Lake Superior Goodness

Morning commute just wild!

Megan — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:38:49 +0000

Most people don’t have the luxury of complaining about the lack of traffic on their morning commute to work. I won’t complain either but some days it can get pretty wild. Wild with animals that is. All in total, on my travels to and from work I have encountered a lynx, a bear, bald eagles, two baby foxes, a moose and her baby and just recently this hawk. I was riding my bike and stopped to snap a shot. He didn’t seem spooked in the least by my presence.

I may not have anywhere to buy shoes within 200km but I wouldn’t trade that in for the beauty I am privileged to encounter everyday.

The Bail-Out Kit

Megan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:16:01 +0000

Ideally you won’t be in the water without your kayak but if the circumstances arise that cause you to be separated from your boat- you’ll be happy that you thought to prepare a Bail-Out Kit in advance.

Things to consider: It should be attached to your deck for easy removal or be worn on you or your PFD (inside your cockpit would be fine if the likelihood of capsize is small), it should be able to float on its own, not be too large and obtrusive yet still have the important items inside.

What to put in it:

Foam to keep it afloat if it isn’t in a floatable container.
Identification, important phone numbers, money, credit card
Survival blanket
Small first aid kit
Signal mirror
Flares
Flashlight
Matches
Power bars
VHF radio/SPOT satellite messenger, EPIRB etc (if not already on your person)
Anything else that makes sense to you i.e. fishing tackle if you know how to use it; a knife and whistle if they aren’t already located on your PFD.

Container selections

Waterproof deck bag like Seal Line’s Baja Deck Bag or Gaia Sports Tortuga Deck Bag
Non waterproof containers like Northwater’s compact Turtle Back Deck Bag
Wearable containers like Seattle Sports’ Aqualock Fanny Pack
Hard cases like Pelican’s 1200 case.

*Further reading: “Sea Kayaker’s Savvy Paddler” by Doug Alderson. McGraw Hill Publishing.

How to Pack Your ‘Yak.

Megan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:24:07 +0000

There is no perfect way to pack a sea kayak, a lot will depend on the length of your trip and the type of kayak you have, not to mention the kind of tripper you are (minimalist vs all the bells and whistles). Here are just a few suggestions to help you along your way.

Loading your Boat

There will a lot of variation on how people pack their boat. It is a very personalized skill so whatever works for you will do. There is however one indisputable rule that you will want to keep in mind. *Heaviest items should be kept low and centered.

A loaded kayak is actually more stable than an empty one.

Keeping weight away from the ends of the boat helps bow and stern climb waves rather than plough through them which also helps make turning easier.

The heaviest items should be packed in the back of the boat, right behind the seat- this helps keep the bow lighter and therefore less likely to plough though waves.

Weight should also be centered from side to side since a boat listing to one side will want to turn in circles.

Although water shouldn’t get into your “watertight” hatches- it inevitably will at some point so best to keep your things stored in dry bags.

Organizing

Create a system that works for you and stick with it. The more trips you do, the easier it becomes.

Coloured dry bags are useful for organizing your stuff i.e. blue for your sleeping bag, red for food etc. I find it helpful to keep this system on all of my trips so that my sleeping bag is always in the same colour dry bag so I know where to find it.

I like using a clear, vinyl dry bag for my clothes so I can see where everything is inside. They are not as durable as most other dry bags and tend to “sweat” if left in the sun but I still find the benefits of just reaching in a grabbing a pair of socks without dumping out ½ the contents far outweighs the negative aspects.

Some folks choose to pack their food with all of the breakfasts in one bag and all the lunches in another bag. Others like all Day 1 meals together etc. Another option is to pack staples together (ie the veggie bag, the pasta bag etc.). One way is not necessarily better than another but again- pick a system and master it.

Deck Froo-froo

You may know froo-froo by a different name but it is all the same-clutter. And clutter on your deck impedes safety and paddling efficiency not to mention can get annoying.

Things on top of your deck can cause your boat to weathercock more (ie turn upwind)
Waves can knock stuff off your deck.
Trying to rescue a boat with froo-froo hanging off the deck can be difficult and in the very least, annoying.

Try to limit the deck load to a single deck bag to store camera, snacks, water bottle and VHF radio and/or bail-out kit.

Position your spare paddle so it will not have to be removed to rig a paddle float rescue.

Tips and Tricks

Create a system and try to stick with it. Pack items that come on all of your trips in the same place to make things easier to find.

Pack up your boat as close to the water as possible to avoid dragging (or lifting) your loaded boat.

Keep your itinerary in mind. If lunch is going to be your next stop, pack it and the necessary eatlery near the top (plus a tarp if the weather looks inclement). Things that you won’t need until you set up camp (i.e. tent and sleeping bag) can go into tip and tail.

Put a snack in your PFD pocket in case lunch is delayed.

I pack my first aid kit near the top of my hatches but keep a smaller “ouch kit” in my cockpit for on the water blister attention.

Safety devices, VHF radio and flares should not be packed away. They can be secured on you, your deck or cockpit.

Don’t let cockpit space go to waste. If your boat has a high hull, you can rig up an under-deck bag. You can also fit things in front of your feet like a water bladder (if you are carrying your water) or a soft cooler. Just be sure things are secure and not liable to get stuck in your foot pegs. Don’t expect to have access to these items very easily.

Things that need to be chilled can be stored on the bottom of your boat as the cold water acts as a refrigerator.

Pack your tent in 4 parts; fly, tent body, groundsheet/footprint and poles. Each one can be packed into smaller spaces.

Don’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Don’t plug up a hatch with a big bag before all the space ahead is used up.

Use a duffle bag (a mesh one is wonderful) to cart your gear to the campsite and back and to the car at the end of the trip.

On a budget? Line a stuff sack with a garbage bag- tie a slip knot for easy access. Do not put the garbage bag on the outside of the stuff sack (this should be obvious).

Loose items can be fit into small nooks and crannies.

Don’t forget to squeeze the air out of your dry bags before stowing them (you can even squeeze the air out while the dry bag is already in the hatch).

* The best approach is to paddle with friends who are minimalists as they have room for all of the group gear!

We’ve got 10 provincial and national parks within a 200km radius of us.

Megan — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:07:02 +0000

Not even kidding! That’s not even counting nature reserves or conservation areas.

The closest one is right across the river- Michipicoten Post Provincial Park (the location of the old Hudson Bay Post).

Here is a list of the others:

Lake Superior Provincial Park- 20km
Obatanga Provincial Park- 60km
Potholes Provincial Park- 60km
The Shoals Provincial Park- 90km
White Lake Provincial Park- 125km
Pancake Bay Provincial Park- 140km
Batchewawa Provincial Park- 160km
Wakami Lake Provincial Park- 190km
Pukaskwa National Park-195km

You might have to come back once or twice if you want to visit them all.

NSA Open for Business.

Megan — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:08:11 +0000

We don’t have an official opening day. We just plug away, getting stuff ready for the season while more and more staff trickle in. Since we’ve already had one group out on a 4 day trip on Lake Superior and have also ran our first Sea Kayak Level I Paddle Canada Skills course, had a handful of people stay at the lodge plus shuttled some folks up to the Dog River so they could paddle back. I’d say we are officially open for business.

The paddle shop/office has got a fresh coat of paint and most of our gear is back on the shelves. We’ll send some folks down the Agawa River later this month, host a Wilderness Medical Associates advanced first aid course and start our Sea kayak Level II skills course before the month is out.

So far it looks like an average busy summer- not bad considering the down turn in economy everyone keeps speaking of.

Spring close by here on Lake Superior

Megan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:20:39 +0000

So we still have a wee bit of snow kicking around but there are a few things happening here at Rock Island that indicate that spring is here. One sign is that crocuses are beginning to peep up through the ground.

The second is the irises coming up out of the gardens.

The third is that we have a raven’s nest in our boathouse. You can’t see the babies in the photograph but there must be at least 2 based on the amount of squawking I could hear.

Spring Paddling

Megan — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:05:47 +0000

Spring has been taking its sweet time up here on Lake Superior. The last week has been nice and sunny with temperatures just above freezing (highs around 4 degrees). Snow has been slow to melt so we could use something in the 15degree range for a couple of days.

This past Good Friday, a couple of the crew from NSA and friends decided to venture out on to the big lake. There were a bunch of chunky icy bits floating out not far from shore and we were worried that they were going to blow in with the wind so we turned around and headed up river. Here are some shots:

Sorry for the purple hue- shot was taken with the sun behind me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqb02I-sH3U

Pukaskwa National Park bridge upgrades for this year.

Megan — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:03:58 +0000

Anyone planning on hiking the coastal trail of Pukaskawa National Park this year should be forewarned that the park plans on upgrading 2 major bridges on the trail system. The first one is the White River Suspension Bridge about 8km in. The second is over the Willow River about 14km in. The park anticipates that the repairs won’t be completed until 2010.

So you have 2 options. One is to hire a boat shuttle to take you south of Willow River, hike to the end of the trail and get a boat shuttle back. Two, you can paddle the coast and see it from the water.

National (Ontario) Sea Kayak Symposium — 25% Discount

David — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:28:09 +0000

From the Good Folks at Rapid Magazine:

For our visitors from outside of Ontario, please forgive Ontario’s audacity naming this the National Sea Kayak Symposium possibly missing some great stuff happening on our west and east coast. Still, we think it’s great that Rapid and Adventure kayak magazine is going for the gusto!

Receive a 25% discount when you register for Palmer Fest’s new Canoe and Sea Kayak Weekend including CANOE 09, the Canadian Canoe Symposium and NaSKS, the National Sea Kayak Symposium.

CANOE 09 and NaSKS registration includes:

Two days of professional instruction in CANOE 09 or National Sea Kayak Symposium clinics (including kids and women’s clinics)

Two nights camping at Paddler Co-op Boathouse—Friday and Saturday night (see registration fees for this option, limited space, register now)
Saturday night catered BBQ dinner
Sunday morning breakfast
Extensive kayak test paddling/demos from top canoe and sea kayak manufacturers HUGE Exhibitor Alley
Live music—TBA
Best of the Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour
Daycare during on-water clinics

With this 25% discount, early bird registration is only $82.50.CDN

Enter “NATURALLYSUPERIOR” on your registration form as your redeem/coupon code to receive this special member discount.

For more information and to register for Palmer Fest, visit www.rapidmedia.com or call (613) 758-2042.

Plan your paddling symposium season.

Megan — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:32:53 +0000

The paddling season is quite short up here in the north so we have to make the best of it while it lasts. We’ve compiled a list of some of the more local symposiums and kayak festivals that we know of to help you plan your paddling season. Look for you favourite Naturally Superior Adventure’s Staff at the ones listed in italics.

Palmer Fest Sea Kayak & Canoe Weekend: Palmer Rapids, ON. May 8-10. More details…

Paddle Party and Open House: White Squall Paddling Centre, Georgian Bay, ON. May 16-17. More details…

Mountain Equipment Co-op Paddlefest, Toronto,ON. June 13-14. More details…

Inland Sea Symposium: Madison, WI. June 18-21. More details…

North of Superior Kayak Symposium: Thunder Bay. July 3-5. More details…

Door County Sea Kayak Symposium: Madison, WI. July 10-12. More details…

Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium, Grand Marais, MI. July 16-19. More details…

Ladies of the Lake: Hougton, MI. Aug 14-16. More details…

West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium: Port Townsend, WA. Sept 25-27. More details…

Surf Superior Confluence: Wawa, ON. Oct 2-4. More details…