Paddler question

[bartjeuh200]

Hi,

I am about to embark on a kayaking journey the 8th of september. We plan on hitchiking to Berlin, we hope to do this in 5 days as we depart in Ghent, Belgium. Then take 3 planes to Sogndal (berlin-kopenhagen, kopenhagen-bergen, bergen-sogndal). And here our 10-day kayakking trip begins.

The gear I'm taking with me:

-firesteel
-knife
-axe
-(machette? or would that be overkill?)
-set of billy-cans
-campingaz stove
-dd travel hammock + tarp 1
-sleeping bag
-bivvy bag
-biodegradable washing detergent for clothes and dishes
-biodegradable soap
-basic sanitation needs such as toothpaste, toothbrush, some shampoo, and toilet paper
-15L plastic watercontainer (the ones you can fold up)
-pair of jeans
-3 sets of underwear
-swimshorts
-3 pairs of socks

basic first aid kit conssting out of:
-aspirin
-isobetadine
-"stretchbandages"
-band-aids

basic survival kit:
-spare knife
-lighter
-mirror
-whistle
-aluminium rescue blanket

some food: definitly some beef jerky and maybe hawthorn fruit leather?

please comment and give advice!

 

[Daegurth]

personally i'd leave out the jeans- norway in late september probably isn't the environment for them. then again, i'm also probably biased; i got sick of them getting cold/wet and chafing, being heavy, and taking forever to dry, so i haven't worn them in about 5 years.

i'd also add duct tape- patching kayaks, people, camp etc.

i'd take a crusader cup too- drinking soups, teas (pine needle?), etc. and you can still cook in it if you lose the billy cans or something.

 

[bartjeuh200]

Ok, thanks for the tip.

Do you perhaps have some idea of how cold/warm it gets in norway late spetember? Should i just go for shorts or no pants at all ?

 

[Daegurth]

now now, research is your job.

i can't say i'm an expert on norwegian weather, but i think it's about 10-15*C. i wouldn't say that's shorts weather, but i suppose it depends on how much of a sweat you're working up while paddling.

 

[Zammo]

You could always ditch the machete and take a folding saw. Should save a bit on weight and its smaller too. Plus take a pair of combats instead of jeans they're dry a lot quicker if they get wet.

 

[big_swede]

http://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Sogn_og_Fjordane/Sogndal/Sogndal/detailed_statistics.html

weather statistics for sogndal for 2007. You can download older weather data too, there is a link from that page.

 

[rancid badger]

Definitely; leave the machete-They are dangerous! -take a laplander saw.
Definitely; leave the jeans and take something in medium weight poly cotton; British army lightweights ( genuine issue mind you!) are inexpensive and dry quickly.

Take 2 large wound dressings or F.F.D.'s if you make a bad slip with an axe, knife or saw you'll be glad you have these items in your F.A.K.

Take some cotton wool balls; either lightly dampened with paraffin/kerosene or well daubed with Vaseline/petroleum jelly. keep them in a plastic bag and use them as backup to whatever other tinder you intend to use with your firesteel.

Enjoy
R.B.

 

[helixpteron]

Blizzard Survival Bag, Heat Pads (the ones sold as handwarmers that look like large tea bags).
Water Filter.
Spot Messenger or ELT.

 

[bartjeuh200]

thanks guys, some good info here. I'll have to rethink some of my gear then

 

[w00dsmoke]

-firesteel
Take at least several disposable lighters and keep them watertight. Try using a firesteel after an unplanned swim in freezing water!
-knife
Every paddler should carry a rescue cutter on their BA
-axe
Get a coarse cutting saw-coarser than a laplander, that will enable you to cut a person from a kayak if you need to-essential in moving water. you can use it for wood too.
A Kelly kettle will save u carrying loads of gas for ten days for the stove
-set of billy-cans
-campingaz stove- see note about kk or a petrol stove is more efficient
-dd travel hammock + tarp 1
-sleeping bag
synthetic incase it gets damp
-bivvy bag
as previously noted blizzard bag too or bothy bag
-biodegradable washing detergent for clothes and dishes
-biodegradable soap
-basic sanitation needs such as toothpaste, toothbrush, some shampoo, and toilet paper
-15L plastic watercontainer (the ones you can fold up)
-pair of jeans
jeans and water dont mix, try an alternative like pile trousers
-3 sets of underwear
-swimshorts
-3 pairs of socks
sponge for mopping out the kayak

basic first aid kit conssting out of:
-aspirin
-isobetadine
-"stretchbandages"
-band-aids
I would add strong painkillers, any meds that you need, and antihistamins
athletes foot powder-warm and wet equals a recipe for fungal infections, the powder used on the feet and in the groin will prevent this.

basic survival kit:
-spare knife
-lighter
-mirror
-whistle
-aluminium rescue blanket
Forget the alu blankets when u are carrying other stuff like bothy or bivi bags

What you do need is a decent repair kit and immediate rescue kit e.g.

Repair kit
epoxy putty for the kayak and paddles and any other essential gear
gaffa tape
cable ties
Contact adhesive

Grab bag with flares-strobe-marker panel etc preferably kept close



some food: definitly some beef jerky and maybe hawthorn fruit leather?
Some energy and carb bars for a bug out...


Anyway good luck and enjoy, don't forget to take photo's