Have I mentioned I’m developing a deep love for moving water canoe trips?
French River Preparations
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I’d asked if I could join this Wild Women Expeditions trip to update photos and perhaps some video for the website.
Because I’d be guiding two flatwater trips shortly after the French River, it turned out to be a great opportunity to shadow two of the best canoe guides in Canada.
As I wasn’t needed to pack the trip, I drove from Toronto Saturday morning, stopping in Parry Sound to pick up whitewater helmets from James and Dympna at Ontario Sea Kayak Centre and continuing on to the French River Supply Post Marina to meet the guides and three intrepid paddlers.
Equipment
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[su_plan name=”Group Gear”]
- Canoes, paddles, PFDs, safety gear, maps
- Tents, tarps, camp kitchen, toilet kit
- Food, water filtration, waterproof barrels
- Expedition first aid kit
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[su_plan name=”My Shelter”]
- Tent, fly, poles, stakes, and footprint
- -10 degree Celsius sleeping bag, fleece liner
- Emergency tarp, Thermarest
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[su_plan name=”My Clothes”]
- 1 set of long underwear, wool socks, and fleece jacket
- Camp pants, rain jacket, synthetic fill ‘down’ jacket, running shoes
- Buff, wool hat, splash pants
- Plus what I was wearing when I left (running capris, tech tee, rash guard, baseball cap, sunglasses, KEENS)
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[su_plan name=”My Safety Gear”]
- PFD, whistle, multi-tool, pigtail, throwbag
- Map, compass, DeLorme inReach personal locator, cell phone
- Headlamp, waterproof matches, extra paracord
- Small first aid kit
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[su_plan name=”My Food”]
- Trail mix, CLIF bars
- Starbucks VIA instant coffee
- 3-1L Nalgenes
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[su_plan name=”My Toiletries”]
- Toothbrush, toothpaste
- Deodorant, sunscreen
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[su_plan name=”My Luxuries”]
- DSLR, Pelican Case, Gorillapod
- Lenses, spare battery, and spare memory cards
- Write-in-Rain notebook and pencil
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French River Daily Log
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The good folks at the French River Supply Post Marina shuttled us, our gear, and our boats to our put-in at Wolseley Bay.
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What a spectacular morning to start the day!
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We knew this would be our long day.
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Dragonflies patrolled overhead as I packed up my tent one more time – my beautiful allies in the battle against the flies and mosquitoes.
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Kate Monahan Outdoors 