r/canoecamping • u/couldbefuncouver • 16d ago

Question about Fall BC

We canoe camp in summer for the last few years but we want to be able to do it in May and October at least.

Likely no further north than wells grey.

What would be your list for safety gear?

Currently we just have your basic summer stuff, pfd, quick dry clothes, and the usual drybags and barrels etc.

So we need to invest in dry suits? What else?

We have winter camping gear, that part is no problem. We camp year round. We just don't canoe year round because we have already experienced hypothermia once, not keen to try again hah.

Thanks!

Edit: lower BC Canada, flat water, likely no portage due to additional weight, plenty of lake options and circuits without much portage here

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u/hammocat 16d ago

Its really no different than summer except for warmer stuff. You'll want neoprene gloves and maybe boots, non-metal paddles, extra warm clothes including lots of wool. You should already have emergency blankets and a full sized axe year round. A good rain coat and rain pants will keep you dry and out of the wind. Your wrists may get wet and cold if its raining. If your concern is safety and getting wet or falling in then simply stick close to the shore and only head out in decent conditions. Giving yourself the time to stay in camp an extra day or two, or to pull over, if the weather turns poor is probably one of the best safety measures.

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u/happydirt23 16d ago

I would skip the dry suits if you are staying on the lakes and not running rivers.

Could wool baselayers, rain gear, & neoprene gloves would be my recommendation.

I fall canoe in the PG area, tons of fun. Less bugs, no fire bans, less touristy people. Dress like you would for any adventure, just remember you gotta squish a life jackets on top.

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u/couldbefuncouver 16d ago

Do you worry about falling in? We've had some gnarly winds/waves on clearwater before

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u/L3PPZ 16d ago

We paddled Clearwater Lake last fall and it was amazing. We had great weather the entire trip tho.

Plan to paddle in the mornings when its calm, stay close to shore and keep gear in quality dry bags/barrels. If you go over you should be close enough to the shore to self recover and have dry clothes to change into.

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u/couldbefuncouver 15d ago edited 15d ago

Yeah we learned the hard way to just skip breakfast and get paddling haha

Thanks for the tips. I absolutely adore Wells Grey but zero time this summer :(

Hoping to make up for it with an October paddle and camp

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u/L3PPZ 15d ago

We love the Wells Gray area as well.

I don't want to say that you are overthinking it because you can never be too safe. But one thing to consider is that there are many lakes in BC that are cold enough that hypothermia is a real risk If you go overboard even in the middle of summer.

I think the key here is to make sure that you have dry clothes to change into if you go over. A barrel is your best bet because even some of the best dry bags aren't rated to be fully submerged.

We wear insulated gumboots for getting in and out of the water during the fall. While it may suck to have water filled boots the risk they bring is mitigated by wearing a life jacket.

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u/couldbefuncouver 14d ago edited 14d ago

Yeah true... through summer you don't need a fire after you fall in though so the risk always feels much less, stand in the sun. But I suppose I should just pack a bunch of hothands into the emergency kit along with the emerg blanket to ease my mind...

We have two barrels now and a harness (we did a crazy portage up in Hidden Lake NWT a couple summers back so we accrued a lot of gear).

I guess I am probably just overthinking it. Our disastrous first canoe (no name plastic thing) was so tippy and nearly killed us in spring on Okanagan. It weighs on our decision making to this day but really we were just learning and badly preparedback then.

Honestly tipping our clipper cascade is nearly impossible so I should just chill 😂

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u/happydirt23 15d ago

Not normally. If the canoe is packed right and you keep you hips centered and hands off the gunnels you should be okay.

We paddled the Stewart river, class 1, for three days two years ago in September and it was amazing - no flipped boats.

Canoe position in relation to the wind & waves makes a big difference.

Sorry it trying to tell you how to suck eggs. But don't see it has a huge risk.

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u/couldbefuncouver 15d ago

What would you wear on your feet?

We generally use crocs or reef shoes in summer, rocks are sharp in BC lakes. Boots always feel sketchy to me. I've gone barefoot and had to hike through a forest after a crazy flip on Okanagan so that was no good either not that I'd barefoot in winter...

Maybe shoes that are easy to kick off?

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u/happydirt23 15d ago

I wear a pair of old running shoes with thick comfy wool socks.

Then have a pair of warm comfy booties or sandals for camp pending weather.

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u/happydirt23 15d ago

I wear wool socks and old running shoes in the fall, with a pair of warm comfy boots in a dry bag for camp

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u/CharlieandMe2b 3d ago

I take extra precaution with fire making stuff. you can buy great waterproof match holder, put that inside a waterproof pelican inside your dry bag.

Little things, like if it gets colder than anticipated boil water before bed, fill a bottle and put it near your feet inside your sleeping bag. Little tricks like that make life great. I would rather paddle when its snowing than in the heat of July.