mastertangler wrote on Dec 27^th, 2010 at 12:28am:

I will have to add a new wrinkle to my canoeing skills. And that would be jumping out of the boat and grabbing the bank before catastrophe strikes. I haven't tried that before.......never had a need. Might as well practice crawling out via the bow to. All stuff I've never done.

H E L L O!  I DIDN'T get a pulled muscle in my back on a WCP solo last season from STEPPING out of my canoe in a non-threatening scenario.  Let's just say that running the Quetico Falls Chain in high water was good practice for my WCP trip and I still managed to find a few challenges in WCP.


Quote:

I have never secured my stuff inside my boat either. I'm wondering if the more experienced trippers lash stuff down or let them float out after a capsize when in a more wilderness setting? I'm inclined to secure my loads after reading this. Evidently there is very little room for error during high water conditions on the Haggert. Sounds exciting though.....NO SCREWUPS........CAPICHE?? (might as well start practicing my mantra now  ;) )

Not lashing your stuff in your canoe?  Do you REALLY love swimming after your gear.  And YES, I DO secure my gear ... carabiners make for reasonably fast connections to your boat or other packs that are secure to the boat.

Do you carry a bailer (that you can get to while you are in your seat)?

dd