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Edscanoe Yoke Center Seat
On day two of a recent solo trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a south wind was funneling down Wanihigan Lake, a narrow north-south. The tops of the pines whipped back and forth in the wind. The low water from months without rain made entering my canoe at the normal put-in spot after the portage impossible. I balanced my Northstar Magic on the shoulders and stepped over a blowdown that reached up to my crouch. The wind caught the canoe and twisted it, but I managed to return it into the wind. The only way to launch was to set my canoe next to a floating log that…
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Saying Goodbye to Freedom: Garmin inReach Shifts Subscription Services
Today Garmin inReach Freedom plan subscribers received notification from Garmin that it is discontinuing the Freedom plans. With Freedom plans users would pay an annual $34.95 at sign up and then once a year. They could turn off their service and start it up whenever they liked without having to pay an activation fee. They could choose from three different plans when they reactivated the service. Now, Freedom plans are discontinued. Current Freedom subscribers will be migrated over to the new plans starting December 2024. The New Enabled Feature – $7.99 a month Instead of being able to completely suspend your service, Garmin now offers a $7.99 per month enabled…
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Caribe: a New Kayak Design
Marcelo Rossi returns to the pages of PaddlingLight with a new kayak that he designed: A couple of years ago, a friend from the group of paddlers that we meet with on Saturdays told me that more and more new people are joining the group, so why don’t you design a kayak for beginners? It should have a wide and low rim so it’s easy to get in and out, and flat at the stern to make re-entry easier, as stable as possible, the length of an average car, for paddlers up to 85 kg (187 pounds), with hatches to carry water, food, a change of clothes, etc. I got…
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DIY Gravity Water Filter System Update
A few years ago, I wrote about using a Sawyer Squeeze as a DIY gravity filter. Simple modifications using CNOC Vecto bags reduced complexity but filter one less liter per fill.
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What to do with the canoe and kayak plans?
Over the last couple of years, I’ve been punting on a decision about the canoe and kayak plans. I haven’t been able to decide whether or not to remove them from my website. I’ve made the decision. The sales of these plans is leaving PaddlingLight. What I haven’t decided is, do I continue to sell them at all? There are various reasons that I’m doing this, but the primary one is that I don’t want to have to handle all the payments, orders, problems, etc. of running an online store anymore. I’m just not interested in doing it, and the revenue has dropped significantly in the last couple of years.…
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Kayak Skeg Stuck? A Simple Fix
If your sea kayak skeg gets stuck, use a cord to free it; alternatives include wire or household items. It's a simple fix that should be standard on sea kayaks. Act Now and Get the Fix.
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KÜHL’s The One: Best Jacket for Canoeing?
I find KÜHL The One jacket incredibly versatile, comfortable, and well-insulated, suitable for many activities and weather conditions, and highly breathable.
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Guide to Staking Out Tents on Rocky Ground
Camping on rocky ground is possible with the right preparation. Use durable cord for the stake out points and utilize rocks for secure tent staking.
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Lake Superior Circumnavigation Speed Records
A kayaker falsely claimed a Lake Superior speed record due to lack of easy access to existing records. Despite his correction, inaccurate news persisted. Reliable tracking of such achievements remains difficult due to limited record-keeping in the paddling community.
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Paddle On, Dan Cooke
Dan Cooke, a beloved member of the Minnesota paddling community and creator of quality canoeing gear at Cooke Custom Sewing, passed away last night. His death is deeply mourned by friends and community members.
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Outdoor Sports Rescue Shaming
The post discusses "rescue shaming" in outdoor sports and highlights several cognitive biases, like the Dunning-Kruger Effect and FACETS heuristics, which impact decision-making and can lead to dangerous situations. Emphasizing education and empathy is encouraged.
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Sea Gull Lake Trip Report
Last weekend, we camped at the Trail’s End Campground at the end of the Gunflint Trail. It’s near several entry points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It’s also a great place to camp and photograph. If you’re into photography, check out my photography map for the campground area. It’s a popular campground due to its closeness to popular entry points and its remoteness, so you’ll likely need to reserve a spot if you plan on going. This trip, we stayed at campsite #25 and found that it was a lovely place to stay. #24 would have been slightly better, but we had great neighbors there and in #26…
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Tripods for Canoeing and Kayaking
The author, a professional photographer who also teaches photography, evaluates three tripods ranging from 1 to 3 pounds. They discuss the pros and cons of each, focusing on factors like weight, stability, and height. The author recommends using Kirk L Brackets for better camera support and shares purchase links for the tripods.
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Sea Kayaking Grand Marais’ Harbor
Each summer, I enjoy sea kayaking from Grand Marais’ harbor, exploring up to four miles, including Artist's Point and the campground area. Notable sights include the old Coast Guard station and Hjordis schooner. Accessibility features at the harbor such as a kayak launch, walkway, and changing room were influenced by my suggestions.
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Homer Lake Trip Report
Over the Memorial Day weekend, we took a day trip to Homer Lake. Homer Lake in northern Minnesota is an entry point to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. About half of the lake is in the wilderness and half is outside. The majority of it is outside the wilderness and there’s a short portage into Axe Lake which is just north of Homer. The lake also has offers two campsites. There’s one inside the wilderness and one outside the wilderness. I’ve paddled on Homer a fair number of times and have used it on multiple trips. You can also use it to access the Vern River Loop instead of…
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