What a wonderful human being you are! You are bringing life back to one of my favorite past times! Back in the 70s, canoeing was everywhere.....seems like everyone owned a Grumman. Thanks for taking me on this wonderful journey! Hall

I always take multiple pairs of socks and a pair of crocs because crocs dry in minutes and as long as you have warm socks you are golden. Love your videos.

Your Perseverance paid off, the Lamb and Beer looked Awesome 🔥

Glad to see you have a top of the line Canadian canoe. 🇨🇦👍

Good experience. It's nice to get some sun after the storm. Thanks for sharing.

Mark, Thanks so much for taking me along on your adventure this morning. Really enjoyed the footage and your story. Have been thinking about the Oswegathie for a while and seeing your video makes it to the top of my list for 2021. Brian

Great video, I love the fact you was willing to put on camera your doubts about finishing your trip and rookie mistakes. You learn from mistakes and we learn from watching as well. Great job and I’m subbed!

Great little outing and a beautiful place at high falls Mark. I know those lean-to's well as I use them in the winter when tackling peaks. Love the Dacks. I will get there at some point to paddle, but lost an opportunity due to a finger injury years ago. I was going to suggest the same points Martin relayed, but also in regards to wet feet, just accept it and wear the wet socks and continue on, leaving your dry ones for camp. If it is really cold, then consider wearing rubber boots, or similar while on route. Keep at it, and you'll be experienced im no time! Nice work filming/editing.

Hi Mark and this is the second video of yours that I’m watching, you are a natural in front of the camera. You’ve captured the autumn (Fall), colours spectacularly. Enjoyed this adventure with you especially the windy unpegged tent and the many beaver dams you had to negotiate. They are reintroducing beavers back here in the UK, in the hope they will sort out our failing river systems. Take care and always remember to live simply. Mike 👍

I am a minnesota guy from the gunflint side of the boundary waters canoe area. Currently living in new york state for personal reasons. So glad there is canoeing and wilderness areas in this part of the country as well.

Great trip!

What a view!! What a trip!!

Great vids! Looking forward to more of these. Thank you 😁🛶👍

A couple years ago I did the cranberry lake 50 hike. So cool to be able to see the same sites I stayed at on my trip. Thanks for taking me with this time!

Thank you so much for taking me on your canoe trip upriver. I have always wondered what it was like back in there. My age and health prevent me from making the trip myself. I never would have seen it without people like you. Thanks again.

Thanks so much for a great video and being humble about minor mistakes and conveying the message that the joy is in the journey. I’ve paddled that Oswegatchie route too and now can’t wait to go again. Keep making more videos. I look forward so much to the next ones. I was watching some You tubers priding themselves in how many portages they could do on one day in Canada. I’d so much rather watch you negotiate the simplest way to clear a beaver dam on one of my favorite rivers. I also love Algonquin area and other wilderness areas. I live close to the ADKs now and am sick with Covid so I really loved traveling with you. Thanks again!

I cheered out loud in the kitchen when you made it!! My kids laughed at me lol. Wow the falls!! And your dinner!!

Thanks for sharing this! Beautiful trip and enjoyed your running commentary.

Awesome video, absolutely beautiful there! Looks like some valuable learning lessons on this trip. I've been there myself in cold weather. I started packing an emergency dry bag for my cold weather paddles just incase I go in and need to get warm quick. I enjoyed this one my friend!

Youre doing great! Takes a while to figure out what you need and what works. The biggest thing is that you stopped, weighed the risks and made a plan. Thanks for sharing and keep it up! (subbed)

Loved the video! really exciting to watch these since I can't be out there till spring! You've got yourself a new sub.

For a guy that has just got into canoe camping, you sure do have some nice gear ! I really enjoyed this video man! Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future! Cheers ! -Justin

You did what others only dream of. Making it come true was excellent.

Wow, that's a lot of beaver dams. Happy you had a great trip.

Great commentary and video work. Thanks for taking all the extra camera setup time on your trip. Since you mentioned Canada, put the Steel River on your trips to do list. Loved the cold, wind and rain, that’s tough for even the most experienced canoe camper.

Cool trip! Great memories!

Great video! Brought back some fond memories of a trip on the river - Spring of 1980 with a buddy.

I really enjoy your videos. Beautiful country and wonderful adventure. Paddle on my friend and continue with your time in your canoe! It's awesome 👍

Man, that was an awesome trip. Bad weather, logs jams and beaver dams makes a paddling trip an adventure. That rack of lamb looked like a big moral booster.

A fun adventure. Paddling in the cold weather certainly beats paddling with the black flies!

Good job on the vid. This was one of the trips I wanted to do this summer but just couldn't find the time. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome adventure, great editing. I love your internal/external dialogs. That wind on the first night was crazy. And Dam!

another great video thanks

My family and I just paddled the Oswegatchie in August, it was just a day after the hurricane blew through, I guess we timed it right, because it was flooded over all the beaver dams. The weather was perfect and the mosquitos were terrible, fun was had by all. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Your inexperience motivates me! It makes me feel like I can do it too! Dam beavers!

Awesome video and trip! Thanks for sharing. Keep them coming!

Look screwups are just part of a Rockies experience. You learn something new every trip. Enjoy it without winning.🇨🇦👍

Wow well done brother! So glad you stuck it out and continued the trip! Could not believe that wind.. that’s a high pucker factor if I’ve ever seen one lol. Foliage looked awesome too! Well done on the lamb, had my mouth watering. I’d love to check out that area someday!

Great video man. Enjoyed the entire thing.

Nice outing! That was great stuff right there🍻

What a trip, Mark. That was so exciting to watch and better to experience it. That weather sure looked nasty at the beginning of the trip, high winds, heavy rains sure made it tough to continue. I’m glad you continued the journey to the falls, even though your clothes were still damp. That rack of lamb sure looked delicious. The weather sure got nice on your way back, beautiful sunny calm day, great memories my friend. Do you do this every fall? Awesome video, Mark. 👍 from me. Adrian

I enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing. I may have to head over to the Oswegatchie one day. :-) I had a couple of thoughts: One thing to keep in mind is that bringing more gear is not always the best answer. While it's true that we can often justify carrying more gear when paddling (as opposed to hiking), more gear can also get us into trouble. For example, I only typically bring two pairs of socks for up to a week-long trip and maybe only three pairs for longer trips. I also only bring one next-to-skin-layer for pretty much any length trip. The idea is that the materials out of which these items are made retain their ability to insulate even when wet (not cotton!). What I'll usually do with socks is wear a pair and keep a pair in my sleeping bag. These are my dry sleep socks. Even in extremely wet environments, it's important for your feet to be dry for a period of hours each day. I put my "sleep socks" on in either my camp shoes (if dry) when I get to camp or when I'm ready to get into my sleeping bag for the night. If I have wet socks when I go to bed, I will sometimes sleep with them (sometimes between my skin and my next to skin layer) to help them dry out over night, but there are plenty of days when I put on wet socks in the morning, and that's okay. A good next to skin layer will dry out in no time. Be careful with PBL (plastic bag liners ;-) ). They can cause problems, as they do not breath at all. There are products called VBLs (vapor barrier liners) that are better, but for paddling, I generally rely on neoprene socks or boots when in the boat (when I'm not in my drysuit). Overall, I bring a quality next-to-skin layer (top and bottom), an insulating layer (only bottom when conditions warrant), a wind layer (top and bottom), a shell layer (only bottom when conditions warrant), and a warm hat and gloves. In the shoulder season, I add an additional insulating layer (usually an expedition weight top and maybe bottom), and I often pack a synthetic puffy jacket because it takes up so little room. None of that gear is cotton or contains cotton, and all of it will retain its insulating qualities when wet. One final thought: Any insulating layer (including your sleeping bag) only insulates. Think of it like a cooler--if you put something cold in it, it stays cold, but if you put something warm in it, it stays warms. In other words, never expect the insulation to warm you up. Get a hot drink and do some jumping jacks and then get in your sleeping bag for a warm night's sleep! Enjoy! I look forward to more of your videos.

Really enjoyed riding along on your adventure.

Enjoyable watching. I just finished 60 mile solo canoe trip from Fort Loudon Dam to Watts Bar Dam on TN River. Good to see I am not the only one who forgets stuff :). Already planning the next one in the spring of 2023. I have found the solo trips to be very enjoyable, (I did take my four legged buddy). It is very physical at times (Arms and Back), but so rewarding during and after. You honestly never know what is around the next corner. Solo canoeing is such an adventure! I HAVE FOUND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT.

Good adventure brother

Stumbled on your videos (this is the first one I watched) and really (really) enjoyed it. You remind me of me (some mistakes, always trying to learn, and still having a good time). “Type 2 fun”... exactly what my son and talked about on an 8 day trip to Quetico (wilderness park in Ontario which you may be familiar with anyway). Will keep watching!

Great job with the video, and totally agree wth others who've commented on sharing both the highs and the lows. These trips are meant to challenge us, and to teach us about ourselves and elements we seldom face in our day-to-day lives. When things got a bit rough you carefully weighed your options and decided it was okay to move ahead. And, you've shared what you learned with others who might be contemplating these types of trips. Looking forward to watching some of your other videos (sure hope you got to Canada, or eventually will be able to) cuz it's pretty awesome up here too. Haven't looked yet, but if you do decide on an Algonquin trip consider going in on the east side of the park, a lot less heavily travelled than the west side with its proximity to the Toronto region!

Making memories nothing wrong with that! I have always wondered what it was like. Ty

Thanks for sharing. Keep your paddle in the water.

Hi mate, I’ve just found your channel and have just started canoeing myself with my son. I don’t know yet if your new to it but like your self I have made kit mistakes. I’ve yet to remember packing a change of cloths a head torch is a must and socks!! Extra socks!! 😆. Really nice video, thanks mate, Ant 👍

Nice!! I have never canoed in the ADKs. All my adventures have been in our neighbor to the north. Will have to give this a try. Thank you for an excellent video

Nice video thanks

Wool stays comfortable even when wet. 🇨🇦👍

Those 'should-I-stay-or-should-I-go' moments on a canoe trip can be really stressful, especially on a solo trip. I'm glad in this case you soldiered on and met with challenges within your abilities; those make for the best tripping memories. If I may offer two suggestions: invest in rain pants and keep them, along with your raincoat, near the top of your pack for quick retrieval. You won't need a second pair of dry pants that way and the rain pants serve as a shell and insulating layer in cold temperatures. Also, you should consider outfitting your packboat (or any canoe) with painter lines. These are two 20-foot lengths of floating rope which are hanked up and tied to the bow and stern thwarts. They make it possible to line and track your canoe downstream and upstream while wading or from the shore. Also, with a painter line in hand as you clear a beaver dam liftover, you don't have to worry about the current taking your boat. Lastly, painters are used to tie down your boat to secure it from being tossed by heavy winds while in camp. I hope we can cross paths when you bring your prospector north to Ontario. Thanks for the video, - Martin

Nice job Mark. I did a section of Osewegatche many many years ago with frieny when I was completely clueless. Need to revisit it. You know, a lot of canoeist "wetfoot"....they just plan in being wet all day. Challenging though in October. Nice that you know when to stop and take care of yourself. Major tip.... always keep dry socks and shoes for camp.... never use them for anything else....keep in a very good dry bag.

Great videos Mark! Spent 30 years doing this all over New England. Did exactly what you just did in northern Canada and promptly invested in neoprene knee high boots (chotas) with wool socks for paddle days. I learned to sleep with the damp socks at the end of my sleeping bag to dry em out. You’re videos stir my heart, so thankful you do them. You, my friend, are an AMAZING videographer! Keep doing it! So thankful I found your channel.

Thanks for posting! Time for a gear loadout video!

Wow great trip man! Canoeing looks like so much fun. One of theses days I really need to get a canoe. I really like the adirondack style pack canoes like you have (not sure if that the right term). Enjoyed the video from start to finish. Really good edit.

New to your channel but love the content. Beautiful scenery as well, that storm sure looked a bit terrifying. Thanks for sharing! Cheers from the Netherlands

Looked like a great trip. Really enjoyable to watch. Definite thumbs up from me 👍

Good stuff!

This is a really cool video enjoyed watching it

My father and I paddled this river around 45 years ago. Weather was cold, ice on the banks, and rain stopped us from getting all the way to the falls, but great memories for sure, would love to do it again one day.

Loved your video! Done this twice and it can get a little rough specially in colder weather! My brother who goes by troutstalker sent me to your site! Looking forward to more videos from you!

Hi mate! Great video and adventure, the ones where you are faced with adversity tend to be the most rewarding in the end - great job overcoming and pushing outside your comfort zone! I feel you when you said you felt vulnerable not having any satellite / Garmin etc - I learned that the hard way getting lost in the mountains on one of my adventures and bought the Garmin inreach mini (highly recommended). Didn’t think I’d ever use it but I actually did hit the SOS button on my last adventure sailing solo and capsizing! Keep up the good work enjoyed watching that bro - you got a new sub from me :-)

Thanks for the great video. When I was in my early 30's I canoed solo with all gear up to High Falls from Inlet in 8 hours (one portage at the rapids where there is a bridge to Five Ponds). It was exhausting. I wish I had taken my time like you. I also did the Lows Lake to Upper Oswegatchie via portage. Great time until I flipped - soaking everything (Up at the put-in where the portage ends). I canoed out that day all the way, I remember the huge grove of White Pines on Pine Ridge before the 1995 blowdown. Such a treat. Your video is here forever! I recommend that people take their time and appreciate everything as you did. There is no cell service so thank god! Thanks again!

Nice video. I paddled that same trip in the late 70s in the spring. My memory is it is a bit of a slog. Consider rubber boots or tingles, sleep in your socks, they will be dry by morning. We generally try to paddle until mid afternoon and then camp. Allow an extra day and don't bite off more than you can chew. Maybe carry a tarp so you have a place to lounge around in camp. Glad you are getting out there. Its a wonderful passtime. Maybe work with a pole for those upstream slogs. Pole is the way to go.

Nice one. Glad you pushed on. Would love to paddle there one day

Really Nice Video! Looks like the weather was less cooperative than when I was up there!

Great video just think good or bad it was an adventure the adk is great place to be no matter what.

Great work. Yes, spare things for just about everything, including Band-Aids, first aid kit, shoe patch materials just incase the bottom falls of your shoe. etc. lol. That happened to another KZfaqr and they tried using tree excrement as glue to patch. worked somewhat.. I wanted to snatch that lamb from you. That looked incredible.

You will love Algonquin park. And the fishing is awesome. The bugs can be a nuisance don’t forget the bug net or bug jacket . And don’t eat bananas the black fly’s will love you. Thanks rookie great video cheers. 🇨🇦👍

Damn. I have not experienced anything like this yet. Wet just awful wet weather. Tough cookie Thank you for the insight

Nice seeing you at the lean to today

Real cool video, we are just starting out as well, its pretty fun! Subscribed.

Good stuff man!

I just found your channel! Really enjoyed this video! The misfortunes is what makes trips memorable! It's supposed to be an adventure right? I'm with you on the Spot device! Great video, I subbed!!!

This was awesome!!! Man!! You soldiered on!! Those beaver dams were relentless! You definitely earned your canoeing over beaver dams while camping badge! Im a yaker so i can’t really comment on the canoeing skill set part but I think you made a good decision to continue on. You’ve got a great tent, a full stove cartridge, plenty of food and you can always get a fire goin if critical clothes get wet. Perfect!! Nice dude!! One thing I would say is, since I started down the twig stove route, I haven’t looked back. Ive got the trangia backup with winter preheater for cold times but twig stoves are nice. They take your mind off of cluttery items, is that a word😁, and relax you at the same time. A little fire gives one a feeling of hope as well. Just my thoughts. I know this was 2 years ago but fun gor me to chat about. Take care man! Happy Sunday! NQU

Good job pushing on. I subscribed and am looking forward to more videos.

Great Canoe trip, High Winds is my most feared issue in the wilderness, Cheers Dave.

Nice! I miss my spring trip on the river this year. Looked like fun! And yes......always bring extra socks!

Nice vid!

I've hiked that loop. High rock was my favorite camping spot!! Try using neoprene socks, they stay dry half way up your leg but shoes can get wet.

Wonderful ! Found your channel from Justin at Its Good In Woods, nice effort man ! I might suggest the Garmin InReach Mini , sos, texting. It’s just piece of mind.More for the folks at home ! Plus it uses a much better satellite system than the spot devices. Be well ! Cheers !

Nice video, I guess I’m your 1k subscriber, all the best Alex

Just found your channel. Great video! Seemed very real. Am now a subscriber.

Nice video and appreciate your letting everyone learn with you. Depending on what will be paddled, Chota Hippies can be helpful to keep you warm(er) and dry(er). I like that they are made of flexiable fabric and can be converted from a hip boot to a knee boot. Foot is neoprene.

Thanks for the map view of the itinerary! I, otherwise, would have no idea where you are and I don't like when videos give no geographic context. Thank You! John

Been on canoe trips in that area several times but haven’t done that river yet, looks absolutely awesome, maybe with higher water though. Peace ✌️

I did this trip in like 1996! We camped near High Falls. I am surprised by the number of dams there now as we only crossed one or two back then, but worth the effort!

Excellent video! You must go on excursions all the time with all that gear! I know I wouldn’t limit myself to a few times per year.

Nice video greets from the Netherlands. Think i Need to come over to check the area over there 😋

nice trip...you can do the trip all down river. it requires a long portage coming in from Lowes lake, but then its all down stream. of course would need to walk around hi falls. cheers

Heaven on Earth

Nice video and way to push through to your destination. I have done the trip many times (all different times of the year) since the late 80s, especially when I was guiding (Five Ponds Guide Service) and as an AFR. Get yourself a pair of NRS Boundary Boots (or something similar); they make the beaver dams and low-water rapids manageable. That looked like a Boreal 21 saw - love it! Mine goes in a Campcraft sling along with my splitting axe. Personally, I leave my DB paddle at home and use a bent shaft paddle on the Oswegatchie. I also take a standard, inexpensive paddle as a backup and for use in the rough spots on the river. On your future trips upriver be sure to go above the falls (I found spring to be the best time) to get to the most remote part of the river. I would usually camp near where the Robinson River joins the Oswegatchie so I could walk/wade the Robinson and fish the pools for native trout. It takes some work, but you can get to the headwaters of the Oswegatchie (where multiple streams feed in). Back in the 90s, there was a huge beaver dam up there; I used to pull my boat up and over it and paddle that pond. Also, be sure to allow time for a hike into Sand Lake - it is a special place. Although you have to work hard to get up the river in the spring when the water is high, going back down is an easy, quick trip, as you can shortcut some of the meanders and go over many of the obstructions. Happy paddling!

I tried this trip years ago after that 'big blow down' in that majik window between ice out and buggzzzz out. The water was high, cold and fast! Well over the banks and no way to walk out 'if'! I used my Mad River Kevlar Malecite as a solo but didnt have a double end paddle back then. The current going around the switch backs was AWRFULLLL! Kept trying to spin the bow out. In 3 hours I made it to the top of the 'straight of the woods' and pulled into a side pond to 'contemplate this madness'! BIG ring around the sun - BAAADD wx sign. I knew I could not make a lean to by dark... so I let the current take me back. THAT was worse than the paddle IN!! The current tried to throw me into the flooded brush on the outside of each curve and it was WORK to stay centered! Being swept into the flooded brush with a flip could have been fatal... I made to back to Inlet OK, tho and the current brot me all the way back in 45 minutes! I post this to warn folks about excessively high, cold and fast water that floods into the brush on both sides. I am a life long experienced canoe tripper, and didnt bite off more than I could handle, here, but CLOSE! Be forewarned. This trip can be dangerous in spring. Jerry N.

You did awesome buddy! Love that area. We did the hike in from Wanakena this summer. Stayed the first night at High Rock. 2nd night at High Falls then 2 nights at Janock’s Landing. Met a couple guys that Kayaked the same route you did. Thanks for sharing your journey...awesome!!

Fantastic video ! That rack of lamb looked off the hook!

Thanks for sharing. Look into a hot tent at Kifaru or seekoutside

ive done this trip as far as high falls like 6 times. every time better than the last! with two people you can paddle through most os the dams if the water is not to high.