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Portaging a Canoe - More Tips for Easing the Pain!

Description

Tags: canoe,canoe trip,survival,bushcraft,portage,algonquin

Video Transcription

so it's about six o'clock on August the 8th mine evening wanted to take this short little video right here because this is where I film my portage canoe did I call it solo portage system that's where I recorded that video at the portage from catch a lake to Hillier Lake that was last a couple of days of September last year so I just thought it was interesting that to see what I had changed since then and I have tried a few different things I've tried to try to my yokai actually have a removable yoke tried that I've tried elevating those kayak paddles a little bit more tried a number of things but funny enough I'm right back to where I started so what I figured out last year best system for portage in this particular canoe with these kayak paddles still fighting it's the best system for now owing and it's gonna keep to keep the system it's working for me and it's comfortable one thing I did want to mention though people know I asked about how does a single portage and of course I did that single port eyes system video but a lot of its gear management so not having gear swinging I could I don't even like having that lifejacket there swinging away usually secure everything and a lot more solid than that but when I talk about gear management not really what I mean is having a place for everything so nothing in your hands that's why strapped in the tripod right there paddles both paddles are strapped in lifejacket strapped and safety line is strapped in and I've got the backpack on my back of course with everything else so nothing in my hands a couple of good reasons for that one is that it help if you have things in your hands you're more likely to forget them at the portage or at the campsite which I've done in the past you don't want to do that on a multi-day canoe trip or the other reason is that it's just a lot more awkward you're walking these these portage trail especially outside of Algonquin or Portage's are usually worked a little tougher you don't want to have stuff in your hands and you're fighting your way through a bush and when you trip you don't want to have gear in your hands that you could break to the other and the other part of that is as far as getting in shape for doing that kind of portaging I find my legs are fine I think most people would find that their legs are fine they might get tired because their legs are working their most big muscles are working in their legs so they get tired so you find that a little bit tough maybe a lot tough on the hills but I find for me the hardest part about poor toshing is on my shoulders not so bad on this trip with the lighter pack but I find that I find that for me especially with this system the yoke bearing down on my shoulders is the boat the hardest thing at the port are so the end of a long day my necks or my traps or sore so the best thing I can do I'd like to do kettle kettle bell swings if you don't know what that is look it up or if not kettle bell swings and I'd recommend doing upright rows and and shrugs with dumbbells or a barbell so if you do that we're gonna build up these traps so that's that's that's what I found over the years for toshing and if you want to check out check out the rest of my videos we've got a lot more tips like that as well

About the Author

My Self Reliance

My Self Reliance

Shawn James Canadian outdoorsman, photographer, guide and self-reliance educator. Writer for Ontario Tourism. myselfreliance.com Outdoor adventures, including survival, bushcraft, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, fishing and camping.

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