Portaging Adventures in the Adirondacks, NY with the awesome Malestrom Vital 166!

You do need to lift the kayak and well-strapped on cart over the tree! Don't try pulling it over. Everyone already knows that . . . right!? It's easier with two people. Paddle buddies are awesome for this. Another reason not to kayak alone.
Here's proof that the sturdy Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart comes apart easily, and fits into the small back hatch of a Maelstrom Sea Kayak! I had my doubts!
Awesome! The Malestrom Vital 166, and the Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart! They work well together.

And here's the kick.

I didn't test the cart and rear hatch space to see if they fit before the Adirondack trip and lost a night of sleep the day before the portage trip wondering if it would.

Usually I test gear before a trip, but this time my attitude was: "The cart is going into or onto this skinny kayak one way or another. So why bother."

Now you don't have to wonder.

The Maelstrom Kayak back hatches are pretty small, but they did design them large enough to function as awesome day paddle boats. I wouldn't even attempt to kayak camp with one though.
Maelstrom Vital 166 on Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart after a successful canoe trail portage
Both the Yedo Paddleboy kayak cart and the Maelstrom Vital 166 hauled really well on a fairly easy 1/4 mile portage in between lakes and a connecting river. 

Why am I telling you this this?
When it's time to portage in the wilderness, that's not when you want to find out that your kayak cart and sea kayak don't fit well or perform well together!
If your kayak is wide and your kayak cart is too narrow, or collapses on you - this equals NOT GOOD!

Shopping for a good kayak cart is important! It must be easy to assemble and disassemble and pack with ease into one of your kayak hatches. It must help you easily move your kayak well on uneven bumpy trail with some rock and exposed tree roots. Maybe even through a bit of mud! Think larger wheels here.

A good kayak cart will save you and all your paddle buddies time and energy. Test it with your kayak before a wilderness trip so you know how to put it together and how to properly strap down the kayak.

I'd go for a sturdy, reliable kayak cart model, even if it is a little heavier than a lighter weight model.

This lets me spend my time and energy where I'd rather put it! Paddling, eating lunch, taking pics, and doing outdoor yoga.
Paddling Adirondack's lakes and rivers with my new red cedar GP (Greenland Paddle). A gift from PenobscotPaddles during my recent trip to paddle the Atlantic ocean from the Deer Isle-Stonington archipelago, Maine, U.S.A. I'm guessing Mark will want to see where I'm taking his awesome GP.
It's raining here in the Adirondacks for the next couple of days and I'm doing indoor yoga in an old crooked cabin with floors that are not level. But at least I have a protected waterfront view of Blue Mountain Lake with Adirondack mountains in the backdrop.
To let you know just how outback this area is, they only sell beer around here! It's a long drive just to find a bottle of wine. No complaints. I'm just sayin'!

All we need now is the weather to cooperate. Seems rain and storms want to be the boss for a few days!

Even though we're all well-equipped for paddling rain and light wind, exploring the other things the Adirondack region has to offer is way more interesting!
The ducks are happy though!

Rainy days here means more time in an outdoor Internet Cafe - which today is a gas station parking lot with free Internet access and a Porta Pottie for a restroom.

Ahhh! The joys of quasi-wilderness blogging and finding your way around in a new place!

I'm also shopping for a better Internet Cafe!

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Comments

  1. Paddle2SeeSeptember 8, 2011 at 5:53 AM

    Quite a change from the ocean to fresh water - it all looks beautiful in your photos though. I'm glad to see that you and the new paddle are getting along well - may you have many pleasant adventures together :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 6, 2012 at 9:49 PM

    Currently paddle a 14' Liquid Logic down Pine Creek, been hitting Owassee Rapids when the water is high, the only reason I need a portage rack is after owassee our crew likes to pull out and go back up 1 mile and do it again.

    ReplyDelete

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