We just came around a corner and surprise! Ahead the river dipped down and we were in some huge waves with no way to escape. “Back Paddle and Low brace! Be ready to swim!” I yelled to my bow partner as we tried to slow down. The current drove us on. Down we went into a trough at least 5 feet deep and I figured we would just dig into the wave ahead and fill up with water. Instead we climbed out of the trough so easily taking on only a few drops. Afterwards, I realized that the PakCanoe had flexed in the middle at the tubing joints and followed through the trough which a rigid canoe could not have done. We were on the Koroc River in the Torngat Mountains near the northern tip of Labrador. Earlier on the trip we had dragged our fully loaded canoes over rocks in shallow rapids for many hours each day. Every night I checked the canoe hull for holes or tears, but there never were any. In fact it was difficult to find any scratches. Now that the trip is over I can truly say that the PakCanoe is far superior to an ABS canoe for its flexing ability, hull resistance and light weight. Consideration is being given to using these canoes on all our trips – even those not requiring a flight to the put-in.
Bill Pollock
Tuckamor Trips
