Finding Paradise on 5-Day Solo Wilderness Canoe Trip

[@IanPalmer-nv6pg]

What an awesome part of the world you live in. The beauty, the wildness and the emptiness with awesome campsites. I live in the most beautiful area of England but I envy the solitude that you find. It is a totally different experience in a densely populated landscape. I look forward to more of your adventures. For solitude I flee to Scotland with my kayak even then it is hard to find.

[@kevinthewild]

I certainly don’t take it for granted Ian. I’m very grateful to have such incredible wilderness areas to explore. Although you may not be able to find the same kind of solitude, England and Scotland most definitely have some incredible places to paddle as well! That being said, you should definitely come experience the wilderness here at least once! Cheers!

[@IanPalmer-nv6pg]

@@kevinthewild I love the West coast of Scotland and I even managed four days without seeing another person on Loch Morar. I love the campsites that you have there in Canada. It is wild camping or busy campsites with caravans and camper vans in Scotland. In England apart from the high fells wild camping is mostly forbidden. We still live under a feudal system where the aristocracy own most of the land and prevent access. I would love to visit Algonquin. It is my dream destination. Love your videos look forward to more.

[@Sylvain-f9b]

I enjoyed every second, the same with the last two I’ve watched of yours. Thanks , I feel like I’m watching a H.D. (4K) documentary film of the wilderness. A real joy 😊🌞 Kept it up Kev.

[@kevinthewild]

Thank you Sylvain! So glad to hear that. Cheers!

[@evatrivett6679]

I have watched several of your vids today and I am amazed by the EPIC views. It is so exciting to watch! Thank you so very much for sharing!

[@kevinthewild]

I’m glad to hear that you’ve been enjoying my videos Eva! Thank you commenting 😊

[@DanOpdal]

Thank you for sharing your adventure! Thank you for taking us along. Beautiful country. Cheers!

[@kevinthewild]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@frdrckcole]

Speechless, utterly speechless. I'm heading back to Algonquin in the Fall with a few UK you tube vloggers. None of them have canoe tripped in Ontario or anywhere else in Canada. I'm in no doubt they'll be blown away. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the weather gods are kind to us and the conditions are just right as you experienced. Love your content, keep up the good work and continue sharing. Cheers, Fred

[@Stephanie-sh3ss]

Boyfriend and I portage at Algonquin a lot; love watching your videos! Great quality- makes us feel we’re back in the park

[@kevinthewild]

I just got back from another trip. Glad you enjoyed Stephanie! Thanks for the comment 😊

[@nicholasleonardo4788]

Regarding cracked oar. I would have melted some pine tar and sealed around the crack, then cut 4 thin long splints and then tape over that. Good to go.😊😊

[@nicholasleonardo4788]

PS, switch the yoke pads end of problem.

[@hassamdaudi]

Never get bored of your content man... amazing shots of Algonquin, I didn't even realize 45mins had passed... keep em coming

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks Hassam. Really appreciate the positive feedback.

[@andrewpostma7640]

I agree , that island campsite was completely mind blowing and pretty !! I would stay the entire next trip at that one spot lol

[@kevinthewild]

I would definitely be happy to spend several days on that site!

[@andrewpostma7640]

And if you decided to go directly to that site from the opposite direction you would be able to do it in one portage! You really got me thinking about getting a friend and going to that spot for like 5 or 6 days !!! Thanks ! I can't wait to see LOTS more Algonquin trip videos from you, I am almost out lol

[@kevinthewild]

@andrewpostma7640 do it!!

[@jm05x]

So many awesome shots in this video. Must've been nice to kick back and enjoy a cigar with that view!

[@kevinthewild]

It definitely was!

[@NatureBound]

Good stuff man. I was gonna say the same as Mr. Jones about the shaft of your paddle. Those yoke shoulder pads didn't look very paddy lol. take out the old multi-tool and take those decapitators off. I think they're suppose to have big puffy pads on them, but they went cheap and put tiny straps on lol.

[@kevinthewild]

LOL 😂

[@jaysway2346]

Nice trip! So glad you we're able to continue with that paddle, we would've missed out on some epic campsite's.

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks Jay! Yeah I’m really glad I was able to continue! I’ve since replaced the paddle with something better.

[@paulkim649]

Your journey with a canoe is special, furthermore there is always amazing and beautiful river.. and the air must be clean.. 👍 Thanks for sharing yours~

[@kevinthewild]

I'm glad you enjoyed following me on my trip Paul. Thank you for commenting!

[@BradMellalieu]

Well worth the watch as always Kev! I can’t wait to try out portaging in the future.

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks Brad! I have no doubt that you will love it!

[@timbobzimbob]

We paddled right by you just before one of the portages! I believe it was right before you went on the 2.8km portage from Three Mile Lake to Manitou. I made a comment about your solo paddle and you mentioned how you were lucky that somebody had duct tape to fix it haha. Awesome video man!! You have some amazing photography and filming skills with the way you talk to the camera and set it up for the shots. I'm gonna tell all my friends about your channel! Love it.

[@kevinthewild]

I think I remember someone from your group offering me more duct tape if I needed some! Thanks stopping by and commenting. I hope you guys had a fun trip too! Cheers!

[@lizdg3892]

What a truly beautiful area. Gorgeous. You did a really nice job filming. I love your boat. And may I say now that’s a knife!

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks Liz! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the video 😊 And yes it is! I love it! lol

[@timothyreid3061]

Just did a similar loop. found my paradise on a small island on Manitou. Very nice content. thumbs up.

[@kevinthewild]

Awesome! Glad to hear that 😊

[@lizdg3892]

So one of the things you could do to repair your paddle I’d go a little bushcraft. Baton down some stays to reinforce your paddle along with the duct tape. The thickness of the stays in the middle would stand proud of the release button so that could solve that issue as well. Now I’m going to watch the rest of h th e video only to see you did just that. LOL

[@dougredmond2025]

Nice, I am far to busy so I only get once or twice a year. I gets great escape from videos like this.

[@kevinthewild]

I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Doug. Hope you are able to get back out there soon!

[@mmal7982]

Just found this channel. Nice vid. Duct tape to the rescue - glad you pushed on. Epic batoning!

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks!

[@mikehoyer7750]

Love that part of the park, great video as always. Keep the Borat going too 😂

[@kevinthewild]

😂 thanks!

[@zanayawilson692]

this is my favorite intro, you look so handsome! 😍

[@kevinthewild]

Thank you 😄

[@sshouser31]

WOW! This is so epic! Awesome video man! This got me stoked!!!

[@kevinthewild]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Woodswalker1965]

I'm really enjoying your videos, keep it up brother 🤙

[@kevinthewild]

Thank you so much! Cheers! 🍻

[@donthomas8724]

Great video. I have never used a double blade, but I would think that I would have removed the 'C' clip in the shaft and put it away in my pack, then used that giant knife on a shaft sized branch to brace from the inside, followed by tape on the outside. A good fit would guarantee success. A spare is smart too, but you have to draw the line somewhere on both weight and bulk, so a bigger role of tape is better since it fixes so many things. You persevered so kudos to you.

[@kevinthewild]

Never considered that. That may have worked. I’ve started bringing more duct tape with me and it has already come in handy on my most recent adventure where I had my tent pole fail. I will also start bringing a second paddle from now on. Thanks for commenting!

[@vicki4801]

I thought of the splint idea too-- perhaps a sturdy stick/branch, longer than the section that was in need of reinforcement, taped to the outside of the paddle, maybe one on each side? (kind of like when you splint a bone break.) Oddly, this is one of the things I love about backcounty camping. It reminds us that we can be creative and resilient--- making do with what we have or can find. We also bring an extra paddle, because, well, we can make do without alot of things, but the paddle is rather essential!! lol Manitou Lake has sooo many gorgeous sites. The one you found is looks amazing. Great video capture of the beauty of those northern lakes. Keep them coming. I appreciate them alot.

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks Vicki! And I agree about Manitou - I'll definitely be returning as I love beach sites 😊

[@LilliStJohn]

Hello Kev…. Wow, what a cigar and what a view to look at while smoking that cigar. haha Too bad about your paddle…. That happened to me once and I cut a couple small but sturdy green branches, placed then on both sides and duct taped it…. Worked. You sure got some great photography throughout your solo trip. I am just wondering if your canoe is 15’… looks like it… nice canoe my friend and great video. Thanks Kev, see you soon. 👌😇💕 LilliStJohn

[@kevinthewild]

Thanks Lilli, I always appreciate your comments 😊. Yes my canoe on this trip was a 15’ Swift Keewaydin. It’s a great canoe for solo trips 👍

[@geraldpiacenza8942]

So….I have noticed you w/several different canoes. Do you usually rent a canoe at your location along with selected gear? Does Algonquin have the detailed maps that you use available for purchase? Great film as well. Thanks. JP

[@kevinthewild]

Before buying my own canoe, I rented them for years from outfitters like Algonquin Outfitters and Algonquin Basecamp. You can also rent gear but I never have. Yes there are many different maps of Algonquin available for purchase. The newest and best one IMO is from Maps by Jeff.

[@bampotbampot]

You should do a line from Borat in every video. 😂

[@kevinthewild]

😂

[@hikingwithyowie]

What type of knife are u using I love it?

[@kevinthewild]

Its a Ka-Bar Big Brother

[@ArkcoVerse]

Wow, where is that campsite on Manitou?

[@kevinthewild]

Hey Arkco. That campsite was near the portage to Three Mile Lake.

[@MichealBacon]

Watched all your videos, fantastic! And your energy is remarkable! I have an idea for your next video that can be easily uploaded anytime to help us all get through these long winter months. And I'm sure it would be fun for you to do as well, when you have the time. If you could do a gear bomb showing the items you take for one of your single carry adventures, that would be stellar! I just know there are many other viewers who travel light and would also benefit from a video like that. Perhaps you could also include what a typical meal plan would consist of; for example - dehydrated commercially prepared? Do it yourself? A little of both? Thanks very much, Kev. P.s. as an added bonus, weigh it :)

[@kevinthewild]

I really appreciate your comment and I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed my videos. Regarding the gear and food videos - yes I've been planning to eventually get around to making them as I too enjoy seeing what others bring on their trips. Unfortunately I have been quite busy as of late... I even have a fall trip in Killarney that I haven't made a video of yet. I can promise that they are coming but I can't say when. I'll give you a quick breakdown of my typical food for a day in the backcountry. I aim for around 3000 calories per day, and I try to pick foods that are calorie dense, are easy to pack, are quick to eat, and have little to no preparation. I also try to ensure that I have sufficient protein. Breakfast: 2 Protein Cliff bars and 2 instant coffee packets. Snacks (during the day): 2 cliff bars, M & Ms, beef jerky, and dried mangoes. Dinner: Dehydrated meal (mountain house or alpine aire) That's it! I'm typically so hungry on 3000 calories that I can eat the same thing over and over without getting sick of it lol. Cheers!

[@MichealBacon]

@@kevinthewild I appreciate the meal breakdown, Kev. I couldn't stomach one of those cliff bars, let alone 4 in one day, you're a true beast! I look forward to your gear list video for a single carry in the future. Thanks, and Cheers!

[@kevinthewild]

😂

[@timothyreid3061]

@@kevinthewild I am 62yrs old 5' 8" 145lbs and according to my Garmin I was burning around 4500 calories per day on my recent solo in that area. No idea how many I was consuming but always hungry haha.

[@kevinthewild]

That's good to know Timothy! And that explains why I usually get back my trips quite a bit leaner than when I left lol - and also why I'm able to "enjoy" eating cliff bars and jerky day after day 😄

[@andrewpostma7640]

I've never been to the northwest of the park , northeast but now I'm thinking I need to go there ! I have heard that the portages are a little harder there, is that a fact ?

[@kevinthewild]

I haven't noticed much of a difference on the portages I took on this particular trip

[@MrWolfy20]

Amazing Video and inspires me to do more. Do you have a criteria of weight you try to hit/carry, while managing a 30lb Keewaydin 15p?

[@kevinthewild]

From the factory, the kevlar Keewaydin comes in at 30 lbs. But the skid plates, two tone paint and yoke add to that. In addition, the rentals come with aluminum trim rather than carbon. Fully loaded with my paddle and the safety kit I estimate that it comes in at around 40 lbs - which is very light! On a 5-day trip my pack starts out at around 40 lbs as well. I’ve found that I enjoy limiting the amount of gear that I bring, but I will likely never go any lighter than that. I might include a list on my gear in my video descriptions in the future…

[@MrWolfy20]

Thank you

[@gregmaggie3353]

What is that knife you wear on your belt and use to split wood?

[@kevinthewild]

Hey Greg. It’s a KaBar Big Brother. I’ve been using it for years and I love it.

[@zedzero77]

I'm from the area and I've never seen manitou so calm, your paddle cracked for a reason and you ended up on that beach!. Was the paddle yours?

[@kevinthewild]

Yeah, kinda feels like it was meant to happen! Yes the paddle was mine. It was just over a year old and it has now been replaced with a paddle from Werner. I really hope this one holds up better…

[@coffinshaker]

What brand/model/weight/length canoe?

[@kevinthewild]

It’s a Swift Keewaydin Packboat. It’s 15 feet long. Very good canoe for solo trips 👍

[@AdamRomanoExplores]

Woodswalker1965 sent me. Sub'd!

[@kevinthewild]

I appreciate it Adam. Your videos are amazing! Sub'd right back !

[@AdamRomanoExplores]

@@kevinthewild thanks bud. Us small guys gotcha watch out for eachother haha.

[@kevinthewild]

That’s right lol

[@robertjones6880]

why did you not carve out a splint from a piece of green tree branch and tape it to it?

[@kevinthewild]

Well it seems like I need to watch more Ray Mears and Joe Robinet videos to hone my bushcraft skills! First step for me though is begin bringing more duct tape! 😄

[@NatureBound]

@@kevinthewild I always bring an extra paddle, fishing rod & reel, and PFD and just strap them in the canoe for the entirety of the trip. They're so lite I don't notice them and it gives me peace of mind. :)

[@kevinthewild]

Good advice. It's Murphy's law - I stopped bringing an extra paddle with me just this year! I try to be a minimalist as I like travelling fast & light, but the trade-off is obviously being less well prepared for a situation like I encountered here. Still, I'm very disappointed in that Accent paddle. It didn't even last 1 year of normal use 👎

[@NatureBound]

@@kevinthewild I guess I'm kind of the opposite. I like travelling a bit slower to soak it all in, and I like my stuff to be heavy duty. I'm hard on stuff lol. Really, not even a year. that's garbage.

[@gregmaggie3353]

When was this trip? Also, not as info as in your other vid about the lakes

[@kevinthewild]

If I remember correctly, this was in early August of 2021.

[@coreyoudman6870]

What lake is that beach campsite? I don’t think I caught it, and interested in going there

[@kevinthewild]

That site is on Manitou Lake near the portage to Three Mile Lake.

[@NikonF5user]

On what lake is your beach??

[@kevinthewild]

It was on Manitou Lake, near the portage to Three Mile Lake

[@cowbway8462]

First of all I never trip without a spare paddle. Second you could have built a bridge over the button and then taped it.

[@kevinthewild]

Yeah. Definitely an extra paddle a lot more duct tape 👍