I grew up paddling in muskoka area , doing canoe trips first there then elsewhere . I watch Bill Mason films every summer at camp queen elizabeth in the 70's and 80's. I am a canoeist of 44 years because of Bill Mason , Omer stringer , ray kettlewell and Anne Mcknight who i got to learn from in my youth. I love style paddling the most ..
Right on~ I too watched a lot of Bill's vids in my public school in Sault Ontario growing up in 70's...I loved when the teacher said today is film day and it's the canoe man!
Bill Mason was quite a small fellow at only 165 cm. Even so, he whips that 16 feet wood and canvas prospector around rocks and in and out of eddies like it's nothing. What a great hero.
I grew up with these films. My dad I as canoe "artist" lol. Back then I was like oh, no, not again!!! But now I see sic value in it. My brother and I grew up in the bottom of a canoe.
This guy is a lot braver than I am. My dad and I are veterans of 20+ trips into the BWCA. We've paddled some of the bigger lakes along the border and a few in Quetico; we always played it safe and traveled early in the morning on these bigger waters and stayed lee of the islands out of the wind if necessary. A few times we were windbound on the last day of the trip, but sometimes we'd leave right before sunup to make it to the landing. Seemed like once afternoon hit, it was time to be off the big water. We always portaged around rapids, especially after I nearly drowned running some class 2 water that "looked" pretty harmless. Good thing I was with a group (Boy Scouts), and one of the dads with us was able to pry me off a rock I was pinned to. Lesson learned.....and I would do these trips all over again!
Another film that my father wrote the music for, and probably my favourite! He gets the acoustic guitar going bonkers right off the top as soon as the water gets heavy! Wooohooooo!
I met Bill when he was in Salt Lake City on a booksigning tour and showing the Path of the Paddle films back in the early '80's. I was new into solo WW paddling and I was able to corner Bill at a reception where we talked about doing enders in our open boats. I went on to paddle many rivers including the Middle Fork of the Salmon, the Snake, the Green, and best of all the Colorado through Westwater Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Thank you Bill for your inspiration!
We watched all of these movies, and the outtakes too, during High School English... Because Ken Buck (the cameraman) was our English Teacher!! I remember Bill Mason and Ken Buck far better than Shakespeare 🙂Go Merivale! It's incredible to realize the original head-cam was a monstrous reel-to-reel camera.... how spectacular it is now, with drones and GoPros 😲 (thank you, Becky Mason)
Sorry late response..you still around? Awe man I miss this era so much! I know he paddled around where I live...I think he was up in Wawa also...definitely canoed Lake Superior shore north of Sault Ontario!
Well HOLY wow, I'm swept back to grade 5 in public school in Canada..we went to the library and watched this on the ole film reel! Bill emblemized what it is to canoe to us back then...it was really rare to see in person someone's adventures recorded if you could imagine!
My type of guy. We passed him at the Natch when i was a 17 year old doing the May 24 run. Came from the similar YMCA ccamp backgrounds. I still run my rapids witha slower than water technique and its served me well.
Thanks loads for posting this. I would have loved to have met Bill in person. We had nice correspondence before he left us. I lament that. However, oddly enough, I have a friend who now lives in Chelsea.
The filming was done over several years, and included rivers such as the Petawawa and French rivers in Ontario, Canada. A number of sequences were re-fillmed for the final cut, because some of the early filming showed an obviously younger son in the bow than those of him in the latest sequences.
+Stan .Rarick Probably a combination of rivers in or near Pukaskwa Park. Bill Mason favored that area for obvious reasons. The river's egress into Superior in the film looks like it may have been the Pukaskwa River itself.
+TheGbov Am actually currently reading a great book called "Canoe Country" by Roy MacGregor, and it says the Path of the Paddle series was filmed on the Petawawa, all in a wooden canoe no less.
+TheGbov His son Paul estimated they ran the Petawawa 35 times during the filming of the series. I have been numerous times to the north east side of Algonquin fishing and camping. Barron Canyon is beautiful. Have never done the Petawawa though, just read about it. I heard "The Natch" is pretty spectacular.
If we all had fathers like that, the world would be such a wonderful place to be.
no dad lol
I love these videos. They started me on my canoeing journey
50 years ago
I grew up paddling in muskoka area , doing canoe trips first there then elsewhere . I watch Bill Mason films every summer at camp queen elizabeth in the 70's and 80's. I am a canoeist of 44 years because of Bill Mason , Omer stringer , ray kettlewell and Anne Mcknight who i got to learn from in my youth. I love style paddling the most ..
Right on~ I too watched a lot of Bill's vids in my public school in Sault Ontario growing up in 70's...I loved when the teacher said today is film day and it's the canoe man!
Bill Mason was quite a small fellow at only 165 cm. Even so, he whips that 16 feet wood and canvas prospector around rocks and in and out of eddies like it's nothing. What a great hero.
I grew up with these films. My dad I as canoe "artist" lol. Back then I was like oh, no, not again!!! But now I see sic value in it. My brother and I grew up in the bottom of a canoe.
Those are high quality canoeing tips and I love the old school film, very nostalgic.
This guy is a lot braver than I am. My dad and I are veterans of 20+ trips into the BWCA. We've paddled some of the bigger lakes along the border and a few in Quetico; we always played it safe and traveled early in the morning on these bigger waters and stayed lee of the islands out of the wind if necessary. A few times we were windbound on the last day of the trip, but sometimes we'd leave right before sunup to make it to the landing. Seemed like once afternoon hit, it was time to be off the big water. We always portaged around rapids, especially after I nearly drowned running some class 2 water that "looked" pretty harmless. Good thing I was with a group (Boy Scouts), and one of the dads with us was able to pry me off a rock I was pinned to. Lesson learned.....and I would do these trips all over again!
Another film that my father wrote the music for, and probably my favourite! He gets the acoustic guitar going bonkers right off the top as soon as the water gets heavy! Wooohooooo!
Yeah, you told us, twice already.
drunk or stoned?????
Wonderful guitar playing!
Did you attend Nepean HS, by any chance ?
One of the great canoeists. I've seen his films and read his books. Clear and concise. He was to born to canoe.
What a wonderful piece of art this film is.
what a great film. Wish my kids loved the outdoors as much as I. Made me a bit jealous. Great dad!
Glad I stumbled on this one, it's a gem!
I met Bill when he was in Salt Lake City on a booksigning tour and showing the Path of the Paddle films back in the early '80's. I was new into solo WW paddling and I was able to corner Bill at a reception where we talked about doing enders in our open boats. I went on to paddle many rivers including the Middle Fork of the Salmon, the Snake, the Green, and best of all the
Colorado through Westwater Canyon and the Grand Canyon. Thank you Bill for your inspiration!
Great video on reading a river. Thanks for posting
We watched all of these movies, and the outtakes too, during High School English... Because Ken Buck (the cameraman) was our English Teacher!! I remember Bill Mason and Ken Buck far better than Shakespeare 🙂Go Merivale! It's incredible to realize the original head-cam was a monstrous reel-to-reel camera.... how spectacular it is now, with drones and GoPros 😲 (thank you, Becky Mason)
My father scored this film.
'WOW!!?, your father scored -
"Canoe Top Gear"
if your ever in Bristol Uk. come say hi, & teach me some of that sweet Ol bango..
Right on, should be proud.
Awesome I wish I had met bill before he passed.
Sorry late response..you still around? Awe man I miss this era so much! I know he paddled around where I live...I think he was up in Wawa also...definitely canoed Lake Superior shore north of Sault Ontario!
He was the right guy for the job. Lpl
I first saw this film 27 years ago. I'm still learning from it.
Canoe Top Gear ....
brilliant film.. learnt so much.. planning ro get out ASAP ..
Well HOLY wow, I'm swept back to grade 5 in public school in Canada..we went to the library and watched this on the ole film reel! Bill emblemized what it is to canoe to us back then...it was really rare to see in person someone's adventures recorded if you could imagine!
This is the Bob Ross of paddling
Right off the bat, a "boat" load of paddling knowledge and technique. Nice.
Awesome... Old school and runs stuff like a boss! Floatation... we don't need no stinking floatation!
Loved this, what a great father/son adventure, and educational too.
I will cross post: my old man also scored The Man Who Skied Down Everest.
My type of guy. We passed him at the Natch when i was a 17 year old doing the May 24 run. Came from the similar YMCA ccamp backgrounds. I still run my rapids witha slower than water technique and its served me well.
22:09 Mr. Canoehead is spotted! Also, in the second movie, on doubles white water, nice to see that Blake James was involved in this project.
U can't beat a father & son get away together trip
Can you imagine? Most of this would be suicidal for anybody but Bill.
And this was only what was filmed.
Bill was a MASTER
From an time that living in Canada would have been good
awesome !
Thanks loads for posting this. I would have loved to have met Bill in person. We had nice correspondence before he left us. I lament that. However, oddly enough, I have a friend who now lives in Chelsea.
How many of us learned to canoe from Bill? I still use the Canadian stroke.
still leaning from him lol sometimes i think he forgot more then i can remember.
Nice real world canoeing lessons!
many canoes where hurt inthe making of this film
I love how he was putting tape on his canoe
i was about 6 when this was filmed.. but i grew up to be this guy. (except i don't sound like a robot,,,and don't cut my hair)
he lacks ego
Totally inspired.
A canoeing technique that must be learned by younger generations
What make and exterior material is the canoe Bill is paddling in this Video.
"The hole is on my end, so dont worry about it..." Yeah ok, I'll try that one with my paddeling partner... :-D
That was so helpful! Thank you to whomever helped to upload and create! Curious where this was filmed.
Well, the opening credits say "film board of Canada", so the country is clear and you might know where to ask. ;-)
The filming was done over several years, and included rivers such as the Petawawa and French rivers in Ontario, Canada. A number of sequences were re-fillmed for the final cut, because some of the early filming showed an obviously younger son in the bow than those of him in the latest sequences.
Also he was recorded muchly in the rivers North of me just up from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario!
wow, who knew.
I like at the end he sead lieng i call it taking boat for a walk haha
And of course the narration is by Bill.
really ,i love open boat! glad to had this vidio! what became of paul an his skill that ive seen?
Anyone know what river this is?
That boy sure is a paddlin fool....
Easy enough
My dad wrote the music
What a river is he on?
how long is that paddle
Im thinking thanksgiving break = river trip
I don’t know it looks pretty tricky
I am lucky. I just got off the phone with Blake James.
Is there anyone out there who knows. on what river(s) this was filmed?
+Stan .Rarick Probably a combination of rivers in or near Pukaskwa Park. Bill Mason favored that area for obvious reasons. The river's egress into Superior in the film looks like it may have been the Pukaskwa River itself.
Petawawa River.
Syd Barrett I was thinking the same thing. Could be five mile rapids. i actually have a vid of me running it on my page
+TheGbov
Am actually currently reading a great book called "Canoe Country" by Roy MacGregor, and it says the Path of the Paddle series was filmed on the Petawawa, all in a wooden canoe no less.
+TheGbov His son Paul estimated they ran the Petawawa 35 times during the filming of the series. I have been numerous times to the north east side of Algonquin fishing and camping. Barron Canyon is beautiful. Have never done the Petawawa though, just read about it. I heard "The Natch" is pretty spectacular.
noice!
Lose the music!
I don`t believe Bill was a bad man of gay.
He tried to live like he would