Otter SideSep 28
Suosikkitapani meloa - vastatuuleen, vasta-aallokkoon. Testailin myös kameran kiinnitystä otsapantaan - antaa vähän enemmän vapautta mutta ei ole ihan niin stabiili kuin rintavaljaisiin kiinnitettynä. #melonta #paddling #horisonttiVinossa #kayaking #packrafting
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

Ok, I'm home, showered, fed and ready to share more photos.

The North Sask is so beautiful just west of the city! Parts of it are almost canyon-like with the tall cliffs lining either side.

Lots of wildlife, too, including moose, tons of beavers, lots of bald eagles, and more.

(Sorry for the bad wildlife photos, taken with my phone sealed inside a dry sleeve)

#yeg #yegBike #BikeTooter #BikePacking #Packrafting #BikeRafting #BikePackRafting

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 19

A bit late, hope I make it to my campsite before dark 😬

#BikePacking #Packrafting #BikePackRafting #BikeTooter #yeg #yegBike

Matt MassicotteAug 21

Survived. About 3 km hiking and 4km paddling, which is a lot for this kind of boat. Very cold overnight, which made it incredibly foggy for the morning trip back. I could barely see. Cool, but also kinda scary.

#packrafting

Matt MassicotteAug 18
Doing some prep for my first camping trip that is only accessible via water, later this week. How much I hike/paddle (I’m #packrafting) isn’t yet set, so as usual I’m kinda just winging it. Will post pictures!
Otter SideAug 2

Hiukan packraft-purjehdusta. Tuuli oli taas aika vaihtelevaa, puuskat jotain 5-10 m/s ja sitten taas lopahti 2-3 m/s. Vaikka packraft-purje käykin vain myötätuuleen purjehtimiseen, sillä pystyy kuitenkin ohjaamaan noin 30 asteen kulmissa tuulen suuntaan nähden - tosin heikossa tuulessa sekin kärsii, koska purjeen "paine" ei nähtävästi pysty ylittämään aallokon ja tuulen vaikutusta itse raftiin.

#packrafting #paddling #melonta #sailing #purjehdus #kayaking

Ville 'cos' RJul 17
Kesän eka köyhän miehen meriseikkailu kohti tuntematonta aluillaan. Toivottakaa onnea! #packrafting #tampere
schneckenhausJul 15
Mit dem Packraft paddle ich von Hjalteyri aus entlang der Westseite des Eyjafjörður. Der Wind ist kräftig, die Wellen sind für mein kleines Luftboot fast schon an der Grenze des Komfortablen. Das Paddeln fordert Konzentration und Kraft, macht aber gerade deshalb besonderen Spaß. Die Perspektive vom Wasser aus lässt die Weite des Fjords und die steilen Berghänge besonders deutlich werden.
03.07.2025, #Iceland #Eyjafjordur #Hjalteyri #packrafting [4]
schneckenhausJul 4
Ein weiteres Packraft-Abenteuer in Island: beim Paddeln in der Bucht Skagafjörður gleite ich über dichte Wälder von Seetang, die sich unter der Wasseroberfläche wie eine eigene Landschaft ausbreiten. Der Wind ist heute schwach, trotzdem spüre ich die Wellen des Nordatlantiks deutlich im Boot. Vor mir erhebt sich die markante Insel Drangey, die wie eine Festung aus dem Meer ragt. Die Aussicht reicht weit über die Bucht bis zu den Bergen am Horizont.
25.06.2025, #Iceland #NorthIceland #Skagafjördur #packrafting [5]
Uncomfortable PlateauJul 3

Various explorations over the past couple weeks resulted in much pleasant fun and these photos.

#fillyourlife #colorado #ColoradoPlateau #bloomscrolling #bikepacking #petroglyphs #packrafting

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Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 19

A bit late, hope I make it to my campsite before dark 😬

#BikePacking #Packrafting #BikePackRafting #BikeTooter #yeg #yegBike

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 20

I didn't make it as far as I wanted, just ended up too far behind schedule and too tired. Found a nice island to camp on though.

No photos for now, internet sucks here lol.

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

Ok, I'm home, showered, fed and ready to share more photos.

The North Sask is so beautiful just west of the city! Parts of it are almost canyon-like with the tall cliffs lining either side.

Lots of wildlife, too, including moose, tons of beavers, lots of bald eagles, and more.

(Sorry for the bad wildlife photos, taken with my phone sealed inside a dry sleeve)

#yeg #yegBike #BikeTooter #BikePacking #Packrafting #BikeRafting #BikePackRafting

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

The island I ended up camping on was alright, though apparently just upstream and across the river from some kind of party on rural property that was playing loud music until 2am... 😑

But once that was over I was able to enjoy a very peaceful sleep interrupted only by the sounds of geese, coyotes, beavers slapping the water, a great horned owl, and some squeaky little rodent exploring my stuff.

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

There was a light but beautiful fog on the river when I got up. The air was a little chilly but not as cold as I expected.

Made myself a coffee (yes, I brought my Areopress and even a grinder because coffee is a ritual that is worth keeping even when camping) and oatmeal for breakfast, and got underway as the sun was just rising over the valley.

I'm really happy I bought a good water filter! I'm not sure I could have managed a trip like this without one.

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

I paddled basically non-stop for 5 hours, all the way to Big Island Provincial Park. Given that I started about 2 hours behind where and when I wanted, I managed to get there only about 30 minutes behind schedule!

BIPP isn't much to look at yet. The designation is pretty recent and the trails are very rough still. Nonetheless I was happy to finally set foot on this relatively historical place!

Kind weird that it's right across from a golf course though.

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21
I decided to take out a bit earlier, at Terwilligar instead of Laurier. I was super tired, and though not everything went according to plan, I accomplished everything I set out to do, so I was happy to end there, and proud of myself for pulling it all off!
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

Bonus: A few months ago, I suggested to my partner that it might be fun to get a gold pan and try my luck at our favourite creek.

As I was coming around the big bend around Terwilligar, I saw something green just sitting on a small empty secluded beach. As I got closer I saw it was a gold pan! Abandoned! I quickly turned my packraft and paddled hard toward the beach, grabbed it, and immediately pushed off again.

Score! The universe provides again.

Show threadT. J. BombadilSep 21
@Daveography There’s something charmingly meta about panning for gold pans.
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@c_dan4th

Pining for gold pans to pan gold below the pines.

Show threadCat WestSep 21
@Daveography panning for gold in the waters has a most soothing kind of rhythm to it. Whether you hit a nugget or not… it’s fun.
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@Catawu

It feels like a very ADHD-appropriate activity.

Show threadCat WestSep 23
@Daveography The whole thing just feels peaceful.
Show threadCoral 😷Sep 21
@Daveography This sounds like such a fun adventure! Thanks for sharing photos!
Show threadAmelia Bellamy-Royds Sep 21
@Daveography This was your first overnight trip with the bike + inflatable kayak combo, right? So now you've got a better idea of how much you can do & can maybe plan future trips with a little more room for delays. But also: it sounds like you still had a good trip nonetheless & your makeshift campsite looked cute & comfy — just maybe don't rely on it being the same at another time of year when river levels might be higher!
Show threadEllenInEdmonton Sep 21
@AmeliasBrain @Daveography
One thing that experienced paddlers told me about camping on the NSR is to be careful where you set up your tent. Water gets released without warning upstream and can raise water levels considerably. I smiled to see driving campers at Big Island get stranded on what became a mini-island overnight!
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@EllenInEdmonton @AmeliasBrain

I've heard similar, particularly one guy who blogged about canoeing nearly the entire length of the NSR. While camped on an island in already poor weather, he woke to find the river was A LOT closer to his tent than when he set it up!

So yeah, also something I was cognizant of, but figured the risk would be low this time of year and given low precipitation west of the weir.

Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@AmeliasBrain

That and I had to delay the trip a bit due to smoke so lost daylight that way too.

But yeah, some lessons to take away but still had a great time due to the planning and preparation I did put into it, and had room to be flexible with time.

And yeah, the water level was perfect - high enough to go above many shallow sandbars, but not so high as to inundate the good camping islands (though it would probably have to be 1m higher for that).

Show threadRegina MSep 21
@Daveography Looks amazing!
Show threadPaul Turnbull 🇨🇦Sep 21
@Daveography I’ve paddled that area a few times. It’s really nice.
Show threadLstn2urmama 🇨🇦Sep 21
@Daveography Nice .. had friends that many years ago canoed from Jasper to Edmonton
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@Lstn2urmama

Wow! That's a much more ambitious adventure! I bet it was amazing.

Show threadLstn2urmama 🇨🇦Sep 21
@Daveography It was and a good challenge as they intended to go east next
Show threadEllenInEdmonton Sep 21
@Daveography
In many ways, I find that the landscape to the east of Edmonton is even wilder, very soon after leaving Capilano. It also feels like it's a faster journey to get from there to Fort Saskatchewan. I think there are limited camping options, though.
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@EllenInEdmonton

I've thought about doing that leg, and might even be able to do it in a day, but it would be a long day and would probably realistically need to spend the night in the Fort before heading back.

Show threadEllenInEdmonton Sep 21
@Daveography
I love Lions' Campgrounds: have stayed in Devon and Red Deer several times.
https://www.fortlionscampground.com/
Welcome to the the Fort Lions Campground

Welcome to the the Fort Lions Campground
Show thread🏁⚡Omar Two Tone⚡🏁Sep 21
@Daveography
interesting... you are the first one here who I've seen with his bike in a boat... so, when will you use the "waterbike"?? 😆
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 21

@omartwotone

Can't say I invented it by any stretch, it was a friend who clued me into bikerafting, and it was others who did this same trip that inspired me to give it a try!

If my bike ends up in the water then I've done something very wrong! 😅

Show threadReallyCanadianFlySep 20
@Daveography glad you landed safe somewhere.
Show threadAtiSep 19
@Daveography I'm also always a little afraid of riding in the dark but apart from that initial emotion ... it was always fun / exciting afterwards and nothing ever happened to me. Even learned how to deal with like 8 homeless dogs at 2am in the middle of nowhere once 😅 If you have lights you should be fine 😉 Have fun 👍
Show threadSieva 🚴🚇🏙️🌹Sep 19
@Daveography I'm so jealous! 😍
Show threadEllenInEdmonton Sep 19
@Daveography
Big Island?? I think you have adequate time, although the water is much slower by this time of year.
Show threadDaveolantern 🎃 🇨🇦 Sep 20

@EllenInEdmonton

No I'm way too far out from Big Island. I was aiming to camp on one of the islands just west of Devon, but didn't even get that far today. Hoping to visit Big Island tomorrow though.

Show threadReallyCanadianFlySep 19
@Daveography I'm already loving your trip! Finding that store is an illustration of the joy of exploring by bike ... and boat. 🙂