I'm wondering if anyone here has any recommendations for non-perishable backcountry meals, snacks, or ingredients from your culture, or from cuisines that aren't commonly talked about in North American backpacking/canoe camping circles.

My husband and I do a lot of backcountry canoe trips, and usually bring a mix of freeze-dried meals and ingredients like tuna, canned chicken, salami, cheese, tvp, for making things like pasta, burritos, wraps, instant noodles etc. The other day I was at T&T and picked up some of these Korean seasoned dried squid snacks (basically whole dried squid in a spicy seasoning), and they were absolutely fantastic. They're tasty, lightweight, shelf-stable, and super high in protein.

It got me wondering what other foods I might be overlooking because I'm not familiar with them and they're not carried in the major grocery stores in canada. I'm especially interested in protein-rich options, since after a week or two of tuna pouches, beans, and canned chicken, I start wanting some variety.

We're far from picky eaters at all and would love to branch out more. Does anyone have favourite shelf-stable foods from their own culture, or foods you've discovered, that work well for backcountry canoe trips? I'd love to hear any ideas! I live near a major Canadian city with a t&t as well as lots of small shops.

The days are melting together now. Camp, paddle, portage, repeat — no particular order anymore, just the loop. Every day is dedicated to moving forward.
Montreal, the end goal, pulls like a magnet. The closer I get, the stronger the pull.
I've crossed into my fourth province. The prairies nearly killed me. The river is reviving me.
Bugs, wind, rain, sun — that's just the game now.
Still two days out from Kenora. Then I have to navigate the 35th largest lake in the world. Over 14,000 islands.

Checkout this thunderbox map directory I recently started! I’m looking for community support to help populate it. Details can be found in the link. My hope is compile an extensive list to aid in site maintenance/improvements!

Hi there. Our annual canoe trip will be to the French River this year. We're getting a lift from Kilarney Outfitters. Our previous experience has been in Algonquin and there is always dead branches to make a fire. Given the drastic landscape shift, what do people do when camping in the FRench River?

First 3 night trip for my birthday this week!

Thought it was pretty cool that he's able to share updates and live location data like this.

I have been car camping for about 5 years now, decided to try out island camping this fall.

Camping at parc blanc du poisson late september. Weather is looking like a high of 11°C and a low of -1°C.

we are renting a Wawona 4 person tent so Im looking for a mattress/pad and a sleeping bag that would fit and be suitable for this trip. we are using an intex mariner 4 with a trolling motor so weight and size are a bit more flexible than canoe camping.

Reccomedations for 5'7 215lbs and wide shoulders. Side sleeper and prefer non mummy sleeping bags as I toss around while sleeping.

Hi! Canoe camping in La Mauricie (Lac Isaie) for the first time in a few weeks. I've never canoe camped in Black Bear country before. Curious about what folks do with coolers, we'd like to bring one--but it seems hard to hang?

What are some of the pros and cons to the following barrel harnesses?

Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice. I'm thinking of buying this old Kevlar Canoe for 250 CAD. I'll have to put new gunnels in and probably seats and yoke. The canoe is between 20 and 30 years old. Is it even worth buying and fixing up? Thanks in advance

Three days, three lakes (Hidden, Sparrow & Bliss).

Yes, we did high kilometre days (16, 17, 33).
Yes, the bugs were bad.
Yes, we had a lot of fun.

Summer in the NWT is hard to beat!

Looking for suggestions on roof racks made for 2 canoes, both with a 36” beam. It seems like Yakima doesn’t make the 78” bars anymore, or the mounts associated.

Right now I lash two 2x4’s to my rails but I’m looking for something more permanent for longer drives that my wife will view as less sketchy.

What’s everyone using?

Hi all. Long time lurker here. I've got a question for you all.

What is the best barrel combo for a family of three using a 16 foot canoe?

A. 2x 60L + 1x 30L

B. 1x 60L + 2x 30L + dry bag for sleep stuff.

The usual gear that needs to be packed is:

• 3x sleeping bags
• 1x double air mattress (packs small)
• 1x ultralight single air mattress (packs smaller)
• 3x foam sleeping mats (could go outside)
• 1x 4 person tent
• 1x tarp (packs small)
• 2x tarp poles
• clothing
• 1x 2 burner stove + gas
• pot, bowls, sporks, knife,
• Misc: flashlights, toilet paper, rope

We also take a 50 L cooler.

thanks in advance!

Like many people around the world, I've been following the terrible wildfire situation in Canada and feeling for the people and places affected. Well, somewhat of a miniscule version has now hit close to home: Yesterday my favorite paddle route here in Germany was closed due to a wildfire in Müritz National Park. As far as I know, this is the first time something like that has happened.

Wildfires are not uncommon around here, but are usually quickly contained. This one though has been burning since Monday and is still spreading. One local community has been evacuated so far and lakes have been closed so helicopters can safely take up water. Firefighting has been hindered by old ammunition, since the spot is in a former military training area.

By North American standards, this fire is absolutely tiny, with 900 acres burned so far, but it has really affected me. Müritz NP is a beautiful, 320 sq km mix of lakes, forests and meadows, with the upper course of the river Havel running through it. It's pretty much the only place around here where you can paddle all day without any motorboats around. It's also where I've had many of my best wildlife moments. I really hope the damage stays contained.

So maybe this has given me some small idea of what people who know and love Wabakimi, Quetico and similar places might feel right now? I guess this sort of thing will become more common everywhere.

Advisory from Müritz NP (in German): https://www.instagram.com/p/Da2m3FWjEAR/?igsh=MW1pZmZjaWJ6bTF0OQ==

Hello everyone,

I'm planning a self-supported canoe journey down the Río Napo from Ecuador to Iquitos, Peru, starting around August 2026, and I'm looking for someone who might be interested in joining for all or part of the trip.

The idea is to buy a local canoe in Ecuador and travel down the river in a simple expedition style. Sleeping mostly in a hammock with mosquito net and tarp, buying food in villages when possible, and adapting to the river, weather and people we meet along the way.

This is not a guided tour or a luxury trip. It's about slow travel, nature, cultural exchange and sharing the challenges and experiences of a remote river journey.

A little about me:
I have been travelling through South America for many months. I speak fluent Spanish, have experience with solo wilderness travel and paddling, and I enjoy simple living and meeting local people. I have completed long-distance trekking routes and I'm comfortable with rain, heat, insects and unpredictable situations.

I'm not looking for a specific age or gender — the most important things are good chemistry, reliability, flexibility and a similar attitude towards adventure.

If you are already travelling in South America and this sounds interesting, feel free to write me. We can talk about expectations, experience and whether our travel styles match.

Cheers!

Anyone have any experience using e bikes or even normal bikes for getting to your put in? I'm planning a solo river trip in an area where there aren't many options for car spotting and was thinking of leaving my car at the take out and dedicating the first day of the trip for just riding the ~70 miles to the put in and stashing the bike in some bushes. Anyone done this in the past/have any tips or thoughts on this? Thanks

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.

I haven't been able to find anything solid online. I have a site on Joe Perry lake booked, and the website says they will have canoes available for everyone on that lake. Will the canoes be at the access point of JP Lake, or will I need to pick it up from the rental shop on Mazinaw?

I ask because I'm going by myself and don't have a roof rack so getting the canoe to JP by myself would be tricky.

Thanks in advance!

I've been using my phone to navigate on my trips (with a paper backup) but I don't like getting it out whilst I'm paddling. Don't want to buy a Garmin either.

I've been making a device that attaches to the canoe and shows your position on a canoe trip map, on an always-on display.

These photos are from a previous version in Toronto last fall. Looking forward to testing the next version in the backcountry this summer!

Curious what everyone else uses to navigate — phone, paper, Garmin?

I am working on a canoe route plan for later this summer. Some of you are probably familiar with the Experimental Lakes Area in NW Ontario east of Kenora. I have paddled the popular Stewart Lake Loop through Winnange Lake several times, and have also done some paddling a bit further west in the Ethelma/Highwind/Hillock/Dryberry/Robinson lakes.

I'm trying to find info about one specific connection in order to do a loop in between these two previous loops. In order (or in reverse order): Upper Stewart-Geejay Lake-Fish Lake-Rivet Lake-Porcus Lake-Highwind Lake-Silvery Lake-Feist Lake-Skin Lake-Windermere Lake which ends on the opposite side of the road as Upper Stewart.

I have good info for most of these lakes and portages. The one that is a bit of a question mark is connecting from Highwind Lake to Silvery Lake via the Berry River (or a portage bypassing some or all of this creek section).

I was able to find the following here, from an ancient route description: https://www.myccr.com/sites/default/files/storage/CCR%20pdf/Ontario/OtherCanoeRoutes/DryberryFiestLoop.pdf

Silvery Lake - A very attractive lake with many good campsites along the west shoreline. It is a very long and narrow lake and provided for good canoeing. The portage to J. R. Lake is short and well marked. The trail follows a small stream flowing into J.R. Lake. Landing is relatively steep and mossy and launching site is broken rock along stream bottom with a gradual slope.

J.R. Lake - is nothing more than a wide spot in the Barry River and of no further note. Portage to Highwind Lake is actually along Berry River. It is necessary to bypass several rapids, falls, logs and a beaver dam. It is one mile in length.

This last portage is the hardest in the route and it is suggested that only small groups of canoeist should attempt it. It would appeal to the canoeist who wants to have hard portages demanding much physical effort.

Have any of you done this connection before? Is the creek mostly navigable? I don't mind doing a section that requires "much physical effort" but more information would be helpful if available.

The location the portage from Feist Lake to Silvery Lake is also not specified, so if anyone has traveled there that info would be helpful as well.

Looks like pretty major portions of Wabakimi are burned or are burning, and its still early in the season! Not looking good.

Certainly not the end, and I know its part of the cycle, but still... looks like Collins is burned completely. Photos here taken from Copernicus Browser