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Unexplored Territory

A five-part series on remote canoe expeditions by G.W. Martin

Part 4 - Group and Cooking Supplies
(words and photography by G.W. Martin)

   This week my focus is going to be on the gear necessary for our group along with our cooking supplies. I am also going to go over what I feel are some of the most useful and resourceful items on my list and some of their uses.

Cooking Supplies cast aluminum 6 quart Dutch oven "GSI", forks, spoons, tin pie plate, 2 straight-sided sierra cups, spatula, medium channel locks "water pipes", chain 4-5 feet long, eye goggles "swimming", pair of long leather welding gloves, dish soap, 2 non metal scrub pads, honey bottle, spice kit and watch.

Group Equipment canoes, paddles, life jackets, painters 25', tarp, Duluth packs, buckets with resealable lids, axe, axe sheath, bow saw, extra blade, saw sheath, emergency gasoline, water tight bottle, fire starters, polypro extra shirt, extra pull over, playing cards, pot, maps, boundary bag per pack, wire, sharpening stone, duct tape, canoe repair kit, boot, repair kit, crazy glue, extra parachute cord, magnesium fire starter, Filson wax, stuff sacks, round shallow containers, Gatorade liter bottles 1pp, extra bungee material, Gladlock bags, garbage bags, bug dope, latex gloves, laundry detergent, extra tumpline, waterproof camera , film, Dr Bronners, friction tape, sewing kit, Canadian money, contact cement, candles, lighters, magnifying glass, dental floss, extra batteries, cards, dice, small tape measure and scale, shit paper, aluminum foil, carabineers, climbing pulleys, fishnet, orange tape, stuff sack per bucket, extra fishing line and bobber.

   I will not go on a expedition of this magnitude without a Duluth Pack. Carrying anything over a 100 lbs let alone 160 lbs anywhere other than a tumpline on your forehead, is in my opinion "foolish".

Patrick and his Lake Trout

My saw sheath after many frustrating bouts with cheap plastic blade guards has evolved into a garden hose the length of my blade, sliced down the middle, placed over the blade and wrapped in bungee material. Bungee material, why not have a bunch, it can be used everywhere for example, hold paddles in canoes, hold map onto bow of boat, on Filson pant cuffs to prevent splashing while wading through water. I also bring laundry detergent, "How else do you really clean your socks". Put a lighter in every corner of your gear and don't forget your pocket. Shit paper, I was asked before I left "why so much?". If I am going to starve to death at least I won't die with a dirty ass. All my cooking equipment fits in my 6 quart aluminum oven. Channel locks are your only pot handle along with a very strong set of pliers.
    We had made our portage off the Magpie River and 5 days later we had finally made it to the top of Quebec. We were paddling the lakes of Labrador. The first day was one to remember. Paddled into huge wind and waves, and cold rain. The second day we finally got off Lac Asigney and into some more narrow passages. We never took our poles out of the water. I came down a small stretch of whitewater leading into a small unnamed lake. As I was waiting for the boys to come in behind me I had caught three 30+ inch pike in consecutive casts. We all laughed at what we had achieved and were calling it a “grand slam.” – at least one Lake trout, Brook trout, Landlocked salmon and one of those damned nasty pike. After a few days having fun grand slammin' I realized all the extra hard work we had put in to get ahead of schedule was now gone. We had to come up with a change in plan. We talked it over and came up with the consensus that we would not take our poles out until at least 3:30 p.m. A couple of days after this agreement we came upon this small stretch of rapids just below a huge reservoir of water and watershed.

   We started fishing and it wasn't even right. We all caught grand slams out of the same hole. I would hop onto the current and ride it down about 100 yards. Then I would cross the eddy line and fish all the way back to the top of these huge elevator eddies on each side of the pour over. Patrick caught a huge Pike to go along with the giant Lake trout he had caught earlier. I had found the spot for salmon and was fishing for them hard. I was about to reel in a 14 inch salmon when the water boiled in front of me and my drag started buzzin'. I yelled for Patrick to come look but before he had gotten there, I had a broken line.

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