marlin55388 wrote on Jul 29^th, 2011 at 8:46pm:

Well, I hit the "wall" this year on my WCPP.  I literally reach the point on the last day of portaging (9 ports that day with the longest being 168 rods) where I could no longer put one foot in front of the other.  After days of not having a dry stitch of clothing on (I SWEAT, I don't perspire), knocking back well over a gallon of water a day while moving (and more at the campsite overnight) I reached the point where I just had to lay down and rest for a while before I could proceed.  You know its time when nausea and dizziness hits you that you've reached your limit.  So despite being wet, despite frequent plunges, despite the fact that I get out and walk for miles in the heat when its 95 or hotter outside, sometimes you are going to reach the point where you are all in.  I guess the tipping point could have been that I did part of the last portage in pouring rain ... meaning the humidity was REALLY high, so I wasn't sweating enough to keep cool.

Luckily I was traveling with a partner on this trip.  He was a great help in finishing the last portage and setting up camp.  My goal was to strip to my skivvies and walk out into neck deep water and just stay there a while, which I did.  I then strung my nylon string hammock and laid out in the shade for an hour with breezes blowing on me.

Yet, after all that I still had liquid running out both ends after I got up an hour later.  I went to "nap" in my tent at 5:00 and arose to grab a snack at 9:30 and went right back to bed.  Still, fully rested the next morning, I was again exhausted by the time we finished a 6 hour paddle to the take-out (the paddle in was more like 3 hours ... it was WINDY!).

So, be careful of the heat.  It can grab you quick and lay you low!  BUT, I was wearing my PFD all the time!

dd

BTW:  We shared a lunch stop with the park portage clearing crew on the way out.  The leader shared that he had made the sat. phone call back to park headquarters concerning whether or not they should fly him out because of heat exhaustion.  Luckily his younger counterpart's mom had required him to pack some electrolytes for just such a problem, so that "saved" a plane ride for the leader.  The leader was seasoned veteran of the park service and probably wasn't 50.  So, it wasn't my advanced age or physical condition alone that put me over the edge.  From now on, I'm packing electrolytes!

Cool DD!

DentonDoc wrote on Jul 29^th, 2011 at 10:09pm:


I found that "wall" 2 weeks ago during the Death March out of Delahey.  It was 90, sunny, humid, with no wind.  I drank 2 liters of water before starting and had 2 liters with me.  Not enough.  I literally fell over with the canoe on the second leg as I reached the little pond midway on the 1.5 mile leg.  The canoe hit a 2-in birch sapling left of the trail dead on.  It must have bent away and then snapped back, sending me and the canoe to the ground.  Can't recall the last time that ever happened.  Just before the pond, I reach several rock boulders/faces that needed to be climbed up and over.  But when I tried to take the canoe off to rest, the yoke pad caught my head and next thing I knew the canoe was banging off the rocks and I was sprawled on my back to the left of the trail.  Thankfully, nothing was busted or sprained.  When I reached the pond, I sat in the shade for a good twenty min and even after the rest, my heart rate was still 120 beats per minute and I was sweating like a pig.  Ate a little trail mix, drank some more water, and triple portaged the rest of the Death March.  I recall paddling towards the last portage into Conmee and I could barely move my arms to move the yak paddle...really weird feeling. 

It took me 8 hours to reach Suzanette, 6.5 hours was on the portage trail.  At the campsite, I unloaded the gear, sat in the water for a bit, then sat in my camp chair in the shade for about 75 minutes, just staring and soaking in the scenery.  Never felt dizzy or nauseous, just hot, very tired, and relieved the day was almost over.  Finally ate a PBJ sandwich with some gatorade and felt a little better.  Just before heading into the tent for the night, I recorded on my digital voice recorder I bring on solo trips: "Today was a bitch.  Hardest damn day I've ever had canoeing.  I'm 2/3 thirds of the way done with this tough physical trip...not sure I'm enjoying it that much.  I'm very achy, shoulders and back.  Not sure I'll ever do that Death March again without the boys or a partner."

As for my PFD, I didn't wear it all that day...I was too dang hot.

solotripper wrote on Aug 1^st, 2011 at 3:33pm:


Hi, ST.  I actually bought this vest based on a recommendation I think you provided last year.  It is quite comfortable and I like the velcro pockets for a small ditch kit.  Still, on most paddling days, I don't wear it.  Now, it is right behind my seat should anything go awry.  When the wind and waves are up, I'll put it on.  It is indeed a good, inexpensive, lightweight pfd for canoe trips.

solotripper wrote on Aug 1^st, 2011 at 6:53pm:


My seatbelt comes in handy "after the fact".   Copper turns around...seatbelt goes on!   I think MN is up to about $120-150 for no belt.