Sea Kayak Camping
 

What the best way to learn to camp sea kayaking ? A week at the most ,on
lake erie. Year around camping , winter (maybe) .

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Drew Cutter wrote:
What the best way to learn to camp sea kayaking ? A week at the most ,on
lake erie. Year around camping , winter (maybe) .

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).

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Brain ,

Looking at buying Greenland style paddle . How different are the paddle
strokes and roll with the Greenland paddle ?

Brian Nystrom wrote:
Drew Cutter wrote:
What the best way to learn to camp sea kayaking ? A week at the most
,on lake erie. Year around camping , winter (maybe) .

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).

Sea Kayak Camping
 

One thing at a time.
I am not a great Greenland paddle fan but they certainly have a place.
For the camping I would do a couple of short camping hikes first where
you won't be so isolated should you forget something. When you have
your ducks in a row and you know you have the right gear and a
knowledge of how it works then you get dry bags and stuff it into a sea
kayak and off you go.
My winter kayak camping is restricted to a serious day paddle with all
the gear to camp followed by a night in a B & B or hotel.
In summer you can normally get off with kit omissions and not be any
the worse for it all.
I have some fabulous winter camping photos.
We were out once and had a major dump of snow that we never realy
noticed. When finished camping we found out that the city was shut
down, roads blocked and we were very lucky our shuttle vehicles were
all large 4X4's This was a long time ago and predates SUV's as we know
them.
If you have access to the outside world from your planned camping sites
you should be fine. We never have that here.
Alex

Sea Kayak Camping
 

I'm considering Lake Fontaine (sp?) on the N.C , TN border . Then work
my way up to island on lake Erie.

wrote:
One thing at a time.
I am not a great Greenland paddle fan but they certainly have a place.
For the camping I would do a couple of short camping hikes first where
you won't be so isolated should you forget something. When you have
your ducks in a row and you know you have the right gear and a
knowledge of how it works then you get dry bags and stuff it into a sea
kayak and off you go.
My winter kayak camping is restricted to a serious day paddle with all
the gear to camp followed by a night in a B & B or hotel.
In summer you can normally get off with kit omissions and not be any
the worse for it all.
I have some fabulous winter camping photos.
We were out once and had a major dump of snow that we never realy
noticed. When finished camping we found out that the city was shut
down, roads blocked and we were very lucky our shuttle vehicles were
all large 4X4's This was a long time ago and predates SUV's as we know
them.
If you have access to the outside world from your planned camping sites
you should be fine. We never have that here.
Alex

Sea Kayak Camping
 

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

Sea Kayak Camping
 

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

Sea Kayak Camping
 

On 28 Jan 2006 15:00:11 GMT, Drew Cutter wrote:

I'm considering Lake Fontaine (sp?) on the N.C , TN border . Then work
my way up to island on lake Erie.

Fontana Lake? That's a good way to get over to some nice camping in GSMNP.
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Drew Cutter wrote:
Brain ,

Looking at buying Greenland style paddle . How different are the paddle
strokes and roll with the Greenland paddle ?

The stroke is quite different, though it may not be obvious. You don't
reach as far forward (~ mid-calf) at the start, power is applied more
gradually and the paddle exits well past the hip. The upper hand is push
diagonally across the deck and down. As with a Euro paddle, the height
of the stroke varies with how hard you're paddling. The harder you're
going, the more vertical the stroke becomes.

The canted stroke is a more advanced stroke used by most Greenland
paddlers. The upper edge of the blade is canted forward at the catch.
This causes the blade to bury very quickly and increases its bite on the
water during the stroke. It takes some getting use to, but it's very
effective.

As for making the transition, it depends on what you're using now. If
you're using a feathered paddle, there's a certain amount of
"un-learning" involved, since there is no control hand with a GP.

Rolling with a GP is so easy that it almost seems like cheating.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Brain ,

Where can i get lessons or books on perfecting the Greenland style of
paddling. I know someone who is just finishing up a wooden sea kayak.
Sounds like he was interested in purchasing Greenland paddle. Did find
an article in latest kayak/canoe magazine.

Brian Nystrom wrote:
Drew Cutter wrote:
Brain ,

Looking at buying Greenland style paddle . How different are the
paddle strokes and roll with the Greenland paddle ?

The stroke is quite different, though it may not be obvious. You don't
reach as far forward (~ mid-calf) at the start, power is applied more
gradually and the paddle exits well past the hip. The upper hand is push
diagonally across the deck and down. As with a Euro paddle, the height
of the stroke varies with how hard you're paddling. The harder you're
going, the more vertical the stroke becomes.

The canted stroke is a more advanced stroke used by most Greenland
paddlers. The upper edge of the blade is canted forward at the catch.
This causes the blade to bury very quickly and increases its bite on the
water during the stroke. It takes some getting use to, but it's very
effective.

As for making the transition, it depends on what you're using now. If
you're using a feathered paddle, there's a certain amount of
"un-learning" involved, since there is no control hand with a GP.

Rolling with a GP is so easy that it almost seems like cheating.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Drew Cutter wrote:
Brain ,

Where can i get lessons or books on perfecting the Greenland style of
paddling. I know someone who is just finishing up a wooden sea kayak.
Sounds like he was interested in purchasing Greenland paddle. Did find
an article in latest kayak/canoe magazine.

The best resource for GP information is the Qajaq USA website:
www.qajaqusa.org. There are written descriptions and video clips that
should show you all you need to know.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Thanks for the link.

Brian Nystrom wrote:
Drew Cutter wrote:
Brain ,

Where can i get lessons or books on perfecting the Greenland style of
paddling. I know someone who is just finishing up a wooden sea kayak.
Sounds like he was interested in purchasing Greenland paddle. Did find
an article in latest kayak/canoe magazine.

The best resource for GP information is the Qajaq USA website:
www.qajaqusa.org. There are written descriptions and video clips that
should show you all you need to know.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

I live in Ohio.

John Fereira wrote:
Drew Cutter wrote in
:

Brain ,

Where can i get lessons or books on perfecting the Greenland style of
paddling.

Where are you located? While books and videos can help, spending a few
hours with someone proficient in greenland paddling techniques can really
give you a jumpstart.

There are quite a few symposia and clinics around the U.S. that provide
Greenland style training. The upcoming Swee****er Symposium (St. Petersbug,
FL: http://www.swee****erkayaks.com/symposiums.html) has several days worth
for Greenland skills training and there are several other symposia that are
devoted specifically to GP. I know there is one every year in Massachusetts
and the DelMarva Paddler's retreat (usually in October) in Rehobeth, MD is
quite good.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

John if their is one in the great lake region i would be interested.

John Fereira wrote:
Drew Cutter wrote in
:

Brain ,

Where can i get lessons or books on perfecting the Greenland style of
paddling.

Where are you located? While books and videos can help, spending a few
hours with someone proficient in greenland paddling techniques can really
give you a jumpstart.

There are quite a few symposia and clinics around the U.S. that provide
Greenland style training. The upcoming Swee****er Symposium (St. Petersbug,
FL: http://www.swee****erkayaks.com/symposiums.html) has several days worth
for Greenland skills training and there are several other symposia that are
devoted specifically to GP. I know there is one every year in Massachusetts
and the DelMarva Paddler's retreat (usually in October) in Rehobeth, MD is
quite good.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

On 30-Jan-2006, John Fereira wrote:

How about the "Great Lakes Sea Kayaking Symposium"?

http://www.glsks.org/

On the classes page it lists "traditional paddling 1, tradition paddling 2,
and traditional rolling techniques". I've never been to the Great Lakes
Symposium but I've heard very good things about it.

It's an excellent symposium. I've been and I'd recommend it to every sea kayaker.

Mike

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Sounds like a plan and a camping trip. The symposium is still a 9-10
hour drive (U.P Mich ). Their is one is Wisconsin.

Michael Daly wrote:
On 30-Jan-2006, John Fereira wrote:

How about the "Great Lakes Sea Kayaking Symposium"?

http://www.glsks.org/

On the classes page it lists "traditional paddling 1, tradition paddling 2,
and traditional rolling techniques". I've never been to the Great Lakes
Symposium but I've heard very good things about it.

It's an excellent symposium. I've been and I'd recommend it to every sea kayaker.

Mike

Sea Kayak Camping
 

John Fereira wrote:
Drew Cutter wrote in
:


Brain ,

Where can i get lessons or books on perfecting the Greenland style of
paddling.


Where are you located? While books and videos can help, spending a few
hours with someone proficient in greenland paddling techniques can really
give you a jumpstart.

There are quite a few symposia and clinics around the U.S. that provide
Greenland style training. The upcoming Swee****er Symposium (St. Petersbug,
FL: http://www.swee****erkayaks.com/symposiums.html) has several days worth
for Greenland skills training and there are several other symposia that are
devoted specifically to GP. I know there is one every year in Massachusetts
and the DelMarva Paddler's retreat (usually in October) in Rehobeth, MD is
quite good.

Delmarva is held in Lewes, DE.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Brian:
I must give the GL paddle another chance.
I just had a friends for a day and decided this sucks and went back to
a Euro paddle.
I'll Check out that link.
You were right about rolling, straight to an extended paddle and up she
came..
Alex

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Drew Cutter wrote:
I'm considering Lake Fontaine (sp?) on the N.C , TN border . Then work
my way up to island on lake Erie.

Remember that Fontana is a winter draw down lake for Flood Control, so
you generally have to work your way over some mud to get to the
campsites. However, the north side of Fontana is in the GSMNP and there
are some nice sites that are boat in only.

Larry

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Actually, Wisconsin has two. Door County Sea Kayak Symposium,
http://www.rutabaga.com/everyonepaddles/ and the Inland Sea Symposium,
http://www.inlandsea.org

Dan

In article ,
Drew Cutter wrote:

Sounds like a plan and a camping trip. The symposium is still a 9-10
hour drive (U.P Mich ). Their is one is Wisconsin.

Sea Kayak Camping
 

Quick posting of where we camped out 2 summers ago. We kayaked the
local waters.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94446636@N00/83364653/

Check out more flickr photos for "Meat Cove" in Nova Scotia, Canada.