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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: my 60lb solo canoe
 
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Rambler_Dog
02/01/2013 10:01PM
  
I have been thinking about going in South Hegman lake and portaging to Anglesworm. The portage is about 460rd. My canoe is about 60lb. I am 53 year old but I do pump iron every now and than and still have some muscle strength left in me. What you expert think? Should pick a route with a shorter portage?
 
HansSolo
02/01/2013 11:06PM
  

Taking another route? That depends.

I know by today's standards, and with the wide variety of Ultra-light Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, and exotic composites available, 60 pounds may seem heavy. But that's about the "listed" weight of my Wenonah Odyssey, (18.5', Kevlar Cross-Rib @ 59 pounds).

Even at 56 years old, I wouldn't have a problem portaging my Odyssey 460 rods if I was really intent on doing so. When I think back to the times in the late 70's, I was dragging my 17' Grumman "Whitewater" canoe through the BWCAW, (which weighed 84 pounds because of the "shoe keel" and the additional ribs), 60 pounds seems light-weight.

Likewise, when some friends and I did the Louse River route in 1982, which included the 460 rod Zenith Lake to Lujenida Lake portage, I portaged an 80+ pound Old Town Tripper. Granted I was much younger then, but like you, I stay in shape. I'm confident I could portage those canoes again, but why, when I have much lighter alternatives?

As it is, I primarily paddle solo canoes these days, but my primary tripping solos are the Wenonah Voyager, (Kevlar Flex-Core lay-up @ approx. 46 pounds), and the Wenonah Jensen C1W, (Kevlar Center-Rib @ approx. 44 pounds). I prefer the "heavier-duty" lay-ups, but I still consider mid-40's light-weight, even for a solo canoe. I've portaged these canoes with a pack on a plethora of portages, some in excess of one or two miles.

I'm not bragging, (well, maybe a little bit), but I'm not Clay Matthews either, and I'd portage a 60 pound canoe 460 rods without a second thought if my intended route called for it.

Bottom line; it really depends on your physical health and your abilities, but I personally don't consider 60 pounds excessive, even by today's standards.

Just my two cents worth.


Hans Solo
 
luft
02/02/2013 12:38AM
  
460 rods is about 1.5 miles long, 4.5 miles if double portaged. It would likely take me an hour and a half to just walk it normally, not factoring in a slower speed with a canoe on my shoulders and break periods. That is a lot of walking and a lot of time spent off the water and some paddlers get tweaked out about that.


Personally, I would look at it the Angleworm as taking a combo trip... a little hiking and a little paddling and plenty of hikers hike with 60 plus packs on their backs. So I would say that you could surely do the Angleworm if you are fit, it just may take a while to get it done with a double portage.






 
HansSolo
02/02/2013 01:24AM
  
quote luft: "460 rods is about 1.5 miles long, 4.5 miles if double portaged. That is a lot of walking....


So I would say that you could surely do the Angleworm if you are fit, it just may take a while to get it done with a double portage.
"


Been there, done that!

As well as spending quality time in the woods, I also consider it good exercise. :-)


Hans
 
awbrown
02/02/2013 09:12AM
  
I agree with the others. A 60 lb. canoe is pretty managable if you are in good physical condition. I might suggest that you take the portage in portions. Carry the canoe a few hundred yards, go back for your pack(s). Carry the packs a few hundred yards past your canoe, then go back for the canoe. That way you are alternating your loads which makes it easier on you.


I'm now 64, have a 60 lb. canoe and would have no qualms about tackling that portage. I just do it in manageable stages.


Hardly anybody loves portaging, but if you take your time instead of hurrying through it, you'll manage just fine.
 
SourisMan
02/02/2013 07:42AM
  
I took the long portage into Angleworm a few years back (I'm 60). At this point in my life, I no longer battle portages. I still do long portages, i just take my time. I feel that, with a relaxed approach, you can handle pretty much any portage. Just nibble away.
 
TomT
02/02/2013 12:37PM
  
This trip is a good excuse to get in really good shape. You've got plenty of time if you start a program of eating right and building muscle/flexibility soon. I would go for it.



 
SunCatcher
02/02/2013 12:51PM
  
I think you will be fine, the thing about it is, you can rest when you want, and go at your own pace. I do it all the time, I will be 56 in a few days, and only weights I lift are 12 oz curls.
SunCatcher
 
dprochef
02/03/2013 09:03PM
  
When I did my solo, although I was in my late 30's, I was 250#+ carried a 80#pack with 30# canoe and started my trip with a 380+ single portage.


Now (early 40's )190#+ I still carry a 50+ pound pack and 30# canoe. I am looking to do a solo trip this fall and plan on single portaging. several are long (one is a 626 rod).


As long as there is some training before the trip and you are smart enough to take breaks when needed, you'll be fine.


I look at the....."More experienced" paddlers on this board as my inspiration to keep challenging myself and not to let the size of the portage change my route plans.


I thank you all for your efforts, they help to keep my inspired.
 
boonie
02/02/2013 09:24AM
  
I think it should be noted that it's not just the length of a portage that determines its difficulty. I think the Muskeg-Kiskadinna portage is more difficult than the Crab lake portage for example, even though the Crab Lake portage is (at least) twice as long.


He's also not talking about the Angleworm portage per se, but the much less used Trease to Angleworm portage. I have not done either, but I think jwartmann has done both and recently provided a perspective on their comparison. You might want to search to see if you can find it.


The Angleworm portage is supposedly more long than difficult, but the Trease to Angleworm portage...perhaps not.
 
Rambler_Dog
02/03/2013 10:36AM
  
Thanks to all of you. I was inspired by all of you who have not let the older age take away your passions.
 
OBX2Kayak
02/02/2013 09:43AM
  
You can always take the canoe to a local park ahead of time and get in shape by carrying it around the jogging track.
 
jwartman59
02/02/2013 10:31AM
  
with the right attitude i see no problems doing the tease-angleworm portage with a sixty pound canoe. believe it or not there was a time, not so long ago, when all canoes weighed sixty pounds or more. somehow people managed. my biggest concern would be with available campsites on angleworm. it does fill up. i plan on doing the 460 rod zenith portage this spring, my wood canoe weighs about seventy something, i don't weigh it, that is information that won't be useful to me. it is all attitude.
 
bwcasolo
02/02/2013 03:57PM
  
pick a lighter canoe and go for it!
 
Moonman
02/02/2013 06:35PM
  
Completely doable. But then again you didn't mention how much gear you like to take. My stripper is 58 lbs and I've done some very long portages with it. I also never double. However I do pack very lightly. But will pack more and better food, depending on portage length and number. A big issue is yoke comfort and canoe balance. I've portaged canoes that weighed 50lbs and were hell because of bad yokes and slightly off balance placement, so if that is all good, you will have no problems if you pack right.


If you plan on doubling (nothing wrong with that approach), then there is no issue whatsoever.


Moonman.
 
CanvasAndSteel
02/02/2013 07:04AM
  
I'm 53. On my tandem trips in the bw and q I take my 95 lb 1925 OT Otca. I'm a cyclist and canoeists, but not a weight lifter. 60 lb will be fine. Get some decent yoke pads.
 
hobbydog
02/02/2013 03:17PM
  
quote jwartman59: " my wood canoe weighs about seventy something, i don't weigh it, that is information that won't be useful to me. it is all attitude."


Now that is a great quote. Maybe one of the best pieces of wisdom shared on this site.