Early Spring Canoe Trips - Hope For The Best, Expect The Worst

Getting out on that first early spring canoe trip is an eagerly awaited rite of passage for many backcountry enthusiasts. Once winter’s icy grip has loosened, open water makes it possible to get into places that have been more or less inaccessible since late fall. Early spring is also a great time to see returning birds and wildlife as they too venture into areas that were hard to get into over the winter and start to enjoy the new shoots and plant growth - or in the case of predators, enjoying the animals that are enjoying the new shoots and plant growth. If you get out early enough, you can stay ahead of the bugs before they become ever constant companions over the rest of the summer season.

It sounds idyllic, and it can be, but one thing that poses a serious concern in early spring are the weather conditions, as they can range from hot, summery days, to cool fall like days, to a throw back to winter with snow, hail, or both.

Depending on where you are, temperatures can range from below -10°C (or colder) to +30°C; all within a few days - so making sure you can adapt to changing conditions is paramount.

Clothing-wise, dressing in layers is essential - especially in fluctuating conditions. This allows one to add or remove layers as temperatures and weather changes. In my pack, I make sure I have multiple wool base and mid-layers, outer and shell layers, as well multiple thicknesses of socks. Bug protection, and importantly rain protection also comes along. In addition to a poncho that can function as an emergency tarp, I also carry a rain jacket, rain chaps and vapour socks - this ensures that even if I’m caught in an absolute downpour, I won’t get drenched, and therefore chilled. Below is a breakdown of the gear I would put in my pack to ensure I’m covered for any weather eventuality when out in the early part of the season.

Note: For the trip in particular I was packing for, I was out with other people, and was tasked with bringing an axe and saw, as cooking fires were part of the plan. If I was travelling solo, I would most likely opt to bring a stick stove and not make fires in firepits, and would therefore opt to pack in a smaller axe, and not bother with a saw to save weight and space, and may also leave the camp lantern at home as well.

While one could travel lighter, after having done so, and spent hours shivering next to a fire, trying to dry out wet feet, wet boots and wet clothes as a result, my approach now is to pack for any and all eventualities on spring trips - for me it’s worth the bit of extra weight in my pack to ensure my comfort - no matter how long I’m out for, or what conditions I run into.

One item of note is the tarp - in my and my camp mates’ estimation, after clothes, and firemaking tools, this is the next most important item in our packs. Without it, we’re relegated to our tents when the weather is inclement, or without tents, left with no shelter at all (other than lean-to’s or other bushcraft structures). With it, we can build a fire under it, stay out of the rain, make some tea, and take in mother nature’s fireworks and downpours without suffering through them. It also acts as shelter to hang up wet clothing and gear and give them a chance to dry out as well.

Early spring is a magical time of the year - the return of leaves on deciduous trees, undergrowth in the forest, aquatic plants in rivers, lakes and streams, plus the return of amphibians, insects, migrating birds and animals reminds us of the power of nature as a regenerative, transformative, life giving force. As this change of season can progress in fits and starts with highly variable conditions, with the ability to take on the personality of winter, summer, and fall weather, being prepared, and having the right gear for whatever comes your way will ensure your safety, comfort, and provide the physical and mental space for a deeper connection to the  natural world.