Link to story. WTIP radio.
A Friday the 13th story..lucky to be alive.

Scary deal. Glad he had the navigation tools/skills to get out safely. Sounds like one key oversight was waterproofing the contents of his pack. Even if you capsize in warmer weather you should have clothes and sleeping gear protected from water. Glad he's ok.

He posted his story over in the "Ice Out Estimates" post the day it happened.

I listened to that podcast last night while in the garden. Interesting story and how he made his decisions. I'd think they could get the canoe back unless it's changed locations

Got to give him a hand for going on the radio and talking about it. Some may feel embarrassed if it happened to them, but no doubt everyone who heard that piece did some reflection on their own safety kit and protocols. I think too often we see these beautiful photos and read reports of ideal trips. It’s good to be reminded sometimes things go wrong in a hurry and situations you never expected can creep up. Share those experiences too so others can learn. We all get better and safer that way.

I also appreciate that he delivered his story. It is easy to stay quiet and not open yourself up to criticism, but listening to him helped me think about and examine my own techniques when canoeing solo.

Definitely great that he shared his story and his decision making process along the way. It makes me think about what I am doing right and what I could improve in terms of my safety.

Thanks for posting this. Pretty intense experience. It really gave me pause - we were in that area last summer but approaching the Royal River portage from the other direction. The water was so low that we had a heck-of-a-time finding the portage. And, you could have just about walked from the campsite he stopped at, across a spit of rocks to the other side.

Kermit: "Got to give him a hand for going on the radio and talking about it. "

Agreed with this. Things happen quick, and he handled it well. Thanks for giving the firsthand account.

Went that way myself first portaging trip I did. We never found the portage and walked our canoe over the ‘rapids’. He missed the portage and almost got himself killed. What bugs me is he never mentioned the rescue for the canoe he rented. Left his mess for someone else to clean up. Sad story about someone unprepared and basically clueless. My take anyway.

scat: "Went that way myself first portaging trip I did. We never found the portage and walked our canoe over the ‘rapids’. He missed the portage and almost got himself killed. What bugs me is he never mentioned the rescue for the canoe he rented. Left his mess for someone else to clean up. Sad story about someone unprepared and basically clueless. My take anyway."

The podcast episode I listened to said he was going back this weekend and hoped to get it all back. Pack and canoe and whatever else.

Plus IF the canoe was submerged and caught in a strainer....it would take more than the legal amount of people to get it dislodged. Wait for a bit lower water and hope you can make it happen.

If ya can't laugh at yourself ,
Who can you laugh at....

scat: "Went that way myself first portaging trip I did. We never found the portage and walked our canoe over the ‘rapids’. He missed the portage and almost got himself killed. What bugs me is he never mentioned the rescue for the canoe he rented. Left his mess for someone else to clean up. Sad story about someone unprepared and basically clueless. My take anyway."

Your compassion and tact are something we all strive for. Thank you for sharing your take. And, fyi, he paid the outfitter for the canoe.

scat: "Went that way myself first portaging trip I did. We never found the portage and walked our canoe over the ‘rapids’. He missed the portage and almost got himself killed. What bugs me is he never mentioned the rescue for the canoe he rented. Left his mess for someone else to clean up. Sad story about someone unprepared and basically clueless. My take anyway."

The hell you'd expect him to do? Go swimming in 40 degree rapids to try to recover his canoe after he was already borderline hypothermic with no dry clothing? He said he's going to go back to try to get it. Jeez.

Minnesotian: "
I also appreciate that he delivered his story. It is easy to stay quiet and not open yourself up to criticism, but listening to him helped me think about and examine my own techniques when canoeing solo. "

Well put! I used to spend quite a bit of time every year reading “Accidents in North American Mountaineering.” I too am a solo tripper with quite a bit of experience. Listening was very useful. It prompted me to go over my own approach and conditions assessment process, my capsize plan, my self rescue plan, and more. I even created a mock SOAP note (WFR, WMA). Thank you so much for this great learning opportunity.