Why the late start?

Jimbo   

I’m doing all the same stuff in my head now. I’m waiting for warmer weather to spread out the gear in my garage, although I’ll probably set up my new tent in the living room soon. It looks like my trip in the 1st week of June will be a solo, so I’m trying to decide:  kayak or canoe. One day I’m sure it will be the canoe and then the next I’m thinking I should take the kayak.

The kayak is a lot faster on the water but slower on the portage due to unpacking and repacking the hatch, which BTW I do in my head every day. It is fun to paddle and will handle rough water and wind much better. The canoe will carry a lot more gear so I don’t have to make the tough decisions about what to leave behind…and it is easier to fish from.

I usually start preparing by mapping routes and campsites then making a list of food and gear. I accumulate a big pile of gear on a table in my garage. Then I cull the gear by deciding what I can do without and what gear can do double duty, and what I need to replace. Sorting and replacing fishing tackle is a whole separate task. If am going with my wife or sons then I need to add some gear I know they will forget.  I will pack it all up once I have purchased food and any new gear I think I NEED, to make sure I can still carry everything on a double portage, or to make sure it will fit in the hatch of my kayak.

For me, the preparation and planning is a large part of the enjoyment and satisfaction.

I've been going through my stuff all winter. Come spring I think I'll be like a Sled Dog taking off in a race. The summer is going to be too short. I have a new grandchild coming in May so I'll have to burn up paddling time out in Montana. But I was able to get my son to put off the trip to the Phillipines til Oct... I can deal with that. Hope I come out of the woods in time!

Puckster wrote on Feb 15^th, 2010 at 10:06pm:

New tent has been step in the living room (twice) and washing/cleaning stored gear, a few extra stitches to re-enforce a pack straps that are showing a little wear.  Oh ... and I've been looking at MAPS!  Soon, I'll start adding a pack to my back for my exiting walk routine (15-20 miles per week).

Looks like I'm flip-floppying your schedule ... 1st trip (mid-July solo) is slated for WCPP (going in about the time Jimbo is coming out) with a fall trip to Quetico.

dd

I have a Quetico map permanently mounted on the bedroom wall. Every time I go out, I pass it by and often hesitate to consider routes past and future. Maps are a constant distraction.

Tim