Has anyone found a compatible air pump for the MEC vectair insulated sleep pad? Chat GPT giving caution due to the MEC valve design. It does say that the Etenwolf Air 3 may work with one of its adapters.
Any tips on mounting a canoe to the roof when you have a panoramic glass insert? I plan to try to keep the foam blocks so that they’re catching some of the metal and then try to put something for and aft of the glass to distribute some weight onto the metal roof portion. Would it also make sense to slightly angle the canoe forward to prevent any wind from sharing up on the front end?
Is there public parking at Mowat Landing when I launch for my canoe trip?
For those of you who have a ABC / triple sensor watch for tripping, do you find it useful? I do have a ZOLEO for weather checks. Need a new watch and trying to decide simplicity like a Casio W218H Series for $30
or more technology like the Casio PRG-270 that has ABC functionality for $190.
I have an Amazon brand (Unigear) 10x13 tarp currently and big surprise it’s leaking in spots. It was just a cheap tarp a few years ago to get me going.
Looking at MEC Scout UL which are 25% off currently or the Aquaquest Guide UL tarp. The MEC is lighter but that comes with less rain protection (1500mm for MEC and 5000mm for the Aquaquest). Does anyone have practical experience in the rain with the MEC UL version tarp?
MEC also has the Scout Tarp (not UL) that is a bit heavier but offers 2000mm of rain protection.
I trip solo mostly so weight is somewhat of a factor but ultimately I need good rain protection. I trip in Ontario mainly - Algonquin, Temagami, and further north.
Hey everyone.
I purchased some sealed 3.5g packs of dried BM and PE last fall. I haven’t opened them as I forgot about them. Given they are dried and sealed still, are they ok to consume or would they have gone bad? They are not vacuum sealed just sealed in a pouch from the store. Just want to be sure they are safe to eat.
Looking at an extended solo trip in part of Temagami. Likely 8-10 days having some chill time integrated. I’d maybe even detour and hike Sugar Mtn as part of my trip.
Route is out of Mowats Landing.
Loop from there across lady evelyn, down sucker gut,through to katherine lake for a stop then back down through cabin, bridal and fatman falls before heading back up via willow island, lady evelyn, sugar and back up and out.
I’ve watched several videos of this exact route and similar routes in parts of this area. Are the sections through the Lady Evelyn River North and South channels that technical? It seems the moving water has all portage options if I choose to avoid white water as I don’t have experience. Some look manageable or even just line but worse case I take all portages. I do understand the difficulty of some of the portages.
Trip would be in early August. I have Jeff’s Map of this section and don’t see any warnings along the way. I plan to get Hap Wilson’s guide book as well. Looks like an amazing book to just have and bring along for reading.
My experience:
Been tripping for 5 years now including 2 solo trips. I’ve managed difficult weather and conditions and I’m adventurous but cautious at the same time.
Maybe I’m overthinking things but I’m just looking for a bit more adventure and remoteness than my usual Algonquin.
Below is the summary of my MRI due to dealing with pain and limited activities. I’ve stopped running and long distance hiking. I’m still able to walk/hike and portage on my canoe trips but do so with some pain.
I’m not sure how severe a grade 3 is. I’m wondering if PT would extend my hip life. My GP Dr has said that I will need a new hip at some point but I’m too young yet (57). Otherwise, I’m very fit and healthy outside of this and I also have RA which I’m on biologics for.
MRI OF THE LEFT HIP
CLINICAL HISTORY: Very active runner. History of psoriatic arthritis.
Left hip pain ongoing for the last 5-6 months. Rule out a labral tear.
TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar, multi-sequential MRI of the left hip without intravenous contrast.
COMPARISON: Previous x-rays of the pelvis done on February 24, 2025.
FINDINGS:
BONES AND JOINTS:
Bones: No fracture. No suspicious bone lesion. No avascular necrosis.
Left hip joint: Normal alignment. Deep grade 3 chondral fissure in the left acetabulum articular cartilage along the jointline associated
with a labral tear in the adjacent left acetabular labrum (chondral labral tear). No paralabral cyst. Mild (grade 2) chondral thinning diffusely the rest of the articular cartilage in the left hip joint. No hip joint effusion. No evident loose intraarticular bodies.
Pubic symphysis: Unremarkable.
Left sacroiliac joint: The visualized portion is unremarkable.
MUSCLES, TENDONS AND BURSA:
Left greater trochanteric bursa: Normal. No bursitis.
Left gluteal tendons and muscles: Intact left gluteus minimus and medius tendons. The left gluteal muscles are unremarkable.
Other muscles and bursa around the left hip joint: Unremarkable.
OTHER FINDINGS:
Intrapelvic structures: Visualized portions of the urinary bladder, prostate and bowel are unremarkable. No free fluid in the pelvis.
Report
Subcutaneous tissues: Unremarkable.
Left groin region: No left inguinal hernia.
Lymph nodes: The visualized lymph nodes are within normal size limits.
IMPRESSION:
Chondral fissure in the articular cartilage along the jointline in the
left acetabulum associated with a labral tear extending into the
adjacent left acetabular labrum (chondrolabral tear). No paralabral
cyst. Mild (grade 2) chondral thinning in the rest of the articular
cartilage in the left hip joint. No hip joint effusion.
Algonquin PP trippers, how many of you are hanging vs stashing food at night? It’s not always easy or even doable sometimes (area dependent) finding a proper tree hang. I feel like stashing has become more popular. I worry about the convenience for animals to find / access food if I were to stash it away from camp a bit. Not sure I’d sleep being worried about waking up to no food and having to bail on the trip. I’m currently using a food barrel if that’s a factor at all.
I had an amazing 5 day solo trip.
My Algonquin Park route: Magnetawan-Queer-Tim R-White Trout-Misty-Magnetawan.
I experienced thunderstorms, rain, snow, ice pellets and plenty of wind!
Learned a few things along the way to adjust next time and thought I’d share my experiences and a few pics (including one of all the clothes etc I didn’t use).
Weather and conditions can drastically affect travel time. Build in a buffer for early season tripping. I put in some 7 hour days, which is fine but I generally like some camp chill time. Or alternatively, build in a rest day along the way.
With rain, portage trails become water runoff management paths. I had Sealskinz waterproof socks and they worked great excellent with some wool socks underneath for keeping my feet dry and warm.
Portage trials and river sections - expect blowdowns that have not yet been maintained. Most of this was experienced along the Tim River section.
Overpacked clothing - opportunity to pack less.
Done with my solo tent especially early season trips. I will use my 3 man or get a 2 man tent. Need more space in shoulder seasons for changing and…………trying to use a urine bottle (found it easier to just go outside in the cold). Need to be a contortionist with no head clearance. Head to toe, I cover the entire length of my tent. (TNF Stormbreak 1p)
My canoe pack got heavy soaking up water with the rains and all the internal dry bags add weight as well. Considering moving to a 115L dry pack. Again, might force some more mindful packing.
Reducing food/cooking things and using my 30L food barrel over my 60L when soloing for a shorter trip like this 5 day. Not much lighter but with the extra space, I tend to pack extra things.
Wearing padding gloves BEFORE the blisters happen. Mostly when using the double bladed paddles for wind and upstream currents.
Sleep system was solid for the sub zero night temps. Even dialled it back a bit on slightly milder nights.
Sleep system:
-7 down bag (MEC)
Waffle sleep pad (just a cheap Woods brand one) under my inflatable pad (MEC Vectair).
Bag liner
Merino wool base layers and wool socks.
Merino wool toque
Neck gaiter
Canoe trimming. Couldn’t seem to get it right with loading. Typically my stern was sitting higher so any side wind load, I was getting pushed off line. I was in a 15’ H20 solo. Got better as the food etc was depleted from the food barrel which was positioned in front of me.
First time using my ZOLEO satellite communicator. Was awesome for nightly checkins and for weather checks. And the fact that I can pause it for $5/month is a good feature.
Already looking at another trip!
I feel like I have way too much weight on my trips. use a 60L food barrel that has all my cooking equipment and food. I tend to bring some beers for post-setup chill. I see some that I meet at portages that have a 115L sealine or whatever bag and their canoe. I likely over pack food but it’s generally light weight freeze dried etc.
I also use a canoe pack for all my other gear. Each category has its own dry bag. So sleeping bag and clothes in a sealine bag. Tent and tarp in another bag and then pack in all the other stuff - first aid, saw, chair, etc.
I’m wondering if a sealine 115L bag and just simpler and everything in there would be lighter. If it rains, the canoe pack just soaks up water (weight). I have not weighed my canoe pack but it’s gotta be 70 plus lbs. my food barrel lightens as the beer is depleted lol. My kitchen stuff is super minimal. Pocket rocket stove, small pot, sprork, and one plate that has high edges and doubles for a bowl.
Just back from a wet 5 day solo trip. So some post analytics.
Don’t say cut the beer….
The access road is significantly washed out after the Tim River split. When will Ontario Parks declare it impassable ahead of your rsvn so you can make alternate route plans? Heading out May 9th.