Embrace the suck!
That’s my motto. Or, at least, one of them. Another is that there is no such thing as bad weather. Just inadequate gear or preparation. My packs might weigh more than your average ultra lighter, but I would rather be comfortable and more importantly – PREPARED – when I could be days away from the exit.
Canoe Tripping Since
2008
Camping
Since
1982
If you want to know more about me, there’s an About page. It might have fake facts.
And now, a random selection of posts
WI River 2018 Part 1
Friday, June 15 We’ve decided upon an easy 10 mile section – putting in at the Arena public landing and taking out at Tower Hill State Park. During the week prior to our trip our region had been in the midst of an early season heat wave, with daytime temps above 90 and heat indices pushing 105. The recent heat and lack of rainfall has caused the Wisconsin to drop into the sandbar sweet spot…
BWCA 2022 Day 9
Monday, 9/26/2022. Day 9 It’s a cool morning to start today, our last full day in the BWCA. I slept with the water filter down in the foot of my sleeping bag so it wouldn’t possibly freeze overnight. The filter tech doesn’t like being frozen. Development of ice can rupture the membrane allowing unfiltered water to pass, which could possibly lead to us getting sick. Lots of people drink straight from the lake and don’t…
More hull repairs
Got over to the shop for a 4+ hour session Saturday night. I taped off the hull under the gunwales and sanded then oiled the rails except for the very top on both ends. At the stems I made a dam and worked neat epoxy with sawdust mixed in into the gaps to fill. Came back today to remove the plastic and any embedded tape while the resin was still soft. I may want to…
Kickapoo River 2016
In November 2015, our Boy Scout troop selected Wildcat Mountain State Park as our destination for May 2016’s monthly campout. Due to it’s proximity to the Kickapoo River, we decided a day trip down a section of the river would be fun. We’re lucky that our troop has a canoe trailer outfitted with a good selection of paddles and PFDs. Added to the mix are a couple of personal watercraft and that was the fleet…
![BWCA 2023 Day 7]()
BWCA 2023 Day 7
July 26, 2023 Well, the dawn paddle didn’t happen. The weather forecast turned out to be accurate & strong storms blew through camp around 3AM, right when we were planning on waking up. I woke up and heard it coming and was able to get out to batten down the hammock hatches before it hit. Thomas was also up around this time and heard the weather coming in and didn’t bother to wake anyone up,…
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“WENS Vista made our entire trip effortless. Everything was beautifully organized, from the itinerary to the local experiences. It was truly an unforgettable journey.”
Sarah Mitchell, United Kingdom
“WENS Vista made our entire trip effortless. Everything was beautifully organized, from the itinerary to the local experiences. It was truly an unforgettable journey.”
Sarah Mitchell, United Kingdom
“WENS Vista made our entire trip effortless. Everything was beautifully organized, from the itinerary to the local experiences. It was truly an unforgettable journey.”