The Complete Guide To Canoe Camping

Going camping is a great privilege for anyone to experience. Both canoeing and camping are unique activities in their own right. To combine them is even more adventurous. Camping while canoeing might be even more enjoyable and is a growing facet of how people experience the outdoors. Hopefully, this article will give you some idea of the adventure and fun that can be had canoe camping.

What is Canoe Camping?

Canoe Camping has also been more popularly referred to as expedition canoeing, which is an apt description. However, canoeing is different from kayaking due to its size, less maneuverability, and more suited for calmer water. Furthermore, whitewater is a possibility, no matter your vessel of choice and experience and training. Canoeing is similar to backpacking, where you may hike to a planned camping spot. When the method of traveling is by canoe, it gives the canoeist or canoer the ability to carry more gear and has a more relaxed experience.

Recommended Gear For Canoe Camping

Some common pieces of gear that canoers at different levels of experience will have when they go camping. A good list should include personal items, food items that take up minimal space, safety gear and items for survival and navigation, and camping gear that would be used when you get to land.

Canoe Gear

• PFD ( Personal Floatation Device)
• Spare PFD
• Spare Paddle
• Seat Pad
• Gloves For Paddling/Rowing

Camping Gear and Food

• Tent and Sleeping bag
• Cooler
• Compressible pillow (This could also be an air pillow as a substitute)
• Cooking gear (cooking pots/ cooking utensils)
• Propane stove
• Fishing Gear (optional)
• Oatmeal
• Dehydrated packaged Meals
• Dry Soup mix
• Beef Jerky
• Dried Fruit
• Granola Bars
• Peanut Butter
• Protein Bars
• Trail Mix
• Summer Sausage
• Packaged Rice mix
• Canned Chicken/Tuna
• Coffee

Personal Items

• Quick Dry Clothing
• Sunglasses
• Long Underwear & Regular underwear
• Hygiene Toiletries
• Bathroom Toiletries
• Raincoat
• Dry Bags
• Wet Socks
• Wool Socks
• Hand Sanitizer

Navigation and Survival Gear

• GPS
• Topographical Map
• Flashlight
• Headlamp
• Rope
• Matches/Lighter
• Compass
• Watch
• Extra Batteries

Safety Equipment

• Sunscreen
• Imodium
• Fully Stocked First Aid Kit
• Benadryl
• Aquatabs( for water purification)
• Safety Whistle
• Anti-Itch Cream

How to Stay Safe

As a further point on safety, some key ideas and concepts must be understood before going on a canoe expedition. As a canoer/canoeist, you can do many things before and during the trip to ensure that you have done everything possible to be safe.

Have Familiarity With Locations and destinations

It is important to know as much as possible about the weather circumstances you and your group may run into and how that may affect the activity.

• Could there be any natural features that could be dangerous?
• Are you going up or downstream in the river, or will you paddle through a lake?
• What animals are around the area?

These questions are best to consider even if you are familiar with the area you are canoeing in. For example, the landmarks and the natural features could change depending on the season.

Packing The Canoe

The main thing that is important while packing a canoe is balance. For example, packing equal weight both in the stern (back) and Aft (front) ends of the canoe will help immensely maneuver the canoe. Because a canoe is so open, you may need containers that protect all your goods and gear in the vessel. It is even better to have some periods of testing the weight and get used to it by practicing. It is also important not to pack too much weight into the vessel because it will then be prone to sink or get swamped.

1. Train For Different Dangers

Another crucial element to being safe is to practice and gain experience in the canoe. Be familiar with the capabilities and limitations of your canoe. Because of the weight in your canoe, the danger of your canoe capsizing could increase as weight is added. Practicing paddling skills, in general, would also help give you an edge and familiarize you with canoeing in rivers and lakes.

To the right is a Canoe:

• If you are in a tandem canoe, it takes two people to lift the canoe out of the water. First, you and your partner must grab both gunwales and lift one side of the canoe out of the water to break the seal.
• Second, on a three count, you and your partner must kick strongly in the water to lift the canoe out of the water and then flip it over upright.
• The last step is to empty the leftover water from the boat.

Conclusion

In 2018 statistics gathered by the American Canoe Association on newer participants in water paddlesports showed a 31% growth in canoeing that year. Overall, going on a canoe trip is a great sport and pastime that is unique and, at times, could be challenging and is meant for the more experienced canoeist. Beyond that, it will be a memorable experience each time you do it.