Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: CCS Solo Portage Packs, etc.
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DanCooke |
I would begin with the Pioneer pack and either the Rucksack or Bushcrafter for your Solo Adventures and add an Explorer and Wanderer when your wife joins you. It is usually the other passions (photography, fishing, reading, birding) that make your determination of your pack size, more than the base equipment. The Pioneer pack should be able to fit a summer weight sleeping bag and pad and all your clothes and shelter for a multi-week trip. Allways take what you need, and leave all the stuff that" well as long as I have room for it stuff". The Rucksack or Bushcrafter should be able to handle all your kitchen and food needs. A solo food pack is still quite a bit of space for one person unless your food is one of your passions, or you will be doing multi-week adventures. If you are into a more hardshell type of food pack then either the Bear vault BV500 will fit the rucksack (up to 2 will fit) or go to a 30 Liter Barrel or Quad Pack. The outside pockets should be used if you use liquid fuels in your stove. I personally like soft packs over buckets or barrels Not knowing your physical abilities- but typically you should be able to carry the Pioneer Pack either before or after portaging the Canoe while carrying the Rucksack / Food pack with the canoe. I would tend to encourage the smaller/ lighter pack with the canoe, and carry the larger pack across first as your vision is not restricted by the canoe. I prefer red or yellow packs as they stand out- you spot them quickly. I would recommend a 10 x 12 1.1 Silnylon Tundra Tarp for shelter beyond the tent. I hate to be in a tent escaping weather- I would rather be out seeing the weather, than retreating from it. You can always make the tarp set fit in a smaller space but you never can make the protected area bigger than the tarp size. If you are looking for a tarp / Insect haven I would have you look at a lean one for you and your wife rather than the Tundra Tarp. I personally prefer white or yellow. |
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Northwoodsman |
quote SilentPaddler: "Northwoodsman - I like either the 10 x 12 or a 10 x 14. Either one will give you an adequate area of overhead coverage with a portion dropping down as a wind break when it's cold or raining sideways. We based camped on a point on Cherokee last fall and it was windy, rainy and in the 40's the entire second day. The 10 x 14 kept us warm, dry and happy! I like Dan's points about bright colored packs. All of mine red. Very easy to spot; not likely to get left behind or mixed up on a portage. And to schweady's point, how often do you get the owner of one of the highest quality suppliers in the world chiming in to give you their own personal advice based on years of experience? Priceless. |
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schweady |
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Wally13 |
Dan Cooke recommendations are spot on! 3 years ago at Canoecopia, I asked Dan what CCS packs would work best for a solo canoe trip using a Bell Magic. Dan suggested buying a Pioneer Pack and a Ruck Sack (it will hold 2 BV 500 Bear Vaults for food, positioned sideways). I couldn't be happier with the purchase. They fit in like a glove. Well made and very comfortable to portage. Suncatcher uses these CCS packs for his solo canoe trips and I have used his quality advice for many canoe tripping purchase items. |
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PineKnot |
Regardless of what you decide to buy, CCS packs are great and you'll love them on canoe trips. |
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uiyyuc |
It "should" hold plenty for a couple of nights or more, but it all depends on the weather and location you'll be out in. If you have to pack a huge sleeping bag, then you'll want to go for at least 100L, but for a small summer bag you'd get away with 40-50L (in a well designed pack). The size of your cooking kit also makes a difference. If you want to use 16cm billy cans, griddles, large kettles, etc, then you'll need a pack with a large single main compartment, or something with decent sized side pouches. If you have a tiny kettle and a couple of small nesting pans, then you don't need to worry too much about it. Your form of shelter is another thing that makes a big difference. A small tent will take up several times the room that a silnylon tarp will, unless you strap it to the outside somewhere. You're doing the right thing by asking for suggestions though, as buying a pack online can cause serious hassle. Most manufacturers vastly exaggerate the capacities of their packs, and the design of the compartments can halve the effective use of a packs capacity. |
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SilentPaddler |
My wife and I recently purchased 2 solo canoes. I got a Northstar Northwind Solo and she got a Northstar Trillium. We are fairly novice paddlers and do not own any portage packs, etc. We are focusing on CCS as a supplier. Here are my questions: 1.) If I alone were to go on a solo trip for a week to the BWCA/Quetico which CCS packs would be a good set? 2.) If my wife were to accompany me in her solo what additional pieces would be recommended? Thank you for your kind advice! |
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TomT |
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gymcoachdon |
So, maybe a Pioneer, a Rucksack, and the food pack. Solo you take the Pioneer one trip, canoe and Rucksack 2nd trip. Both tripping, you take pioneer, wife takes food, she carries canoe on 2nd, you take canoe and Rucksack.? |
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SilentPaddler |
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SilentPaddler |
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kona |
Congrats on your new boats. I'm looking forward to paddling a trillium. |
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SilentPaddler |
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SilentPaddler |
What size tarp do you find to be a good size? Thank you! |
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boonie |
quote SilentPaddler: "For solo trips do most of you use a food pack and stay with non perishable items and carry them in one of your other packs?" FYI: All of the food on my solo trips, which are typically ~12 days, is non-perishable, lightweight, compact, and calorie-dense. A day's worth weighs about 18-20 oz. and is about 2,400 calories. I store it in bear canisters (BearVault/Garcia), or more recently in Ursacks (w/OPsack liners) to reduce weight and bulk. Those just go in my main pack; there is no separate food pack. I can get 8 days food in a BearVault 500. The use of the bear canisters/Ursacks saves the trouble of hanging. It also requires minimal fuel, utensils, and time to prepare. Many do similar things, some do different things. There are quite a food posts on the subject if you search and you'll get a lot of ideas. Of course, YMMV :) |
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Northwoodsman |
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Hoaf |
You will refine your setup as you gain experience no matter what you purchase, but you can't go wrong with CCS gear. Have fun! |
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JJ396 |
I like the idea of waiting and talk to Dan Cooke at the Expo. That way you see the gear too. |
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TomT |
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