Solo Winter Camping | Kayak Camping Alone and Cold

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  • Опубликовано: 1 фев 2025

Комментарии • 123

  • @PaddleTV
    @PaddleTV  3 месяца назад

    Check out my new RUclips channel! www.youtube.com/@KenWhitingAdventures is now the place to find all my paddling adventure videos, while PaddleTV will focus on Instruction and Gear Reviews.

  • @draw1951
    @draw1951 Год назад +25

    Having grown up sailing and canoeing, I bought my first kayak two weeks ago and plan to use it throughout the winter (as much as possible) living on an island near Seattle. The plan is to stay within the bays (many to explore) and enjoy the serenity and mood the colder darker season brings. Thanks for making adventures accessible and worthwhile. At 72, life remains worth exploring.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      My pleasure! Keep exploring!

  • @iviewthetube
    @iviewthetube Год назад +19

    Everytime I see Ken do something crazy like this, I find myself doing the same dang thing a few months later.

  • @tommyrq180
    @tommyrq180 Год назад +3

    Coffee with Irish cream on a kayak overnight? You, sir, are my spirit human! 😊😊

  • @bemeotran1951
    @bemeotran1951 Год назад +3

    Happy thanks giving thankyyou for sharing this adventure with us while we sit eating turkey on our couch

  • @lysan1445
    @lysan1445 Год назад +6

    It was good to see you on an adventure like this. I also cherish Wintertime. It has a special atmosphere. Thanks for taking us with you!

  • @SouthernPaddler
    @SouthernPaddler Год назад +2

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these kayak camping videos!! Man, that's some cold weather (relative to Alabama)!! Great video Ken and I DEFINITELY vote for more of these!!!

  • @neilpage1153
    @neilpage1153 Год назад +4

    Brilliant video Ken. Winter camping is the best, no people and if you can catch a weather window, the stillness is magical! 👍

  • @EckieOutdoor
    @EckieOutdoor Год назад +2

    I enjoyed this video on my big television very much, Ken! It felt like I was there too. Are there bears and wolves where you paddled? I would be crapping my pants all night long 🤣, but hey, I'm Dutch and we're not used to predators. The worst predators we have is the government! The wolf has made his comeback in the Netherlands after 150 years of absence and now the whole country gets paranoid over it.
    Respect for all the work and effort you put in. 👌👌

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Awesome to hear! Yes, there are bears and wolves here, but as long as you're smart with how you deal with food, it's not a big issue. It's definitely something that you stay aware of though!

  • @ajf5823
    @ajf5823 10 месяцев назад +1

    Wow! You are one determined man when it comes to having a fire!

  • @ringperm
    @ringperm Год назад +1

    I loved this one, and have been searching through youtube for something similar, but found very little. Granted, there are alot of videos using canoes, but very few sea kayak camping videos of this quality.
    Most of these are just of people talking while paddling along, and unless you are charismatic enough too keep this interesting for 10 minutes, I often find myself bored.
    This video had it all, a charismatic host, varied scenery from multiple angles, a nice camping spot and was just an all around entertaining video. It was probably a lot of work, but really appreciated and something I would really like to see more of.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Thank you! I hope you enjoy the new kayak camping adventure I just released :). It was a blast to do/film.

  • @astrocatcity
    @astrocatcity Год назад +1

    Spectacular views, wonderful and inspiring video - thank you! Ohhh, and when in Algonquin, one makes a portaaaaaaajj 😀

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +2

      Ha! Very true. I'll keep bouncing back and forth with my pronunciation so that folks on both sides of the border understand. :)

  • @cojomo123
    @cojomo123 Год назад +3

    Absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed your trip, nice one, greeting’s and the best to you from🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿,
    🥃.

  • @MarkJ-i7u
    @MarkJ-i7u Год назад +3

    I started bringing an Ikea bag for each hatch. Makes bringing gear to and from the boat as well as portages a bit easier.

    • @vaubreyweber
      @vaubreyweber Год назад

      Best paddling advice I’ve ever gotten!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Interesting idea for sure!

  • @glyn829
    @glyn829 Год назад +2

    Great film epic adventure there 👌

  • @iowaadventures4701
    @iowaadventures4701 Год назад +2

    I live in North west Iowa and just like you this season kayak trips are coming to an end. I have been watching your videos for a long time, and with without doubt, I think this one beat them all. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Thank you! I'm looking forward to doing lots more of these.

  • @slighwentwalking2025
    @slighwentwalking2025 Год назад +4

    Well done mate 👏
    Even as South as far South as Florida, It gets dark early after the time change.
    Having the right gear makes a world of difference. I'm glad to see that you are well prepared, my friend.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Thanks! I love my gear shed. :)

  • @iviewthetube
    @iviewthetube Год назад +3

    I learned while paddling the Broken Group Islands in B.C. that it is really hard to paddle a kayak loaded with wood on top. No wonder it tipped when you went to shore.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      :) Lessons learned the hard way are the best lessons.

  • @Confoil
    @Confoil Год назад +4

    Not that I don't enjoy your instructional videos, your gear reviews, or your other trip videos, but I really enjoyed the more freeform, trip-journal style of this video. I hope you do more of these in the future. Also, it was nice to see a multi-lake portage trip in a kayak that most people seem to only do in canoes. 👍👍
    What did you do for water? Did you use a filter? If so, what did you do to keep it from freezing on you?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Thanks! I definitely plan on doing more of these! I had a blast.
      I used a dromedary bag for water. To avoid it freezing, I drained the system before going to sleep, and brought the reservoir bag (filled with clean water) into by tent. I threw it under some gear to keep it from freezing over night. I didn't actually test the filter in the morning to see if it worked (or froze) because I had enough water in the bag to take me through the day. Boiling lake water was my backup plan.

  • @iviewthetube
    @iviewthetube Год назад +1

    @21:30 Like Ken says, good gear is important, especially in weather like this. That is why I would ditch the utensil with a spoon at one end and the fork on the other.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Ha! Good point. I hate to admit it though... but I kind of like it. :)

    • @iviewthetube
      @iviewthetube Год назад

      @@PaddleTV Yuck, I get spaghetti on my fingers when I need to use the spoon side. That is why I prefer the Snow Peak Titanium Spork.

  • @jayspot4
    @jayspot4 Год назад +1

    Awesome trip Ken - and you’re using that beautiful boat 😱 thank you for sharing and getting those shore shots!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Glad you enjoyed it

  • @KKBG
    @KKBG Год назад +1

    One of your best videos. Its like meditation and Baileys in coffee :)

  • @ihan_perus
    @ihan_perus Год назад +2

    Nice! I hope to do one more overnight trip on my kayak this year. We just got some snow here in southern Finland, but it hasn't been too cold yet. I hope the lake at my cabin stays open for a couple more weeks! Or else I have to haul a kayak home and take it out to the Baltic sea..

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +2

      Nice! I visited Finland this summer for the first time. I was paddling up in Lapland, in the Ivalo area to start, and then Kuusamo. What a trip!!! Beautiful country. Stay tuned for some videos from there!

  • @robertfrost6522
    @robertfrost6522 Год назад +2

    Just got back from my trip (NH), no ice or snow yet so you just inspired me for one more trip! thank you.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Glad to hear it! Be safe!

  • @shaneshankly4518
    @shaneshankly4518 27 дней назад

    Excellent video and adventure Ken 😀 👏 definitely couldn't go on an adventure ad eat that i would need proper food

  • @dannyroberts5056
    @dannyroberts5056 10 месяцев назад

    This one made me chuckle Ken. I tend to be a cluts at times myself. This also brings back many memories of camping out of my kayak here in MO. during the winter. A big grin came across my face when you fired up the wisper lite . I bought mine back in 1987 and it still going strong along with my Sierra Design Clip Flashlight. As I get older a tent with a bit more room does look nice though. Beautiful trip and thanks as always for sharing.

  • @danareed1656
    @danareed1656 Год назад +1

    oh ya coffee with baileys yum

  • @lizard2425
    @lizard2425 Год назад +1

    Beautifully done! Thanks!

  • @petertamasboda511
    @petertamasboda511 Год назад +1

    Nice. I like it.

  • @CheekyMonkey888
    @CheekyMonkey888 Год назад +2

    nice! these composite kayaks are sweet to paddle empty, loaded up you might as well stick with a tougher plastic kayak I m thinking

  • @quinboyle8436
    @quinboyle8436 Год назад +1

    Thanks.Hope you manage a few a day trips this winter

  • @CareyCarolinaCamper
    @CareyCarolinaCamper Год назад

    Ken, ya know… that @riverkingskayak guy says to carry a bag of sorts like a duffel to make your portages easier. Just a thought 😂
    Joking aside, your videos alongside Pete’s have been a hugely influential and valuable part of my Kayaking journey. So thank you Ken! Can’t wait to see what you bring us next!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Ha! I'll remember that next time. I appreciate the kind words! See you on the water.

  • @bluesideup007
    @bluesideup007 9 месяцев назад

    Beautiful seasons end!

  • @dirkzwitser9287
    @dirkzwitser9287 Год назад

    Your most enjoyable video this year. Did my last camping trip late October. No snow, but lots of moist and cold.
    Your video lets any viewer join a lonesome winter adventure. Overwhelming beauty, solitude, overcoming little challenges. Loved it.

  • @bluewaterdonkey
    @bluewaterdonkey Год назад

    This video was awesome! I would love to see more content like this. It was just pure and real. Thank you for the great video.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Thank you! You can definitely expect to see more of this next season. Cheers!

  • @MAJORTHOUGHTLEADER
    @MAJORTHOUGHTLEADER Год назад

    That portage looked slippery along the icy boardwalk! I'm guessing that KW would have taken a pack boat if he knew that he would have to portage boat & gear.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      :). Exactly what I wish I had!

  • @jacqueline7118
    @jacqueline7118 Год назад

    Wonderful adventure! Love the solitude of winter camping. You are right about having the proper gear for the time of year. What was in your breakfast bowl? Looked like chickpeas with pancake batter or bannock poured over them. Please pass on the recipe! :) Coffee and Bailey's, nothing better! :) Thanks for sharing. :) :)

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      :). The breakfast bowl was dehydrated apples (with sugar, spice and cornstarch to thicken) with pancake batter over top.

    • @jacqueline7118
      @jacqueline7118 Год назад

      @@PaddleTV Sounds delicious, thanks! :)

  • @quinboyle8436
    @quinboyle8436 Год назад +2

    Lovely video.What footwear were you using?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +3

      Thanks! I was using NRS Boundary boots bit.ly/3Lb8Clo They've been my go-to footwear for cold paddling trips for 20 years! Highly recommend them.

  • @nicholasespinosa9569
    @nicholasespinosa9569 Год назад

    When hiking on the AT I try to grab firewood as I approach camp because it's also super picked over for firewood.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Exactly. That's what I would typically do with a canoe. The problem with a sea kayak is that there's no where to carry it. :)

  • @cieljek
    @cieljek Год назад +1

    Do you have a video on how to plan a distant kayak trip? Not like, far paddling, but as someone who's never traveled further than an hour or two from home to do it, whats the best way to prepare for a trip a state away or something to a place you've never been to.
    Also, it would crazy cool if you had a camera set up to do 360 footage to do VR RUclips vids so a person with VR goggles could watch and be "in" the kayak with you!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Not yet! I'll put that video on the list. Good idea on the 360 camera too. One of these days I'll need to try one. Cheers!

  • @markokeeffe8361
    @markokeeffe8361 Год назад

    Do you see much wildlife at that time of year?
    I'm from UK and remember fondly regular swim-bys of beavers and being serenaded by loons on a wonderful summer trip in BC.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      No. Not much wildlife at this time of year, although you still will see some activity.

  • @brianne9
    @brianne9 Год назад +1

    Algonquin is only 3 hours north of me... I can't believe there's snow on the ground already there. Yikes.

  • @perymcgregor8424
    @perymcgregor8424 Год назад

    i really enjoyed how you put this trip video together nicely done!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Thank you very much!

  • @SaulShiffman
    @SaulShiffman Год назад +1

    Great video; nice to join you on this last-of-the-season paddle
    Two questions
    1. Why didn't you put your kayak upside-down to keep from getting water in overnight?
    2. I noticed you had your rudder up. How come?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +2

      Thanks! Truth be told... it got dark and I forget to roll it over. But it was wet already because of the dump with the firewood, and so I wasn't worried about it.
      As for the rudder... this kayak (Melker Ulvon) comes with a rudder and a keg. I was using the keg, as I almost always do. I typically don't use rudders. Not that I don't think they're good options, but I just prefer skegs.

  • @learntechwithruth2147
    @learntechwithruth2147 Год назад

    I never heard of a portage before but that seems rough! Your trip looked great. I really would like to go kayak camping some time. Looks like a lot of work though.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      :) It can be a lot of work... but so worth it!

  • @NovaScotiakayaker
    @NovaScotiakayaker Год назад

    Awesome kayak

  • @nunyabidness3075
    @nunyabidness3075 Год назад

    Great way to start is camping on shore at a drive up site. We found a couple sites in upstate NY. We had lots of extra stuff in the car if we needed it.
    Pro tip, ignore the pro Canadian expert and don’t wear any cotton even if you do have a fancy dry suit. Especially if you aren’t Canadian or Icelandic or similar. 🤣😂🤣

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Ha! Both are great tips! :) No cotton for me!

  • @ianhopcraft9894
    @ianhopcraft9894 Год назад

    I didn't realize composite hulls were so easily damaged, its a good tip, I'll stick with plastic.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      You definitely do have to be much more careful with them. The trade off is that they're lighter and stiffer than plastic.

  • @chrismcduffie4888
    @chrismcduffie4888 Год назад

    Awesome video, Ken! Wishing I was out there with you. I don't have a dry suit so my kayaking has been done for a few weeks. I look forward to warmer weather again, but first, let's deal with this upcoming winter snowy season!

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Ha! Yup... winter is great too. Different type of adventures ahead for a few months. :)

    • @chrismcduffie4888
      @chrismcduffie4888 Год назад

      @@PaddleTV I'll live vicariously through you then, Ken! 😊

  • @johncheung4005
    @johncheung4005 Год назад

    it is not easy , but feel good

  • @pappasally2958
    @pappasally2958 10 месяцев назад

    Ken, watch the Ireland videos. Your daughter is right, you are getting old. Aside from the camera gear, can't believe how much kit you bring for an overnight trip. I don't carry that much gear for 3-day ski mountaineering trip at -22C. But I am from Alaska, taught mountaineering in Denali Park for 8 years, lived/worked in half-a-dozen countries, from mountains to coastal areas, jungles to deserts, so brain does not work properly. Noticed you brought both an air mattress and a foam pad. You can go lighter sleeping bag if you put the foam pad on top of the air mattress, since the air mattress allows air to circulate inside, sucking heat from body and exchanging it with the cold air along the perimeter of the mattress.Yes there is greater risk of puncturing the air mattress. So ditch the air mattress, and go with 2 foam pads. My winter kit for glacier travel is 1 & 1/2 foam pads. Place the extra 1/2 pad under my torso, the empty backpack under my legs, and the full length pad over both. For dealing with how much gear to bring, whether multi-day kayaking, ski-mountaineering or 4x4 overlanding is to use a 50-60 L dry bag backpack, and only take as much as I can fit in the backpack. When I go to load the yak, lay the backpack down first in the rear compartment, then load the rest. Nothing on the deck but bilge pump, spare paddle and a camel back water bladder. Currently stationed in Okinawa Japan, where it never gets colder than +10C so I don't have to worry about puffy jacket and such. But we do sometimes have to portage through the jungle or local village to get to launch/recovery points. Using 50 L dry bag backpack trick, I have never filled bow and stern compartments, even when taking dive and underwater camera gear. I can hump the backpack and kayak in one go. And no I am not superman. I am a 62 year old, out of shape cancer survivor who enjoys the suck of no creature comforts, too little gear and too long of distances on epic journeys. Too improve your winter camping skills and gear packing, take a glacier travel or a snow camping class and a long-range backpacking course. Really teaches economy of gear selection. And with less stuff to manage or deal with, you will find trip more enjoyable. And seriously, forget the campfire. PS Really do like the video trips. Going to have to plan a trip to Ireland and do the coastal sea kayaking. That is as soon as I complete my planned solo 4x4 overlanding trip across the Australian Outback. Wait, have you ever done sea kayaking along New Zealand? Maybe that goes after the Outback.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  10 месяцев назад

      Thanks for all the great ideas. One thing I know I'm not, is a minimalist. I'm typically ok doing 2 trips on a portage so that I can bring along some camp comforts. :) Yes... like you said... I'm getting old. Ha!! I'll definitely consider some of your suggestions though! As for New Zealand... I've never sea kayaked there, but I've done a LOT of whitewater kayaking in NZ. Magical place....

  • @jwiereng
    @jwiereng 9 месяцев назад

    odd that they allowed you to book a campsite while the access is gated. When you discovered this, and camped elsewhere, did you have to call in a new site reservation?

  • @phyllisdinsmore6704
    @phyllisdinsmore6704 Год назад

    I'm curious because I keep seeing different information. What are you wearing to stay warm and dry that, should an accident happen, you won't sink like a tire?
    Recommend a solo camp stove for cooking
    Lightweight and you can use brush and twigs for fuel

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      I'm wearing a drysuit. It has rubber gaskets at the neck and wrists (and socks built in). It's completely waterproof, so that I can swim and stay dry inside. It actually provides additional floatation because of the air that's trapped inside. It's the ultimate defence against the cold... but you pay for it! When paddling in cold conditions/water, it's probably the most valuable piece of safety gear to have.

    • @phyllisdinsmore6704
      @phyllisdinsmore6704 Год назад

      @@PaddleTV thank you, very valuable information!

  • @kunalbhattacharya5404
    @kunalbhattacharya5404 11 месяцев назад

    Please review Point 65 kayaks

  • @laszlogotthard3983
    @laszlogotthard3983 Год назад

    Talking about gear, what type of shoes did you wear over the dry pants ?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Those are NRS Boundary Boots. They've been my go-to footwear for cold weather trips for 20 years. I highly recommend them.

  • @vaelayne9067
    @vaelayne9067 Год назад +1

    Was this Rock Lake to Pen Lake by any chance?

  • @PaddleTV
    @PaddleTV  8 месяцев назад

    Take your FREE online ACA Paddlesports safety course here: americancanoe.org/paddlesports-online-course/

  • @6yjjk
    @6yjjk Год назад +1

    Thanks, Ken, for doing this so I don't have to. :) I love this kind of content.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Ha! My pleasure. I'll keep doing my part in making this type of content. :)

  • @jayburne6825
    @jayburne6825 Год назад

    Great video wish I was with you .....

  • @kebolton
    @kebolton Год назад

    You gave up *all* of your buoyancy at the 10:59 mark and are lucky it was not fatal. I will be using this in my instruction of what not to do.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +4

      I'm lucky it wasn't fatal? While I agree it wasn't ideal to open the hatches to carry firewood, I think you're being over dramatic. It was a small lake, super calm conditions, I'm wearing a drysuit, and I have 35 years of paddling experience.

  • @samswain1162
    @samswain1162 5 месяцев назад

    What was that you ate for breakfast?

  • @jwiereng
    @jwiereng 9 месяцев назад

    skeg and a rudder on this craft? 8:49

  • @Alexandre.Savine
    @Alexandre.Savine Год назад +1

    IK may be better for firewood transportation. But slow, sure. Tradeoffs, tradeoffs, tradeoffs.

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +2

      Yeah, an inflatable kayak wouldn't be a better option. A canoe would have been the best boat for this trip, for sure!

  • @markscott4059
    @markscott4059 Год назад

    What type of sea kayak is that?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад

      Melker Ulvon ruclips.net/video/8W1dv49vRZE/видео.htmlsi=qnUfbKeNm4Eti8iA

  • @Pietjo5
    @Pietjo5 Год назад

    Why is a canoe easier to portage?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +4

      Two main reasons. A canoe yoke spreads the weight of the canoe over both shoulders. All the weight of a kayak is on one shoulder. Secondly, you can have all your gear in one (or two) big backpacks within a canoe. You can throw the backpack on your back, the canoe on your shoulders and off you go. Much faster and more efficient because you don't have to unpack and then repack the boat.

  • @mountainhobbit1971
    @mountainhobbit1971 Год назад +1

    I wonder if the park can start supplying firewood at the campsites since the popular sites seem so picked clean.

  • @nodescriptionavailable3842
    @nodescriptionavailable3842 Год назад

    You gotta have a certain ruggedness in you to do this, getting all the shots for the video must really be a burden at times, we definitely appreciate it, beautiful job, great video.

  • @Shoebutie
    @Shoebutie Год назад

    why would a canoe have been so much easier?

    • @PaddleTV
      @PaddleTV  Год назад +1

      Portage would have been much easier for a few reasons. For one, the canoe yoke spreads the weight of the canoe across both shoulders. All the weight of the kayak sits on a single edge on a single shoulder. Secondly, to pack a kayak, you need to have everything in lots of little dry bags. This means you need to unpack all the bags and repack them at the other end (too heavy to carry leaving them in). You also have to carry handful of little dry bags, instead of a big canoe pack/backpack. Canoeing, you can often fit everything in one canoe pack, thrown it on your back, and then put the canoe on your shoulders, and do the portage in one go. Dealing with firewood would have also been a ton easier, becauses you can just load the canoe with wood that you find along the shoreline as you go. The kayak had no extra space. Hope that clarifies.

    • @Shoebutie
      @Shoebutie Год назад

      makes sense. Thanks.