Next time I have a stupid idea like doing the Brent Run, somebody slap me!!!!

Making decent time till Big Trout then the headwinds started. Combine that with 30+ temps and it does not make for prime paddling. However, we perservered and were pretty knackered and stumbling a bit by midnight so in regards for safety we hit Shangri-La Island on Catfish to grab some snooze. When we started out again the wind built until they were pretty harsh. Good 1 foot waves on Big Trout and absolutely ridiculous winds on Burnt Island and the Joes. 

Bugs were pretty bad the entire trip. I will say they were not as bad at the start of the portages, but as you went along and disturbed them all, by the end of the portage you were covered.

We finished up with the time of 40 hours. At some point it became more about 4 guys sharing the experience than about the record. Would like to say I would be happy to do this again with these guys but none of us want to do it again!!!! Hahaha... Famous last words, right??!!

Trip log and some pics to come soon.

I would just like to say THANKS to Mike, Markus, and Scott for agreeing to join me on this insane escapade. Was a great experience I am sure we will chat about for a long time to come.
Thanks also for Dogbyte and Dorothy for watching over the camp while we were gone. Thanks Dogbyte for the steak dinner upon our return!!

Sean

 

WOOHOO!!!  Awesome photo Steve!!!!

Yeah, the hinge on the Yakima is a big selling point for me.  

The other thing I was wondering about, is there enough room with the hitch systems to allow for 2 canoes on the roof?

 

From my personal solo trip experiences, I would say that the days are easy. Don't worry about double carries on the portage. Don't worry that you are not keeping to a strict timeline. Don't stress yourself out about being alone.  Just go with the flow and enjoy the time on the water and the portages.  After all, is that not why you are out there?

Once you make camp, gather all your wood for a long evening fire, enjoy a nice dinner and settle in for a great evening.  Bring a book to read by firelight. If good weather, find a nice spot down by the lake to lay down and watch the stars and satellites overhead.  I bring a small bottle of rye and powdered hot apple cider for a nice hot toddy to drink in the evening. Listen to the things that go bump in the night. Some pretty weird noises out there.

The more you think about the fact you are alone, the worse it will get.  Take baby steps and start with an over-nighter first time out and then work yourself up to longer trips.  Find out what works for you.  My first trips were a breeze during the day, but once I was done dinner and dishes washed and firewood stacked and darkness crept in, the "what do I do now" feeling crept in.  I ended up going to bed a couple hours earlier than I had planned and all that did was ensure I was awake a couple hours earlier than planned. At that point I just lay in my sleeping bag getting more and more annoyed that I couldn't get back to sleep.

My biggest tip / suggestion for solo trips is to make sure you have something to do in the evenings other than watch wood burn.  Read a book, whittle a piece of wood, sketch something you saw during the day, etc etc etc... Once you figure out what works for you, you will have the solo tripping thing down, no probs....

 

Jeff and Kevin took turns at the corner table in the Canadian Outdoor Equipment Booth. 

Sean

 

A few years ago, The Outdoor Journal (with Angelo Viola), a radio show that discusses the outdoors and sports such as fishing and hunting, etc, approached Barry.  They were looking to have someone come on the show and talk about the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists (ABR). Well, I was elected and apparently I did a fine job.  About a year ago, Reno Viola Outdoors (WRVO ~ an internet radio station) contacted Barry and said they were looking to expand their programming from just hunting and fishing and thought a show about paddle sports would be great. My name came up as a good candidate because it seemed I was comfortable talking on the radio.
 
Well, after some back and forth and lots of meetings, discussions and research, I am happy to say that Wednesday February 17 at 6am and 6pm, Paddling Adventures Radio hits the internet airwaves.
 
Paddling Adventures Radio will discuss canoes and canoe tripping, kayaking, and touch on other paddle sports such as stand up paddle boarding (SUP).  We will be doing interviews, gear reviews, talk about paddling destinations, and relay events that may be of interest to the paddling community.
 
My co-host Derek Specht (you may know him here as DogByte) and I are new to the radio thing so it may take us some time to get the hang of it. There will be some hiccups along the way I am sure, but eventually we will figure it all out and we hope you will tune in and listen
 
The show will be an hour long every Wednesday, starting February 17. It will air at 6am and repeat at 6pm.
 
We will also have a place where you can download episodes at a later date so you will have a chance to listen to past episodes you enjoyed or ones you may have missed. This will also allow you to listen to episodes at your own leisure as not everyone has time to sit down at 6am or 6pm and listen.
 
To listen to the show, just click the link to Reno Viola Outdoors at the appropriate time and listen.  The station plays automatically from the main pa