I have taught the ways of the wilderness for well over thirty years and have authored a novel which dives deep into the shadows that follow you as you traverse wilderness trails. It is my hope to reach as many people as possible to tell everyone that the wilderness is not a place to be wary of. It is the only place where a person can dig deep into their soul and find that which is hidden to them by modern day society.
Deep Snow and a pair of snowshoes places my mind into a place of quiet comfort.
Lighting a fire by flint and steel reminds me that the stresses of life can be unraveled and placed into their proper perspectives.
A quiet meal and a warm fire reminds me that this is exactly where I belong.
The buckskin shirt was made by me almost thirty years ago and was made from a deer which was killed by a vehicle. I wear it when I need to return home.
The winter has set in and brother cold has embraced the area; freezing the lakes and blanketing the ground with a thick layer of snow. The canoes are hibernating and the paddles are stowed.
The videos and photos I took during the previous summer become an escape and allow me to "feel" the pull of the paddle and the gentle curves of my canoe.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 becomes a tool, facilitating the ability to virtually fly over my favorite canoe lakes and plan for the coming summer.
In this video, I couple the virtual flight to an actual canoe trip I took last summer. The trip; unlike my usual trips, did not include any portaging but rather several days exploring the North Arm of Opeongo Lake in Algonquin Park.
Opeongo is a vast expanse of water and is prone to ill temper. She invites the wind to play on her surface; giving brother wind a huge playground in which he proves that he does indeed, rule. Waves, higher than the gunwales of your canoe, will challenge the most experienced of paddlers.
Opeongo is not a lake to take for granted. You play by her rules and be sure to know you limitations before attempting to cross her water, should she be stirred up.
I hope you can lose yourself in this virtual flight as we fly from Stanhope airport to one of the largest lakes in Algonquin Park. Have a seat, buckle up, and lets hit the throttle.
Accessing the back roads up here can be an adventure itself.
I have traveled down many unmaintained forest roads and found the shoulders littered with everything from oil pans to fender skirts, a testament to the roads ability to claim dominance over anyone who challenges it with a less than capable conveyance.
Many of the great "put in" spots for canoeists are found along, and at the end of forest roads; therefore the avid adventurer must ensure the vehicle they drive is up to the punishment that it will receive; should its nose be pointed down a road which is determined to cause damage.
Subaru has created one such vehicle. The Subaru Outback Wilderness is a lifted beast which will take the abuse any forest road can throw at it.
This is a short POV vid of a short journey down a forest road which is one of my favorite haunts.
The summer has been hot and dry. Many of the small streams which meander through the forest became devoid of water.
This particular stream was blocked with fallen trees and debris; I decided to spend a day and clear the waterway so it would flow freely when the rain returned.
What I discovered as I was cutting my way up the creek was that it was being used by the local wildlife as a pathway to move through the forest.
Most importantly, brother Bear had left its mark in the mud.
