Another great one Hoop. I noticed you were kneeling for all of this video and I'm curious if that's the way you travel all the time. I can do it for a while but then my legs cramp up.
Awesome vid; love the realness...weve all had those rainy days,paddling into a headwind all day to slippery portages and muddy sites...love it all! Wondering what your gunwhales are made of and what you whip the throat of your paddle with...?
Hi Rob! Since I got the GoPro, it opens up a whole new perspective and I can film those west soggy days, and high wind days with spray up over the deck. In the past, the trips looked always always sunny and calm, because I had to protect the camera from water! :-) The GoPro is a really fun addition to the video kit for showing the realness. Saltedbiscuit above answered correctly. Yes the gunwales are White Ash. They have a brown patina from many coats of boiled linseed oil. My paddle is made of solid hard maple (Sugar Maple), finished in spar varnish. The throat is whipped with 3mm accessory cord (kernmantle with core and sheath) made by Mammut (purchased at MEC). Mammut cord is woven very tight and has a hard outer finish, and its more like about 2.5mm actual. The cord cross section is true round, and is very hard, not squish-able, in contrast to some paracord varieties which are oval and soft or squishy with alot of space inside the sheath. I varnished the Mammut cord with spar varnish and its amazing that it has yet to fray. Conservation note about white ash: We are losing all our ash tree species now here, due to the exotic invasive Emerald Ash Borer, which is killing all our ash species. Very sad. They recently introduced a new predator/parasite for the EAB, so hopefully in the future we may recover our ash tree species.
Can’t wait for more in this series. Haven’t been canoeing long but recently had my second canoe/camp nothing on your scale but a start. Just trying to fine tune my kit now.
Thank you M.Ferreira! Its been a long time, and I am glad to be back doing YT stuff. I took a year off from social media, but its great to be back, and I really appreciate all the well wishes from you and all the folks! :-)
Sweat soaked clothes under the rain gear is a miserable experience in the woods. Hot and sweaty, fogged up glasses, water sogged boots etc. But always beautiful scenery. Be safe pal!
Thank you Gregory! I have experienced that ultimate soggy-ness many, many times! :-) Luckily this one wasn't that bad, as the weather had cooled down nicely. And the rain held off for the portage later on, so my shirt dried off and the dreaded sweat-fest was averted. :-)
Yup, sweat-fest averted. lol! And lo and behold, we must never forget all the little flying, crawling, buzzing blood suckers that love us so very much! I'm staying close to my computer for your next video, can't wait. Make it a looooong one please!! Stay safe my friend. :)
Hey 654321rob, his gunwales are ash.... A little off-coloured but i am quite certain they are ash. And i think he talks about his paddle in earlier videos. I just can't remember what he used.
Yes the gunwales are White Ash. They have a brown patina from many coats of boiled linseed oil. We are losing all our ash tree species now here, due to the exotic invasive Emerald Ash Borer, which is killing all our ash species. Very sad. They recently introduced a new predator/parasite for the EAB, so hopefully in the future we may recover our ash tree species. My paddle is made of solid hard maple (Sugar Maple), finished in spar varnish.
You.are.a.machine Hoop. Watching you paddle is truly one of the great wonders of the Northern Boreal; the muscle memory is like steel. I must be getting older (I am), as the knees won't handle it like that anymore so have to slow down the km/h a tad lol. I must be a regular as I recognized the portage as soon as I saw the shoreline and cliff behind!? Our water levels are dropping like a stone this year and it was such a promising start in the spring. Total drought here now with so little rain. My trips were cancelled last summer with low water levels and fires (WCPP fire shut down the Nopiming for awhile).
Thanks C! I learned that muscle memory as a young kid at a canoe camp my parents sent me to, starting at 11 years old. It was a great camp, dedicated to canoe tripping and the traditional skills. My knees are good, but I do get leg cramps in the lower legs due to compression and lack of blood flow, so I have to sit up occasionally to get the blood flowing. But I actually prefer the kneeling position because for me, its better for reach and power, and my lower back prefers this paddling position. Water levels are indeed way down. I was fooled on the start of this trip, but realized later that the levels were way down. Strange, since we had deep snow this past winter. This was a warm-up trip to my old haunt, "easy", but with some anticipated blowdown clearing, and hopes for creating a new campsite on a new lake one portage in. Things did not go as planned, and though I won't do a spoiler, I do have a "getting older" painful event coming up later in this series that changed my plans. :-)
@@Wintertrekker Fortunate to have that kind of training at such a young age, makes all the difference. Yes, I prefer the kneeling position for power and stability . . . and the lower back. Think the drought has punished the water levels again, they were looking good after major snow fall but can't tolerate this drought. We've been hemmed in with smoke the last couple days from the WCPP fire, thankfully letting up this evening. Looking forward to that next vid. The age is truly settin' in man!
Thanks George! When the wind and waves are not difficult, I like to use that short high cadence stroke. It seems to keep the canoe on a plane better. But when the wind and waves get tough, I have to switch to a longer stroke with more power, and it slows down in cadence.
My Knees don't allow me to knee much anymore. But as I watch you paddle, I wonder how comfortable that seat is ? Maybe time for a seat with some curvature in it ?
Hi Jim! I am lucky that I have good knees that seem to be ageing well. However I get pains and cramps in my lower legs due to compression and resultant lack of blood flow, so I do have to sit up from time to time and stretch the legs to get the blood flowing again. I will paddle for a while sitting up to relieve the lower legs, then return to a kneeling position when the pain subsides. My lower back feels better when I paddle in the kneeling position, and I like the better reach I get with an open torso in the kneeling position, and for me I get more power in the kneeling position. But everyone's body is different, so it needs to be worked out for each individual, and yes seat modifications can be very important. My seat edge is straight, but its been good. No worries with feet in boots getting under the seat. In rapids, foot entrapment is an issue, so seat hieght when kneeling is an issue to consider when paddling moving water. I have 1 inch gray closed cell foam glued into the canoe bottom for kneeling on.
So glad to see you back. Your style and expertise are a joy to watch.
Thank you Kevin for those very kind words! Its good to be back out on the water and in the bush! :-)
Enjoying the trip and looking forward to it's continuation.
As real as it gets !Awesome !
Another great one Hoop. I noticed you were kneeling for all of this video and I'm curious if that's the way you travel all the time. I can do it for a while but then my legs cramp up.
I enjoy the variety - including the dull grey days. The canoe paddle chat is a bonus!
Awesome vid; love the realness...weve all had those rainy days,paddling into a headwind all day to slippery portages and muddy sites...love it all!
Wondering what your gunwhales are made of and what you whip the throat of your paddle with...?
Hi Rob! Since I got the GoPro, it opens up a whole new perspective and I can film those west soggy days, and high wind days with spray up over the deck. In the past, the trips looked always always sunny and calm, because I had to protect the camera from water! :-) The GoPro is a really fun addition to the video kit for showing the realness. Saltedbiscuit above answered correctly. Yes the gunwales are White Ash. They have a brown patina from many coats of boiled linseed oil. My paddle is made of solid hard maple (Sugar Maple), finished in spar varnish. The throat is whipped with 3mm accessory cord (kernmantle with core and sheath) made by Mammut (purchased at MEC). Mammut cord is woven very tight and has a hard outer finish, and its more like about 2.5mm actual. The cord cross section is true round, and is very hard, not squish-able, in contrast to some paracord varieties which are oval and soft or squishy with alot of space inside the sheath. I varnished the Mammut cord with spar varnish and its amazing that it has yet to fray. Conservation note about white ash: We are losing all our ash tree species now here, due to the exotic invasive Emerald Ash Borer, which is killing all our ash species. Very sad. They recently introduced a new predator/parasite for the EAB, so hopefully in the future we may recover our ash tree species.
Can’t wait for more in this series. Haven’t been canoeing long but recently had my second canoe/camp nothing on your scale but a start. Just trying to fine tune my kit now.
Thank you Martin! Great to hear you have started canoe tripping. Its a very rewarding outdoor pursuit, and you will love it! :-)
I just finished watching parts 1&2. I'm glad to see you back at it!
Thank you M.Ferreira! Its been a long time, and I am glad to be back doing YT stuff. I took a year off from social media, but its great to be back, and I really appreciate all the well wishes from you and all the folks! :-)
Sweat soaked clothes under the rain gear is a miserable experience in the woods. Hot and sweaty, fogged up glasses, water sogged boots etc. But always beautiful scenery. Be safe pal!
Thank you Gregory! I have experienced that ultimate soggy-ness many, many times! :-) Luckily this one wasn't that bad, as the weather had cooled down nicely. And the rain held off for the portage later on, so my shirt dried off and the dreaded sweat-fest was averted. :-)
Yup, sweat-fest averted. lol! And lo and behold, we must never forget all the little flying, crawling, buzzing blood suckers that love us so very much! I'm staying close to my computer for your next video, can't wait. Make it a looooong one please!! Stay safe my friend. :)
Finally a break in the weather Great Day Hoop ! HAPPY CANUCK DAY, Buddy ! ATB T God Bless
Hi Terry, great to hear from you! As I write this, I can hear the fireworks popping in my neighborhood here! :-)
Awesome paddle 👍🤙🇺🇸
Thank you the Vermonter
Thank you LS The Vermonter!
Hey 654321rob, his gunwales are ash.... A little off-coloured but i am quite certain they are ash. And i think he talks about his paddle in earlier videos. I just can't remember what he used.
Yes the gunwales are White Ash. They have a brown patina from many coats of boiled linseed oil. We are losing all our ash tree species now here, due to the exotic invasive Emerald Ash Borer, which is killing all our ash species. Very sad. They recently introduced a new predator/parasite for the EAB, so hopefully in the future we may recover our ash tree species. My paddle is made of solid hard maple (Sugar Maple), finished in spar varnish.
Can't wait for the next video!
I am going to get me one of those boat sponges. Good idea.
Great videos as always.
Thanks Sam! Boat sponge makes all the difference! :-)
Looking like a great rugged trip.
Missed your videos! Glad to see you uploading again
Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks TNO! More to come in the series!
I really enjoy all aspects of the journey and the way you humbly share the info you have gleaned ( 3:19).
Thank you MidwestFirecraft for those kind words! I have slipped on slippery rocks into the lake a few times! :-)
Ever paddle on the other side? Beauty stroke and wilderness.
You.are.a.machine Hoop. Watching you paddle is truly one of the great wonders of the Northern Boreal; the muscle memory is like steel. I must be getting older (I am), as the knees won't handle it like that anymore so have to slow down the km/h a tad lol. I must be a regular as I recognized the portage as soon as I saw the shoreline and cliff behind!?
Our water levels are dropping like a stone this year and it was such a promising start in the spring. Total drought here now with so little rain. My trips were cancelled last summer with low water levels and fires (WCPP fire shut down the Nopiming for awhile).
Thanks C! I learned that muscle memory as a young kid at a canoe camp my parents sent me to, starting at 11 years old. It was a great camp, dedicated to canoe tripping and the traditional skills. My knees are good, but I do get leg cramps in the lower legs due to compression and lack of blood flow, so I have to sit up occasionally to get the blood flowing. But I actually prefer the kneeling position because for me, its better for reach and power, and my lower back prefers this paddling position. Water levels are indeed way down. I was fooled on the start of this trip, but realized later that the levels were way down. Strange, since we had deep snow this past winter. This was a warm-up trip to my old haunt, "easy", but with some anticipated blowdown clearing, and hopes for creating a new campsite on a new lake one portage in. Things did not go as planned, and though I won't do a spoiler, I do have a "getting older" painful event coming up later in this series that changed my plans. :-)
@@Wintertrekker Fortunate to have that kind of training at such a young age, makes all the difference. Yes, I prefer the kneeling position for power and stability . . . and the lower back. Think the drought has punished the water levels again, they were looking good after major snow fall but can't tolerate this drought. We've been hemmed in with smoke the last couple days from the WCPP fire, thankfully letting up this evening. Looking forward to that next vid. The age is truly settin' in man!
Thanks for sharing.
Always great vids, I doubt you have to worry about a fire ban this trip.
Thanks Darrin! It was a somewhat soggy trip, and no fine ban. Yeah!
Your paddling cadence is pretty fast, I'm impressed.
Thanks George! When the wind and waves are not difficult, I like to use that short high cadence stroke. It seems to keep the canoe on a plane better. But when the wind and waves get tough, I have to switch to a longer stroke with more power, and it slows down in cadence.
That area where you do these spring tips looks amazing. Is that Pickle Lake region? Always a pleasure to follow these canoe trip series you put out.
Another beautiful day in the boreal. Better there on a rainy day then at work :)
Nate
You seem to move very fast in your canoe.. nice.
My Knees don't allow me to knee much anymore. But as I watch you paddle, I wonder how comfortable that seat is ? Maybe time for a seat with some curvature in it ?
Hi Jim! I am lucky that I have good knees that seem to be ageing well. However I get pains and cramps in my lower legs due to compression and resultant lack of blood flow, so I do have to sit up from time to time and stretch the legs to get the blood flowing again. I will paddle for a while sitting up to relieve the lower legs, then return to a kneeling position when the pain subsides. My lower back feels better when I paddle in the kneeling position, and I like the better reach I get with an open torso in the kneeling position, and for me I get more power in the kneeling position. But everyone's body is different, so it needs to be worked out for each individual, and yes seat modifications can be very important. My seat edge is straight, but its been good. No worries with feet in boots getting under the seat. In rapids, foot entrapment is an issue, so seat hieght when kneeling is an issue to consider when paddling moving water. I have 1 inch gray closed cell foam glued into the canoe bottom for kneeling on.
Good stuff man!!
Sometimes that old heavy rain gear that doesn’t breathe sucks. Sweating isn’t the answer at all. 🇨🇦
👍 🌧🌧🌲🌲🌧🌧🌲🌲🌧🌧
Is this the same portage as your Spring 2018 video?
Yes, same route.
Hey bozhoo.
Bozhoo / Hello CBC!