Trip Logistics

We'll plan our travels around the following set of rules:

·         We'll rise at about 6:30 am and be on the water around 8:30 am

·         We take gorp breaks about every two hours (while we're stopped at a portage, if possible)

·         Our lunch break is about 45 minutes - again at a portage if possible.

·         Every portage is a two-trip affair.

·         We'll do our best to open up any blocked portage.

·         We start looking for a campsite at 3 pm.

·         We hope to spend about 8 to 9 hours total on each moving day.

·         We'll go out of our way to view something significant.

·         We'll plan non-travel days on every major lake we'd like to explore.

For any of you who might be new to canoe tripping - it's important to develop a rhythm to your day and to have an adequate division of labour. For instance - here's what our day is like.

Morning Routine:

·         Scott is up and starts a fire to make coffee.

·         Kathy begins the process of packing up the contents of the tent (stuff the sleeping bags, roll the Thermarests, pack up the clothes bags)

·         When coffee is ready we have a cup and start breakfast.

·         After breakfast and dishes ...

·         Kathy takes down the tent and packs up the Wabikimi Pack with tent, sleeping bags, clothes and Thermarests.

·         Scott takes down the tarp and packs up the kitchen and food barrel. He also gets out the lunch items, places them in the day pack
and begins moving packs to the loading area.

·         When Kathy is done we load the canoe.

·         Everything has its place and we check the campsite one last time.

·         We check the basic trim of the canoe.

·         We get in and check the trim one last time.

Portage Routine

·         Make sure that the canoe and gear is safe before beginning the portage.

·         If you will be double carrying take a pack first so that you'll be able to survey the portage - then carry the canoe.

·         Take your ax or saw on the first trip so that you can clear any obstacles.

·         Load and check the trim as in the morning routine

Our End of day Routine

·         Unload and secure the canoe.

·         Move all gear to the proposed campsite.

·         Kathy unpacks and sets up the tent - places mattresses, sleeping bags and clothes inside.

·         Scott puts up the tarp, gets the food and gear under cover, assembles the fire pit and gathers firewood.

·         We usually swim and bathe at this point

·         Fishing or relaxing and journal writing.

·         Dinner is prepared, eaten and dishes are cleaned up.

·         Bannock is made if necessary for the next day.

·         Water is pumped for the next day.

·         Secure the food.

·         Pack up all loose gear and get it under cover

·         Wash up and prepare for bed.