Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: gear for downriver style trips
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tomo |
For a place like the BWCA, I prefer the old school Duluth Packs and such. On river trips, I tend toward favoring blue barrels, or plastic York Boxes, or other harder-shelled waterproof gear options. I grew up paddling rivers, and I tend to enjoy them more than lakes. Current makes things interesting, shorelines are often closer than where you'd find yourself on a lake, offering wildlife viewing opportunities, the next bend is always beckoning. |
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bhouse46 |
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catadromous |
Jack |
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goaljohnbill |
bhouse46: "Boat selection can vary depending on the trip. .... In the end it is weight and space management assuring the basics are covered and adding comfort where the trip allows." Very much these 2 things. In June a group of 6 did the upper St Croix river (started at Gordon dam and went to Hwy 70) we used kayaks so we could run all of the rapids easily. With my dagger katana (10' ww tripper) I had to take some smaller less comfortable gear to get everything I needed packed compared to canoe camping. |
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straighthairedcurly |
I grew up doing weekend canoe trips on various MN and WI rivers like the Namekagon, Rum, Crow, etc. Nothing special needed equipment wise for these. My son did a multi-day trip on the Upper Mississippi River and another on the St. Croix (both trips pretty standard camping affairs). There is definitely interaction with civilization on these types of trips, but a fun way to see the countryside. What kind of info are you looking for? What kind of travel? For the Upper Midwest check out: MN water trails Also the book "Whitewater, Quietwater" can be hard to find these days but is a great resource for WI rivers (and a few MN and MI) And here is a recent trip report on an Okefenokee trip I have never ventured out into a canoe in an area like this, but it sounds interesting. |
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catadromous |
Who does these other sorts of trips and what are some of the gear and canoe implications? Where have people tripped and how was it? I know some folks here have done big northern rivers, which I would love to do someday, but right now I’m thinking about the lower 48. Thanks, Jack |
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Tomcat |
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MisterKrabs |
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user0317 |
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HansSolo |
For our river trips, (most of them taken throughout Wisconsin, the upper Midwest, and the Ozarks), we use NRS “Bill’s Bags”, Voyageur packs and olive jars. The Voyageur packs are difficult, if not impossible to find any more. They’re basically a double walled vinyl and plastic bag that closes securely with a slider tube. They are absolutely watertight and they also provide additional flotation in the event of a swamping. The olive jars have been a staple of our river tripping gear for years. We’ve been able to obtain them at various Greek festivals or Greek restaurants. Think of them a thinner, smaller version of the Harmony “Blue Barrels”. They close tightly with a gasket screw top. They are great for protecting food from the elements and small animals in camp. They are also great for keeping bread, chips and other delicate food items from getting crushed. When appropriate, various sizes of coolers are also great for keeping fresh food and beverages cold. Hans Solo |
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DanCooke |
No one set of gear would be the best for all, just too many variables. Some rivers you carry water you get from springs and wells along the way- others you boil or filter. Barrels often are used as the portages are low to non-existant. So some take one pack and multiple barrels to shuttle the barrels if a portage is required. Often the camping is Sand/ Rock bars. Mud and sand seem to Cling onto everything. A doormat to the tent is a welcome addition. What the river front property rights vary from you can not set foot on the bottom of the river to the 100 yr flood line is public. Know what the law is where you go and respect the river front owners rights. Canoes, Paddles, tents and so on vary all over the map largely dependent on what you have access to and river you are doing. |
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jwartman59 |
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DanCooke |
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