PREP row row row yer?
- Thread starter fi103r
- Start date
While there are technically a lot of rivers and creeks here in the US (Florida has many state water "trails" that run for miles), there is a lot of porting to get from waterway to waterway even if you are using a kayak or canoe and if you have it loaded with gear that is pretty doggone heavy and not something you can simply drag along without fear of creating a leak.
My sons learned a lot when they did the Northern Tier as Scouts. Despite the waterways looking close, they still did a fair amount of porting and even the fiberglass canoes are heavy and their boots would get caked in mud.
My sons learned a lot when they did the Northern Tier as Scouts. Despite the waterways looking close, they still did a fair amount of porting and even the fiberglass canoes are heavy and their boots would get caked in mud.
bw
Fringe Ranger
That's a great map!
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I have a 38 pound fishing kayak. I can pull that on a tiny trailer behind my bike if necessary (fortunately, I only have to go a few miles, and it's flat.)
In no way would I use that little boat for serious river running, but it's fine for fishing on quiet ponds.
In no way would I use that little boat for serious river running, but it's fine for fishing on quiet ponds.
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Our secondary BOL is on the 8th largest lake in FL but doesn't have a lot development around it. From that lake you can follow a creek that will get you to the St. Johns River and from the St. Johns you can travel to the Atlantic. Lot of different "environments" and boat sizes along the way. If I can rebuild my strength, hubby and I plan on doing that trip.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Yeah, "PORTAGE".
I STILL use that as a cuss word after making a short-ish loop around the SE portions of the Boundary Waters Park.
I STILL use that as a cuss word after making a short-ish loop around the SE portions of the Boundary Waters Park.
bw
Fringe Ranger
My stomping grounds! We did the Grand Portage one year.
Grew up on boats.
They give you options, especially for groceries.
They give you options, especially for groceries.
Secondary BOL is in the Bass Capitol of the World. There are lots of other fish in the lake as well. Then Lake George isn't too far away either, within hiking distance if we only wanted to fish from the shore or someone's dock/pier.
St John’s is/was a beautiful River in the 70’s. Could see 8-10 feet crystal clear to the bottom.
Firebird
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Lake George is beautiful
Indeed it is. So far here isn't a lot of development around it but it still is more developed than it was even a decade ago. But man, some of the prices for what they're selling? Property "values" are going crazy. Bass Pro Shop has bought roughly 7000 acres in the area to build their largest resort yet. Not sure when it will break ground but it will happen. Not all the locals are happy about it.
Still beautiful, but due to traffic not as clear in the most traveled sections.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Apparently, some people do not understand what a SHTF scenario will bring.
Anyone in a john boat will be easy prey, for whatever they have, or are perceived to have. Your injury, or death, will mean absolutely nothing to the hoards of outlaws.
Anyone in a john boat will be easy prey, for whatever they have, or are perceived to have. Your injury, or death, will mean absolutely nothing to the hoards of outlaws.
If that is what I am thinking about that sucker is 85+ pounds empty. One person isn't moving that on their own on a muddy portage. Maybe my husband could do it once or twice on his own during a single day, assuming no gear in it but I know I couldn't, especially not in my current shape/health.
After one or two days of those kind of portages, you're going to be exhausted and a danger to yourself.
Nope, a blacked out boat with a black quiet tarp over it running silent is nearly impossible to see
A hardened boat running well away from shore is nearly impossible to stop
As long as the locks are working?
The St. Johns has some locks on it as well. Operating those things by hand will not be fun.
I'm surrounded by waterways but would have to drive a ways to get to one that would be navigable for a reliable distance and it's pretty big...wouldn't want to try it in a small boat unless it was life and death. There's a good sized waterway in my area and it's called a river but it's not always navigable.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Apparently, some people do not understand what a SHTF scenario will bring.
In such a situation, there will be no fuel available, other than those who have prepped it. Any civilian travelers, in personal motorized transportation, will be prey. Maybe a bit more difficult prey, but they will become "big game" prey. Your injury or death will mean absolutely nothing to the hoards of outlaws. Such big game prey will be additionally targeted by the military, or the remnants of it. Your injury or death has no meaning to them either.
And, there's no need to attempt to stop a hardened boat running well away from shore. It stops itself when it comes to shore.
Safer option than roads, especially if someone is packing trade goods. If you know what the coming SHTF scenario will bring, then you’re either crazy or you have a crystal ball no one else has. You’re also using a very broad brush.
I think such trade will quickly establish after the purge has slowed.
Meemur
Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
I live in near farms. Residents already help keep the roads clear. Some guys carry gasoline-powered chainsaws in their trucks during tornado season. My neighbor and I help keep the sewer grate clear at the end of our street. We rake the leaves out of it and pick up branches. That keeps the end of the street from flooding.
Road maintenance is the least of my worries, at least in the immediate area. Depending on the situation, I don't think I'll be traveling very far.
It has always been two of us carrying.
Yes you are right. It does get heavy on a long portage. And it has been a while since I was a Boy Scout Leader doing it kinda regular.
I remember locks in Germany some were fairly easy for one person
Others took an MIT engineering grad and a combat engineer squad
sometimes in the same chain of locks
yikes
Bugging out equals becoming a refugee. I plan on staying in my home until forced out and even then, I might choose to die rather than leave because leaving would equal death on someone else's terms. I'm not talking about suicide; I'm talking about the force to remove me. Water routes have no appeal since I cannot swim.
The Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers have low head dams here and there. The Des Moines River ends at Saylorville Lake/dam which would have you portaging into Des Moines area to get back into the river then traveling through center of the city. The Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers converge just south of Des Moines and shortly thereafter you run into Red Rock Dam. Not familiar with other rivers, just those two from years of living in Des Moines area. Heck, I'm so old I recall when those two dams were built. I'd think navigating those Rivers would be more hassle than they'd be worth. Not to mention mosquitoes, sewage, farm chemicals and feed lot runoff.
The Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers have low head dams here and there. The Des Moines River ends at Saylorville Lake/dam which would have you portaging into Des Moines area to get back into the river then traveling through center of the city. The Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers converge just south of Des Moines and shortly thereafter you run into Red Rock Dam. Not familiar with other rivers, just those two from years of living in Des Moines area. Heck, I'm so old I recall when those two dams were built. I'd think navigating those Rivers would be more hassle than they'd be worth. Not to mention mosquitoes, sewage, farm chemicals and feed lot runoff.
Sandune
Veteran Member
The recent piracy of boats on the west coast does not give me good vives for bugging out. I considered that possibility a decade ago and bought a small sailboat to use on the St. Johns river. It was a lot of fun but very enlightening to what could go wrong. True, most rivers puts you very far away from anyone wanting to give you harm, and at night you can be completely invisible. However, day sailing puts you in full view of anyone with a scoped rifle for a very long time.
Mtsilverback
Veteran Member
This set me in mind of a post SHTF book.
It is a good read on it's own outside of the series.
It is a good read on it's own outside of the series.
school marm
Veteran Member
That's some kind of mess over Nevada.
The Truckee River from Lake Tahoe to Reno is somewhat navigable by kayak, canoe, and river rafting boats. Other than that, most "rivers" here are suited only to origami boats and rubber ducks.
The Truckee River from Lake Tahoe to Reno is somewhat navigable by kayak, canoe, and river rafting boats. Other than that, most "rivers" here are suited only to origami boats and rubber ducks.
Here is a much more realistic map of waterways in Florida:
And here's another:
Fairwillows
Where I am supposed to be.
hmmm....we're 1/4 mile away from an historic river, full of dams. I have however, imagined using our boat if a flood overtook our property. Normally no problem. One year however, it was summer and we had a torrential downpour. There was 2 feet of water running thru my neighbors yard!!! kids toys, balls, all kinds of things were flowing fast and furious in the direction of that river. I could then imagine how drastically landscape can change with extraordinary circumstances at play. Food for thought. I'd love a pontoon boat though 
, just in case!
, just in case!