Full Outfitting

You bring your sleeping bag and pad, personal effects, and rain gear; we supply the rest, including quality tents and waterproof portage packs to keep your gear dry. To help you prepare for an enjoyable adventure, we send a personal packing list when you register. Our lightweight Souris River Canoes are easy to paddle and portage. We provide return transportation by passenger van from Saskatoon to canoe launch point. Full outfitting includes competent tour leader/guides who accompany each tour and help create a fun time and a supportive learning environment.

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Meals

Cooking tasty, nutritious meals over the open fire or baking mouthwatering desserts in the reflector oven is always a high point of each day. Careful planning goes into each menu. We feature balanced meals with a complement of fresh fruit and vegetables, supervised by an experienced cook. You are invited to help with preparation and cleanup.

On our list of priorities, safety comes first. Each tour involves pre-trip canoe safety training and paddling instruction. Most programs continue with instruction in paddling, navigation and canoe-camping skills during the tour, in tune with your needs and interests. Our tour leaders are first-aid certified and are qualified canoeing instructors.

Accommodation while canoeing is in quality, 2-person, storm-proof nylon tents. Campsites with facilities are only used en route to the canoe launch point. Otherwise, all camping is authentic wilderness style in undeveloped areas exclusive to CanoeSki groups. We select campsites that offer the best scenic vistas and natural amenities for comfortable wilderness living. We make sure that everyone is familiar with ecologically responsible camping practices.

We try to accommodate all skill levels on most tours. The exception is whitewater tours which require previous experience or training. Beginners will find that a modest degree of fitness will enhance their enjoyment of paddling and portaging. Canoeing mostly involves upper body exertion, so arm and shoulder muscles should be conditioned several weeks before a trip if you are not doing regular upper body work-outs. Experienced paddlers will find the pace reasonably energetic, but not arduous. We can design custom tours to suit group needs and interests.

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Eco Programs

Canoeing involves interacting with nature in an elemental way. Paddling a river, hiking a portage trail and sleeping on the earth are intensely physical. But more importantly, canoeing unclutters the mind and frees the spirit for personal growth and renewal. Our programs add to this natural restorative process using resource interpreters who share their talents and expertise on eco-oriented themes in such diverse areas as wildlife watching, history, Aboriginal culture, archaeology and ethnobotany. You get a truly "value-added" adventure!

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Itinerary

A typical day involves 4-6 hours of paddling. Actual time on the water is influenced by weather, paddling abilities, number of portages and distance between campsites. This reasonably relaxed pace allows time for rest breaks and instruction en route. It also leaves energy to enjoy activities in camp; swimming, exploring, relaxing or participating in eco-programming events. We select canoe routes that optimize the spirit of the Canadian wilderness in terms of scenery, solitude, wildlife and heritage value.

We use quality hand-crafted, Canadian-made Souris River Canoes in our programs. Designed for the discriminating paddler, these tough, lightweight kevlar, duralite and carbon-tec canoes in epoxy layup are on the forefront of today's canoeing technology. The 'perfect baby boomer canoe' comes in classic prospector or lakewater hull designs, new and used. Contact CanoeSki to take a test drive!