Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

So, you've read about the unstoppable voyageurs, the expeditions of
Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser and David Thompson to "crack the
mountain ramparts" and map the Rockies. You've heard about the trials of
the 3 great portages to the Athabasca: La Vase Portages, Grand Portage
and the Methye Portage (aka Portage La Loche) and now you're imagining
embarking on a trans-Canada canoe (or kayak) adventure of your own.

If you've ever dreamed about canoeing across Canada, but thought you
weren't up to it, think again! For some tips, see:

http://www.canadabyland.org/

Any constructive comments on the site will be warmly received. Thanks,

Duncan Thomson

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

"Abigail and Duncan Thomson" wrote in message
...
So, you've read about the unstoppable voyageurs, the expeditions of
Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser and David Thompson to "crack the
mountain ramparts" and map the Rockies. You've heard about the trials of
the 3 great portages to the Athabasca: La Vase Portages, Grand Portage
and the Methye Portage (aka Portage La Loche) and now you're imagining
embarking on a trans-Canada canoe (or kayak) adventure of your own.

If you've ever dreamed about canoeing across Canada, but thought you
weren't up to it, think again! For some tips, see:

http://www.canadabyland.org/


A fine trip, a fine journal (never saw "Faraday cage" or "rubescent" in a
trip report before), and a fine set of references. Thanks.

The Peace is a fine poling river. Don't give up so easily.

Fred Klingener

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

Abigail and Duncan Thomson wrote in message ...
So, you've read about the unstoppable voyageurs, the expeditions of
Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser and David Thompson to "crack the
mountain ramparts" and map the Rockies. You've heard about the trials of
the 3 great portages to the Athabasca: La Vase Portages, Grand Portage
and the Methye Portage (aka Portage La Loche) and now you're imagining
embarking on a trans-Canada canoe (or kayak) adventure of your own.

If you've ever dreamed about canoeing across Canada, but thought you
weren't up to it, think again! For some tips, see:

http://www.canadabyland.org/

Any constructive comments on the site will be warmly received. Thanks,

Duncan Thomson

A fine effort and a great website!
A minor quibble: You can't start in Montreal and "cross Canada".
You've missed four of the ten Provinces. As a Maritimer, I see this
claim made quite often.

Cheers from Nova Scotia (One of the Four)

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

On 31 Dec 2003 12:58:42 -0800, (magoo_ns)
wrote:

A fine effort and a great website!
A minor quibble: You can't start in Montreal and "cross Canada".
You've missed four of the ten Provinces. As a Maritimer, I see this
claim made quite often.

Cheers from Nova Scotia (One of the Four)

Don't you count the three territories?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote in message . ..
On 31 Dec 2003 12:58:42 -0800, (magoo_ns)
wrote:

A fine effort and a great website!
A minor quibble: You can't start in Montreal and "cross Canada".
You've missed four of the ten Provinces. As a Maritimer, I see this
claim made quite often.

Cheers from Nova Scotia (One of the Four)

Don't you count the three territories?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

I do, but since their destination is Vancouver, they won't.

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

On 31 Dec 2003 18:02:59 -0800, (magoo_ns)
wrote:

I do, but since their destination is Vancouver, they won't.

I imagine that cross country in Canada is a bit more straightforward,
as there are many possible cross country routes for the US.

A US cross country trip often involves New York City to Los Angeles,
although this is arbitrary.

For Canada, the equivalent would involve Vancouver of course, but what
would be the typical East Coast end be? Halifax?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

Gary S. wrote in :

On 31 Dec 2003 18:02:59 -0800, (magoo_ns)
wrote:

I do, but since their destination is Vancouver, they won't.

I imagine that cross country in Canada is a bit more
straightforward, as there are many possible cross country routes
for the US.

A US cross country trip often involves New York City to Los
Angeles, although this is arbitrary.

For Canada, the equivalent would involve Vancouver of course, but
what would be the typical East Coast end be? Halifax?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA

A _real_ cross-Canada route would run from St. Johns, Newfoundland &
Labrador to Victoria, British Columbia.

But I know a number of people who have attempted a cross-Canada trip
have taken a bit of a shortcut and started in Halifax.
--
Darryl

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 13:36:25 GMT, Darryl Johnson
wrote:

Gary S. wrote in :

A US cross country trip often involves New York City to Los
Angeles, although this is arbitrary.

For Canada, the equivalent would involve Vancouver of course, but
what would be the typical East Coast end be? Halifax?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)

A _real_ cross-Canada route would run from St. Johns, Newfoundland &
Labrador to Victoria, British Columbia.

But I know a number of people who have attempted a cross-Canada trip
have taken a bit of a shortcut and started in Halifax.

Agreed. We New Englanders consider a cross-country US trip starting in
New York a bit abbreviated as well.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote in message . ..
On Thu, 01 Jan 2004 13:36:25 GMT, Darryl Johnson
wrote:

Gary S. wrote in :

A US cross country trip often involves New York City to Los
Angeles, although this is arbitrary.

For Canada, the equivalent would involve Vancouver of course, but
what would be the typical East Coast end be? Halifax?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)

A _real_ cross-Canada route would run from St. Johns, Newfoundland &
Labrador to Victoria, British Columbia.

But I know a number of people who have attempted a cross-Canada trip
have taken a bit of a shortcut and started in Halifax.

Agreed. We New Englanders consider a cross-country US trip starting in
New York a bit abbreviated as well.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom


Yes, I would imagine so too. But in this case, one and a half time
zones have been left out! Terry Fox knew where to start his
cross-Canada trip..St. John's Nfld. I do admit though, that beginning
a paddle trip in Newfoundland would be very problematic. As far as I
know, there's only been one successful NS to NFLD paddle crossing,
that having been done this summer past by a 60+ year old man who not
only went solo, but told no one he was doing it. Yow.

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

On 1 Jan 2004 14:53:29 -0800, (magoo_ns) wrote:

Gary S. Idontwantspam@net wrote in message . ..

Agreed. We New Englanders consider a cross-country US trip starting in
New York a bit abbreviated as well.

Yes, I would imagine so too. But in this case, one and a half time
zones have been left out! Terry Fox knew where to start his
cross-Canada trip..St. John's Nfld. I do admit though, that beginning
a paddle trip in Newfoundland would be very problematic. As far as I
know, there's only been one successful NS to NFLD paddle crossing,
that having been done this summer past by a 60+ year old man who not
only went solo, but told no one he was doing it. Yow.

The Boston area has had a bit of an issue with New York City, back at
least as far as 1918. A certain group of professional athletes with
crimson leggings.

That crossing would seem to be about 100 miles at the shortest. Since
the tide in that area are significant, I would guess that the currents
are as well. Even summer water temps would be in the "hypothermia and
unconscious in ten minutes" range.

If that guy had told anyone, they would have had him locked away for
his own good, I would think.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

On 1 Jan 2004 21:37:16 -0800, (Alex McGruer)
wrote:

If I were trying to paddle across Canada ( by kayak)the south coast of
Newfoundland would be a must. Dictated by the most easterly point of
North America ( Cape Spear ) and the pure size of this island. To
drive from my home to Port Aux Basque is a 10 hour trip by car. You
don't just write that much off the end of a country and say you did
it.
There to Cape Breton, Perhaps ( for the hospitality ) New Brunswick ,
Quebec . etc.
The territories would have to be done as needed, It would be cross
Canada , not tour it. Imagine a trip hitting all the states from the
Atlantic to the Pacific.

In discussing the Highpointers Club (they try to get to the highest
point in each of the 50 US states) with a friend, I remarked that the
equivalent for Canada would be technically far more difficult, despite
having only 13 points.

A rather different country in many ways.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

magoo_ns wrote in
om:

snip

Yes, I would imagine so too. But in this case, one and a half
time zones have been left out! Terry Fox knew where to start his
cross-Canada trip..St. John's Nfld. I do admit though, that
beginning a paddle trip in Newfoundland would be very problematic.
As far as I know, there's only been one successful NS to NFLD
paddle crossing, that having been done this summer past by a 60+
year old man who not only went solo, but told no one he was doing
it. Yow.


Last summer two of my friends were paddling in Nfld. -- up in the
Northwest corner, up by that Viking site. (I forget the name right
now.)

They were tempted, for about five minutes, to paddle across to
Labrador one afternoon. Only the thought of the currents and their
lack of maritime charts for the Labrador coast deterred them.
(Probably for the best.) But it _is_ a short distance, relatively
speaking.

--
Darryl

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

Darryl Johnson wrote in message m...
magoo_ns wrote in
om:

snip

Yes, I would imagine so too. But in this case, one and a half
time zones have been left out! Terry Fox knew where to start his
cross-Canada trip..St. John's Nfld. I do admit though, that
beginning a paddle trip in Newfoundland would be very problematic.
As far as I know, there's only been one successful NS to NFLD
paddle crossing, that having been done this summer past by a 60+
year old man who not only went solo, but told no one he was doing
it. Yow.


Last summer two of my friends were paddling in Nfld. -- up in the
Northwest corner, up by that Viking site. (I forget the name right
now.)

St Barbes across would be about 15 Nautical miles with a 1.5 to 2 knot
current. Quite doable in an afternoon. I know a couple of people who
have done it. I don't know anyone who paddled over then back.
I have not given Labrador a second thought.
Too much to see within two hours of my home to worry about Labrador
yet.
Now it is a way to put a lot of Canada under your boat before getting
to The St. Laurence.
The whole Newfounland Southern Shore , followed by the south coast
(Magnificent paddling) then a following sea and favourable prevailling
winds up the Great Northern Peninsula. ( Great paddle but I have
seen those waves wash over break waters with no prooblem.) Then Cross
to Forteau Bay or one of the small communities there, If you miss one
there are others. This area is English speeking , usefull for folks
like me. Track down the Quebec southern shore and there are
communities , but that shore has a prevailing onshore wind with a good
fetch.
That would be a good way to start.
You miss NS NB and PEI, but the land mas of all 3 provinces could be
lost under Newfoundland and Labrador. No slight to the more populated
provinces but whan it comes to coastline ,,,, we have a huge one. BC
MAY give us a run for our money if you include the shores of all
related islands.
What a trip. It would take a month and a half to clean Newfoundland.

They were tempted, for about five minutes, to paddle across to
Labrador one afternoon. Only the thought of the currents and their
lack of maritime charts for the Labrador coast deterred them.
(Probably for the best.) But it _is_ a short distance, relatively
speaking.

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

"magoo_ns" wrote in message
om...

A fine effort and a great website!
A minor quibble: You can't start in Montreal and "cross Canada".
You've missed four of the ten Provinces. As a Maritimer, I see this
claim made quite often.

If the goal is to reproduce the work of the old explorers, as was implied in
the original post, and not simply to paddle across Canada, then there would
be no need to start further east than Montreal--since you could get there
(from Halifax, St. John's, or Europe) by any decent sailing ship in those
days. Getting much further was difficult in those days before any locks
(not to mention the railways) were built, so Canoes were pretty important...

-Paul

Canoeing across Canada for beginners, by beginners
 

"Paul Skoczylas" wrote in message news:zLhKb.82839$6b2.59240@edtnps84...
"magoo_ns" wrote in message
om...

A fine effort and a great website!
A minor quibble: You can't start in Montreal and "cross Canada".
You've missed four of the ten Provinces. As a Maritimer, I see this
claim made quite often.

If the goal is to reproduce the work of the old explorers, as was implied in
the original post, and not simply to paddle across Canada, then there would
be no need to start further east than Montreal--since you could get there
(from Halifax, St. John's, or Europe) by any decent sailing ship in those
days. Getting much further was difficult in those days before any locks
(not to mention the railways) were built, so Canoes were pretty important...

-Paul


Well, that's the trouble. The goal, as stated by the paddlers
themselves on their website, is to paddle "across Canada" from
Montreal. It's wonderful that they're also going to retrace the
original canoe route, but it didn't cross Canada either. Quite simply
you cannot cross anything by starting in the middle. If they would
take out the "cross Canada" reference, it would in no way diminish
their great achievment, and would erase the unintended snub to
Atlantic Canadians.
I'm not suggesting that one would have to touch all provinces to cross
the country, but I believe Terry Fox had it right; start at the
Atlantic coast of the Easternmost province and finish on the Pacific
coast of the Westernmost.