Winter. It was slow to arrive in our corner of Canoe Country, but it got here in the end. And spring can’t come too soon. Of course, life doesn’t stop just because local ponds and rivers are locked in ice. Winter has its delights, too, and that’s what this edition of “Our Readers Write” is all about — exploring the pleasures of the off‑season. We’ll still spare a few words to look ahead to the time when the waters begin to sing again, however.

The last “Our Readers Write” went online only two months ago, but there’s no shortage of reader mail. And there’s a wide range of topics, too, from the future of the Global Positioning System to the best way to assemble a personal survival kit to the joys of snowshoeing. So let’s get started. Winter won’t last forever. Spring is on its way north. There’s not a moment to lose!… Read more…

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Knots are tools, among the most important in any waterman’s (ditty) bag of tricks, even if that waterman happens to be a woman. And I’ve written about them many times before, most recently in November of last year, when I described six of my “favorites.” I put “favorites” in quotes because the word is really a bit misleading. While I seldom feel the need to have more than a half‑dozen knots at my fingertips, so to speak, my list evolves with the procession of the seasons, not to mention changes in boats. I’m not alone. A sometime sailor’s knotty toolkit will differ from a full‑time paddler’s, for example. But despite all the words I’ve spilled on the subject, I may have scanted one vital aspect: how and when to use the knots I’ve described. I’ve certainly mentioned their uses from time to time in earlier articles, but perhaps I’ve never given the topic the attention it deserves. As reader Bill Forshey was good enough to point out:

I was trying to improve my use of knots in my canoeing and came across your article. ["Knots to Know! Basic Ropecraft for Paddlers" – Editor] I have, over time, learned to create the knots you describe, but I have to admit that with the exception of the trucker's hitch to secure my boat to my vehicle, I don't really know how to apply them.

And that’s the whole point of the exercise, isn’t it? Being able to tie a bowline with one hand makes a nifty party trick — and it can be a vital skill in a hard chance — but it’s more important to know what to use a bowline for. So that’s what this article is all about. I’ll look at some of the ways I use knots, both afloat and ashore.

Ready? Then let’s cast off!… Read more…

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Gossamer synthetic fabrics and compression stuff sacks have made it possible to reduce the packed size of sleeping bags to an absolute minimum. This makes sense when you’re living out of a rucksack, and it’s one reason why I bought a new sleeping bag not long ago. I wanted a bag that would slip into my getaway pack or my Axiom Champlain panniers and still leave enough room for all the rest of my gear, including a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core sleeping pad. As this shot of a pannier shows, my new down-filled Kelty Coromell 25 fits the bill admirably:

Rated to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s the significance of the 25 in the name, I suppose), the Coromell is plenty light—less than 3 pounds total. Better yet, it scrunches down into a 7-inch by 14-inch package:

That’s a one-pint thermos in the photo, by the way, and the billy in the plastic bag to the right of the Coromell is a diminutive Mini-Trangia cooker. A GSI Personal Java Press completes the picture.

So… The Coromell packs a lot of comfort into a small space. I wouldn’t be doing it any favors if I kept it trussed up in the tight confines of its stuff sack between trips, however. Down is wonderfully compressible, but the tiny plumules are fragile things. Which is why I remove my sleeping bag from the stuff sack as soon as I get back from a trip, air it on the line (weather permitting), and then transfer it to a large, breathable storage bag. If the bag is badly soiled, I wash it first, of course. But be warned: Down bags aren’t easy to clean. Folks who like to snack in the sack should consider this—and remember that bears, who have a nose for any free lunch going, like to eat in bed, too. They don’t much care whose bed it is, either. And they have terrible table manners.

You say that your bag didn’t come with a handy storage sack? No problem. A large cotton pillowcase works just fine. The price is right, too.

The bottom line? Whenever your sleeping bag doesn’t have to be in your pack, give it some breathing room. After all, none of us likes to be cooped up unnecessarily, do we?

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