Get to my BOL by water scenario

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Well.

Let me jump right in here with both feet.

I am planning to do a trial run of the water route to my BOL. I won't be giving addresses, but for those who are persec or opsec minded, I may stray into things that would make you uncomfortable. I'm fine with it.

I will be getting detailed. It's a 155 mile (250 Kilometer) water route by canoe. It runs from Southern WI, to Northern IL. I will state the lakes crossed, the rivers run, the dams portaged. I will go into tedious and boring detail on training for it, calorie calculations, and not so much into gear, unless someone is curious.

I will be trying to simulate the actual run, keeping my head down through several major cities (Madison WI, Janesville WI, Beloit WI and IL, Rockford IL ) and stealth camping along the way.

I am interested in any feedback any members may have as I go about it. Land Nav will be pretty limited, I will be counting bridges to track distance, and estimate time to next campsite. I plan on travelling during the day, I may decide to go by night through the metro areas, I'm undecided.

I will try to make it as realistic as possible. I wont take the AR, but I will take a piece of pipe the same weight. I will take the pistol. WI is open carry, and I have a FOID card for IL, so I might as well.

I have my food mostly selected, with an eye toward healthy, high calorie foods. From using a Garmin Fenix and actually paddling the canoe over the last year, as well as my beginning training on a rowing machine, I can estimate the calories I will burn paddling 8 hours, and go from there.

Times are based on a 3mph, 30 strokes a minute pace (kayak paddle).

I'm not going to go crazy posting here, just maybe a weekly post on training progress, and some stuff on food. The trial run is planned for March or April, to give me time to train. I want to be able to put the hammer down, assuming I am simulating a desperate need to get to the BOL.

And that's about it for this post. I will post other places, and probably bring up some older posts, but I plan on being pretty active as a member, and asking some questions.

 

[Averagedude]

Sounds fun. I would recommend doing it during the day you will retain more of the landmarks and make it easier if you do have to run it for real.

Also make sure you take exactly the gear your planning to use nothing more, except the rifle I would leave that.

Take a map and mark out important features including your camp spots but also defined camp spots and water access so you can plan ahead for potential runins.

I wouldnt so much stress the time as much as the recon your there to formulate a plan with exacting detail so you arrive safely. I would view it more as a camping trip take time to set up shelters, cook on your stoves, start a fire, maybe try and catch a fish and cook it.

Practice the skills you need get some intel completed the journey and have fun while doing it. Keep us updated

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Averagedude,

The gear is my normal pack. Seal Line Propack115L, machete, Katanaboy (I like it) one man tent, milsurp bivy, lightweight air matress (it's tiny) 2 down 30 degree bags (they pack down to the size of nerf footballs, I carry an extra for wet dog tent invasions) a really basic kitchen, MSR stove (I won't be lighting fires until some islands well down the way) then my normal camp clothes and food, sawyer squeeze filter, and beer. Hmmm camp knife, toilet stuff... My BOB is my camping stuff, I have the pack modded to allow the use of a 2 point sling, and replaced the belt buckle with a Cobra Dring buckle, and I have the waist belt set up for the 9mmm holster. It's all pretty tried and true. Just to get me where I am going. The wife has her own kit, and she is outdoorsy too, so she has stuff she likes. It works. Basically I mean to say, I don't need to test gear, it's all good to go.

Maps! I like USGS maps, I will probably order some. I just like the better topography lines and closer view. But I have an Atlas that will work fine, and I will have the potential camp locations marked.

Time: I hear you.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I did some calorie calculations, and they were pretty surprising.

Based on calorie tracking with a sports watch and heart rate monitor (jogging, not paddling) and using the row machine, I can get a pretty good guess of a calorie per day requirement of 4800 calories. Seems like a lot.

That's at a 30 strokes per minute pace, at 3MPH (4.83 KPH) on flat water. The lakes are flat, the rivers are probably running fast in the spring, I would bet I could hit 5mph. The nice part of canoeing is, I can always rest and float downstream.

I will be taking the following foods and calorie counts.

Breakfast: 1 cup quick quaker oats with brown sugar and butter - 411 calories

4 cups coffee with Baileys Irish Cream - 95 calories

2 eggs - 150 calories

Total - 660 calories

Snacks during the day: Mixed Dried Fruit - 355 calories per cup.

Macadamia nuts - 470 calories per half cup

Total - varies, up to 1000 calories probably

Supper: Knorr dried soup mixes - 180 to 300 calories depending

Hershey chocolate bar w/ almonds - 210 calories

Busch Light beer (lets be honest here) - 7.9 calories

So, unless I want to force myself to eat a jar of peanut butter twice a day, I could potentially run a 2000 calorie deficit!
Obviously, I will be fishing. I MIGHT hunt, but that would be risky, unless it was with a blowgun, but there aren't any animals that I can take that would fill a 2000 calorie gap.

Now all that is based on an 8 hour paddling period at a fast (workout) pace, but I have done 2 week trips before, and I paddle a lot throughout the year, I can do a solid 8 hour paddle, with a few breaks.

Interesting to me to think of what that calorie deficit would mean if I were going to say, the Gulf of Mexico. Or even just trying to "live off the land". There just aren't many wild foods that an give you 1000 calories at a sitting. I would have to either find a calorie rich food, or cut way down on activity.

 

[Proud Prepper]

I would add a calorie nutrition bar like grizzly gear to fill in the rest of what you need. Buy samples of few different ones and stock up on the one you like. I like the grizzly gear 3600 cal. 9bar packs. Eat a half of pack a day in addition to your other foods (1800 cal.)

 

[Averagedude]

Try drinking a better beer higher in calories . On week long backpacking trips I always find my self loosing weight even when I’m eating at least 3000 calories a day or more. For you high intensity bug out I would
Plan on running on low amount of food. What will save you and keep you trucking is proper hydration drink lots of water.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I could stand to lose a couple pounds, lol. Water won't be an issue, but honestly I do have to remind myself to drink water.

Back to the gym today for more rowing, and then I think I will sew up that canoe bow bag. I want to make a nice waterproof one, something serious and ridiculously overbuilt for what I need. I'm waiting for my new schedule at work, so I might have a couple days to get some gear made, and really map out the route.

 

[Maverick]

It's always important to make trips to the BOL and if possible without the use of a vehicle, though I would opt to use a compass or at least have one as backup to a GPS, never been much of a fan of GPS for over land navigation.

Calorie deficit while working/rowing is never a good idea especially over water and worse getting wet. Nothing like rowing against the wind while hungry! Weight is also needed to calculate your calorie intake as a minimum or base line, if you are working your muscles you will burn 30% of your calorie intake alone, if you are cold and wet add an additional deficit to your intake then add your metabolism needs. you probably going to need roughly 3000 calories a day depending on your row time. When you run a calorie deficit it's a lot harder to keep warm at night and maintain endurance, also, running a deficit lowers your immunity to fight off diseases!

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I think you mean my body weight? I'm 5' 9", 178 lbs right now, but I vary by a few pounds up or down. I have been hoping that I can stay at my current weight, between 175 and 180 during training and prep for the trip, and then will likely shed a few pounds, water weight and fat, over the seven day trip.

Maverick, with you 100%. I would never count on GPS, the Garmin setup is just to have a baseline now, and then have an idea what my heartrate and calorie burn is doing on the trip.

There are a couple spots where I need to time my travel in order to hit camping spots before dark, all navigation will be done with maps, and I always have a plate compass. It's pretty common to turn on the Fenix watch on a cloudy day, and have it fail to locate satellites. Then it's waypoint and "return" functions are useless. The compass on it is pretty rudimentary, but does reliably point north. And, I can only run it for a few hours a day with it linked to the satellites, or the battery dies quickly.

I have been going over the route on google maps, satellite view, and already found some pretty interesting things!

The Janesville/Beloit/Rockford metro area will have to be done in one long run, unless I want to try my luck stealth camping behind a building along the riverbank. I would worry about theft, or other problems, I think it best to camp at the last place possible before Janesville, then get an early start and make the metro run in one go.

I don't think it is critical, but if I go before the trees are fully leaved out, then my canoe and tent will be visible by satellite. On google maps, I can clearly spot 50 gallon drums, and people along the river. I'm not worried about anyone "looking" at me on satellite, but at the same time, I may make a season specific camo cover for the tent, and make a camo cover for the canoe. Might as well blend in. The canoe is green, but it's a pretty... visible? green. Definitely stand out against a sandbar or muddy bank.

The tent cover is orange! Gonna have to change that for sure.

Anyway, today is the same schedule, run and row at the gym, dryfire drills with the AR and pistol, then some sewing. Still waiting for my new work schedule, if they are not going to schedule me until Monday, I wish they would let me know, I could go camping.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Took about 15 minutes today and figured out how to download and print free USGS topographic maps, in a full 8.5 x 11 size.

The free archive: https://archive.org/details/usgs_wi

I needed to know my lat and long : https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/latitudelongitude-finder/

I can do a detailed write up of navigating the archive site, it took me a while to get the settings to where I could print my maps in order, and find the "next map". The site opens with maps displayed by # of views, which is pretty useless. Choosing to display maps by Title gave me the maps ordered by Lat and Long, and that did the trick. Easy to find, easy to go to the next map needed.

I will be printing these to use for my BOL water route, inside waterproof protectors, in a thin 3 ring binder. I will make a waterproof sleeve for the binder, just something simple. I could buy one, but I have everything I need.

On my printer, which is not new or expensive, the maps come out nice and clear, and fill the entire sheet. I open the downloaded maps in Windows photo viewer, and rotate the map once so it is on its side, then print.

I will highlight my route on the maps, along with notes I think may be helpful, and possible camp sites and potential problem areas, as well as estimated time to reach certain places.

 

[Maverick]

Took about 15 minutes today and figured out how to download and print free USGS topographic maps, in a full 8.5 x 11 size.

The free archive: https://archive.org/details/usgs_wi

I needed to know my lat and long : https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/latitudelongitude-finder/

I can do a detailed write up of navigating the archive site, it took me a while to get the settings to where I could print my maps in order, and find the "next map". The site opens with maps displayed by # of views, which is pretty useless. Choosing to display maps by Title gave me the maps ordered by Lat and Long, and that did the trick. Easy to find, easy to go to the next map needed.

I will be printing these to use for my BOL water route, inside waterproof protectors, in a thin 3 ring binder. I will make a waterproof sleeve for the binder, just something simple. I could buy one, but I have everything I need.

On my printer, which is not new or expensive, the maps come out nice and clear, and fill the entire sheet. I open the downloaded maps in Windows photo viewer, and rotate the map once so it is on its side, then print.

I will highlight my route on the maps, along with notes I think may be helpful, and possible camp sites and potential problem areas, as well as estimated time to reach certain places.

The map declination is off on the USGS maps (not updated) unless it’s been recently updated by the stated declination date on the map the Lat/Long won’t do much good for navigation if declination is incorrect.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Hadn't thought of that, thanks.

 

[Maverick]

Hadn't thought of that, thanks.

http://doomsdayprepperforums.com/index.php?threads/navigation-the-compass-and-map.6202/

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I think I am pretty set for this. I have the campsites mapped out, I have the bridges counted, trouble spots marked (although the view is going to different on the water) and my gear gone over.

Now I just need to keep up the workouts, stay injury free, and firm up the dates with work.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I think I am pretty set for this. I have the campsites mapped out, I have the bridges counted, trouble spots marked (although the view is going to different on the water) and my gear gone over.

Now I just need to keep up the workouts, stay injury free, and firm up the dates with work.

Just curious, what is the type/brand of canoe that you'll be using? I'm planning on buying a canoe this spring and was looking for recommendations.

 

[Mountain trapper]

.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I have on Old Town Discovery 119 So its a 12 foot single person. I love it.

I had a kayak and a 15 foot two person, but I have the two person at the BOL, my friend uses it to run trotlines.

It came with a plastic center seat, but it sucked. I took it out, and I just kneel or sit on a really small seat I made for the thwart.

Anyway, super durable, small, nice handling, plenty of storage. Rated for 450 pounds, but I go 2 people with gear, or me and dog and gear and it never seems overloaded. It does get slower with 2 people and lots of stuff.

Oh yeah, and Kayak Paddle! I could never go back to a regular canoe paddle now. I had some nice wooden canoe paddles, but my buddy kept breaking them slapping the water to scare ducks. So now I just have some plastic cheap kayak paddles, a bit heavy but I can use them to push off things, or launch. My wife has a nice (expensive) lightweight one, but it is too flexible, you cant use it for anything but light paddling.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I have on Old Town Discovery 119 So its a 12 foot single person. I love it.

I had a kayak and a 15 foot two person, but I have the two person at the BOL, my friend uses it to run trotlines.

It came with a plastic center seat, but it sucked. I took it out, and I just kneel or sit on a really small seat I made for the thwart.

Anyway, super durable, small, nice handling, plenty of storage. Rated for 450 pounds, but I go 2 people with gear, or me and dog and gear and it never seems overloaded. It does get slower with 2 people and lots of stuff.

Oh yeah, and Kayak Paddle! I could never go back to a regular canoe paddle now. I had some nice wooden canoe paddles, but my buddy kept breaking them slapping the water to scare ducks. So now I just have some plastic cheap kayak paddles, a bit heavy but I can use them to push off things, or launch. My wife has a nice (expensive) lightweight one, but it is too flexible, you cant use it for anything but light paddling.

Thanks. That sounds like what I'm looking for. I'm planning on running a spring time trap line on a river about 200 miles south of me. If possible I'd like to get a canoe with a square stern for mounting an electric motor.

 

[firewallsrus]

How long are the portages and what kind of terrain? I ask because pulling the canoe along on a simple trailer either on foot or behind a bicycle can increase your ability to carry gear. Having carried on my shoulders, I don't think it would be a good way to keep aware of what's going on around me. In between portages, the trailer and even a bicycle can ride inside the canoe. You might even find the bike and wheels help break up the outline of the canoe while on the water with the addition of some camo netting.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

The portages are very short (around hydro dams) and a few through the woods along the river bank. Everything less than 100 yards. I will just be dragging it, or one shoulder carry, so it wont be over my head.

Definitely need to get some camo netting. Also, it should be a pretty light load, just me, the expedition pack, and a small rolling cooler that holds maybe a 12 pack.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5053136,-89.0333619,287m/data=!3m1!1e3

That's a typical city portage, there are 7 of those on the trip.

There is one through the woods, but I am watching a show with my wife and she may be too impatient to let me find that one right now ha!

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Here is the most interesting spot on the trip.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4598959,-89.0797846,289m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

[firewallsrus]

It looks like an ideal river to travel on. I might suggest staying on the far bank from most roads and the private boat docks I see in WI. In years gone by, I canoed extensively in the midnight to 4am time frame in Dallas and Fort Worth. (I worked an odd shift). By keeping a slow pace, my travel was quiet enough that even some of the wildlife wasn't aware of my presence until I had passed by. Due to plant congestion and deep mud, I had access to places even the landowners couldn't reach. Don't forget to take advantage of the very shallow draft. You might want to take the maps with you on your dry runs and mark out any good places where pursuers can be shed on a mud, sand, or gravel shoal.

 

[DrHenley]

Ideally, you would live upstream from you BOL, and then just flow downstream to get there. Just out of curiosity, I looked to see how I could get to my BOL by water. Theoretically it's possible.

Portage 1/4 mile to Lindsey Creek
Go down Lindsey Creek 10 miles to the Chattahooche River
Go down the Chattahoochie 300 miles to Apalachicola Bay
Go by Gulf of Mexico 500 miles to the Mississippi River
Go up the Mississippi River 400 miles to Vicksburg
Go up the Yazoo River 100 miles
Portage over the Yazoo River Levee
Go up unnamed slough 1 mile
Portage 1/2 mile to BOL

I think bicycle might be a lot easier

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

There is a section of the Yahara river, before the Rock river, that will be a bit more difficult, with lots of downed trees and not-so-nice spots to camp. Once I'm on the Rock, my priority will change to staying out of sight as much as possible. I still have to make a decent time though, because of work.

I have printed out all the maps, in sections, and they will be going with me in waterproof sleeves in a 3 ring binder. I think marking the maps with good locations is a great idea, I will definitely be doing that as I go.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

LOL DrHenley, yeah, sounds like the scenic route for sure.

All of my water route, aside from the lakes, is going to be downstream with the current. A friend and I did a 2 week trip years ago, when we were young and bulletproof/stupid, and that included a section of the Mississippi going upstream in a heavily loaded canoe. It sucked. Paddle as hard as you want, you aren't going anywhere. We had to stay right by the shore in order to move at all, and it still took some serious effort to go just a few miles.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Still on track for this. The shoulder injury is getting better, still hurts, but I can lightly work out (no weights) and run. Still looking at mid april.

Still don't have a camo tarp for the canoe, still need to make a camo rainfly for the tent (I have a bunch of dark earth and ranger green DWR fabric, but it's a bit heavy for a rainfly).

All long as work doesn't suddenly say OH NO we need you here that week, I should be good to go.

The wife is joining me for rucking now, we started rucking together today, but she is wearing the weight vest. She wants to get up to 12 miles, once a weekend, and 4 to 6 miles twice during the week.

I'm game.

 

[firewallsrus]

Looking at it again (for the dozenth time) I'm thinking that water travel, especially in a man-powered craft isn't going to be popular enough to make staking out water routes profitable for bad actors. That said, it wouldn't hurt to be scouting for locations where you would set up an ambush from. This would allow you to picture how your are going to approach or bypass such dangers.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I agree. If anything, I would expect maybe some accidental encounters. In a real SHTF situation, I doubt there would be much river traffic.

But yeah, part of doing the trip is to see where the choke points are, where I have to be exposed.

 

[Kootenay prepper]

Maybe not for your first trip to your BOL but you might want to check out and mark the wild foods on the way. You never know with water travel where you might lose your supplies.

I’ve done. Fair amount of river travel in canoes, kayaks and rafts and I know the rivers change up here lots from season to season. You might want to mark on your maps if you see any places where any sort of log jams or spots where log jams could form easily as you might travel at different times of the year when these traps could be submerged. This could also include gravel bars and other obstacles that might cause troubles.

 

[brandx]

Looking at it again (for the dozenth time) I'm thinking that water travel, especially in a man-powered craft isn't going to be popular enough to make staking out water routes profitable for bad actors. That said, it wouldn't hurt to be scouting for locations where you would set up an ambush from. This would allow you to picture how your are going to approach or bypass such dangers.

I think just getting to know the waterway is a good idea, if not for getting acquainted with the river but also with the access points and residences along the way. There are some nice folk that fish the rivers and there are some bad folk that stay on them all year long. Living in ramshackle cabins, you know the type, River Rats, I would beware of those types and THEY WILL be using the river.