Solo is tough to one pass. Some might but not me. The only way one pass ever sounded feasible to me was 3 in a tandem. But I'd hate to travel that way in a canoe. Over the course of your day you'll travel farther and enjoy yourself more by just backing down your pace a tick.

If you have a GPS, try paddling at what you think a fast pace is. Note the speed. Then try a very relaxed paddle, but keep it moving. Note your speed. You'll probably find you're only going 5 minutes slower per hour for the same distance. Not enough difference and the overall effect on how you feel at the end of the day and the next is huge. That's my feelings about portage style too. But to each their own.

If you have a small barrel too. Carry it with your canoe and keep the large barrel for gear and carry it separate. Then go ahead and bring some luxuries, but not too many either.

Fishpig wrote on Apr 18^th, 2009 at 5:32am:


JJS has the right idea IMHO. Most of us solo paddlers are 2x portagers.
The reasons for double portaging are many, personal safety is probably the best, at least for me.
IF your determined to single portage, and you've cut down your gear and food as far as you feel comfortable with, then the only other thing you can do, is get yourself stronger. Not many of us have jobs that require us too carry 100# give or take across rough terrain in difficult/wet conditions. You can do squats at the gym, build your legs up, and hike with full pack for a few miles every night to build your endurance, but depending on your age/over-all physical condition, and your genetics, your only going to get/want too get so strong?
Try this, pick a distance, say a 1/4-1/2 mile, and time yourself walking it both single and double portage. I'll be willing too bet, the difference between the two times isn't as much as you think? Unless you can cross a portage at a decent speed, without resting single load, your really not gaining much time. The wear and tear, safety issues and time recuperating all figures in the mix. IF you can go single, non-stop, and be ready to paddle at the end, more power too you
I don't think many here can, and most of us have found "Smelling the Roses" is a very good thing

I guess I"ll get a 30L barrel for food then. Is there a decent harness for the little barrel?  On the last trip, my wife and I went to Lac La Croix via moose river (in 2 solos) we had 3 packs and a barrel. A guy blew by us in a Magic and 1 BIG pack. He had a graphite kayak paddle and CCS splash covers, so I thought mmmmm nice set-up. I said howdy when he went by, he looked at me like this . Sorry for wrecking your solitute dude! Anyways, I appreciate all the advice.

You might want to consider the overall weight of the barrel/harness set-up verses a traditional soft side pack.....which is lighter. Just think that you maybe able to cut more weight in your search for the one over and such...Just a thought.

Hey Troy and all-have you every done the weight conparison? I get that the barrel gig maybe a more durable way of going over the long haul, esp. if one is not handy with a needle and such. Outright....what are the pro and cons? I am a smaller framed person and do Ok with a stuffed Quetico Pack by GG. Why would one want to make a transittion to this style of pack....very curious about them with all the dialog.....Are there other sources for the barrels locally?