The farther i get into this series of videos the more i like this route. Great trip so far. i'll have to catch the rest of the videos when i return from the Teton Wilderness..Take care Larry and thanks for the great videos.
Thanks! Have a great time in the Teton Wilderness. I'm heading into the Boundary Waters again next week for another 2 week solo.... which means I won't be posting many (if any) videos while you're away...
We look forward to follow you - Solo over 50 recommended your channel. Like to see that you live your dreams with this long canoetrip. Have no time to look trough the whole video just now, but will do it soon! Greetings from Tove and Kaja
I could almost feel the challenge on Alice ! I did notice the change of the wave direction. The Kootenay served you well. I'm wondering how you get the weather updates ? Enjoyed it ! Some great stills at the end.
Yeah, the Kootenay handled the waves well -- it was white knuckled paddling though. I have a GRMS/FRS two way radio that has a weather radio band on it. Didn't used to bother -- just took whatever mother nature threw at me. Lately, I've become more and more dependent on it. Maybe it's my old age. ;) On this trip, they did a great job predicting when rain was going to start, lousy job predicting when it was going to end. Thanks once again!
Hey Larry, I'm enjoying some of your older videos right now. We enter fall lake on Saturday, so we are excited. Looks like we will have a bit of rain on our trip. I am wondering what wind speeds you would start to think it will too windy for canoeing? Thanks. Can't wait to finish watching this trip. Looks like it was a lot of fun.
Hi Todd, There's no one exact wind speed that I consider too windy. A lot depends on the lake you're on, your skills as a paddler and whether you're in a solo or tandem canoe. When I'm solo, I usually draw the line in the 20-25 mph range and prefer less than 15. A wide open lake or a long, narrow lake -- when you're at the downwind end -- is the worst. A smaller lake shelters you from the wind a lot more. Other factor is if there are islands and/or points to take breathers behind and whether the shoreline is high or low. A loaded canoe is more stable than an empty one but you do have to worry about how much freeboard you have. I usually pay more attention to whether or not there are whitecaps than I do the wind speed and try not to paddle when whitecaps are present. I also prefer going into the waves rather than across them or even with them following. At least when you're heading into them, you can see what's coming. When they're coming from behind, you never know exactly what's going to hit you. I always try to err on the side of caution. Yes, this trip was a lot of fun and, being my first 2-week trip, was a real learning experience. Hope you have a great time on your trip. It's tough to put together a BW trip without a bit of rain. Just hope you also get some sunshine!
Hi Larry. Wow what a great video. You have once again out did yourself. I finally have been able to sit down and watch this after kids went to bed. The portages leading up to Fishdance lake looked pretty bad. How will we find the pictographs once we get to Fishdance? Thanks for doing this Larry. I'm sure you had better things to do, so I really appreciate it :-)
Mike, Thanks! Just remember, I was soloing and carrying all my gear. You'll be tandem and will only have day gear with you. Hopefully, you'll have better weather as well. The portages shouldn't be too bad. The pictos are easy to find... just look for the big cliff on the western shore near the north end of the lake. Just look carefully as you cruise by the base of the cliff. My pleasure!
+nibimocs thanks. This is so much fun, I'm watching this again. The weather forecast so far says scattered T storms on Sunday the day we are leaving. What does that mean? Will it be too dangerous to even attempted getting out on the water? We wanted to get to Lake Insula on Sunday. Oh well right?
It's best to be off the water -- or, at least close to shore -- when there's a thundershower nearby. Since they're supposed to be scattered, it doesn't sound like it's an all day thing. Just be prepared to wait it out if a shower pops up. Right now, the forecast for wind speed doesn't look too bad. You shouldn't run into anything like I did in this video. Just stay as flexible as possible. Don't push through to Insula if you don't feel safe doing so. As I hope these videos show, I'm constantly evaluating the situation and altering my plans based on what the weather does and how I feel. When I'm with others, I also try to assess their capabilities and comfort levels. Always err on the side of caution.
Say... what day are you coming out (I think you already told me but I can't remember)? I'm actually going to be in Ely Tuesday - Thursday next week on business. This just popped up today.
+nibimocs thanks Larry! Yes you are correct as usual. I was thinking the same thing while watching your last video how you spent the whole day at the campsite. I'm bringing the book "a walk in the woods" just in case I'm stuck. By the way, if you haven't read that book you should. I'm not a reader, but loved that book and am reading it again. Thanks Larry. I was currently looking for my weather alert radio. Planning on taking it with me.
I don't have a GoPro but I do use a Nikon Point & Shoot (P&S) when paddling. I almost always use autofocus... the difference being that, if I'm using one of the 2 P&S cameras, the camera decides what to focus on. If I'm using one of the 2 DSLRs, I let the camera know where to focus.
Late September to early October. Fewer people, fewer bugs, fall color, lakes are close to their max temps. Of course, you do have to worry about the weather -- including snow -- that time of year, especially in October. I have had mid-October trips when the highs were in the 70's though. You just never know -- but that's true at all times.
The farther i get into this series of videos the more i like this route. Great trip so far. i'll have to catch the rest of the videos when i return from the Teton Wilderness..Take care Larry and thanks for the great videos.
Thanks! Have a great time in the Teton Wilderness. I'm heading into the Boundary Waters again next week for another 2 week solo.... which means I won't be posting many (if any) videos while you're away...
Have a great time and be safe. i'll check out more vids when i return.
Enjoying the series, Larry. Thanks for the time you put into this. Heading up to the Kawishiwi in a week.
Thank you Joshua! Hope you have a great trip!
That's some fancy paddling in waves like that! Looks like a great day in the BWCA although wet and wild!
It was definitely a white knuckled day in the BWCA. I was just thankful most of the paddling was on the river.
Very nice views! Thumbs up ! :)
Thanks!
We look forward to follow you - Solo over 50 recommended your channel. Like to see that you live your dreams with this long canoetrip. Have no time to look trough the whole video just now, but will do it soon! Greetings from Tove and Kaja
Thanks for subscribing and commenting! I subscribed to your channel as well and look forward to viewing your videos.
I could almost feel the challenge on Alice ! I did notice the change of the wave direction. The Kootenay served you well. I'm wondering how you get the weather updates ? Enjoyed it ! Some great stills at the end.
Yeah, the Kootenay handled the waves well -- it was white knuckled paddling though.
I have a GRMS/FRS two way radio that has a weather radio band on it. Didn't used to bother -- just took whatever mother nature threw at me. Lately, I've become more and more dependent on it. Maybe it's my old age. ;) On this trip, they did a great job predicting when rain was going to start, lousy job predicting when it was going to end.
Thanks once again!
Hey Larry, I'm enjoying some of your older videos right now. We enter fall lake on Saturday, so we are excited. Looks like we will have a bit of rain on our trip. I am wondering what wind speeds you would start to think it will too windy for canoeing?
Thanks. Can't wait to finish watching this trip. Looks like it was a lot of fun.
Hi Todd, There's no one exact wind speed that I consider too windy. A lot depends on the lake you're on, your skills as a paddler and whether you're in a solo or tandem canoe. When I'm solo, I usually draw the line in the 20-25 mph range and prefer less than 15. A wide open lake or a long, narrow lake -- when you're at the downwind end -- is the worst. A smaller lake shelters you from the wind a lot more. Other factor is if there are islands and/or points to take breathers behind and whether the shoreline is high or low. A loaded canoe is more stable than an empty one but you do have to worry about how much freeboard you have. I usually pay more attention to whether or not there are whitecaps than I do the wind speed and try not to paddle when whitecaps are present. I also prefer going into the waves rather than across them or even with them following. At least when you're heading into them, you can see what's coming. When they're coming from behind, you never know exactly what's going to hit you. I always try to err on the side of caution.
Yes, this trip was a lot of fun and, being my first 2-week trip, was a real learning experience.
Hope you have a great time on your trip. It's tough to put together a BW trip without a bit of rain. Just hope you also get some sunshine!
Hi Larry. Wow what a great video. You have once again out did yourself. I finally have been able to sit down and watch this after kids went to bed. The portages leading up to Fishdance lake looked pretty bad. How will we find the pictographs once we get to Fishdance? Thanks for doing this Larry. I'm sure you had better things to do, so I really appreciate it :-)
Mike, Thanks! Just remember, I was soloing and carrying all my gear. You'll be tandem and will only have day gear with you. Hopefully, you'll have better weather as well. The portages shouldn't be too bad. The pictos are easy to find... just look for the big cliff on the western shore near the north end of the lake. Just look carefully as you cruise by the base of the cliff.
My pleasure!
+nibimocs thanks. This is so much fun, I'm watching this again. The weather forecast so far says scattered T storms on Sunday the day we are leaving. What does that mean? Will it be too dangerous to even attempted getting out on the water? We wanted to get to Lake Insula on Sunday. Oh well right?
It's best to be off the water -- or, at least close to shore -- when there's a thundershower nearby. Since they're supposed to be scattered, it doesn't sound like it's an all day thing. Just be prepared to wait it out if a shower pops up. Right now, the forecast for wind speed doesn't look too bad. You shouldn't run into anything like I did in this video. Just stay as flexible as possible. Don't push through to Insula if you don't feel safe doing so. As I hope these videos show, I'm constantly evaluating the situation and altering my plans based on what the weather does and how I feel. When I'm with others, I also try to assess their capabilities and comfort levels. Always err on the side of caution.
Say... what day are you coming out (I think you already told me but I can't remember)? I'm actually going to be in Ely Tuesday - Thursday next week on business. This just popped up today.
+nibimocs thanks Larry! Yes you are correct as usual. I was thinking the same thing while watching your last video how you spent the whole day at the campsite. I'm bringing the book "a walk in the woods" just in case I'm stuck. By the way, if you haven't read that book you should. I'm not a reader, but loved that book and am reading it again. Thanks Larry. I was currently looking for my weather alert radio. Planning on taking it with me.
Larry, do you use autofocus on your camera for the videos? I guess when paddling you use the go pro, so yes. But when in camp?
I don't have a GoPro but I do use a Nikon Point & Shoot (P&S) when paddling. I almost always use autofocus... the difference being that, if I'm using one of the 2 P&S cameras, the camera decides what to focus on. If I'm using one of the 2 DSLRs, I let the camera know where to focus.
Larry, if you were to only have time for one trip (1-2 weeks) in the BWCA in 2019, what month would you take your trip?
Late September to early October. Fewer people, fewer bugs, fall color, lakes are close to their max temps. Of course, you do have to worry about the weather -- including snow -- that time of year, especially in October. I have had mid-October trips when the highs were in the 70's though. You just never know -- but that's true at all times.