“I thought the bright colors of these canoes seemed almost out of place in the fog,” says photographer Gayle Nicholson.
This photo is was taken by Flickr user Gayle Nicholson and licensed under Creative Commons. Want to see your photo here? Send to [email protected] with subject line Daily Photo.
Join father and son adventurers, Wayne and Brad Jennings, as they pack up the canoe and head south during a cold northern winter. Their destination is the Florida Everglades, where they enjoy six days paddling the sheltered inland waters and open ocean in this unique wilderness setting.
Director and Producer: Wayne and Brad Jennings
While looking at the paddles used by boaters who paddled both open and decked canoes, Sawyer designer Jon “Shaggy” McLaughlin had an inspired idea—an adjustable length canoe paddle to accommodate both C1 gate-grabbing and open boat river running. Similar in construction to Sawyer’s Copperhead kayak paddle, the Venom is super durable, stiff and incomparably eye-catching.
The V-laminate cedar and ash core blade is reinforced with carbon, fibreglass and Dynel for strength, and sized extra-large with a slight scoop for an aggressive stroke. But it’s the Venom’s telescoping ferrule—a first from a North American single blade manufacturer that makes it a must-have for quiver-of-one minimalists. The carbon crankshaft extends up to five inches and stays put with Sawyer’s proven Cam-Lock.
Weight: 30.4 oz., available in two sizes.
paddlesandoars.com | $250
From everyone at Canoeroots, wishing you an adventurous weekend! Get out on the water!
This photo is was taken by Flickr user m.prinke and licensed under Creative Commons. Want to see your photo here? Send to [email protected] with subject line Daily Photo.
Adventure Kayak reader Travis Chappell shared this photo on AK‘s Facebook page: “Took this while fishing.” Proof that rewards come to those who get up early (or stay out late).
Want to see your photo here? Send to [email protected] with subject line Daily Photo.
This kayak trip destination is excerpted from the “Killer Trips” feature in Adventure Kayak magazine.
These adjacent south Florida wildernesses are home to a disproportionately large number of dangerous creatures—from alligators, crocodiles, 20-foot Burmese pythons and four species of venomous snakes to black bears and 30 percent of Florida’s panther population—but it’s the biting insects that are most fearsome. Swarms of mosquitoes, chiggers and no-see-ums make paddling the maze of mangrove-lined creeks and bays, sawgrass prairies, endless sand beaches and cypress strands on the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway or one of the parks’ dozen shorter water trails utterly intolerable—if not deadly—from June to October. www.nps.gov/ever, www.nps.gov/bicy
This article was originally published in the Early Summer 2013 issue of Adventure Kayak. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.
So many kayaks, and so little time (and money!). What’s your all-time favorite boat?
This photo is was taken by Flickr user Brooke Anderson and licensed under Creative Commons. Want to see your photo here? Send to [email protected] with subject line Daily Photo.
Don’t leave your best friend at home when you paddle—your pooch is ready to take the plunge. Whether it’s protection against marauding chipmunks, a snuggly tent mate or a companion to wile away long hours with on the water, Rover is ready to provide. “The truth is 99 percent of dogs are fine in a canoe,” says Kathryn Howell, owner of Dog Paddling Adventures, an outfitter that provides dog-friendly canoe camping adventures. “They’re so happy to be out there, all they need is a lifejacket.” Flatwater routes and slow-moving rivers are ideal to create a sense of security and a non-slip pad on the hull of the canoe goes a long way to making your pooch feel more stable. Rules differ from coast to coast—not every park or wilderness area allows pets in the backcountry, but these ones do.
Seven Carries – Adirondacks
The historic Seven Carries, located in the Saint Regis Canoe Area, is a beautiful paddling destination. Portages are gentle and camping is first come, first served. This designated wilderness area is the largest in the Northeast. Expect loons, great swimming and better fishing. At nine miles, it’s a chance to test your dog’s sea legs. Shuttle needed. www.visitadirondacks.com
Sayward Forest Canoe Route – Vancouver Island
One of the most extensive freshwater paddling routes on the island, twelve lakes make up this circuit. Paddle the entire 50 kilometers or just a portion. Your pooch will appreciate the chance to stretch his legs on the eight kilometers of portages throughout the circuit and you’ll appreciate that much of it accommodates wheeled carts—are you thinking what I’m thinking? Mush! www. vancouverisland.com.
Current River – Missouri
Spring-fed, cold and clear, the Current River in Missouri boasts caves, trails and historic sites along its banks. Part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the Current offers numerous outfitters, access points and camping options. Take Fido for a day trip or embark on more than 70 miles of float paddling. www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm.
Sabine River – Texas
On the border between Texas and Louisiana, this is a river of solitude for you and your canine friend. Camp on white sand beaches and paddle past shores lined with cypress, willow and sweetgum. Start your trip downstream of the Toledo Bend Reservoir—you can take out after 28 miles or canoe up to 120 miles before you near the Gulf of Mexico.
La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve – Quebec
North of Montreal in the province of Quebec, La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve covers some 8,000 square kilometers of ruff backcountry and is home to more than 40 species of wildlife and 150 species of birds. With options ranging from day trips to 105-mile circuits, there’s something for everyone.
www.canot-camping.ca.
This article first appeared in Canoeroots & Family Camping, Spring 2013 issue. Download our free iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch App or Android App or read it here.
Between all our editorial, design and sales staff, we have a combined total of 103 years of whitewater experience. That’s a lot of cycles on the calendar spent traveling bumpy put-in roads, tracing sinuous blue lines on topo maps, sharing accommodations with wintering rodent populations and generally chasing the whitewater dream.
We’re also based in the blink-and-you-miss-it timber town of Palmer Rapids. Sure there’s no nightlife (aside from community center bingo), a box of Corn Flakes costs six bucks, the general store rents only VHS and fine dining is a seasonal chip stand. But if you triangulate between the Ottawa Valley’s world-class whitewater, Algonquin Park’s thousands of wilderness lakes, and the spring creeks that tumble off the southerly edge of the Canadian Shield, you’ll find Palmer Rapids at the center.
Hopefully that provides you with some confidence that we when it comes to river towns, we know what we’re talking about. Here—in no particular order—are Paddling Magazine‘s picks for the best whitewater towns.
2. Hood River, Oregon
3. Thunder Bay, Ontario
4. Asheville, North Carolina
5. Jasper, Alberta
6. Lake Placid, New York
7. Revelstoke, British Columbia
8. Nevada City, California
Best all-river towns
1. Fayetteville, West Virginia
2. Copperhill, Tennessee
3. Clearwater, British Columbia
4. Confluence, Pennsylvania
5. Petawawa, Ontario
6. Crested Butte, Colorado
7. Kernville, California
8. Maniwaki, Quebec
2. Franklin, North Carolina
3. Charlemont, Massachusetts
4. Palmer Rapids, Ontario
5. Forks of Salmon, California
6. Bingham, Maine
7. Canmore, Alberta
8. White Lake, Wisconsin
3. Pueblo, Colorado
5. Watertown, New York
6. Reno, Nevada
7. Cambridge, Ontario
8. Missoula, Montana
1. Sjoa, Norway
2. Pucón, Chile
3. Turrialba, Costa Rica
5. Thun, Switzerland
6. Jalcomulco, Mexico
7. Briançon, France
8. Oetz, Austria
9. Rotorua, New Zealand
10. Pokhara, Nepal
11. Tolmin, Soča, Slovenia
2. Trail, British Columbia
3. Fort Smith, Northwest Territories
4. San Marcos, Texas
6. Enderby, British Columbia
7. Glenwood Springs, Colorado
When it comes to the question of whether to sit or kneel in a canoe, times are changing. Tradition always dictated that kneeling demonstrated proper technique—sitting was sloppy.
Innovation, on the other hand, has resulted in technique that has canoeists actually paddling stronger while seated. It’s not quite as easy as just changing positions, though. You’ll need to modify your paddling style to match your seated stance for added power, efficiency and comfort.
Proponents of kneeling usually argue that it’s more stable than sitting. This isn’t always true. Lower the seat and there’s no need to kneel. Properly mounted tractor seats are installed with this in mind. Tractor seats also force paddlers to keep their center of gravity over the center of buoyancy of the boat, eliminating balance issues related to sliding to one side on a bench seat.
Kneelers who claim they get more power likely do so by leaning forward and planting their paddles further ahead—reach afforded by their kneeling position. However, when paddling most canoes, this is less efficient since it causes the bow of the canoe to porpoise in the water.
The shorter, faster stroke cadence of the seated paddler lends itself to bent shaft paddles. Because tractor seats are lower than bench seats, a shorter paddle is required. Bent shaft paddles also demand less reach because of the angle the blade enters the water.
Those quick to criticize bent shaft paddles for their clumsiness when it comes to steering strokes will find that switching sides is actually easier seated than while kneeling because of the stability factors mentioned above. Replace a pry, which is ineffective with bent shaft paddles, by changing sides (hut!) and doing a draw—generally more ideal than a pry anyways because it’s more powerful. Pries can also destabilize the canoe, which can be an issue with the lower freeboard boats commonly designed for this style of paddling.
The shortened overall height of this more modern style of boat not only reduces wind sheer, it also allows seated paddlers to comfortably reach over the sides as well as brace thighs and knees beneath the gunwales.
Bow paddlers should rest their thighs against the sides of the canoe and feet against the air chamber in front of them. Boats with tractor seats often have an optional foot brace for stern paddlers. Engaging your lower body creates the feeling of pulling the boat forward across the water rather than pushing the water backwards, behind the canoe, as is the case with straight shaft paddling common to the traditional kneeling style.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits to paddling from a seated position is the added comfort. No more sore knees, no more pins and needles. Marathon canoeists paddle almost exclusively seated with their lower bodies braced to maintain comfort over long distances while still generating maximum power.
Kneeling remains the best choice for classic soloists and paddling most technical whitewater, but if you don’t want to kneel, learn to paddle properly when seated. Just like kneeling paddlers, in order to maintain an efficient stroke, seated paddlers must sit up straight and generate power by rotating the torso rather than relying entirely on arms. They key here is not to slouch in your seat.
