Outdoor Writer & Consultant – Wilderness Guide – Custom Canoe Expeditions into the far north
Outdoor Writer & Consultant – Wilderness Guide – Custom Canoe Expeditions into the far north
Final portage on the Frost River that leads into Little Saganaga Lake. Correction: not a portage; it’s a rock-jumble that mixes seconds of paddling followed by seconds of lining followed by… whatever! Funny, how one’s perspective on things changes with age. Trips that are easy when you’re young become challenging with age. One late September, […]
I turned 80 in September. No matter, I continue to think—and largely feel—like I’m 29…well, maybe 39. The heart attack I had in 2013 hasn’t slowed me down. Early in life I became a fan of Calvin Rutstrum’s books. I read them all, over and over again. In one of his titles (I believe it […]
I was recently honored (“roasted”) on The July 21, 2021 CAMPING SHOW (W4CY Internet radio) hosted by CW Goetz. I was very honored and touched by the many wonderful comments. Check out the CAMPING SHOW to see the tribute and watch Jerry Vandiver perform a hysterical song he wrote for this occasion entitled “Cliff Jacobson.” […]
Rio Grande River, Texas/Mexico border. Scenes like this are commonplace along the RioG.That’s my canoe in the foreground. When someone asks me to share my favorite places to canoe, I usually hesitate. After all, one person’s treasure is another’s trash. I like my rivers brimming with wildlife and rapids. And the more remote, the better. […]
DeHaviland Twin Otter on floats With a payload of 3,000 pounds, full instrumentation and extended range capability, the deHaviland Twin Otter rightly earns the title, “workhorse of the north.” This mid-fifties freight hauler can carry up to 21 passengers–or half that number and all their gear–to the most remote regions of the world without need […]
Despite newer designs, the Tripper excels as well in tough rapids. Some canoes are blistering fast but don’t turn worth a hoot. Others dog it on the flats but come alive in the maelstrom of winding rapids. Still others compromise speed and maneuverability for “all around” performance. Few canoes master this middle ground. The legendary […]
Mouth of the North Knife River, Hudson Bay. Green River, Utah Blending with nature is part of what wilderness camping is all about—and for many, this means dressing the part. The rule—widely encouraged by federal authorities—is to avoid bright colors that take the “wild” out of wilderness. Go instead with gentle green, olive drab and […]
Green River, Utah Blending with nature is part of what wilderness canoeing is all about—and for many paddlers, this means dressing the part. The rule—widely encouraged by federal authorities—is to avoid bright colors that take the “wild” out of wilderness. Go instead with gentle green, olive drab and autumn brown. This is a grand plan […]
FreeStyle canoeing is like ballet on the water. Wood-canvas canoe by Tom Mackenzie. Some years ago, I had the privilege of taking a FreeStyle canoeing class from Karen Knight and the late Tom Mackenzie–two of the world’s top instructors. There were about 50 in attendance, mostly young women in small solo canoes. Many were new […]
Nice brook trout! Saturday is “turnaround” day at many fishing lodges in northern Canada. Eager to take advantage of the morning calm, float planes begin to shuttle fishermen and groceries with the rising sun. By nightfall the airways are quiet again and everyone is tucked into a spacious cabin in preparation for a week of […]