How Mr. Canoehead Gets It Up Some think it’s easier to load themselves up
with heavy, wobbly packs and stumble across the portage than it is to balance a canoe over their heads. What these people don’t know is that portaging, and most importantly, lifting the canoe, is all about technique, not strength. To properly swing a canoe up over your head, fol- low these steps:
1. Start off by standing mid-ship with your head lined up with where it will be in the yoke or thwart. Grasp the near gunwale with both hands and tilt the canoe on its side so the hull is rest- ing against your legs.
2. Then, with your knees bent and your back as straight as possible, grab the centre of the yoke with the hand closest to the stern of the canoe and slide the canoe up onto your thighs. With the canoe resting on your thighs, reach over with the hand closest to the bow and grab the far gunwale just forward of the yoke. Finally, slide the hand holding the yoke to grasp the gunwale nearest you and you’re ready to go.
3. Here’s the fun part. Begin swinging or rock- ing the canoe gently back and forth on your thighs like a pendulum—get your whole body into it if you’d like. Then, with one fluid motion, pop the canoe off your thighs and flip it over your head. Don’t worry, your head and body will rotate forward and the canoe will magically locate the yoke on your shoulders. Don’t hesi- tate, the canoe will feel lighter the faster you flip. Having a spotter the first couple times is a good idea.
4. At the trail’s end, use the opposite procedure. To initiate the flipping motion, bend your knees and pop the canoe off your shoulders. Place the canoe gently down onto your thighs first to avoid smashing the hull against a rock.
2004 Annual 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68