by Cliff Jacobson Cliff: Boundary Waters Canoe Area, 1980. 17' Grumman aluminum canoe. A recent article in an on-line magazine listed seven reasons why now is a better time to be paddling than the 1980’s. I'm not sure. Except for bent-shaft, carbon-fiber paddles and my three carbon-Kevlar solo canoes—which I dearly love—I think that we had it better then, than now. Here are 12 reasons why BWCA: 1979. Cliff in stern of white canoe (18.5 foot Sawyer Charger--early Kevlar whi

By Cliff Jacobson Cliff: RioGrande River, Texas. Bell Wildfire carbon/Kevlar solo canoe and Zaveral carbon straight-shaft paddle. Once you’ve used a carbon-fiber paddle, you’ll need real determination to return to wood. Admittedly, there’s a warmth and beauty to wood that is unmatched by synthetics. But a good carbon paddle weighs about half as much as a wood one; it’s better balanced (much better balanced!) and it is quieter in the water. That quietness is due to a knife-

FreeStyle expert Jim Mandle, Buffalo River, Arkansas. Bell Wildfire solo canoe; Zaveral 12-degree carbon-fiber paddle. I resisted bent-shaft paddles long after they were in vogue. I thought they looked goofy, and in whitewater, I couldn’t brace on the off (back) side. Then, friends and I canoed the Steel River in Ontario with our solo canoes. I stroked along with a 56 inch straight paddle, switching to a 60-incher (for reach and control) in the rapids. By day four I had

by Cliff Jacobson Typical late March scenery along the Buffalo River The national wild and scenic Buffalo River in Arkansas is one of the finest canoeing rivers in America. I've done it three times and will canoe it again this March. We'll begin at Ponca and run to the White River--a distance of around 130 miles. Administered by the National Park Service, the protected Buffalo is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in America. With the exception of some well-mainta

Grizzly. Camp along the Fond du Lac River, Saskatchewan 13. NOT FOLLOWING THE TRIP LEADER'S EQUIPMENT LIST Good trip leaders provide a detailed equipment list which should be rigorously followed. The leader will review personal equipment and clothing before the trip and approve safe alternatives. But some people are stubborn and "after inspection" delete or sneak in stuff. My friend, Larry Rice once organized a 10 day canoe trip on the Noatak River (above the Arctic Circl

Boundary Waters Canoe Area. These canoes were on land but not tied up. A big wind blew them into the water and over a falls. They were all rentals. PART ONE We've all observed unskilled campers and paddlers do dumb and/or dangerous things. Admittedly, what is dumb and/or dangerous, is largely a matter of perspective. For example: canoeing procedures that work on calm lakes and easy streams can get you into big trouble on a wild river where rapids and portages aren't mark

Survival Bracelet! Compass, cord, light, kitchen sink! One of the joys of being a writer is that I get to try a lot of new stuff. Some products are genuinely useful; others are simply silly. Still, one man's trash is another's treasure, and admittedly, I judge them from the view of a wilderness paddler where everything must earn it's weight, bulk and utility. Here are some things that I consider silly. Please feel free to sling barbs at my choices: 1. SURVIVAL BRACELET Th

Steel River, Ontario. Mad River Explorer (Kevlar) canoe Kettle River, MN. Alumacraft aluminum canoe My first remote country canoe trip was in 1974. We began at Folliet, Ontario and cruised the Groundhog River to the Mattagami, then down the Moose and on to Moosonee on James Bay--a distance of around 200 miles/21 days. I had planned to use my 17-foot (80 pound), shoe-keel Grumman aluminum canoe for that trip because it was stone-tough and its shallow keel wouldn't catch on

Upper Wedding-Cake Falls Land of the Lost West of Lake Nipigon, in the rocky shield country of Ontario, there flows a spectacular river called the Kopka. Along its length is one of the most magnificent falls within the tree line. Here, at what was once called "Mink Bridge Portage," the entire contents of the river spill tumultuously downward 250 feet in three successive drops, creating one of the most spectacular white water areas on the continent. You can stand at the top

THIS LETTER IS FROM ROXANNE EGGERT. She was a student in my Ninth Grade Environmental Science Class many years ago. It really made me...

NOT SCOUTING A FAMILIAR RAPID Round the bend you see the dancing horsetails of a familiar rapid. Pangs of conscience tell you to check the pitch from shore before you proceed, but you arrogantly dismiss the warning and plunge confidently ahead. Then you see it—a storm-downed sapling that blocks the way. The canoe spins sideways and overturns. Seconds later, the golden Kevlar hull is tightly wrapped around a midstream boulder. Safe on shore, you and your partner helplessly

An abbreviated version of this article was originally published in the 2010 Canoe & Kayak Magazine's Dealer-marketing Guide (long gone). Given the concerns in law enforcement today, I thought a second look might be enlightening. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gates of Ladore, Green River, Utah It began at one of Rutabaga’s famed “Canoecopia” events. I stopped to chat with Larry Laba, CEO of SOA

Ask folks what they fear most about canoeing a wild river where help is an airplane ride away and you'll probably get these answers--in roughly this order: FEAR #1: Bears! They're afraid they'll get eaten alive by one! Or, a bear will get their food! FEAR #2: They fear they will paddle over a falls or drown in a rapid! FEAR #3: Getting lost. Many people canoe the same route every season, claiming it's because the fishing or campsites are great. Truth is, they probably d

Mariscal Canyon, Rio Grande River, Texas Rio Grande River ("The Great Unknown") I was born in Chicago and spent the first 14 years of my...

WEATHERWOOL NECK-GAITER Weatherwool’s new Neck-Gaiter is among a handful of outdoor products I’ve reviewed that are done “just right”. Knit in America (!) from fine (lace weight) luxuriously soft, pure merino wool, it excels in warmth, comfort, utility and elegance. Here’s what makes this neck-gaiter special: Size: It’s about 30 percent longer and twice as thick as most neck-warmers. Constructed as a knitted tube that measures 42 inches by 9.5 inches, this tube is double

Hudson Bay Bread is really a moist, high-energy granola bar. Each piece contains about a million calories! Now that the Corona virus is...

Top to bottom: Idaho Knife Works, "Cliff" knife, Grohmann #1 Camper, Spyderco Military knife (this one is left-handed). The Cliff and...

I recently returned from my annual fall solo canoe trip into the Boundary Waters. My experience began at the Tofte ranger station where...

Snake River, Yukon, Canada Kopka River, Ontario Point Lake, Nunavut, Canada I am often asked this question: "We’re planning a wilderness...

Cliff: above center: Note LLBean boots Cliff: Right. Note leather boots. I learned fast that rubber is better! Above: Cliff with...