Toccoa River Canoe Trail in my Esquif Prospecteur 15

My first outing in the Esquif Prospecteur 15 on the Toccoa River Canoe Trail in North Georgia. This trip begins at Deep Hole Recreation Area and ends 13.8 miles later at Sandy Bottoms Canoe Launch. Follow along to see the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River.

[@backinthewoods2022]

Very fun river. A couple years ago I took a WW course and it was a blast and helped out a ton with my flat water paddling as well. It was amazing how much they taught me and how much more confident it made me in rapids. Good video👍

[@danaharris5357]

Perfect! Just what i needed to see before paddling this same section this wknd

[@REXpeditions]

Glad it helps! The water was flowing around 750 when I went. I think it's at 500 now. Might be more rocks to dodge. Have a safe trip!

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Great trip!

[@fullback118]

Nice video! I found your channel while researching the Esquif Prospecteur 15. I subscribed and am looking forward to watching your future P15 canoe adventures!

[@REXpeditions]

Thanks for the feedback! I love the Esquif P15!

[@ArdRick1]

Great Video. Keep them coming.

[@REXpeditions]

Thank you!

[@BoundlessFPV]

Great vid! I would highly recommend getting some float bags for your canoe asap.

[@REXpeditions]

Thanks! It's so funny you mention that. I have been doing research all day and actually having a convo about it now!

[@montybarbee8128]

Heck brother, solo is just fine by me. I’m doing my first solo backpacking trip this year in Wyomings Wind River Range.

[@REXpeditions]

That's awesome! I've done quite a bit of solo backpacking and love it! Actually, sometimes I prefer it.

[@jjrjr6016]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge ,was very helpful !

[@REXpeditions]

I'm glad you found it useful! Happy paddling!

[@mikeodonovan7325]

great video dude loved it thanks for sharing classsssssssss

[@REXpeditions]

Thank you for the compliment!

[@Onelesstraveledby]

Awesome, thank you!

[@REXpeditions]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@montybarbee8128]

I’ll never understand the need for such a long boat I use a 11’6 solo old Townes, and love it

[@REXpeditions]

Different preferences and different needs. I run this mostly solo but have the option to run it tandem as well. For example, this week, I'm taking my son on a 125 mile trip.

[@richardlinton1544]

Really enjoyed it man! Looked like a fun float

[@REXpeditions]

Thanks brother!

[@Canoejerry]

I have a 16 ft royalex wenonah circa 2006 aurora, 16’7” Kevlar mad River 1987 and a newer swift prospector 15’. The royalex or tformex is the right boat for that for sure. The Kevlar is light but a lake and pond boat not a river boat. You found your love like many of us, you can see it in the smooth strokes and the playful paddle work. We all watched bill mason because he’s the man. Great video keep it up. Up north we’re waiting for warmer waters to be safe. Rule of 120

[@REXpeditions]

I really have fallen in love with the canoe. It's such an awesome piece of equipment! Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@adventureben22]

Nice one! Watched the whole video, it was very entertaining. I hope you don't mind me giving some feedback, apologies if you're well aware and feel free to ignore. 😉 @21:47 You're doing a sculling draw with your paddle really far from the canoe, which means a lot of the generated force is pushing the paddle up, instead of horizontal because the paddle is laying relatively flat. If you did that for stability, kind of like creating an outrigger to lean on, you were doing just fine. But if you were trying to move the boat sideways to line up for the next feature, you are better off keeping the blade close to the boat and the paddle as vertical as possible. That way most of the generated force is directed to the side, making it much more effective at moving the boat sideways.

[@REXpeditions]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm new to this sport and welcome it. I will keep practicing!

[@brianherber7998]

Nice video! I live vicariously on days I can't get on the water. My favorite way to explore is also a Prospecteur 15, but mine is green.

[@REXpeditions]

Thank you! I love my p15!!!

[@stevendavis1940]

Good job. I don't see how you could have avoided your mishap. You kept a cool head.

[@REXpeditions]

Thank you! It definitely snuck up on me!

[@alpha_bravo89]

Wish I could like this twice!

[@REXpeditions]

Thanks brother!

[@ericbruce1959]

Pretty river! You mentioned that you have a hard time finding people to go with you. I'm the same way, often go alone because everyone else is working or whatever. If you ever need a partner, I'm usually available (retired).

[@REXpeditions]

We will have to do that sometime!

[@jasonr8943]

I am in the same "boat" doing solo fun so I don't miss out.

[@REXpeditions]

Love the pun 😆!

[@outofbounds218]

New to your content, great video. My cabin is 4 miles passed where you exited at Sandy Bottom. I too have a hard time finding others to canoe, hike etc. If you are ever in Blue Ridge again let me know and I'll join yah for adventures. I also live in So. Florida

[@REXpeditions]

That's awesome! I would love to own a place on a river like the Toccoa! And I'll definitely have to reach out sometime!!!

[@cliffspicer6555]

Curious how do you find it for long portages on flat water only trips?

[@Jeschitown]

that was a good video inspired me to try such adventures, do you have a video based on your canoe?

[@REXpeditions]

Thank you and I'm glad to hear that. I have one where I purchased the canoe and a 1st impression video. I'm about to do one on how I've outfitted it for solo travel.

[@Jeschitown]

@@REXpeditions cool I'll keep an eye out for it, I plan to get a canoe soon mostly for fishing but so I'm leaning towards a sportspal

[@wildernesscanoeassociation]

I'd say that was a kayak, not a canoe... It looks pretty narrow. You say that you don't have much experience, but you know all the strokes and are good at them too.

[@REXpeditions]

I thought about that after I watched the video. My first impression was canoe. I appreciate that! I watched a lot of Bill Masons videos and practiced on my pond. First time in any sort of "whitewater".

[@mycocoaone]

That is a canoe not a kayak!

[@REXpeditions]

@@mycocoaone he's referring to the lost boat in debris on the river bank. Either way, someone had a bad day losing their boat.

[@davidsmalley8684]

Hey, great video. Do you know what level the river was on the USGS gauge at Dial?

[@REXpeditions]

750 when I started. The outfitter had me a little concerned saying that was high but after doing it, I don't think I would wanna run it much lower. It's a relatively shallow river.

[@creekhippieadventures5816]

Nicely done! What outfitter did you use? And what gauge is for this section of river?

[@REXpeditions]

@creekhippieadventures5816 Thank you! I used Jon Ron Toccoa Outfitter for a shuttle. They are technically closed but will shuttle people occasionally. The gauge at Dial Bridge is used for this section.

[@j.t.c.9157]

We have the exact same boat and seem to have the same experience level.. i laughed when i saw the tripod tied to the seat..that will be the same to! Lol

[@REXpeditions]

Lol yeah I just used bungee balls to lash it down. Worked pretty well.

[@j.t.c.9157]

@REXpeditions so what float bags did you go with? I used NSR 3d end bags..they are about 30 inches long so I still have room for a passenger. They are not as hard-core as the longer bags.. but then again I'm not a hard-core canoe guy..yet.. lol

[@REXpeditions]

@j.t.c.9157 I haven't gotten mine in yet. They're out of stock at the moment. I plan to go with Esquifs float bags. I run my boat mostly solo so I plan to run a 60in and a 48in bag. On the bow where the 60in will be, I'm going to rig it in a way that it can be collapsed down and a passenger can ride. I will but D rings in the middle with a canoe barrel, which should displace water and add a little floatation as well. I've heard good things about NSR bags. Fall Line has really nice custom bags, but they come at a premium cost.

[@j.t.c.9157]

@REXpeditions I happen to live in the same town that NRS is located in.. they have a HUGE brand new warehouse and showroom.. we won't even talk about my credit card debt..lol

[@REXpeditions]

@j.t.c.9157 that's a blessing and a curse 😆 I'd be in serious trouble!

[@renenippard2092]

Was curious as to the timber paddle, brand etc cheers

[@REXpeditions]

It's made by "Bending Branches". It's their expedition paddle. I love it

[@kenellison2137]

Thanks for sharing this content. This canoe is on my short list. My question is regarding the weight of the canoe. I've read sometimes Esquire underestimates canoe weight a bit. Have you weighed the canoe to see how accurate their reported number is?

[@REXpeditions]

I have not weighed it, but it seems very close to the listed weight. I load and unload it by myself.

[@brianherber7998]

I've got one as well, and I think mine is right around the advertised weight, but I also have not weighed it.

[@micwell2247]

first one that didn't turn into just another cooking how to show...tanks I gave you a T U

[@REXpeditions]

I have a separate playlist for quick backcountry recipes. I personally prefer not to involve that too much in the video of trails or rivers.

[@baot.5770]

Tryto sit lower with your knees and that helps with the center gravity. Great video.

[@baot.5770]

Sorry I should have watched the video all the way first. Great kneeing and scouting.

[@hdcstfg]

I would love to see more nature and less faces, chests and backs :(

[@REXpeditions]

I'm working on better camera setup. I was unaware that the footage was so close until after the fact. However, the footage from the rear is kinda what it is. I'm in a canoe with limited space so not real sure what else I could do.

[@hdcstfg]

What is wrong with the good old head mounted camera setup?

[@REXpeditions]

@hdcstfg typically one prespective for an entire video doesn't hold one's attention. I'd like to run multiple cameras to change perspective on one scene.

[@ivanoutdoors]

@@REXpeditions Nice vid, I'm about at the same point in my YT journey. One thing I do is take my spare paddle or a trekking pole, wedge & strap in a cockeyed position so it hangs out over the side of the boat. that helps put you in the side and takes in more of the "view".

[@REXpeditions]

@ivanoutdoors that's a great idea. I just got a manfrotto magic arm that will clamp to different places on the canoe. So I should be able to capture similar shots!