Outers Club - How to lead a canoe trip

How To Lead a Canoe Trip

An Exercise in Common Sense

Fabrice Jaubert, August 1994

People And Skills
Route
Group Equipment
Personal Equipment
Food
Canoeing And Portaging
How Money Works
Enjoy Your Trip
Good Books To Read

People And Skills

Group size: not too small (safety in numbers, less work per person when it is shared), not too large (no wilderness experience, too much "inertia" in getting the group going)
In Algonquin Park, maximum group size is 9
Even numbers are much better; accomodate odd numbers by having a 3-person canoe (canoe rides lower, less manageable in waves) or a solo canoe (more expensive, solo paddler must be quite experienced)
The group should have some members with prior wilderness camping experience, and at least 1 experienced canoeist. Some 1st aid training is essential
Ask all members if they have a medical condition, such as bug bite allergy, back problems, etc.

The Leader

Most groups need a leader. In general this is also the person who organised the trip
The best leader remains inconspicuous until his/her leadership is required (ie: no power trips...)
In most decision situations, a leader will simply centralise information and help the group reach consensus
In potentially difficult situations (injuries, inclement weather...) leader should assert him/herself

Route

Start with something easy: Algonquin Park, along Hwy 60 for example
3 to 4 nights in the backcountry is a good start. You might want to drive up the afternoon / evening before your trip, and camp that night "in civilization"
It is difficult to estimate speed and distance covered... it depends largely on the group's canoeing skills and the weather (headwinds make a big difference)
Try to limit the portages to 5 per day, or a max of 2km per day. Portages longer than 1km are very difficult
It is much better to plan a route which is too short than one which is too long.
- layover days are very nice; do side-trips from "base camp" with empty canoes; there is time for swimming, photography, fishing...
- never paddle after dark to reach a campsite; paddling after dark to look at stars is nice, but have someone on shore to guide you home
A loop is much easier to plan; otherwise you must arrange a car shuttle
Be prepared to change your route while underway, should your progress be slower than expected
Dominant winds in this area are from the West; if you can, try to find a route where the last leg is heading East, so that the wind is behind you on the last day

Group Equipment

Cheapest way: use Club equipment exclusively
If you want lighter canoes, or can not arrange transportation of canoes, use an Outfitter at the Park. I recommend Algonquin Outfitters (705-635-2243)
Packs: for short and medium-length trips (1 week or less), plan for 1 pack per person, no more. One extra pack for the entire group is OK. Make sure you have enough storage space in your packs (if not, get bigger packs). It is best to put everything inside the packs
Tents: most sites can accomodate 4 tents max., sometimes only 3. Avoid tents with huge footprints, they are difficult to set up
Large Barrel: can be used for food (in which case you probably don't need to hang it; just tie it to a tree some ways from the tents), or to keep clothes dry (clean out the barrel first, or you will have smelly clothes). One barrel can fit enough food for a group of 8 for an extended weekend
Olive Jars: same principle as the large barrels, but much smaller; also the waterproofness depends on the condition of the O-ring in the lid---check before using. Usually used for gear (sleeping bag, clothes), but could also be used for food. Probably not as "bear-proof" due to smaller diameter

Group Checklist

Stoves and fuel---you might not always be able to light fires to cook
Cooksets: 1 or 2 large pots (depending on size of group), 1 smaller pot for hot water. Very important: soap the outside of the pots before placing them on the fire. Otherwise the black will be very difficult to clean. You must bring the pots back as clean as they went out. Other possibility: use a "fire-pot" (the Club has a few)---pots which are already black and which can stay black
Cooking utensils---a wood spoon, a ladle, a work glove helps when handling hot pots over the fire. A grill is useful (although most campsites in Algonquin have one)
Tarp---use it for shelter to cook and eat in the rain, put your packs under it at night, etc. Large groups might want to bring 1 heavy-duty tarp and a smaller, lighter one (ie: an old tent fly)
Saw. For cooking, the wood need only be the size of your thumb. Never cut wood off of standing trees, even if they are dead (Park regulations). Driftwood is excellent. An axe is optional
Toilet paper, soap (biodegradable), dish soap, toothpaste. It is more efficient to bring one set for the whole group
Spare paddle and lifevest---more than one for large groups or whitewater trips
Compass. Even though it is hard to get lost in Algonquin Park, it is a good idea to have at least 1 compass for those foggy days on large lakes
Rope and line, for use as painters on the canoes, to put up the tarps, and a million other uses. The Club has some rope; the canoe line should only be used to tie the Club's canoes onto roof racks
Throw-bag(s), if whitewater is involved (helmets too, depending on difficulty)
First Aid Kit. Familiarize yourself with it before you leave; make sure someone on the trip has some first aid training
See also other Club checklists

Personal Equipment

Rain Gear, Rain Gear, Rain Gear
Waterproof bag / container for clothes. Something as simple as garbage bags (use several), or as fancy as river bags or Olive Jars
Sleeping bag, sleeping pad
Wool sweater, wool socks; avoid cotton if possible
Two pairs of footwear: one dry, one which will get wet
A Hat!!! Beware of sun-stroke on the lakes. Also sunglasses and sunscreen
Of course, a PFD. Get a comfortable one, so that wearing it isn't torture. A lifevest with padded shoulders is great for portaging!
A whistle per person is mandatory equipment
See other Club checklists

Food

Hardest part is estimating quantities; you want enough (!), but not too much---leftovers are difficult to deal with
Think about how much you would eat normally, and multiply by 1.5; ask people in the group if they are big eaters; accept the fact that some people eat much more than you
For trips longer than 1 night, pack an extra meal, just in case
Fishing is fun, and provides fresh food, but never count on it---always pack a meal anyway
Most efficient food is dry food and grain--you don't carry any water; some people like fresh fruit and veggies, but remember: you'll have to carry it over the portages
See the cook books in the Club for ideas on recipes and quantities
Bulk stores are a good place to buy ingedients; mix and pack the meals before you leave, to reduce work at the campsite (in case it is getting dark when you set up camp, for example)
Freeze-dried foods are expensive, but usually taste OK, and are much simpler to prepare. The portions are usually adequate, but if the group has many big eaters, you may want to take extra
Make your own Gorp from bulk store ingredients, and pack lots. Distribute the Gorp around the group, so it is easy to access
Plan simple lunches---bread and cheese and salami, for example. You generally don't want to light a stove (and certainly don't want to light a fire) for lunch
Before planning the menu & purchasing food, make sure nobody has any special dietary needs, such as:
- food allergies---be extremely careful about these, they can be fatal
- vegetarian. Not much of a problem, meat doesn't pack or keep very well anyway

Drinks

Most "seasoned" trippers will tell you they drink water straight out of the lake; official sources neither condone nor condemn this---they do warn that you could possibly contract something
If you are drinking the water straight, avoid drinking from small lakes and especially rivers; get your water from the middle of large lakes, if possible
To treat water: boil it for a few minutes, use iodine tablets (leaves a definite taste), use tincture of iodine, or use a filter (an expensive way to go)
Drink crystals help with the taste if you use iodine tablets
Ask the group if they would like: tea, herb tea, coffee (instant or the real thing), hot chocolate, etc. These things are cheap and light, so no need to be stingy
Always carry a few water bottles full of drinking water; you'll need them on portages especially. Beware of dehydration!

Canoeing And Portaging

A canoe acts as a weather vane in the wind: the least-loaded end (the one which rides high) points downwind. Use this to your advantage rather than fight it: for tailwinds, be stern-heavy, and be bow-heavy in headwinds. Fine-tune trim by adjusting position of packs
Stick close to shore as much as possible, to avoid wind problems. Be very careful if whitecaps appear, definitely stay away from large open bodies of water in windy conditions
Always wear a life vest in windy conditions
If the wind gets too strong, stop and wait it out. It will usually die down late afternoon, and you will be able to paddle another couple of hours. Starting early in the morning is a good way to avoid wind
Avoid rivers with rapids unless you have knowledgeable people with you. Scout unknown rapids, when in doubt portage, etc, etc...
One-trip portages are efficient, but only attempt them if everybody is comfortable with the load. One person carries a light pack and a canoe, and the other carries a heavy pack and paddles. Lifevests often make good padding for carrying a canoe
Never carry a fully-loaded canoe right-side up, not even over a short distance, the bottom will fall out
The group should always stay together. If some canoes are going much faster than others then review the paddling teams. Match a strong paddler with a weaker one
If the group absolutely must be spread out, make sure an experienced person is in the last canoe

How you arrange to pay for the trip is your choice, there are no Club policies or guidelines. These are just ideas that have worked in the past. The Club is not a "service" Club, it does not pay for anything and does not give free rentals.

Get deposits from people early on. This will confirm their interest; otherwise you might find people are very eager up to the day before departure, and then they drop out
The deposit can simply be an arbitrary amount; enough money that people won't want to forfeit it. In that case, the organizer pays for everything (food, rentals -- use a credit card!). When the trip is over, tabulate all the costs, and get everybody to pay up. This works if you know the participants personally, and you aren't worried about chasing after them
Alternately, estimate the total cost of the trip (be conservative!) and get the full payment ahead of time. When the trip is over, tabulate costs; hopefully the trip cost a bit less than planned and you can refund the participants
Cost estimate: rentals, camping permits are known costs. Allow $7 to $10 per person per day for food. Incidentals include purchases such as camp fuel, candles for the lanterns, matches, iodine tablets, etc.
Typically the group shares group equipment costs -- canoes, racks, transportation of the canoes (if you must pay someone for that), food, packs (at least the group equipment packs, barrels, etc)
Rentals such as tents and sleeping bags are usually payed for directly by the participants. This addresses the fact that many people already own this equipment, so it wouldn't be fair to ask them to pay for rentals
Don't forget gas money!!! Traditionally, drivers don't pay any gas at all---this compensates them for the wear and tear on their car

Enjoy Your Trip

Remember the trip is supposed to be fun. Don't push yourself too hard, don't be a slave driver. Try to be democratic when making decisions. Please respect the environment. Try to practice "no-trace camping", ie: make it look like you were never there.

Camp in designated camp sites only
Build fires in designated pits only (there should only be 1 pit per site)
Pack out your garbage
Don't dump dirty dishwater, or leftover food, in the lake; excess food should be packed out, dishwater should be dumped in the latrines or spread over a wide area, away from the tents

Good Books To Read

There is no substitute for experience, but these are a good place to start.

Canoeing and camping skills: Bill Mason's books Path of the Paddle and Song of the Paddle
The Canoe Guide's Handbook (the Club may get this later; available at Activities Books and Maps)
Cooking: Wanapitei Cookbook, NOLS Cookery (the Club has these), Good Food For The Trail, ...
Algonquin Park Canoe Routes; available at Adventure Guide, Activities Books and Maps, the Outfitters, the Park, ... You must have at least one copy of this map; topos are optional in Algonquin Park
The Club has checklists for personal and group gear

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