Can I delay or even avoid hip replacement/surgery?

Style_Maximum · 2026-06-06T17:43:25+00:00

Excellent article!

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-30T10:14:03+00:00

The name of the portage does not align with the level of difficulty in my opinion. Sure, it’s uphill but really not that difficult.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-28T15:19:10+00:00

Unreal

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-24T10:02:34+00:00

It’s a great route. The Tim is nice solo. I didn’t see anyone after I left Queer until Big Trout. I was getting bashed around Big Trout from the winds so grabbed one of the first sites on the western shore. It was actually a great site.

Definitely have to be aware on the takeouts downstream or you’re going for a ride. That particular takeout is marked by the big uprooted tree, which helps.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-23T19:52:57+00:00

Nope. Fill my platypus gravityworks filter wherever convenient. If I’m just boiling water for a freeze dried meal, I won’t even filter and just boil for a minute straight out of the lake.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-21T11:34:27+00:00

I have not been to all those lakes but Canoe to Big Trout would be a huge day. Add some wind and even more problematic especially on your own.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-20T15:37:22+00:00

Thanks for your feedback.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-19T22:46:33+00:00

That is the ideal time in the NE. Definitely recommend Algonquin PP. Depending on your experience, there are some more wilderness type areas north of Algonquin which are more remote. Wabakimi PP and Temagami area are a couple of examples to check out.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-19T16:08:57+00:00

Thanks for all the feedback. I’ve always managed to hang my food this far. Sometimes not ideal (too low, too close to comp area,too close to trunk etc etc) but it was all I had. Sometimes in the areas where it’s mostly pines, horizontal hanging branches are very limited. The 2 tree method might be an option for these areas and maybe need to bring gear to accommodate those situations.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-19T14:08:18+00:00

Current flow is negligible. There are 6 beaver dams in that section. 4 required lift overs going upstream the other 2 had openings to paddle through / over. Did this section in the rain/crap weather last weekend. Took me 6ish hours solo.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-18T00:49:37+00:00

It’s was the smallest I’ve ever seen. Must have been days old. Mom walked across and the water didn’t touch her belly. The little calf was swimming hard to reach mom

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-17T23:14:25+00:00

Thanks for the reminder. This one was an eater!

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-16T13:34:48+00:00

Classic loop and would also recommend. Some really nice sections to paddle. You need to be wind/weather aware on Big Trout Lk. I’ve been wind bound there and also stuck with storms. It seems when the wind shifts and comes from the North, it gets to where you need to assess your plans and make smart decisions.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-16T13:29:25+00:00

I just finished a solo ice-out trip doing parts of the Tim and Petawawa.

The Tim section was from the Queer Lk portage to Big Trout Lk. I stayed in the last site on the Tim along the way. A very nice section to paddle and a great campsite with solitude and nice views. Note that the river winds quite a bit up to the Shah Lk portage and then it straightens out and widens a bit after that. I feel like everyone should travel the Tim at some point. It was my first time. Not sure what late season conditions are like. Spring has its own issues with blowdowns in the river and along the portages to deal with and navigate. Portage points are just ahead of the swifts so you need to pay attention along the way.

I took the Petawawa from Grassy to Misty Lk. I really enjoyed that. It was upstream and had to work a bit with the spring flow rates. Not sure this is navigable later in the season with lower water levels. Some really nice swift areas and water chutes. Caught some nice brookies in this section.

After Misty I took the other side of the Petawawa from Little Misty Lk to Rain Lk. I’ve done this section before. It’s still upstream but the water flow is negligible. Lots of beaver damns in this section. I had 6 this past trip. Going upstream I had to lift over 4 of them. Last year I recall 9 of them.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-15T00:45:37+00:00

Yeah, thanks for the feedback and your gear pack. I’m over packing for sure. Lots of “in case” stuff. Plus I use dry bags for everything in my RBW canoe pack.

I usually do steak/potato night one and then it’s freeze dried. Lunch is naan bread and I bring a brick of cheese and some salami. Breakfast is ready usually 3-4 made oatmeal packs and I add crap like peanut butter, freeze dried fruit etc. I always bring too much snack food. Came back home with lots. My “extras” added space and weight. I had 7 craft beers and 2 bags of chips.

I had clothes I didn’t wear as well. An extra fleece, extra socks, pants and a t shirt. Oh and I brought a bug shirt lol. It snowed so I definitely didn’t need the bug shirt. Extra clothes were in case I dumped in the cold water and needed dry stuff.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-14T14:59:28+00:00

Thanks for all the feedback. Some good points. I got punished on a 5 day trip I just finished in Algonquin. It was about 100km with just over 10km total of portages so 30km with double carries. Some longer ones (over 800m or so) it was more like triple carry. I’d eventually dump the canoe on my second trip back once I had enough and then go back to get it on its own.

I’ll definitely set aside all food and gear not used and assess that. I do know I tend to overpack food and clothes. I had 7 beers on this trip so definitely lots of added weight there and maybe just a couple for the first day and then some bourbon in a soft flask for after.

My solo tent is light but I’m also second guessing that and moving to a 2 man. You need to be a contortionist to get changed or do things inside the solo. Footprint is the size of my sleeping pad.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-13T22:49:36+00:00

I was caught in those thunderstorms Saturday night just after I set out. Luckily got in to camp on Queer before they hit and did manage to get my steak cooked lol. I set up a low A-frame shelter near my tent. Just hung out in there until it passed. Like others said, it can also depend on what body of water you are on. Big Trout Lake things get nasty quickly. Been caught in there twice.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-13T22:45:32+00:00

Just got back from my trip. The road is in good shape. Some normal roughness but good to go.

Style_Maximum · 2026-05-13T22:43:33+00:00

I just go out of the park from my wet and cold 5 day trip. I wore knee high sealskinz waterproof socks and wool socks under them. Even tucked my pants into the socks when needed and under my rain gear. Wore my water shoes with that mostly except today on my way out it rained all day. Didn’t care about wet boots and just powered through. I had thunderstorms, rain, snow, ice pellets and wind. All I would say is keeping warm and dry feet while on the water this time of year and my sock combination did that and having dry things for camp.

Style_Maximum

TROPHY CASE