Canoeing and Paddling the Yukon and Teslin Rivers

Canoeing and camping gear

 

Every paddler spends a lot of time thinking about the type, the amount, and the necessity of every item they take with them. 

 

Given the wide expanse of your boat, it is a temptation to bring too much stuff. Since you are paddling and not backpacking, you can afford to bring some luxury items but be careful of the three basic problems of gear: too many, too heavy, too high. 

 

If you bring too many things, you run the risk of losing track of your items (or losing them altogether) as you constantly make and break camps

 

Weight is usually not a problem. Modern camping gear and food tends to be lighter than gear in the past, but keep in mind that your boat is not a barge.

 

Too high is a real problem. Although modern gear is lighter, it can still be bulky. The  boat's center of gravity can become dangerously high with every item you pile in that is above the waterline. With a higher cernter of gravity you are more likely to capsize. 

 

The potential of a gear failure is inversely related to the simplicity of that piece of gear.