Winter Camping by Kayak - A Solo River Kayak Camping Adventure

[@PaddleTV]

Check out my new KZbin 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.

[@jakebrakebill]

dress for immersion, not case you capsize, but case you have to chase your kayak. love it KEN.......

[@PaddleTV]

:)

[@parnold-mora8924]

What can I say Ken...this is my absolute favorite video I've seen anywhere this year! What a gorgeous area to paddle. Exciting to watch you carefully plan and expertly maneuver through all that nature had to offer you on that trip. I was told years ago, that "your most memorable trips would be the ones that mother nature makes you work for" I know it turned out to be so true for me. Looking forward to the follow-up gear video. Thanks again.

[@PaddleTV]

Wow, thank you! I have to say that it was one of my favourite trips of the year too! Sometimes the best adventures are found so close to home. Cheers!

[@Mainepolingguide]

What a widow maker of a strainer. Good thing you scouted it!

[@christopping5876]

Excellent video on why you must scout rapids, know your own ability and when to say "no, it's time to portage". Thank you Ken.

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@markmartello]

Thanks Ken. Your having to swim for your boat is a good lesson for us all. If it can happen to an expert like you, it can happen to anyone.

[@PaddleTV]

Some lessons we need to learn the hard way... some lessons we need to relearn the hard way! :)

[@shanefanon]

@@PaddleTV ... Ha, ha , ha ... Too stupid true !

[@NovaScotiakayaker]

You better stay away from Winter kayaking lol we need to keep the awesome videos coming

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! No can do. :)

[@nathanc777]

Incredible filmmaking. Reminds me of classic Les Stroud. Must have taken so much work to film everything. Awesome adventure and great job capturing it for us!

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you! I actually love the challenge of filming an adventure - it adds a really fun and creative 'layer' to the adventure. Cheers!

[@K9River]

That's what I thought, too. Not only did this guy go for a swim, he had to portage and paddle hard, and still walk back and forth through the brush several times just to get a few seconds of footage. This guy is an athlete.

[@yru435]

I appreciate your safety focus. Great video.

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@cynthiadonovan8732]

Loved the drone shot of the kayak floating away. I am sure that you did not at the time. I take note to always tie off!

[@PaddleTV]

I'll never forget the feeling of seeing the kayak and registering that it wasn't on land. LOL. My heart leaped!

[@K9River]

That is a big fear of mine. I'm always pulling my yak way up on shore or tying it off. I like to explore caves, mines, cabins, trash dumps, etc., along the way. Lots of opportunities to make mistakes, so I'm extra careful. I should teach my dog to fetch it.

[@MattLevin-q9n]

Ken, I'd love to see your gear video on how to prepare for a trip like this. Regarding your future trips, how about some in the Pacific Northwest, my neck of the woods. Cheers, o wise adventurer.

[@PaddleTV]

It's been too long since I've paddled in the Pacific Northwest... Would love to get back out there!

[@kathydomokos8837]

This is it! This is a true adventure. And I DO believe you enjoyed it…good grief…you were/are a whitewater junky!! Living a bit on the edge is not new for you. I loved it. Not for the faint of heart and one with limited experience. But because you have such vast experience you made it through. Any time you have a chance to post something like this I will be smiling big along with you!! Thanks!

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Thank you very much. Hope to share many more fun adventures in the near future! :)

[@itomba]

If you like this you should try Justin Barbour’s videos. He does multi week trips with his dog in Labrador and Newfoundland.

[@kevinharding2099]

I always tie off my canoe even for a short stop. Having your boat float away could be very serious. I’m a bit surprised you did not take a canoe for this kind of trip - portage friendly and easier to pack and get in and out of. It is certainly clear that you worked hard to get some good shots and that is appreciated. Thanks.

[@PaddleTV]

Good question! I didn't take a canoe for a few reasons. The sea kayak is much faster, which was a real consideration for amount of ground I was covering. The canoe would have been particularly miserable over the last 5 miles of flatwater as I dealt with a headwind. As for portaging... I knew there wasn't any big portages. At worst, I was going to have to drag around some drops. On top of that, portaging a canoe through thick forest is really difficult. It's great when you have a portage trail, but not when you don't. Lastly, I wasn't even sure I could get down the channel, and so I had to be prepared to run the main whitewater section, which would be a lot easier in the sea kayak.

[@georgerawley8006]

After watching this video I have just about made up my mind that the P&h LEO will be my kayak. I enjoy the scenery, the explanation of the river and the thoughts that you have. I will need to take a few classes on river running to be able to understand the safest route for mild white water. Keep posting videos please😁😁😁

[@Solokayaker888]

Great video, I'm by myself all the time, its a head game. thanks for the share.

[@PaddleTV]

It really is a different feeling being out there alone...

[@Solokayaker888]

it can get hairy, I'm headed out in a storm alone today, all jacked up with adrenaline! keep it safe, I'm 62 and i start to lose my nerve now, not young and bullet proof anymore LOL. @@PaddleTV

[@markjones8846]

You're latest two kayak camping videos are two of the most enjoyable videos you have ever produced. Please do produce more videos like this.

[@PaddleTV]

They were two of the most enjoyable videos to film too, and so you can count on it!

[@angieowens7275]

We do winter kayak/camping along the Current River in Missouri. The water stays the same temp all year round and if you go whenever the leaves are about to change, there are a lot of eagles to see 😊

[@flatheadfletch]

I would watch you in this type of situation 5 nights a week, great video. Thanx for being so open and honest about the experience. I could feel every rock you hit. Well done ! Thank you sir !!

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you!

[@6yjjk]

Fair amount of Type II Fun in this one. Glad to sit it out and watch! Last year I ended up in the drink, also in ice-cold water. Like you, the drysuit did its job, but I was astonished at how quickly my hands stopped working. Re-entry was never happening, all I could do was hug the front of the kayak with my forearms and kick for shore. Definitely educational.

[@PaddleTV]

Yup. It surprised me how numb my hands got, and how cold I got, even though I was dry.

[@EckieOutdoor]

These videos are so pleasant to watch, Ken, respect for your stamina and calmness. If something like that with the kayak floating happened to me, there would be an outburst of tantrums I'd to cut out the movie! Flying the drone can be so distracting, I lost mine a couple of months ago during a trip and prior to that, I lost one again. I'm considering to buy a second hand one again, because it does add some nice footage during trips. Thanks for taking us along, cheers from the Netherlands.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks Eckie! There were definitely a few different emotions happening below the surface. Honestly though, I think this is one of the things that whitewater paddling teaches you - to go with the flow. ;)

[@hippiechick_fl]

Loved this! But this born and bred Floridian was freezing watching! Had to laugh the end when you said "but not TOO adventurous", all I could think of was that swim in frigid water - that put it into the "way too adventurous" for me category! Happy holidays to you and yours!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks! Enjoy the warm paddling this winter while we stare at the frozen water :)

[@jodenc]

Love the video! I can only imagine how it felt to see your kayak drifting away in the drone cam. Glad you made it through safely. Beautiful landscape.

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@TimBee100]

Reminds me of our annual spring trips through Algonquin 40 years ago. Love to hate them. Cold. Wet. Hard work. Swear never to go back. Then in a few weeks you start planning the next year's trip.

[@PaddleTV]

Ain't that the truth! Type 2 fun is great... afterwards.

[@TimBee100]

@@PaddleTV By the way, don't feel bad about the GoPro. There's a pair of binoculars at the bottom of one of the smaller rapids.

[@raymondcava4669]

I enjoyed your video Ken. Sometimes the risk is not high but the consequences can be. You understand this well. Have a great day looking forward to the next video.

[@PaddleTV]

That's a lesson the river is great at teaching - evaluating risk to reward. Unfortunately that lesson tends to need to be learned the hard way. :)

[@cbcoop8169]

Liked the format for this segment. Informative.

[@ringperm]

I enjoyed this. There are very few kayak camping videos out there that catches my interest. But you manage to make these enjoyable to watch. Maybe it is because you helped kickstart my kayaking interest way back with that dvd you did with Alex Matthews, or maybe it is because you make great content. No matter, please keep them coming 👍

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers! I will definitely keep 'em coming. :)

[@RiverKingsKayak]

Loved it Ken!! The float away was definitely a "funny later" kind of story!!! Just awesome stuff! You should go kayak camping with that River Kings crowd again soon!

[@PaddleTV]

Heck yeah! We need to plan another kayak camping trip for this season Pete. Where are we going???

[@GTN355]

You could "lure" him with "the keys" of that pretty Prijon Grizzly of yours ?? ;)

[@GTN355]

@@PaddleTV Ken did you know that Pete has a Prijon Grizzly in his Kayak Shed that you could Review for us ?! ;)

[@RiverKingsKayak]

@@PaddleTV Anywhere anytime! Oh Canada is calling!

[@brentpearce1516]

Beautiful! Yes, more of these, please.

[@escapewithed3995]

Great video! I really like these sorts of videos as they show a side of kayaking that is closer to what I do. Great content, and I liked that you showed us you detoured around a few obstacles instead of trying to plow through them. Thanks!

[@shanefanon]

... before the awful shoulder pains ... Ha, ha ... Good video . Be well. Take care.

[@barry4fish19]

Thanks Ken, maybe this will be another one of your classic, legacy films - thoroughly enjoyed it! One thing that made me cringe a little, is to see you trotting through the woods with a sharp bowsaw in your hand as you were gathering firewood. I surely would have been too clumsy and ended up with a couple of holes in my drysuit. I loved the film, keep em coming!

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Funny you mention the bow saw. I was definitely very aware of it while carrying it. I had the same thought as you, "wouldn't it suck to tear open my drysuit with this?"

[@kengtr]

Thanks Ken, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Also thanks for reminding me why I much prefer flat water kayaking 😉.

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@ervinslens]

Gorgeous work my friend! This was enjoyable uploading 🔥🔥

[@PaddleTV]

My pleasure! :)

[@SouthernPaddler]

LOL- I've had my boat "escape" before!! But fortunately it drifted back to shore and I didn't have to swim for it!! What beautiful scenery and an awesome trip!! LOVING these kayak camping adventures!! PLEASE keep them coming!!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks Dan! Look forward to doing a multi-day river trip in your neck of the woods! Where are we going?? :)

[@SouthernPaddler]

@@PaddleTV Couldn't help but think about the Buffalo National or Current Rivers when you mentioned multi-day paddle/camp trips in your video!! 😁

[@PaddleTV]

Yes and yes!

[@trishaharrison6183]

Awesome scenery and paddling. Thanks for playing it safe out there, that could of been very disastrous being out there alone in that temperature. But such amazing landscape to paddle through❤️

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks!

[@PeterKnappen]

Thanks! Fantastic work you are doing. All the effort with the filming out there and then the editing back at home, Thank you! I love that you do adventures just with Kayak, the trip is done in a different way and the planning is also done differently. All respect to you / P from Sweden

[@PaddleTV]

Many thanks!

[@albertomaldonado5195]

What an amazing episode Ken! So far the best !!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks!

[@livewire4495]

Was Kayaking In Middle Tennessee 2 days ago. I love Winter Kayaking, But You Better be Prepared and have a Plan B and C!😎

[@PaddleTV]

So true!

[@slowridephotographyadventu6850]

Top notch Ken, that was fun to watch! I have been telling my wife I really need a drone. Now I can show her this video to prove that it's a necessary survival, boat recovery tool 🤣You asked for ideas, be fun to watch your take on circumnavigating Philip Edward Island 👍

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Sounds like a good excuse for a drone to me. :) I actually have a very similar trip planned for this spring/summer. I'm going to paddle Parry Sound to Killarney. I've been wanting to do that section for a long time now!

[@slowridephotographyadventu6850]

@@PaddleTV That's sounds like a great trip. That will be a trip full of awesome campsites! Make for a great episode on Paddle TV.

[@kmlivelifeadventure]

I have to say you didn't seem that into it at the beginning and could feel your mood. For you to show your mistakes with the kayak floating away was honest. You show that even with best plans not everything goes perfect. But its memorable and you said you keep on learning. So excellent video for being real. Cheers ...Merry Christmas!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks. Merry Xmas to you too!

[@ianhopcraft9894]

Inspiring. You are very lucky to have such places to paddle. I will look at the Outdoor Eats channel. Another option at rapids is to fit the cockpit cover and line a loaded kayak down the rapid using a rescue line. I have the Jura which is very similar - the stern hatch compartment is not all that spacious being so shallow.

[@PaddleTV]

Yup. I'm lucky to have the 'backyard' that I do. You're right that you can line a kayak down small rapids, but doing so down one the size of the last rapid I walked would be sketchy. Current that strong can easily implode the cockpit cover if things don't go as planned, and then things could spiral out of control.

[@colmhanrahan2769]

Thanks Ken, very enjoyable, and thanks for highlighting and educating on the dangers of trees and other dangers.👍

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@Paddleclips]

Great job Ken. Great adventure thanks for taking us. No sense taking unnecessary risk. You are wise and good decision making is part of the adventure. Take care Ken I enjoyed this video very much.

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@tranquility9325]

You made some very smart decisions. Beautiful scenery also. Stay safe Ken ❤

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you! Can't wait to start doing more of these adventures... won't be too long though. :)

[@tranquility9325]

​@@PaddleTVawesome!

[@georgegherghinescu]

These solo trips are my absolut favorites from your channel! Like the commentary and music accompanying the scenery shots like in the swift canoe one. Watching the paddle tales makes me put the effort to not sit at home in weekends and go on the water more often. Thank you for making these videos for us :) take care!

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you! Lots more coming!

[@iansimpson8309]

Loved your previous winter solo camping video, but this one even topped that. I've only really got into kayaking this year so wouldn't have had the skills or bravery to take on those rapids in a heavily laden sea kayak. I like how you risk assessed each part of the journey giving the river respect even with your vast experience and skills. As someone from Northern Ireland, I'm looking forward to seeing your paddling experiences over here. Loving these camping, adventure videos. Keep up the good work and thanks for taking the time to film them with the various angles and fly-bys, which must take some effort!

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers! I'll tell you what... we have incredible wilderness here, but you have one of the most magical coastlines ever! I had such an amazing time in Northern Ireland! Can't wait to get back there...

[@wingmanhoy3999]

Very much enjoyed, beautiful vlogging paddling and scenery, great campsite as well, terrific trip, just beautiful, all the very best health and happiness.

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you!

[@jaysway2346]

Great video Ken! That Kayak wanted to continue the trip on it's own 😉

[@PaddleTV]

I think it was scared and tried to run away!

[@bertsadventures9974]

Keep them coming, Ken! Can't get enough kayak camping adventures. There are so many outstanding rivers to explore!

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@davidfarin697]

I'm planning this type of trip next season along the Lake Michigan shoreline in my Trak kayak starting with an overnighter. I'm much more comfortable with decisions around river scenes than surf zones and open water where one shoreline is out of sight. So that will be a new form of adventure. I'm building up my swim endurance just in case.

[@PaddleTV]

That should be a trip! I've got a trip on the Great Lakes planned for next spring too. Can't wait.

[@nodescriptionavailable3842]

I’m a loner, and love the outdoors, but somehow can’t bring myself to outdoors alone, well armed and prepared or not, I gotta get over it lol I have an extremely packable kayak and haven’t overnighted yet with it And yes, great episode, great adventure, nothing is better than a hot shower and warm bed, after, a trip like that

[@perymcgregor8424]

as the snowdrifts and winds shut down the highways here in Manitoba your latest adventures captured so very well on video make me smile with the possibilities of next paddling season. Thanks for all the well crafted hard camera work and especially to not editing out any goofs

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks Perry! One thing I know is that spring seems far away right now... but it will be here before we know it! Time sure flies by fast!

[@palicar]

Super cool outing! Nice to see the decision making process. 🤙

[@bluewaterdonkey]

These adventures are truly great, Ken. Overcoming the unexpected is really great to watch. Thank you and please do more of these.

[@PaddleTV]

Wish I could do more this winter... things are freezing quickly here. Definitely more coming in the spring!

[@BluMonday88]

Love these adventures, Kenneth. Hope to see you do more this length. Some of your earlier ones were too short, but this is a great length to vicariously live the adventure whilst dreaming of my own. Good learning pointers, too. You should also come west. The Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit maybe.

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers! I'll have to look into the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit. Haven't heard of it.

[@bluesideup007]

I loved the journey! Brave, but cautious man. I'm primarily a solo open canoeist, and have long wondered how you would portage (say 1-2km) with a million small bags when there is no room for an empty portage pack. I've seen some ocean kayak videos where they use a LARGE fabric grocery-like bag to care up to high-tide line. I have done four boundary waters trips with my young son in a Tsunami SP and 125. Made portage yolks for them. It was BRUTAL. I had to carry all his gear in my solo boat, and each portage was 4 trips! Never again. Where I really like to go on extended trips in Canada that's not at all practical. I'm going to try some short (1-3 days) river trips with my local paddle club and my Kayak. (Usually I'm the only weirdo in the group with a canoe)

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Yes, portaging with a kayak and gear is a pain. I had to deal with it on this other winter trip I did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoWnkHeGeKl2qck

[@bluesideup007]

@@PaddleTVYeah, I saw that episode, and the "winter" part looked like a nice challenge (I deep winter camp too. Often travel over solid water). But that portage did not look fun. And slippery over that boardwalk too. Keep 'em coming.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Great video, certainly looks chilly. Good that you learned something. My opinion is that the day you don't learn something, someone will dig a hole and leave you in the bottom of it. Just back from a challenging three day hike and it was evident that I've been kayaking a lot as my legs were a tad pale.

[@PaddleTV]

So true. If you're not learning, you're not living! Some lessons just tend to be harder. :)

[@piersglen925]

Great video - more like this please!

[@PaddleTV]

More to come! Just not until things thaw out in the spring!

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

I really enjoyed that little adventure, Ken. Thank you. 🛶🏕️🙂

[@PaddleTV]

Thank you!

[@K9River]

I, too, do adventures like this (not as cold, though) with my dog. I do it on an sot and do tons of portaging depending on the river. I'm in Central Montana. There's times where I'm days away from anyone with no cell phone, so I'm extra cautious.

[@PaddleTV]

It's addictive, isn't it?

[@OutDehExplorer]

Awesome video, watching you make those tough calls made me feel butterflies in my stomach like I was doing it. Great production!

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@davidwebster5235]

Another great video Ken. I totally agree about the dried food. Easy to prepare when you are cold and tired.

[@PaddleTV]

I know my buddy Chef Corso is going to take this as a challenge to convert me...

[@WyeKgs]

You rock...and that was a great drysuit review 😉 Best wishes for the Festive Season

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks! You too!

[@maze400]

Many valuable lessons in this video Ken. Great jonb as always and if I may echo an earlier post, best video I've seen an awhile!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks!

[@LookoutLance]

Nice kevlar beanie. My suggestion for the next trip.... The helmet shop. Look after your noggin :)

[@shaneshankly4518]

Experience video Ken 😊 love the fact you showed the boat drifting of on you , it's happens to everyone even people as experienced as you

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks 👍

[@ajf5823]

What a great video! You sir are a beast! 👏👍

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks... I think :)

[@ajf5823]

@@PaddleTV…It’s a compliment 😊

[@Chrismzeller]

This is what I love to watch. Please do more adventure stories and reviews of high performance gear. How about a pack raft trip? Come out to the American southwest and try some of the rivers out here this winter. It won’t be any colder than this trip. The Green, Colorado San Juan and Rio Grande all are boatable in winter in small craft.

[@PaddleTV]

Man! I would love to do some of the Southwest rivers! I'm also looking forward to doing some packrafting in 2024. I've already got one packrafting trip planned!

[@glyn829]

Nice film and great bit of kayaking 👌 good adventures 👍

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks

[@slighwentwalking2025]

That was some adventure. You are well prepped for these outings. You never know what's around the next bend but you stay calm and make good choices. Well done...well done indeed.👍

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@robynlay3917]

I am new to Kayaking and LOVE your video's. I started with reviews of Kayaks trying to determine which one would be best for me. This is the first of this type and I loved it. Wish I were younger. I would love to do a trip like this! Got a ways to go before I can do more than a class 1 or 2 rapids though :) Happy Paddling!!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks for the kind words! You'll be surprised how quickly you'll learn and will be ready for some class 1 and 2. That being said... take it slow. :)

[@StriderCDH1]

I really enjoy your videos Ken, this is by far my favourite. Please keep making more like this.

[@PaddleTV]

I appreciate it!

[@tommyrq180]

Absolutely first-rate video! Enjoyed it start to finish. Love how you talk through your decision-making for rapids, especially that you scout around blind spots. The only comment would be that in rapids like those, I tend to line my canoes or kayaks through them rather than portage. Old habit from way-back solo canoeing days. Keep these expedition videos coming! 😊

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@pavtek6740]

A genuinely great video Ken. Beautiful to watch but more than that, a great learning resource hearing you think through each challenge, assessing risk vs fun for each. All smart calls, all while narrating for your viewers. Keep up the excellent content and for taking us along.

[@PaddleTV]

I appreciate that!

[@All_is_Outdoors]

Great Video! Appreciate your content! Thanks!

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@DennyT71]

Thank you. I did enjoy it

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@learntechwithruth2147]

This was the best video I've ever seen you do. Very suspenseful. Scary at times. I'm glad you weigh your risks carefully. I also use the dehydrated meals. But you never know what you get with them. Some are totally awful. Last time I went camping the stove caught on fire. Craziest thing ever. Interesting that you would drag the kayak to a safer spot. That would have never occurred to me. I'm learning a lot from this! And you swam to get your kayak back? That is the more incredible thing ever.

[@PaddleTV]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I've never seen a stove catch on fire!! Yikes!

[@learntechwithruth2147]

Well, I believe some of the fuel leaked out onto the propane/butane can and the caught on fire. Luckily a fisherman was on my camping site and rescued me my throwing a wet rag onto it. I had a fire extinguisher in the car but didn't react quickly enough. It can happen. @@PaddleTV

[@k-kayak]

감사합니다. 가장 인상깊었던 부분이 당신이 경험하지 않았던 급류를 탐색하고 회피하는 모습이었습니다. 누군가는 멋진 영상이라 이야기 하겠지만 저는 최고의 카약 교육 영상이라 생각합니다. 멋지네요!

[@genefoley6699]

We would love to see a map of where your journey led you. Love your channel.

[@johnburgham8303]

Very good, quite an adventure, you are very brave to do this solo.

[@Evan_Le5]

Loved this! I have to do this run.

[@AdamIsTheBest]

This was awesome. It's such a serene and beautiful part of the country. Your tolerance for the cold is definitely a lot higher than mine 😅

[@PaddleTV]

It's great to have a body that runs warm in the cold, but the problem is that I melt in hot weather! :)

[@daveberrisford8119]

Hey Ken!, man it's been a while! Great job with Paddle TV. I've been a keen follower for a while now and really enjoy your content. I love this episode, I must confess that I have had a few "strong willed" kayaks that have had their own agenda, whether it be watching my empty kayak navigate a rapid while I 'm scouting or I have completely spaced a flood tide timing, usually resulting in embarrassing swims! FYI - I now work for Valhalla Pure in Squamish and we'll be selling Melker and Pyranha kayaks in 2024 based on your excellent reviews. I hope our paddling paths meet again some day. Cheers mate!

[@PaddleTV]

Hey Dave! Long time indeed! Good to hear you're still keeping your paddle wet on the west coast. I've missed it out there. Hoping to be back soon though, and so hopefully we'll catch up soon!

[@jayburne6825]

I did the same darn thing on my canoe trip in Algonquin minus the drone

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! The lessons we learn...

[@neilpage1153]

Brilliant video Ken! I love how you plan and execute your approach carefully, even with your skills you don't take chances and you respect the river and its power! I have to say though that I'm very envious of your wilderness, here in the UK we just don't have that much of it unfortunately...enjoy your skiing!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks! I am definitely lucky to have so much wilderness around me. I might not have a gas station close by, but I have great hiking/biking trails and paddling options minutes away. :)

[@kaptainfriday]

Awesome adventure!!

[@PaddleTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@pacocuadra8615]

Ken. I enjoyed so much your video and it encouraged me to go paddling in winter. I would like to see if you can make it paddling to a tropical water spot. What about Baja California, Mexico.? I heard is beautiful the sea paddling over there, and love to see what is like paddling on open ocean warmth water

[@PaddleTV]

Man... would I ever love to do a kayak camping trip in Baja. I did a week of kayak fishing there about 10 years back and had a blast. Would love to explore it by sea kayak.

[@jameshiggins-thomas9617]

You can compromise on the meals .. dehydrated your own 🙂 Less expensive and prep is ahead of time (at home). Just need to find recipes you really like (and are easy). Fortunately, one of my comfort meals fits that bill so it's on almost every outing.

[@PaddleTV]

Very true!

[@markthrasher9969]

Great trip and awesome footage!

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!

[@newfoundland-adventures]

Great Video!

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks!

[@jmwlr]

Nice!

[@AnalogKensho]

My wife and I love these videos, Ken - such a fantastic blend of adventure travelogue and education. Also helpful for me because I’m seriously stuck deciding between the Leo, Virgo, and Stratos for this sort of trip (up to maybe 3-4 nights). Now that you’ve paddled all three and camped out of the Leo a couple times, do you have any thoughts on the pros and cons of these boats for this sort of use? I’ve paddled the Stratos 14.5S and Virgo MV: I loved the playful character of the Stratos, but don’t like those hatches and preferred the glide and hull speed of the Virgo. The capacity of the Leo seems good for camping, but I worry about weight and maneuvering it in the narrow waterways we have here in the Mid West. I also plan to get a proper 17+ foot touring boat at some point and worry the Leo would be too similar to that. Thanks in advance if you get a chance to reply. I saw you at Canoecopia a few times but the timing just never worked out to talk to you. Hope to see you there next time!

[@kevincasey2947]

mo o' dis...way mo!

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Will do.

[@steveholden434]

Don't know about the cold weather camping, but this guy could use some paddling pointers.

[@PaddleTV]

Ha! Thanks.

[@martintienkamp]

really enjoyed your trip again. The most educational thing for me was not to always keep going, but when in doubt, stop and explore the situation and then decide whether/how to proceed. Question: why didn't you use neoprene gloves? Martin, Netherlands

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks Martin! I didn't use neoprene gloves because I like having my hands in direct contact with the paddle shaft when paddling 'challenging' water. I also don't get cold hands very easily, and so the pogies do a good job for me - except for swimming apparently! It is a real consideration for my next trip.

[@LetsGoPaddling]

I like these long videos. They always turn into interesting stories. How about paddling River Thames or Jurassic Coast in southern England?

[@PaddleTV]

I'd love to! I was actually just paddling in Ireland a month ago. Fell in love with that part of the world. Stay tuned for those videos :)

[@LetsGoPaddling]

@@PaddleTV I am definitely waiting for these. I don't have skills and experience to paddle there and also taking an inflatable kayak to a place like Irish coast wouldn't be the wisest thing to do. If you are ever on Thames or around, let me know. I'll gladly join for a short trip. 😉

[@kpcjr]

I’ve really enjoyed both of these winter camping videos (still keeping an eye out for the Ireland video too). I also want to echo the appreciation for the VO on your approach to safety. The acceptance of a safety-first attitude is one of the reasons I’ve grown to love kayaking. One question I had during both videos was about how much you do or don’t burp your drysuit. To my very inexperienced eye, it always looks like it could be burped more. What’s your take/approach now that you took that swim? Wondering if I should be burping less as I know that can compress clothing layers and defeat warmth.

[@PaddleTV]

If you burp the drysuit too much, it actually impedes your movement. I usually squat down and burp the drysuit. If it's too tight when I stand back up, then I let a little air back in. There should be enough air in the suit to allow freedom of movement when you're sitting in the kayak and paddling, but no more.

[@kpcjr]

Awesome, thanks! Happy Holidays!

[@DaveHyde]

legend

[@tranquility9325]

Yippie!

[@THE-RIVER-RAT]

Awesome trip Ken. Hitting white water in a sea kayak is not something I would do. However, your skill level is way higher than mine. 🤙👍

[@PaddleTV]

Cheers!