| Canoe camping is my preferred way to camp. It's | | | | a river by falling out of my kayak. A man on shore had |
| peaceful and quiet and an awesome way to get | | | | one at his side and threw it to me,helping me get out |
| away from it all but if you've never tried it, then you | | | | of the rapid water. I was glad he had one nearby. |
| need to know what to expect. | | | | The key to keeping your boat stable when canoe |
| It 's a sort of romantic way to experience life in a way | | | | camping is to ensure that you pack all of you |
| that's similar to the people that lived on our continent | | | | equipment with the heaviest stuff on the bottom and |
| many years ago. Paddling, portaging, sleeping and | | | | the lighter stuff on top. I always make an effort to use |
| eating on the edge of the shore. There's nothing really | | | | dry bags to keep all of my things in and I always clip |
| like it. There's nothing like paddling across a hidden lake | | | | them to the gunwales of the boat to prevent my |
| that not too many people even get to see. At the right | | | | belongings from going to the bottom of the lake in the |
| locations you may not even run into another person or | | | | event of an upset. I've seen people use garbage bags |
| group. | | | | on canoe trips but that will only keep your things dry |
| Because of the isolated nature of camping this way | | | | from splashing. They're not very robust and they rip |
| there is one thing that you need to think of above all | | | | easily and will eventually allow your stuff to get wet, |
| else. Safety. Because the odds are fairly high that you | | | | not to mention they won't prevent your stuff from |
| may not run into anybody else when you're on a | | | | sinking if you flip. |
| paddling trip then you need to be prepared with the | | | | You should always plan your route before leaving and |
| safety basics. You'll need life jackets and make sure | | | | it wouldn't hurt to have a secondary route planned just |
| you wear them. It's amazing how tired you can | | | | in case. You never know what mother nature will |
| become when trying to recover from an upset canoe | | | | throw at you and you may be forced to take a |
| and it can happen fairly easily. Canoes are not the | | | | different route than what you had originally planned. |
| most stable craft in the water and I've been thrown | | | | The important thing is to let someone know what |
| into the water from them myself. Because of their low | | | | you're intentions are and how long you'll think you'll be |
| sides and somewhat "tippy" nature you will need (and | | | | canoe camping. It's not something you'll likely need but if |
| are required in most places) to carry a bailing bucket | | | | you did need the help it's pretty reassuring to know |
| to help empty your canoe of any water you may | | | | that someone is expecting you back and they know |
| have taken on, and a throw rope for emergency | | | | where to send help if by some very small chance you |
| rescues from shore or even other boats. Throw ropes | | | | don't return when you say you will. |
| come in a bag and are designed not to be an | | | | It's a very safe way to get out and see the wild but |
| entaglement hazard before they're deployed. In an | | | | you do need to be prepared. The more you do it the |
| emergency you simply grab the free end of the rope | | | | more you'll become aware that the chance for things |
| with one hand and throw the heavier bag to shore or | | | | to go wrong is not great, but it does exist. Having the |
| to you're would be rescuers. I was forced to use one | | | | right supplies along with a first aid kit is an excellent |
| of these ropes when I accidently swam the rapids of | | | | way to ensure your safety. |