Doubt and Fear Crept Into This Wilderness Man

 It's been a long while since I last posted to this blog. The reason is quite simple, fear and doubt crept into my soul which in turn, made me go into hiding. The how and the why of it is amorphous; the harder I searched for the reason, the deeper the question became.  

One major life changing event that could have triggered this feeling was easy to target; I retired from work after 42 years of service; however, as I ponder this as the progenitor of that original question, it comes up short of being the answer.  

Eventually, the cause of this angst; which I can only describe as an invasive feeling of helplessness and uselessness, came into focus.  

Shortly after my retirement, a change took place south of the Canadian border. This brought massive disruption to the way we look at our world and people who surround us.  This event immediately polarized people and the resulting fallout caused huge waves of anger, fear, domination and helplessness. This wave has had consequential effects throughout North America.   

Environmental concerns were immediately dismissed along with the idea of treating others as you would have others treat you. 

Those who embraced this change were haled as patriots, convicted felons were pardoned. The line between what is just and what is wrong was instantly blurred. Self indulgence and ego has become the only goal. Lies and corruption have replaced truth and decency.

The rights and freedoms of all those who opposed this change were placed under extreme scrutiny. Individualism took a backseat to servitude. All who express concern with this change are now considered anti patriotic. 

 The wilderness will be diminished and subdued. Life will be nothing more than servitude to those that push their reality as the only truth.  Alternate reality will become the norm. Artificial Intelligence will overtake our lives and will make it hard to know what is real and what is not.  

I am of an age now where the number of years ahead are far fewer than those I  have left behind.  I worry for the young people of society. I fear that these young people will never know the freedom that older adults love and cherish. A freedom which came at a high cost for earlier generations of young people. 

Thinking like this does indeed denude ones sense of wonder and awe; it will, if given enough daylight, draw a person into an abyss of negativity.  A place to which I have no desire to venture. 

Change is the one constant in life. Positive and negative are terms which will be applied to any particular change dependant upon the individual observing and living through the transition. One persons positive will indeed be another's negative.  

Individuals will embrace any particular change in life, or they will struggle to understand the simple but complicated question "why?'  

The wilderness has always been my home and teacher. She has led me onwards, providing me with the inspiration to discover that which is over the next ridge or around the next bend in the river.  Only here, in the infinite wonder of the woods, am I able to identify and quantify life's ever changing landscape.

Pertaining to feeling useless and helpless, that was silly and a complete waste of precious time.    

I hope that you will not become ensnared by the vileness and hate with is so pervasive in 2025. 

To dissipate these ugly and invasive feelings, Take a long quiet walk through the woods or paddle a quiet lake or river, the wilderness will help dissipate these life impeding thoughts. It always works for me. I hope the same for you.   

Wander and Wonder.   

                                                                                 R.G. 

Learning To Slow Down - Living Life Moment by Moment

 This photo was taken in early March of 2025. Notice the ring encircling the sun. This is an indication of wet weather which is yet to come. 

Sure enough, the following day, the forest was covered in a thick layer of new snow. 

There are signs everywhere in the forest which foretell of future and past events. One thing is for certain, time moves forward at a pace which is both steady and concerning to all living creatures. 

The reason I state this is quite simple; our lives are temporary and there is nothing anyone can do to alter the final outcome.  

Mammals and Birds do not count the passage of time as humans do. They carry on with their lives, living each moment as fully as possible. Nature is always on the lookout for more humus, in other words, nature is always trying to convert living matter to soil. The wild ones are fully aware of their vulnerabilities and therefore are living in the present paying full attention to the world around them. 

Our species has removed itself from this natural order and have created a world which corrupts the very fabric of the web which was woven long before humans placed a footprint in the mud of an ancient riverbank.  This attitude precludes us from living life in the moment. 

I have seen people on Portage trails in Algonquin Park attempting to find cell service so that they can check their social media sites. They are so focused on the disconnection from society that they miss the very reason they came to the park to begin with. 

As the shadow of age gets closer, the reality of my mortality is coming into focus. I am not consumed by this reality; however, it does motivate me to invest my remaining time in living life moment by moment. 

When you are out on the trail, or wandering in a park or on a city sidewalk; take the time to take your time. It is in these quiet moments where life truly exists.  

Notes From The Forest

 

Wandering Without Expectations

 Wandering through the woods can be an incredibly relaxing experience if you are in the right mindset.  

Most people seem to be in a rush to get to the next perfect spot to take a selfie; yet, in their wake they leave many wonderous sights behind.  

I have tested this idea many times while out on trails which are frequented by the public. I will silently sit in the woods, just off the path, and watch as people walk by. None of them are aware of my presence; unless they are accompanied by a dog. Dogs are keenly aware of the world through which they walk and will always spot me as I sit amongst the trees. 

The reason most people hike in the woods is to loose the tensions of everyday life, this is not possible if one decides to carry those tensions with them as they embark on their wander.  

I hope this short video will give you some ideas on how to loose yourself so that you can simply wander and wonder. 

Hawks. 

Reflections On Life

As time goes by, I am becoming more aware that life is a finite affair. 

I am approaching the ripe old age of 65 and am very conscious of the fact that there is more time behind me that what is in front of me. 

I know this sounds somewhat depressing, it truly is not; it is simply a  fact of existence and once a person comes to embrace it, the more they will spend time wisely. 

Cutting firewood has been something I have done for over thirty years and I have learned much about the nuances of the work. How much longer I can continue to tackle this demanding work is a mystery but I intend to continue to do so as long as my body permits. So far, I have not heard any complaints from my anatomy. 

I produced this video as a way to show the amount of work that goes into gathering firewood; and the necessary safety protocols a person must use in order to preclude a hospital visit. 

I hope you enjoy this video. 

R.G.W.  

The First Snow Of The Season

 The date was December 1st 2024, I was watching the two beavers in front of my home preparing for the winter. They seemed to be in a heightened state of activity which made me wonder if they knew something the weather channel did not. 

Sure enough, slow steady snowflakes started to descend from a featureless grey sky. I sat on the bank of the pond and watched as the flakes landed on my pants, showing their unique patterns before succumbing to the heat of my legs. 

The Beavers did not look up from their work, choosing instead to continue the mudding of their lodge roof and stockpiling of tender saplings; upon which they would feast during their time locked beneath the ice of the pond. 

The snow started to fall in earnest and before the hour hand on a clock could make it to the next marker, we were engulfed in a snow globe. 

The following morning, I found myself outside, staring at the depth of the snow surrounding me. "This is mid-January snow!" I muttered as I trudged to the barn to extract my snowshoes and head off into the forest to read the tracks of those wild ones with whom I share the forest with.

Donning the shoes, I began to create the very first snowshoe tracks of the season. Snowshoe Hare tracks were abundant along side that of Red Squirrel and mouse.  I came across a few deer tracks but they had not yet created their usual trails. 

This video simply highlights portions of the trek which happened on the first day of significant snowfall of the season. 

I am happy that winter has shown up early and hope that the snow will stay to blanket the forest and protect it from the deep cold which will inevitably come when January comes calling. 

R.G.W. 

A Great Place For Family Camping - Algonquins Highlands - Big East Lake

After a long illness which precluded me from paddling, I was finally able to launch my little kayak onto a lake which is close to my home.

Big East Lake located in the Algonquin Highlands. It is a very busy place in the summer due to it's ease of access and it's great campsites. The lake is a great place to initiate your children to the wonderful world of camping. 

It is early October and the crowds have slipped away, so I have the lake pretty much to myself as I explore its length and breadth. 

I filmed this paddle with my Gopro Hero 9. I used four batteries in less than three hours. There was a lot to capture and the lighting conditions were perfect for this little action camera. 

Grab your paddle and come along for a quiet journey upon a lake which is perfect for day trips or a week long camping outing.