BLOG 82. Packing Tips For the Boundary Waters

BLOG 82. Packing Tips For the Boundary Waters

by Cliff Jacobson

I recently took my daughter Clarissa on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters. It was raining hard when we put in and the temperature was in the forties. But no matter; we were dressed warm, had good rain gear, and everything was secured in waterproof packs.  But others were not so fortunate. At one portage, we saw a canoe with an unprotected (soaking wet) sleeping bag on the bottom. Without thinking, I quipped, “Hey, I guess you guys don’t believe in waterproof bags!” A man mumbled back, “We’re on our way out so it doesn’t matter”. As soon as they cleared the portage, my daughter said “Daddy, you were really cruel to that man; they’re doing the best they know how.” “Yeah,” I replied. “The problem is they don’t know how and don’t care to learn!”

An hour later, we found a nice campsite on a high hill, rigged twin tarps and built a cheery fire. Clarissa told me again that I was out-of-line. 

It rained almost continually (an ice cold rain!) for the next three days, so we stayed put under the tarps, venturing out only for water and firewood. We were camped along a popular route--canoes cruised by like trains, each searching for a place to camp. We watched them through binoculars. There were wet clothes draped over thwarts, packs with their flaps ajar, unprotected tents and sleeping bags. The show was quite entertaining!

On the fourth day of our trip, the sky cleared—just in time for us to head home. As we rounded a bend, we passed a canoe going our way. Déjà vu—there was a drenched sleeping bag on the floor of their canoe.  “Guess you guys don’t believe in waterproof bags,” blurted Clarissa. I stared at her in disbelief—we both broke out laughing!

Admittedly, I’m a belt-and-suspenders man. I pack much the same way for trips in the Boundary Waters as for those on whitewater rivers in Canada and Alaska. It takes very little time and effort to do it right. And when the weather turns sour, the pay-off is huge. Here’s my procedure:

I place rigid and breakable items (axe, saw, eggs, stove, repair and first-aid kit etc.) inside a waterproof barrel or wanigan with a secure lid. Personal gear (clothing, sleeping bag, tent etc.) goes in soft packs. Any soft pack will do if you waterproof it right. The CCS (Cooke Custom Sewing) Pioneer is my favorite (with a tumpline, of course), but I also like #3 canvas Duluth packs.

Some terrific hard packs. L to R: 5 gallon pail with waterproof gamma lid seal; CCS Quad-Pocket Barrel Pack; CCS foam-lined food pack; EM Wanigan (no longer manufactured); 60 Liter Barrel with Ostrom Outdoors harness; Adirondack pack basket inside #2 Duluth Pack Cruiser (extended flap)

PACKING A SOFT PACK

I begin by lining each soft pack with a large yellow (now orange) waterproof pack liner, available from Piragis Northwoods Company. The seams of the liner are electronically welded, and the roll and clip closure is 100 percent reliable. The bag is absolutely waterproof even with a compressed load. If you capsize you’ll be glad you have one! 

Next, I set a 4-mil plastic bag of similar size inside the yellow liner.  Its purpose is to take the abuse of stuffing gear (which can abrade the WP coating of the yellow liner) and to separate the tent—which may be dirty or wet—from clean, dry gear.  Alternatively, you can substitute a giant 4-mil plastic bag for the yellow liner (I did it this way for decades)—but only if you are very meticulous in sealing both bags. 

Pack in horizontal layers.  Why horizontal? Because horizontally placed items form to the curve of your back; vertical uprights don’t.

 

Waterproof way to pack a pack (from Canoeing & Camping, Beyond the Basics, by Cliff Jacobson)

Pack things in the reverse order you need them.

1.My sleeping pad goes at the bottom of my pack. My rolled foam sleeping pad goes on top. If the route includes serious rapids, I “sandwich pack” my sleeping bag as follows: sleeping bag goes into a stuff sack (which need not be waterproof); this stuff sack goes inside a plastic bag--the mouth of the bag is twisted and “goose-necked” then secured with a loop of shockcord; this unit goes inside a second nylon stuff sack (which need not be waterproof). Note that the waterproof plastic bag is protected on both sides by abrasion-resistant nylon. For lake country canoeing (BWCA), the double-bag security system is over-kill.

2.The stuff sack that contains my extra clothes and toiletries goes next. I prefer to use a zippered CCS food bag instead of a conventional stuff sack for this purpose because the zipper provides easier access than a draw-string.

3. Next: Camp shoes in a plastic or nylon bag.

5. Next: Sweater or jacket and sundries.

6. Next: Tightly roll down the plastic “abrasion liner” then set the tent (sans poles and stakes) on top. Place the stake bag inside the tent pole bag and set the pole bag on top of the tent. Roll down and seal the yellow waterproof bag. If the poles are too long to fit crossways in your pack, set them under the pack flap and secure them as illustrated. Note that your tent—which may be wet or dirty—is separated from the clean, dry gear below.

About Food:  One partner may carry the tent while the other packs food. I prefer NOT to pack food in a special pack because: 1) The pack will be too heavy, and possibly impossible to rescue in a capsize; 2) it’s unwise to put all your eggs in one basket. Better to spread good things around. All my food is vacuum-sealed, water and odor proof. I divide food equally among my crew so that the trip can continue if a pack is lost or damaged. Food bags are placed at the bottom of the pack, followed by personal items. The diagram illustrates the procedure.

www.cliff-jacobson.com

XXX

  

BLOG 80. A Smart Survival Kit For the Northwoods

BLOG 80. A Smart Survival Kit For the Northwoods

by Cliff Jacobson

Stuff happens: Steel River, Ontario

My first job after college was as a forester for the Bureau of Land Management in Coos Bay, Oregon.  It was 1962, long before GPS and cell phones. One rainy January morning I was re-marking the cutting line that defined the area of a timber sale.  It was Thursday and I had Friday off and big plans for the weekend, so I hurried to get the job done.

Space doesn’t permit details other than to say that in my haste, I became hopelessly lost. And lost in an Oregon rain forest is a very big deal.  Here, huge trees cloud the sky and downed trees and winding vegetation limit walking to at best, one mile an hour. Visibility is measured in feet; only occasionally can you see the sky. Walk a few yards off a beaten path and you may become hopelessly lost...and never found! 

Stuff Happens: Kopka River, Ontario

Since it was Friday, no one from the BLM would look for me until Monday when I didn’t show up for work. So instead of waiting for help, I decided to find may way out. I had these “survival items” on my person:

·      A Thermos of coffee and lunch

·      Matches and a Zippo cigarette lighter

·      A Silva Ranger compass

·      A sturdy pocket knife

·      A roll of yellow surveying ribbon (to re-mark the sale area)

·      A red cowboy bandana

·      Pencil and spiral notebook

I was wearing a cotton T-shirt, a medium-weight wool long sleeve shirt and a Filson cruiser’s vest; Filson tin-pants, a two-piece rain-suit, metal hard hat, and corked boots for safety while scrambling over logs. The air temperature was about 50 degrees with occasional light misting.

Most important, I had a “mental map” of the area: For example, I knew that highway 101, which parallels the ocean, was about 20 miles west of me.  If I headed west, I should make the highway in a few days. I thought about backtracking to the winding, unimproved mountain road where I’d parked the Jeep (about a mile away) but decided against it.  Without a proper compass heading, my chances of intersecting it were small. Besides, the road did not run parallel to my position.

Momentarily, I panicked and ran a few feet. Then I sat down under a tree, poured some coffee and formulated a plan. I decided to go for the highway even though it was two days away. I figured I could make about eight miles a day. It was January (the rainy season) so there was standing water everywhere. I wouldn’t be thirsty. And I had packed a big lunch—enough for two days if rationed.

I set my compass for due west and started walking. When it became dark, I cut some Douglas fir boughs, piled them up and crawled between them. Surprisingly, I was reasonably comfortable and not cold. I headed west as soon as the sun came up.

 

Impassable rapid + no portage around it  = bushwhacking!

On the morning of the third day I intersected a logging road which I followed to the tiny town of Remote, Oregon. There, I hitched a ride back (on a logging truck) to my jeep which I drove home.  I never told a soul. Why? Because foresters don’t get lost!

A commercial “survival kit” would not have helped me. It’s what I had in my pockets that saved the day! A positive mental attitude (PMA)—knowing you’ll survive—beats any commercial box filled with clever stuff. That highway 101 was within reach was the fuel that kept me going. Without this belief, the most complete survival kit would have been useless. Indeed, in a real emergency, a kit (box or bag) may be left behind or lost in a canoe capsize. More than likely, you’ll have to rely on just “what’s in your pockets”.

Commercial survival kits commonly contain these items: waterproof matches and fire-starters, a single-edged razor blade or cheap knife, a near worthless miniature compass, a lightweight space blanket, fish-hooks, fish line, aluminum foil, signal mirror, whistle, sewing needle and thread, band-aids. Maybe energy bars and salt. And of course, an “instruction manual”.

Contrast this with what wilderness  paddlers should always have on their person:

·      Waterproof matches and/or a waterproof butane cigarette lighter (I carry two butane lighters).

·      Sturdy knife—fixed or folding blade (in a sturdy sheath or on a lanyard)

·      A seriously good compass, preferably with a mirror (for signaling)

·      A paper map—or at least a mental map of the area

·      Large colorful cowboy bandana

·      Insect head-net (if tripping in the north country) and bug dope

·      whistle

A SMART SURVIVAL KIT FOR THE NORTH WOODS

Assume you're solo canoeing a remote northern river where help is days away. Here’s what I would carry. All will fit into a small fanny pack that buckles around the waist:

In Your Fanny Pack:

·      SPOT satellite messenger. Extra batteries. All sealed in a Loksak® waterproof plastic bag.

·      A few heat-tabs (fire starters)

·      Disposable butane lighter—sealed in plastic wrap (this is in addition to the lighter(s) in your pocket)

·      50 feet of 1/16” inch diameter nylon cord, cut into 10 foot lengths. 

·      Two Band-Aids

·       3 feet of duct tape or Gorilla tape wound around a pencil stub.

·      Two sheets of paper torn from a small waterproof notebook.

·      Two fish-hooks and one jig. 50 feet of high-test fishing line.

·      2 ultra-compact space blankets (each, about the size of a pack of cigarettes)

·      Small roll of bright orange or yellow plastic surveying tape.

·      Small stainless steel or titanium cup—a Sierra cup is ideal.

·      Some bouillon cubes in a Loksak® waterproof bag.

·      Optional: small coil of snare wire

·      One or two energy bars if space permits.

On Your Body:

Knife, matches/lighter, compass, multi-tool, head-net, bug-dope, bandana, whistle

Add the above items (which should be on your belt or in your pockets)” and you’re good to go. Note that I prefer the SPOT over the DeLorme inReach for use in a survival kit. Why? Because SPOT is lighter, more compact and less expensive to buy and operate. If the weather permits a good fix, it will bring rescuers fast. Use the surveying tape to create a trail rescuers can follow if you wander. Boil water and prepare bullion soup, spruce or fireweed tea in your metal cup. Fish you catch can be hung from a tripod over the fire, grilled over green sticks or boiled in your cup. The space blankets can be taped together and rigged to provide shelter.  An insect head-net can be used to catch crawdads and minnows.

If you’ve ever been lost or, as Daniel Boone once said, “I was never lost, just confused once for three days!” I’d love to hear your views on survival stuff.

Cliff Jacobson

www.cliff-jacobson.com

Just Because it is Winter Doesn't Mean the Boundary Waters is Closed

One of the last paddles of the year that I took was into the setting sun with the wind pushing us back through the lingering lilypads and the tall brown grass.  The blue colors of the sky reflected in the water were more steel grey and dark shadows as if autumn had sucked all the summer heat out of them.

Returning to the landing with a big largemouth bass to clean was exciting.  As we twisted and turned through the tall dying grasses and the path narrowed -- the yellows, oranges and reds called to us from the approaching shoreline.  The wind had already begun to dry them out and they crashed against each other like tiny snare drums.

The water dripping off our paddles was already cold.  The lakes, dark and mysterious, definitely not as inviting as August -- now seemed quiet, private and full of secrets.  Shadow birds, shaking reflections of their higher selves, flew by on the waters surface and disappeared over our canoe.

Fall is most often our last taste of open water.  Our last memories before the Spring and ice out leave us with the natural world in decline and sleepy.  It's no wonder that when Spring finally arrives we are so excited.

It will be a while before the waters wake up again.  Right now we're all walking on hard water and drilling holes to fish through.  With a few warmer days ahead, as we write this, snow is softly falling and covering Ely in a new white blanket.

Remember that we have free standard shipping on orders now through Christmas Eve.  Use promo code:  FRP14 on all your orders.

Looking for a new adventure this winter?  How about a trip to Ely. You may think the fun stops once canoeing season is over, but you are missing out.  There are lots of activities for the whole family all winter long.

Camping in the Boundary Waters during the Winter months requires an adventurous spirit.  It gets cold here, we're talking nights 30 below zero to 50 below zero in February.  Twenty below is a common low for many of our winter nights.  However when you are warm and cozy inside a winter sleeping bag, near a wood burning stove inside a canvas wall tent, you can let the wind howl outside.

That's where we come in.  We prepare you for the outdoors, summer and winter, by having top-notch gear for rent.  Did you know that just like in the Summer when you carry everything with you in a canoe as you travel the lakes, in the winter you carry everything packed in a pulk sled.  The difference is that you ride in the canoe and paddle when the water is soft and when it is hard enough and thick enough to walk on, you ski or snowshoe and pull the pulk sled and all your gear behind you with a comfortable harness system that includes poles that keep the pulk from sliding into you on the downhills.

We did say ADVENTURE, right?!  Imagine hearing the lake pop and crack as the ice grows and contracts while the temperatures drop at night.  Imagine finding yourself surrounded by the greens, purples and dancing whites of the mysterious northern lights during a midnight ski.  Feast on fish caught right through holes drilled in the ice, and enjoy a festive winter night around the stove as the snow piles up outside.

Call us today to talk about Winter Gear Rentals  800-223-6565

BLOG 79. Canoe Trip Ethics

BLOG 79. Canoe Trip Ethics

by Cliff Jacobson

            

A bright summer morning on any river.  A crowd of canoers prepare for a downstream float.  It's 9:30 a.m. and confusion abounds.  "Weren't we supposed to shuttle at 9?" someone asks.  What! You say the shuttle's gone?  I didn't hear any announcement. How'm I gonna get my car to Reedsville landing?"

                                

Between the mix of uncertainty and lack of communication, there is misunderstanding of the day's events.

                

"They say we'll be done by four." 

           

"Better be!  Gotta be home by five.  We shoulda left an hour ago.  Where is Robertson (the leader) anyway?"

                

Finally, the shuttle is done and the pack moves to the water’s edge.  Left behind are soft drink cans, candy wrappers and styrofoam cups.

                

Once on the river, the fun begins.  The kids have their ghetto blasters, and some of the adults have beer. Lots of beer! Invariably, you can get one for the asking.  

                                 

Round the bend is an easy rapid, but for the drinkers it's already a four beer day.  Suddenly, there's a capsize.  Everyone is quickly rescued—but wait.  "Where's the beer?  You mean we lost the whole case? 

                                 

A noon lunch is planned, but the undulating mass doesn't reach the appointed spot till two. When the drag canoe finally arrives, the lead boat has already left. The paddlers build a hasty fire, wolf down some charred weiners then beat a hasty retreat back to the canoe. On the run, they kick sand over the determined flames. Is the fire out?  Who knows? They never looked back!

                

Around three o'clock, a persistent head wind develops and the canoes spread out further.  The gap widens as those in pusher aluminum and Royalex canoes fall behind.  With knowing smiles, Robertson takes the lead in his quick Kevlar cruiser. "We'll teach you slugs what "efficient" canoeing is all about!

                

The lead canoes reach the take out at 4:06, as planned.  Two hours later the last boats arrive.  Sorry guys, the last car's been shuttled. 

                

You’re probably thinking: "good story, Cliff, considering you made it up." But I didn't.  Not one word. I have, however, changed the names to protect the guilty. 

                

Environmental neglect is more often a matter of insensitivity than illegality.  Since the group "leader" is the one who sets the tone, let's discuss him or her first.

The leader:  The problem is, most groups don't have one. Too often, the one who plays the part is inexperienced and disorganized.  Show me a group with a good leader and I'll show you ethical behavior on the river.

                

Here are the tenets of good leaderhsip:

                

1.    The leader leads.  No one passes the leader.  Ever!

2.    The most experienced canoeist (next to the leader) paddles "drag".  The drag canoe never passes anyone. Rest stops are timed from the arrival of the drag--not the lead--canoe.  

3.    The end-of-trip shuttle does not begin until the last canoe touches shore!

4.    Each canoe keeps visual contact with the canoe BEHIND it. Rationale: It's easy to drop back but hard to push ahead and catch a fast team.

5.     Emergency equipment (first-aid kit, fire-starters, etc.), folding saw, hand-axe, are carried in both lead and drag canoes.  

6.    In a capsize, nearby canoes rescue the swimmers first, canoe and gear second.

7.    The group leader should make the nature of the trip (slow float, fast cruise, whitewater, etc.) clear before the trip. 

8.    Everyone gets a list of essential equipment and "do's and don'ts", in advance of the trip.

          

Here are some other expectations:

                

1. No radios or cell phone calls.      

             

2. Those who don't have essential items (a PFD, plus appropriate clothing  and rain gear) don’t go.

                

3. Wear your life jacket! This does not mean "have it available”.  Remove your PFD on a well run club outing and you'll hear about it!

               

4. Shuttle: Everyone wants his car at the take-out so he can get home quickly.   Those who volunteer to taxi their friends back to the put-in are greatly appreciated!

                

5. Beer: It's okay to have a beer with lunch, providing you carry out the can.  However, continuous sipping on the river is frowned upon.

                

6. Garbage: You brought it in, you pack it out!  A plastic trash bag tied to to a canoe thwart is a non-intimidating way to educate others.

                

7. Human waste: Bury waste away from water, and burn the toilet paper.  Douse the flames with water. Cover the hole with dirt.  Or, use a sanitary “toilet bag” system (Biffy Bag, Clearwaste, etc.).

                

8. Cruising speed. There is always a fast team who wants to show off and an inexperienced one who lags behind--a scenario that can produce a chain of canoes miles long.  It is impossible to maintain control over a fleet that's spread out.  So, spell out the requirements of the cruise before you set out.  

                

9. Smoking: smokers please field-strip your cigarettes and carry out the butts.

                

10. Rowdy behavior:  DO tactfully call inconsiderate practices to the attention of the group. The clown you're addressing might just be educable!

                

11. Don't play dodge-'em with your canoe.  If you want to see fur fly, crash into (indeed, just nick!) someone's $2,600 Kevlar canoe with a rental tank. Boy, are you in for a surprise!

                

12. Packing your gear: Everything should be packed in waterproof containers that float. 

                

I could continue, but these are the basic concerns--all of which may be summarized by two simple cliches: "Take only pictures, leave only footprints."  And respect the rights of others. 

XXX

Introducing The Boundary Waters Belt Knife

We are always searching for the next piece of great gear.  Late this Autumn, I met a fellow canoeing and outdoor enthusiast whose full time job now consists of making knives.  Karl is from Minnesota and man oh man, does he have skills!  Right away, we hit it off and after looking at his work in person, I knew that we had to collaborate on a new knife that would stand up to anything the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness could dish out.

The result is a workhorse.  THE BOUNDARY WATERS BELT KNIFE.  It is a piece of art.  It is a (very) sharp blade -- tough enough to conquer all your cutting needs.  It can slice and dice a tomato and carve up your first nights steak even after making firewood kindling, whittling up a few tent stakes and setting up camp for you all on its own :)

It is hand forged from simple carbon steel and designed with a full tang. The craftsmanship that goes into it is top notch.  On the forge, the steel has been formed to shape a natural finger guard below the blade.  This is a knife that just feels right in your hand and fits on your belt like no other.  In addition, each leather sheath is crafted by hand to fit your knife and only your knife.

I convinced Karl to take time out of his busy schedule and make us four.  That's right, we've only got four of these beauties.  Two with brown curly maple handles and two with black curly maple handles.  We are offering them to you here first.  First come first serve.  I'm not sure if we'll be able to get anymore before Christmas, I suspect not.  He's making knives daily and if he gets time off, he makes something else, like the canoe below.

You can get more information on the pages of our online catalog.

Watch our blog for more great gift ideas from gear, to books and jewelry.  We're putting new items online daily.  Just because you've seen our paper catalog, doesn't mean you've got your finger on the pulse of everything new at Piragis Northwoods Company.

We promise to keep you updated on the latest and greatest, right here.

Take care, Tim Stouffer, Catalog Director