Brian Nystrom wrote:

Get some dry bags, pack your camping gear in them, shove 'em in your
boat and do an overnight trip. Repeat a few times until you've got your
gear needs and packing scheme worked out, then do your longer trip(s).

The same common sense advice I was going to give. Start small, with
easy overnight trips in warm weather, and gradually work up to longer
trips and/or colder weather. There are no shortage of books you can
read, I like Expedition Canoeing by Jacobson, but then I paddle an open
boat.

After each trip, think about whatever needs improvement, and modify gear
to suit or buy new gear that will work better. Occasionally I will make
gear from scratch to solve a particular problem. The time to do this
is right after the trip, when it is all fresh in your mind. If you wait
til the next trip, you will have forgotten half the problems you ran
into on the last trip, and you won't fully profit from the experience.

Richard


--
http://www.fergusonsculpture.com
Sculptures in copper and other metals

We started by shorter trips. Weekend trips to places that had
campsites already. Tobermory is a great trip, btw, if you can make it
that North. We didn't do any cold weather stuff though.

I would say work yourself up further and further. Trial and error is
important. Know (test) your equipment before you find yourslef
rebuilding stoves 2 days into the field (my buddy didn't test his so I
was rebuilding it). Don't take stuff you don't need, know what you
need by doing eventually longer treks. Kayaks can pack a lot of stuff,
but you stilll have to be smart. Dry bags are your best friend. They
are inexpensive, get many.

Alex, would love to see your winter camping photos. Post on Flickr.

Cheers