ascent Flying Squirrel 40. This sleeping bag’s unique design is zipper less and originally intended as a bag liner for chillier evenings. The Squirrel 40 is perfect for emergency situations. The 850-fill StormDown and tough ripstop nylon helped earn this sleeping bag the Active Junkie 2016 Badass Gear Award. 

    Caffeine Fix

    My morning rituals are pretty much the same no matter where I go. And I love coffee. The AeroPress Coffee Maker and GSI Javamill coffee grinder live year-round in my Mazda. I also have a JetBoil Flash, which holds 1.1 liters of water and boasts a boil time of roughly three minutes. If you use your kayak or tires as a windbreaker, chances are your coffee water will be ready even faster. I keep a gallon jug of fresh water to fill hydration packs or Nalgenes.

    Nutritional Pick-Me-Ups

    Have you strolled around the dehydrated food block in your local adventure gear shop lately? With brands like MaryJaneFarm, Harmony House, Good To-Go and of course Backpackers Pantry there are a myriad of options for your gluten free, vegan, organically-sourced, lactose-free diet. Along with an assortment of granola bars well past their expiry dates, I also carry a few Clif bars and bags of AlpineAire Foods with me. AlpineAire’s unique meal and snack options have quickly become a favorite staple for day or weekend trips. Their Chicken Gumbo, Mountain Chilli and Himalayan Lentils & Rice meals are very reasonably priced and remarkably delicious. As with all pre-packaged, dehydrated foods, remove the moisture pack and just add water. These are easy to store, access, eat and share on tailgates anywhere. 

    Why You Need to Kayak Newfoundland’s Northern Peninsula

    By
    Virginia Marshall
    -
    woman sea kayaking beside an iceberg

    “The huge island stands, with its sheer, beetling cliffs, out of the ocean…like a strange thing from the bottom of the great deep, lifted up, suddenly, into sunshine and storm, but belonging to the watery darkness out of which it has been reared.” —R.T.S. Lowell

    Nearly Two Centuries After American Novelist Robert Traill Spence Lowell Penned This Arresting Description Of Newfoundland, The Island’s Remote, Rugged Beauty Still Inspires Awe

    Thousands of years of human history, from ancient Innu cultures to Viking settlers and Basque whalers, can be felt and observed while exploring the province’s diverse coastal and inland waters—yet it remains remarkably unspoiled.

    Wildlife enthusiasts are rewarded with the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales, as well as seabird colonies whose residents—including graceful gannets and clumsy puffins—number in the millions. Moose, caribou, lynx and black bear roam the dense forests that cling to the island’s scant soil.

    Newfoundland’s west coast is dominated by the Long Range, an ancient extension of the Appalachian Mountains, running some 450 kilometers from Corner Brook to the tip of the Great Northern Peninsula. The exposed rocks serve as a kind of Rosetta Stone for geologists studying plate tectonics and mountain building, making Gros Morne National Park—the jewel in Newfoundland’s rich parks system—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    For Paddlers

    These worn and weathered giants provide a majestic backdrop for coastal trips along the peninsula’s exposed western and roadless eastern shores, as well as explorations of Gros Morne’s famed fiords and ponds.

    If You Have A Half-Day

    Paddle out of the pretty village of Norris Point into the sheltered arms of Bonne Bay. Watch for whales as you cross to the artists’ sheds in the community of Woody Point. Return by water taxi to buy you more time.  

    If You Have A Day

    Put in on Trout River Pond near the southern edge of Gros Morne National Park. Head east into this 15-kilometer-long gash through the rust-colored Tablelands. This barren landscape is one of the world’s finest and most accessible examples of exposed mantle. Park your kayak at the campsite located in the Narrows, and hike into the hills for a closer look.

    If You Have A Weekend 

    Explore the fiord-like arms that reach inland from the Bay of Islands. Launch from Cox’s Cove and tour up 12-kilometer-long Goose Arm and 8-kilometer-long Penguin Arm, with views north to the 2,450-foot mountains. Campsites are found at the head of both arms.

    If You Have A Week 

    Make the committing journey north along the peninsula’s eastern shore from Jackson’s Arm to Englee—the next road-accessible point, nearly 200 kilometres distant. En route, discover abandoned outports and encounter towering icebergs. Few landings, distance and isolation make this a challenging route for experienced paddlers.

    5 Things To Know:

    Wildlife

    Black bear, lynx, otter, red fox, beaver, woodland caribou, moose, 22 whale species, seals, wild Atlantic salmon, bald eagle, 350 seabird species.

    Exposure

    The island is famous for its unpredictable winds, icy waters, sunkers (offshore rocks and reefs) and highly changeable weather. 

    Treasure

    Hunting Hidden gems abound in Newfoundland’s network of ecological reserves. At the tip of the peninsula, watch for icebergs.

    Diversion

    Visit the 1,000-year-old Viking encampment at L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, with recreated timber-and-sod buildings.

    Outfitters

    Coastal Adventures

    Gros Morne Adventure

    Committed 2 The Core

    John Connelly’s 75-Day Solo Paddling Expedition

    By
    Tierney Angus
    -

    John Connelly became the first person to link the Northern Forest Canoe Trail with the Maine Island Trail during a 1,500 mile, 75-day solo expedition. Paddle Quest 1500 began as an “expedition to inspire outdoor desire.” He wanted to encourage people to spend more time outdoors, get involved with conservation efforts and decrease time in front of computer screens. Followers were able to track his progress in real time and now Connelly has completed the first draft of a book about the expedition. He was just packing for another kayak trip when I caught up with him to ask him about his adventure of a lifetime.

    WHY CONNECT A CANOE AND A KAYAK WATER TRAIL?

    I was encouraged to do something special for my 60th birthday and I knew nobody had canoed the entire Northern Forest Canoe Trail and also kayaked the Maine Island Trail. Doing both of those would have been pretty big, but it wouldn’t have been epic. Connecting them, I thought, would be epic. It took me months to plan this trip. I wanted to go light enough that I could do all of my portages and carries making one trip. I got the lightest equipment that I could find, including my boats. My Wenonah Voyager canoe is 17.5 feet long and weighs only 32 pounds and my Stellar S18R kayak is 18 feet long and weighs just 38 pounds. I didn’t cut the handle off my toothbrush, but I came pretty darn close.

    WHAT STANDS OUT THE MOST FROM THIS TRIP?

    I paddled in more days of small craft warnings than you can believe. When I went around the gap between Cushing Island and Peak’s Island in Casco Bay, Maine, NOAA was wrong. The waves were already at four feet and starting to jack up. The wind had to be 20 to 25 mph and it was actually pretty gnarly. I realized that if one little thing went wrong, I’d be okay, but if two little things went wrong… not so sure. To say it was bumpy is an understatement. As it turns out, it really was a deadly storm. There was another sea kayaking party further back up the coast that ran into trouble. The guide and the two guests all went over and came out of their boats. Two of them died, including the guide.

    WHO SAW THE IRONY OF USING TRACKING TECHNOLOGY?

    I had a VHF radio, my iPhone 6S, my iPad Air 2 and I had my InReach Explorer. I would just set the tracking and forget about it. For me it was like it wasn’t happening. I didn’t interact with my devices except for navigation each day. I really enjoyed sharing the journey, inspiring people to get outdoors. I hoped that people would want to get out and paddle the waterways near them and get to know them. I had an interesting phenomenon on this trip and I call it the, Are You John Connelly Phenomenon. I ran into people in absolutely the middle of nowhere, people I knew. I learned that if I want to drop out of sight and be reclusive, I better not go to the woods.

    WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GO SOLO?

    From the beginning I thought it would be easier and be faster. Even when I’m recreational paddling, it’s just shy of race pace. And it was easier to plan for just one person. The only support team I had was my wife, Nicole. She actually met me nine times along the way. She brought me all my re-provisions and my supplies, for the most part. She was really my trail angel in that way, making sure I got my stuff. I really didn’t enjoy a lot of time away from Nicole, so I’m kind of thinking I want to do more expeditions, but I want her to come along. It’s got to be the right expedition in the right place. She doesn’t want to experience polar bears or crocodiles.

    WHERE DO YOU GO AFTER COMPLETING THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME?

    The next really big trip is our 16-day Colorado River trip in September. When I was dating Nicole, I promised that I’d take her down the Grand Canyon on a raft, and it’s time to make good on that promise, especially after abandoning her for 75 days on my expedition. I’d also really like to get to New Zealand, which of course has neither crocodiles nor polar bears. No matter where we go, I really loved being able to choose where I spent the night, having the freedom to live out of my boat and camp where I wanted to camp. There’s nothing better than living out of your boat for days and days at a time. I felt alone out there, but I never felt lonely.

    Crazy Paddling Photography (And How It Was Taken)

    By
    KEVIN LIGHT
    -
    kayaker paddling through logs
    Photo by Kevin Light

    Jordan River is located on the west coast of British Columbia, 70 kilometers west of downtown Victoria on Vancouver Island.

    It was established back in the 1880s as a logging camp but I was there with James Manke and the Stohlquist WaterWare team because it is now more commonly known for challenging surf.

    Unfortunately, the exciting surf that we anticipated for the shoot did not materialize that day. We looked for other ideas.

    One option was to shoot down from a bridge looking for graphic shots of colorful kayaks and gear against dark blue water.

    Between the bridge and a hydroelectric powerhouse is a raw log sorting facility. With the logs grouped tightly together they provided an interesting design. I asked Lee Richardson, not expecting that he would agree, to paddle through the gaps in the logs. Lee paddled toward the gap and upon reaching the opening lifted his paddle letting his momentum carry him deep into the pile.

    Neither of us realized he wouldn’t be able to paddle his way out. The aisle was not wide enough between the side of his kayak and the logs to get a solid purchase on the water. Instead he was able to safely shuffle his way out gripping the logs with his hands.

    [ Also read: How Action Camera’s Changed The Way We Paddle ]

    Meanwhile, I had to keep an eye out for the full loaded logging trucks rumbling toward the bridge as there was not much of a shoulder from which to shoot.

    I had with me a 600mm lens on a Canon EOS-1D X and a 50mm f/1.2 lens on another Canon ESO-1D Mark IV body. I chose to shoot with the 50mm to show more of the environment, which I think is the most interesting part. I did however go with more depth of field because of the distance to the subject and because of the advice from Canadian Press photographer Darryl Dyck who suggests in these types of scenarios I give myself a little more room and shoot at an aperture between f/5.6 and f/11.

    Over the past year I have learned much more about shooting kayaking but the lesson I learned here is: If you think something is impossible and you don’t ask, it is.

    What’s Next For Whitewater

    By
    Scott MacGregor
    -
    Photo by: NICK GOTTLIEB

    What’s on the horizon line?

    The art of river running is coming back strong. This is love of running rivers of a wide spectrum of difficulty and making the most of attaining, squirting, splatting, surfing all in the same boat with a renewed focus on better style and technique. Boats like the Braaap and the new Pyranha Ripper are the perfect crafts for this kind of paddling, and it’s something we haven’t had since the heyday of the Dagger RPM and Prijon Hurricane. Flat spinning a Hurricane, even on a class II breaking wave, is way harder, cooler, and more accessible than the same move in a playboat on Garburator. As a result, I think I would not be investing heavily in dedicated playboat or creek boat futures right now.

    —John Weld, co-founder, Immersion Research

    You are seeing younger paddlers who missed the whole evolution of the kayak in the ’90s and 2000s wanting to experience the older shapes. Older boaters reminisce and want to paddle what they paddled years ago to enjoy some of the things the new boats are not good for. Racing keeps growing again. It died off a while ago and is now resurging. Freestyle is stagnant but healthy, with some events getting bigger and others getting smaller.

    —Eric Jackson, founder, Jackson Kayak

    Playboating and creeking have peaks and dips, but in my opinion expedition kayaking is the backbone of the whitewater industry. We are seeing more expeditions combining challenging whitewater and big distances. And we are seeing this more now because social media is so popular and useful in promoting trips. The stories are being told through stunning photography and video.

    —Erik Boomer, pro athlete

    I witnessed the first descent of the Upper Gatineau in a paddleboat, and I don’t think this trend will catch on. We are seeing a return to user-friendly whitewater open boats with an emphasis on lighter hull weights. Paddlers appreciate the improved performance of a lighter boat, as well as the ease of carrying it.

    —Paul Mason, instructor trainer

    What are you most excited about?

    I think the growing recreational market is really exciting. These are the people that paddlesports really needs to foster and convert into paddling enthusiasts. We have all these new unconventional channels where people are being introduced to paddlesports. There are duck hunters buying kayaks right now that’s a new paddling enthusiast waiting to happen

    —Ryan Lightbody, Marketing Manager, Stohlquist

    We are stoked to see more whitewater events evolving out of what were originally races for elite paddlers.

    I think creating community, and not exclusivity, around these events will go a long way to consolidating our sport. Another thing is the focus on youth programming. We are seeing a bunch of organizations, ours included, really focusing on getting kids and families into whitewater boats. What is really exciting is the amount of requests we’re getting for kids gear right now. This can only make our sport more healthy in years to come.

    —Simon Coward, owner, Aquabatics

    Source-to-sea river trips, and the gear being developed to run class V whitewater and then descend all the way to the river’s mouth excites me. Longer designs have been created to incorporate speed, comfort and increased room for storing gear for weeks and months worth of downriver travel. As opposed to kayaking trips that were once planned to descend lots of short sections of rivers, there are more and more trips being planned to accomplish a single long stretch of river encompassing the entire range of classification from flatwater to hard whitewater.

    —Ben Stookesberry, explorer

    I see some open boaters realizing the benefits open canoe slalom has for their overall skill level. I’m certifying approximately the same number of canoe instructors each year, but notice they tend to have a higher level of safety skills. I think it would now be an exception for one of my paddling buddies to not have river rescue certification.

    — Paul Mason, instructor trainer

    What’s the next big innovation?

    When I see what’s happening in other watersports, I’m pretty sure we will see some foils under kayaks really soon.

    —Nouria Newman, pro athlete

    Internet of Things paddling gear. Smart paddles fully connected via Bluetooth to your smartphone to capture every second on the river and allow constant updates of your social media feeds, along with weather updates and information regarding the river you’re paddling. Drysuits keeping track of how many strokes you’ve taken, your heart rate and let you know when you need to eat or rest. Ambient sensors detect if you are, in fact, running the shit, and letting friends and family know in realtime. HUDs showing claw alerts so you know when it’s okay to throw the brown claw and when to just cool it. Also, we’re really excited about what’s happening in virtual reality. Virtual kayaking will prove to be much safer and more comfortable than actual kayaking. The additional revenue generated by targeted, relevant ads to the particular customer will also be quite exciting.

    —John Weld, cofounder, Immersion Research

    If there was a way to bombproof a sprayskirt that would be it. Most of my major swims have come from decks coming loose. If there could be a way of locking a skirt for certain rapids that would make me relax a bit more.

    —Mariann Sæther, pro athlete

    I’m anticipating Esquif ’s Extasy open canoe—it is the first canoe designed for women, and also the first OC to be designed by a woman. I look forward to seeing my daughter play in a boat built for someone her size.

    —Eli Helbert, “The Canoe Guru”

    We are at a unique time when there is almost no such thing as too remote in terms of access. Our overland route across Greenland became a way to establish a carbon neutral route into one of the most remote rivers ever descended. More than that, we utilized the icecap crossing to describe the river’s entire system, including the second largest chunk of ice on earth that is rapidly melting. In other places, like equatorial Colombia, paddling vast stretches of flatwater to access a remote gorge not only cuts down on expensive motorized transport, but allows the paddler to take in the rich culture and histories of a river that gives birth to an exploding river canyon in the middle of nowhere. There are so many more stories for us to tell beyond just bravery and the impressive whitewater that results from these expeditions. By taking the longer, slower and often times cheaper routes to the whitewater we are in the unique position to tell those stories.

    —Ben Stookesberry, explorer

    Top 3 Solo-Plus Stoves For Hungry Paddlers

    By
    Paddling Magazine Staff
    -
    3 small stoves in a row

    There are a dizzying array of stoves and pot-sets on the market. Integrated systems, solo, two-person, three-person, minimalist stoves, gas, liquid—you get the idea. We rounded up a few lightweight gas options that will certainly fit your go-fast adventurous culinary needs. Whether you are soloing the new Nova Craft Fox (see page 85) or counting ounces for a bike-in paddle-out packraft (see page 59) first descent one of these kitchen combos will wet your appetite and warm your belly.

    red solo stove
    MSR PocketRocket 2. |Photo: Gabriel Rivett-Carnac

    1. MSR PocketRocket 2 And Ceramic 2 Pot Set

    $50 / $95 | WWW.MSRGEAR.COM

    I have owned the original MSR PocketRocket for over four years. Not a company to rest on its laurels, MSR decided to tweak the popular design to make the new PocketRocket 2 lighter, smaller and equally as powerful. It does everything just like the original.

    It’s certainly not enough to convince me to replace my trusty minimalist gas top—but if you are new to the market, it’s a great choice. MSR gave the PocketRocket 2 precision flame control, shaved off .4 ounces of weight and changed the cradle design for more compact storage.

    For a solo tripper with a voracious appetite or for going tandem, MSR has introduced to their kitchen pot set line the Ceramic 2 Pot Set. At a compact 460 grams, the ceramic non-stick lining on both pots reduces the need for cooking oil. The nesting pot design will accommodate the PocketRocket 2 and a MSR gas canister up to 230 grams.

    The pot handle can be switched from one pot to the other by way of a push-release button. This handle folds over top of the lid, which doubles as a serving plate and strainer and fits both pots. The hardened aluminum is durable and ready for the abuse your adventures will undoubtedly bring.

    white and red solo stove
    Primus PrimeTech Stove. |Photo: Gabriel Rivett-Carnac

    2. Primus PrimeTech Stove Set 1.3L

    $75 | WWW.PRIMUS.US

    I’ve wanted to visit Estonia for over a decade. When I found out that Primus originated and continues to manufacture there, well let’s just say travel plans are heating up quickly. The new PrimeTech Stove Set has more harder, more industrial lines than other pot sets I am accustomed to. But in the unpacking of this 1.3-liter, 342-gram double pot kitchen, the stove really surprised me.

    And the surprise was a good one. We all know the precarious instability that comes with liquid-stove legs or trying to balance pots on stoves on gas canisters on rock beaches or upturned canoe hulls? The Primus PrimeTech stove uses a gas line to connect outside of the shell to a gas canister size of your choosing. This leaves you with a very stable stove base of 18 centimeters across.

    Small folding braces inside allow for perfect integration of the Primus anodized aluminum pots or accommodate frying pans and pot sets of other brands. The PrimeTech pots are non-stick and features heat-dispersal rings for a faster boil and even heat.

    This will reduce cook time and the dreaded carcinogen ring to scrap off. Both pots have strainer lids that fit with the included pot gripper that is easily attached and removed.

    green solo stove
    Optimus Crux Lite. |Photo: Gabriel Rivett-Carnac

    3. Optimus Crux Lite And Terra Weekend HE Cookset 0.95L

    $58 / $37 | WWW.OPTIMUSSTOVES.COM

    The Crux Lite gas stove is the younger, lighter brother of the original Crux. Optimus eliminated 11 grams with the Crux Lite, pairing it down to only 72 grams. This 3000-watt gas burner advertises a 90-minute burn time for each Optimus 220-gram gas canister.

    When you need Uncle Ben’s right now, dependent on the season and altitude, the Crux Lite averages three-minutes per one-liter of boiling water. We paired the Crux Lite with the Optimus Terra Weekend HE. This .95 liter pot set is a generous solo or fast-and-light double kitchen option.

    The lid doubles as a high-walled frying pan—made from the same hardened aluminum as the pot. Both feature folding handles for easy and compact storage. The heat exchanger in the base of the pot fits around the stove channelling the heat for efficient and even distribution. We love the way these heat exchanger pots fit around the stove rather than just resting precariously on top.

    The internal dimensions allow for storage of a standardsized canister and the Crux Lite compact stove. The Terra Weekend HE comes in a mesh bag to protect it inside a canoe pack or dry bag.

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