Michael_Crouse

Not off topic if it saves someone from cracking the bow of their boat! Thinking about adding loops to the hood of the corolla, thanks.

Another no bow lines here. OK I use them on the corolla since the bars are so close together. On my truck with 6.5 feet between the bars I don't bother. For long trips I have used two sets of straps, one of which has 2" webbing. The rack is rated to 1000lbs, and I've had 4 kayaks up there with no problems. I wonder what will happen in a fender bender when the bow line gets hit. I guessing at best some nice spider cracking. Yea yea, I know, I'm stirring the pot too.

Can I use a candle lantern for extra heat in tent? Yes you can if the tent is well ventilated and you are comfortable with flame near flammable nylon. I find that a fleece hat and a second layer of clothing are warmer and more versatile than a candle lantern.

Not to be overly negative but if you're camping on Islands in Maine the lobster boats might not give you much chance to sleep in.

Some (hopefully) helpful comments 1) I don't have snow stakes, so I planned to use "rocks" (spare patio pavers), which ended up being hard to locate under a foot of snow! Hmmmm, pick up some snow stakes or pack a shovel? Hmmmm.... When hiking I've used my snowshoes, ice axe and trekking poles for anchors. I will not suggest using your spare paddle because jamming an essential piece of gear that is thin, fiberglass, or carbon into snow and ice that is concealing rocks will probably not end well. What else could you have used? Your gear that's in dry bags? Your kayak(s) that are weighed down with gear and might also make a nice wind break? Small discs (wood circles) with holes drilled in the center? Sticks and branches? 2) Hot food or beverages don't stay that way for long (duh!) if you don't have an insulated surface to set them down on. Even a spare glove shoud work. A piece of foam cut to the inside dimensions of your hatch might be handy especially if you stiffen it up a bit by glueing plastic or thin wood to it. If you add some heavy foil it's a stove base, a table, a seat, etc.... 5) What surprised me the most, and this may go to what Charles said about not packing down the snow, the cold coming up from below was amazing! I had a ground cloth, the bivy, an inflatable sleeping pad, a light weight down "travel" blanket, and a 15 degree sleeping bag, and I could still feel the cold from the snow! That will need some work to avoid the chill tonight. What is your pad rated to? I assume it's an insulated inflatable pad. If it's not something like an Exped down mat you might have to add insulation to it. Add it to the top of the pad, not underneath it. There's conduction and convention and an uninsulated (or poorly insulated) air mattress will give you both. 7) The screen on the bivy will hold in more heat than you would realize (did not use the outer cover at all). You do get an occasional chilly breeze, but it was plenty cozy in the 15 degree bag to not mind. Is that an ID Salathe bivy? Did I sell it to you many years ago? Just curious. 8) The moisture collection, even with just the bivy screen, was much more than expected. My sleeping bag and mat are both damp and currently airing out along with the bivy turned inside out. I may need to stick with tents in the winter. Is the moisture from your breath or your body? Odd sounding question but some winter campers use vapor barriers inside their sleeping bags, this is usually only needed for several overnights but if you were too warm and sweating you might have gotten the bag wet. Can you pitch one end of the tarp lower to create some natural venting to remove the condensation?

Using a rope line under the tarp would be safer but you'll need a couple of trees for that. If you have a floorless shelter now is a good time to try it out. Now you know why I just use a tent :-)

Dehydrating food from the grocery store can make good financial sense. Just shop the reduced rack! You can pick up mushrooms for 50 cents a package then dehydrate them. Compared to the price of dried mushrooms it's a bargain.

http://i.imgur.com/9t75bb7.jpg Looks like fun..... for someone else, yikes!

I think it's interesting that the conditions we have now are great for practicing with. Islands won't have much snow cover so our yards with frozen ground and a dusting of snow is close to what's out on the islands. Most of the winter camping instructions I've seen are geared towards hiking. I doubt any of us are bringing (or would need) a snow shovel, snow shoes, or trekking poles with us. Neos makes a nice over shoe, combine that with a down bootie and you'll be warmer in camp and in your sleeping bag. Anyone left their dry suit outside then tried to gently side their hands and head through the gaskets yet?

Snow or sand anchors work well and when tying to a rock or log use two. Tie to one then put the second on top of the line against the one you're tied to. It works incredibly well and I would much rather gather 2x the amount of rocks than have my tent fall over on me. A 4 season tent is warmer and stronger. A decent three season can be used in the winter but those new all mesh bodied tents are a big no way. A full rain fly and a body that won't let in snow drifts and wind is a must have. For winter I'll use my old Moss ,my Stephonsons, or my old Walrus Terromotto. Dry snow can be quite handy for drying off! Something to remember when you get wet out in the woods without anyway to warm up or dry off. I'm tempered to try out my old wind wedge floorless tent and see how I do but since my 100+ year old house breathes better than goretex I think I'll just stay inside :-)

I believe you have to wear a tri specific wet suit. Look up tri suits and you should find them. A "normal" neoprene suit would be restrictive and it would also give more floatation.

Anyone else with kids (in tow) going?

"I find it is great for two/three people but I am usually traveling with more" They do make a larger 10" oven, but it does start to get a bit excessive since it comes with the 10" pan too. You can use the pan as a standard frying pan though. The 8" ultra light used to come with the pot/pan as did the 14" oven, which was called the "Outfitters Oven". I've seen people use the diffuser (scorch buster) and a fry pan with the pot for a lid. It did a respectable job for biscuits but I wouldn't want to make pizza in it.

As others have said ice shouldn't be a problem now as far as everything else..... The canister stoves work in cold weather, people (including me) have used them on mountains in winter. You might have to put the canister in your jacket to warm it up before using it. If you always use a canister stove and you think a white gas stove is a PITA and you can never prime it correctly so you get 3 foot flames when you try to light it I respectfully suggest that you don't want to experiment with one when your hands might be cold. Sleeping bag, you'll need a warm one and a good compression sack and/or a bag that compresses well (cough cough, down, cough cough). Yes I know when down gets wet it takes years to dry . Tent, that all mesh tent that you used all summer is not what you want. You don't need a 4 season mountaineering tent but something will a full fly that will keep out wind and snow is what I have used. Ok I did use a mountaineering tent, but you don't have to use one. Clothing, as others said, layers and something compressible and warm. Remember you'll already be wearing layers under your drysuit. Don't forget the hat, gloves, and something for your feet. If you have mukluks, and they're dry, they can do double duty. Years ago I went winter camping with a friend who used a light weight summer bag but he wore down pants, jackets, etc... essentially he wore his sleeping bag so that if nature called he could leave the tent and still be warm. This also meant he was warm and toasty hanging around at the campsite. The planning (as always) is the most important part. Picking the right weekend and the right people to go with, making sure you all have the same goals and are willing to call it a day if something goes wrong. Personally I always wanted to do a winter day trip out to one of the harbor islands and cross country ski out there.

Wayne from University of Sea Kayaking just posted that Derek was passed on. Wayne was in England with him.

I always zip the sleeping bag because I figure an open zipper is abrasive and I don't want it rubbing against the sleeping bag or the dry bag.

I've had good luck with Mclube Sailkote.

http://www.webpronews.com/get-your-photos-on-google-maps-street-view-2009-02 Might not work for Maine, or for an island, but you can submit your own street view photos. Maybe you can submit your pic as a "street view" of the island?

I think you can submit your photos to google if you want a higher res photo up there.

My Gulfstream had a leak at the same point. The only way it leaked off the water was when I used a hose to shot water up into the skeg box. It needed pressure to leak.

If you do head to Belfast it has a nice small downtown that could keep everyone entertained while you're out paddling.

I wonder how long it took to turn it around.

Sadly the two person Terra Nova bothy bag (emergency shelter) for $40 is sold out.

http://www.campsaver.com/downmat-7-sleeping-pad Exped DAM 7 for $103! Camp Saver has all their Exped gear on sale, the DAM is warmer, more comfortable, and with this sale cheaper than other sleeping pads. This is of course my opinion, but others will agree. I have no affiliation with Exped or Camp Saver, I just like Exped gear and I like Camp Saver's price.

If you get rid of the . at end of link it works. The leasing program is a good deal as is the Charles River yearly pass. When you're ready to buy a kayak please ask here, you'll get pointed in the right direction.