Tamia Nelson's Outside » Let’s Paddle! Canoeing, Kayaking, & Sit-on-Topping

Gotcha Covered! More on the Pros and Cons of Spray Covers

Tamia Nelson — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:01:07 +0000

When the going gets rough, some canoeists abandon their open boats for decked, hard-shell craft. Others simply cover their canoes with fabric decks. A little while back, Tamia looked at the case for covering up, and she opted out. But then the letters started coming in…

Worst‑Case Scenario: A Solo Kayaker’s Harrowing Story

Tamia Nelson — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:01:50 +0000

Paddling is a blast, but it's not without risk. Nemesis is always waiting, ready to punish the overconfident or unwary. Most of the time, our mistakes and misjudgments only result in embarrassment, but on rare occasions things get very bad, very fast. Such worst-case scenarios can end tragically — or they can teach us lessons we're not likely to forget…

Making It from Bold to Old

Tamia Nelson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:01:20 +0000

Pilots tend to be a cautious bunch. Sure, they take risks. They have no choice. The earth's ocean of air isn't a forgiving environment, and gravity isn't on their side. But good pilots always place their bets so the odds are with them. And no matter how skilled they are, they know they're only as good as their planes. Every pilot performs a preflight check of his aircraft before taking off…

Burning Issues

Tamia Nelson — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 07:01:11 +0000

Québec is burning. And even though I live well to the south of the border, in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, I can smell the smoke on my doorstep. "Smell" is far too mild a word, in fact. The acrid haze now drifting down on a fitful breeze is strong enough to make my eyes water and my lungs burn. But this is nothing compared to the burning farther north, as flames consume tens of thousands of acres of boreal forest and doom many of the wild creatures who call those woodlands home, condemning them to horrific deaths.…

Cover‑Up or Catastrophe in the Making? The Pros and Cons of Canoe Spray Covers

Tamia Nelson — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:01:09 +0000

Canoes leak at the top. But canoeists often take their boats where swamping is more than a theoretical possibility. That being the case, just how do you keep water out of a canoe?…

The Things We Carry: Ponchos Cover Your Keister

Tamia Nelson — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:01:33 +0000

Ponchos aren't elegant, and they're a nuisance (or worse) in high winds and big waves. But for day in, day out utility, versatility, and economy they're mighty hard to beat. Having said that, I've a confession to make: I didn't always appreciate them. When I first took to the woods and waters, I wanted only high-tech, high fashion raingear. If it was endorsed by a Himalayan climber, that was ideal. I wasn't impressed by the fact that ponchos worked. They were too everyday, too down-home, too utilitarian, too simple. I wanted flash…

Tippy Canoe? Beyond Static Stability by Farwell Forrest

Tamia Nelson — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:01:46 +0000

When folks who've never held a paddle in their hands think about canoes — if they think about them at all, that is — they conjure up an image of a dangerously tippy boat that's pointy on both ends, with a big hole on top to let the waves wash in. And as broad‑brush portraits go, this isn't too far off the mark. But it's not the whole story, is it? Experienced canoeists take their "tippy" craft out onto turbulent waters again and again without misadventure. Of course, even old hands sometimes swim when they least expect to, and on these rare occasions they often curse their boats' poor stability. I've done it, and I'm not alone, as a recent letter from reader Deane Blazie proves…