I've written up my 10 day trip with pics from September going in Pickerel doing a loop and then out the same way. I did it on another canoe message board. Here's a link if interested.

Trip Report

Thanks, Tom - really nice report and pictures. I've had some trips where over-extending and dehydration were factors.

Just remember, those really light canoes can get away even faster :).

thanks tom, well done! yes, i drink all the time, constantly refilling my nalgene as i travel.

Thanks guys. I think having very little sleep is what also did me in. Combine that with the overexertion and adrenaline of paddling in big waves on day one and I just got sick and needed down time. Sometimes I still think I'm 35 when I could power through that stuff.

TomT: "Thanks guys. I think having very little sleep is what also did me in. Combine that with the overexertion and adrenaline of paddling in big waves on day one and I just got sick and needed down time. Sometimes I still think I'm 35 when I could power through that stuff.


"

that youthful thinking will keep you going, good job!

I finally got a chance to read through the whole thing. Sounded like a good trip. I can relate to that first morning start. Forgetting something obvious in the truck or getting 20 minutes away and not sure if you locked the truck. It is so easy to get dehydrated on hard travel days when you are pushing to a destination. Do you ever use Nuun or some other type of electrolyte tablets?

Hey Hobbydog, I used nunn tabs in 2016 but hated the root beer flavor I used. That's the only flavor they had in the REI when I was there so I didn't bring them on this trip. I decided to consciously drink while traveling and made it easy by tying a cup to my seat and then drink right out of the lake.

Well paddling on Pickerel against a wind and swells made it impossible to drink while on the water. I think I just got sick from lack of sleep and over exertion that first day. I'm making an effort to just chill more on the first day from now on.

As for the banana, I had to go back and get it. Imagine the disaster I would of returned to? I only do one canoe trip a year so it is a bit overwhelming just making sure I have everything in my packs. I once left the map case in the bed of my truck and found out after we got a 20 minute tow boat ride. Yeah, that time really sucked! Cost me an extra $35 too.

Enjoyed your trip report Tom, good read.

While I have paddled in some snotty stuff you won't find me far from shore especially in big rollers. To much power there for my tastes. The solos handle deflection waves (bounce back from rocks / cliffs on shore) better than tandems IMO and "bob" like a cork in jumbled seas. I will not cut corners in rough weather and will follow shorelines even if it means substantial additional mileage. Capsized far from shore in big water is a foolish decision compared with deciding not to put the extra few miles in.

I find a bottle of Alleve more effective than most other medications. I usually pop one in the morning while I am hydrating up (I drink tons of water before the day starts). Usually by about the 5th day I no longer need the medication.

Much thanks for posting the trip report. Very informative, very entertaining.

mastertangler: "
I find a bottle of Alleve more effective than most other medications. I usually pop one in the morning while I am hydrating up (I drink tons of water before the day starts). Usually by about the 5th day I no longer need the medication. "

That's all good advice MT. The alleve will definitely be with on trips from now on. I also think just easing into the trip instead of putting in a hard day one would be good for me now. I still have the mentality that I'm in my 30's and it can get me in trouble. But don't bring up triple portaging just yet my friend. :)

Thanks for the kind words Outlander99.