June 3-11 is National Fishing and Boating Week, and the timing’s a no-brainer: With the mercury rising throughout the country, there’s no better way to keep cool and get a new view of your favorite places than by boat. Cruise for wildlife, cast a line, get an arm workout, and enjoy a sweet summertime float with these tips.
Map it out.
It might sound romantic just to hit the river and go where the current takes you. But just like any other trip, you’ll want to hash out your route ahead of time. Mark portages and campsites on your map, make any site reservations, and ensure you have any necessary permits. You can reasonably expect to travel around 10 miles a day on flat water and 12-15 on a gently flowing river.
Pack light.
The water might be carrying the load, but you’re still limited by what you can fit in your canoe. Keep your packing list short, make sure all your luggage is easy to carry in case of unexpected portages, and do a shakedown well before shove-off time to be sure it will all squeeze into the canoe. Pack clothes and sleeping gear in dry bags or packs lined with plastic bags. Keep kitchen gear and food in waterproof containers. For a classic (though heavy) solution, consider using a wanigan, a wooden box custom-built to fit inside a canoe, complete with a leather tump line to fasten around your forehead…
