Eastern Great Lakes Hang - Spring 2011 - Canoeing into Algonquin

**Danalex** · 02-26-2011, 10:33

I've got a Coleman 15 plastic that I picked up cheap. Works OK.

Love to get one of those nice solo's.

**Dale** · 02-26-2011, 11:28

Man this sounds nice, would love to join you guys, unfortunately I've got Friday the 13th in Port Dover and my 17th anniversary on the 14th.

**Bubba** · 02-26-2011, 11:30

Originally Posted by Dale

Man this sounds nice, would love to join you guys, unfortunately I've got Friday the 13th in Port Dover and my 17th anniversary on the 14th.

That's too bad

Happy riding and Happy anniversary!

**Bubba** · 02-26-2011, 11:49

Been watching some youtube videos of people's canoe trips into Algonquin. I want to go now.

Watching some of the backpacking video made me reminisce about my backpacking trips there as well.

**Chard** · 02-26-2011, 18:13

Hey guys,

Sorry to hear about your "complications" Dale. If we don't all perish, I'd be eager to have another paddling hang in the fall.

Speaking of YouTube, a couple of canoeing videos that always crack me up are Steve Todey's Adventure Into The BWCA , BWCA Sept 2006 and Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

He'a a great story-teller.

**ofsjason** · 02-27-2011, 00:02

Thanks to odds sending me a link, I now know about this

I was actually hoping to go camping in that frame, so I'll let you guys know ASAP if I'll be able to make it!

EDIT: odds you are now properly credited above

**Bubba** · 02-27-2011, 01:34

Originally Posted by ofsjason

Thanks to someone sending me a link, I now know about this

I was actually hoping to go camping in that frame, so I'll let you guys know ASAP if I'll be able to make it!

Your Welcome.

**ofsjason** · 02-27-2011, 14:02

Btw, is this just going to be a couple hours of paddling out to the spot, or is there going to be portaging, hiking, etc. I'd be down for either, though I'm always more of a fan of canoeing because you can bring extra gear and really relax and enjoy the luxuries

I also would be more tempted to bring my higher end camera gear if we did and get lots of pictures over the weekend.

I don't see any reason at the moment that I shouldn't be able to come, I've been wanting to find a group of people who would do this, so finding this forum was amazing!

Also, as far as paddling experience, I paddled canoes every summer as a kid, but I'm far from confident as a solo paddler. If one or multiple people wanted to rent and share a canoe with me, I'll offer up my paddling arms!

One final note, here I backpack it all, but when I used to canoe trip we'd just wrap everything up and stick it in a dry bag. How you guys generally do it for these kinds of trips?

**sturgeon** · 02-27-2011, 14:36

I'd love to come to Algonquin and meet the Ontario hangers, but I'm going to my dad's 80th birthday celebration in Thunder Bay that weekend. (Gonna try and sneak in a little backpacking solo hang while I'm there, too.)

If you need a tandem canoe, you are welcome to borrow mine (Wenonah Spirit 2 kevlar 17'). You'd have to go pick it up at the Toronto waterfront, though, and return it afterwards, and promise not to kill it. ;-)

BTW @ bcaron I just checked out your Massassauga website. Wow, what a service you've done for the canoeing community! *Stands and applauds*

**bcaron** · 02-27-2011, 15:18

Originally Posted by ofsjason

One final note, here I backpack it all, but when I used to canoe trip we'd just wrap everything up and stick it in a dry bag. How you guys generally do it for these kinds of trips?

If you have dry bags kicking around that's as good a solution as any.

As with most things, you can throw money at it and buy a waterproof canoe pack. It's like a huge dry bag with nice straps to carry it. Your backpacking pack will work fine. Not ideal for canoe tripping but ok for a one time trip. Put your sleeping gear, clothes and anything that needs to stay dry in dry bags and you're good to go. Heavy duty garbage bags work. Heavy ziplock bags for smaller items are both time tested cheap options.

My waterproofing method of choice are square olive barrels. Like the one pictured here. I slide two of them side by side, down into the bottom of my canoe pack. One holds my sleeping bag and most of my clothes, pillow and book. The other holds my food, and if it's a short trip some gear as well. They take up about a third of the pack. On top goes a couple dry bags with a sweater, rain gear etc. The second dry bag is my underquilt. I like this system because it's very easy to pack and I can pull out what I need easily. Many imported food stores or deli's throw these out with the trash.

BTW @ bcaron I just checked out your Massassauga website. Wow, what a service you've done for the canoeing community! *Stands and applauds*

Thanks Sturgeon, I've had alot of help over the last few years keeping it current.

Blair