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Canoe camping is my favorite way to get away...Canoe camping is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite way to get away from the hustle and bustle of real life and seek some serenity. To me the best trips will take me across several lakes and portages until I can be assured that I will not likely run into anybody. I love being away from the world like that. It's can be very hard work however and as well there are obviously some hazards involved so if you've never tried it before you're on the right page for advice. First of all, don't take more than you need to. People always seem to think that they need this that or the other thing only to find it to be cumbersome and tiring to carry on the trail. When you're canoe camping your best bet is to use ultralight backpacking gear. I've been on the trail and have seen people leave their Coleman stove behind because it was too big and heavy to carry. (That was only done because I was carrying a very small stove that folds up and would fit in my front pocket.) Don't take more clothing than you need either. When you're canoe camping you're "roughing it" so you're better off to accept the fact that you'll be getting a little dirty. You can always wash your things and yourself as you go so don't take more than you need. I like the pants with the zip off legs that turn into shorts. They're perfect for warmer and cooler weather. A couple of pairs of them and I'm good to go. Also be sure to bring clothing that will dry quickly. If' you get wet and are forced to spend a day in wet or damp clothing you will likely find your back country experience to be less than satisfying.
You also need to consider exactly how you're going to carry this stuff and keep it all dry. Dry bags are an excellent choice because they not only keep your things dry but they canbe clipped to your boat as well. If you've ever upset a canoe then you know how valuable this can be. Dry bags come in a variety of styles but the ones I prefer are the plastic ones with a window, or the see through type. I like these for the simple reason that I can see what's in them when I'm looking for something. I've been tipped over in the rapids before and after my swim to shore and getting my boat out of the water I've found my spare clothing to be completely dry! You'll be thankful for that if you ever end up in the same situation. I also own a couple of nylon drybags that are made out of a similar material to a tent fly. They're supposed to be water proof but I don't put anything in them other than sleeping bags. They're a good bag to guard against splashing but I wouldn't want to put my camera in them. The biggest thing to remember about canoe camping is that no matter what the weather is like, you run the risk of upsetting your boat. Always wear a life jacket and be sure to wear clothing that dries quickly. You can become very fatugued very quickly swimming with you clothes on in the cold water so be sure to think about this. Click on the link to return to the top of the canoe camping page or click on camping vacation to return to the previous page. Click on camping to go back to the homepage and thanks for your visit.
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