Reasons Why You Should Pack Survival Kit On A Wilderness Canoe Trip

When travelling in the wilderness in a canoe you are exposed to a range of risks that you aren’t when hiking. While your canoe is both your means into, and out of, the wilderness, you are totally dependent on your boat as a mode of transport. If you lose your canoe for who knows what reason and end up on an isolated shore, you may then have to rely on your bushcraft and survival skills along with any kit you could have on you.

Compared against other styles of self-propelled wilderness travel, the risks of losing your main camping gear and other supplies are higher. When you hike there are occasions when there is the chance you could lose your backpack - river crossings are the most evident circumstance - there is however more of a risk you can become separated from your camping equipment when travelling by canoe.

When you’re hiking, you’ve got the option of re-tracing your steps. If you’re marooned after being separated from your canoe nevertheless , there are likely to be no trails from where you are. There may not even be trails anywhere close by. There could easily be tens of miles of dense forest between you and the nearest hunters trail or ATV track, never mind a road.

Do not get lulled into a false sense of security by thinking there are probably going to be others around to see you or raise the alarm. Assume responsibility for yourself. Even in well-used canoe camping areas, there are times of year when there is scarcely anyone around. You can go literally days without seeing another boat.

If you are taking only a short trip from a wilderness cottage or cabin, you can still travel many miles in a morning. You can be a long way away from anyone even in half a day. In this circumstance you’ll probably be travelling light, quite possibly without camping hardware. You are then more dependent on what tiny amount of personal equipment you have with you.

Hence the equipment you keep on your person while making a wilderness canoeing trip bears some serious consideration.

You won’t be in a position to hire much of this gear from a canoe outfitter and it’s not likely you’ll be able to get all the equipment you need to have in any single wilderness outfitter. It’s recommended that you assemble your wilderness canoeing survival items before your trip.

So what do you need? You should choose kit so that you are able to supply the basics you require to survive: Shelter, Fire, Food and Water. You also have to be in a position to signal and you will likely require some tools in order to be well placed to provide your fundamental requirements, or at a minimum make some jobs quicker, safer or easier. And remember - this kit should be compact enough in order that it is always on your person.

Paul Kirtley is an enthusiastic wilderness canoeist who teaches bushcraft and survival skills. Paul is passionate about nature, wilderness and remote travel. This is something that comes across exceedingly clearly on his bushcraft courses.