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.
~ R.G. Wright - Hawks Shadow

Friday, December 25, 2020

A Skull in the forest


 A wander through the woods can reveal much about the world around you. 

Tracks and sign left by the wild ones lead to many discoveries and adventures. 

As you wander, the primitive side of you slowly comes out of hiding and reveals itself. You begin to blend into the forest and you start to feel the energy which surrounds you. 

As you shed the skin of civilization, your body begins to respond to sensory inputs which have laid dormant for far too long. Small noises now have meaning, bird song becomes a message and the tracks on the trail are the signatures of the creatures which call the forest home. 

Always enter the forest without expectations, leave fear at home, simply go for a wander and let your mind drift; the forest will do the rest. 






Thursday, December 24, 2020

How to build a log bird feeder


 The snow covered forests and fields are home to birds which do not fly south when brother cold blankets the land. They are generally the species which hunt for seeds, nuts, dormant bugs and the carcasses of animals. 

Winter is hard for the wild ones. Foraging becomes a never ending quest for energy. Both predator and prey must dance to the dictates of the winter winds. 

Setting up a bird feeder helps augment the wild birds diet and allows you to watch the interaction of the many species which will visit. 

The happy-go-lucky chickadees will flit in and out taking a seed at a time, the nuthatches will entertain you with their antics while the verbose blue jay's will test your patience as they scoop out half the contents of the feeder looking for the perfect seed. 

Red squirrels will find your feeder quickly, this will certainly command the attention of the predators. I have seen hawks, owls, weasels, fox and wolf at the feeders I have in front of my home. (Don't worry, the chatty red squirrel is clever and alert.) 

The project in this video is simple to make and easy to use:
1. Drill holes in a log of any size. 
2. Fill the holes with suet or peanut butter.
3. Place your log feeder where you can see it.        
4. Sit back and enjoy the dance.  




  

 

Monday, December 21, 2020

How to make a hiking pole


 A hiking pole is a versatile tool that can quickly become indispensable. 

Camping and hiking through the wilderness has challenges that must be experienced to be fully realized. 

A hiking pole can be used for a multitude of tasks. A few example are; hanging your jacket, pole vaulting over creeks, a cooking pot hanger, a shelter support, for pushing a canoe through a shallow marsh or river and as a crude fishing pole. Heck, you can even use it as a monopod for a camera. 

They are simple to make and fun to use.  

Please do not cut live trees to make your hiking pole.
The one in this video was dead stand. 

Always test the pole prior to working on it. Make sure it can bear your weight. It would be relatively embarrassing if you pole vaulted across a creek only to end up swimming.  

Have fun and keep on hiking!


 

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

How to Blend and Flow.


The forest is a place of wonder and adventure. It is a place where we can reset our civilized minds and center ourselves. 

This process is circumvented when we carry the baggage of expectation and fear. The two are separate burdens wrapped up in the same backpack. 

Expectations, simply put, are thoughts which prevent us from being in the moment.

As you wander down a leaf strewn trail, The trees form a cocoon of wonder all around you and the forest smell intoxicates your mind. You have your camera ready for the big moment when a buck deer will bound out of the bush and present you with the photo opportunity of a lifetime. 

Waiting for that moment or expecting that moment, precludes you from seeing the porcupine high up in a hemlock tree, casually living life as all the quilled ones do. You miss the mice people as they search the forest floor for food. You miss the hawk that is silently sitting on a maple branch waiting for the opportune time to launch itself at its intended target. You miss the dance of life which surrounds your every footstep. 

Fear works in exactly the same way, it stops you from becoming part of your environment. The world around you becomes a living nightmare and prevents any knowledge the forest has to teach you from manifesting itself. 

Forget the lessons Hollywood has ingrained in you, it is not real. Leave your expectations at home. Enter the world of the green with nothing but wonder and you will be amazed at the release this will bring you. 




  

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Blood trail in the forest


 The forest is built upon layers and layers of humus, in other words, decaying matter. 

Death is a constant and is absolutely necessary for the survival of a healthy forest. 

I have taught this simple lesson to thousands of children and adults through my career.

I have witnessed wolves hunting and killing deer, otters killing muskrats and beavers, fishers killing porcupines and a host of other predators doing what they must to survive. I see a design in this, a reason for the killing. I see the forest flourish because of it. 

When I see humans, decked out in the latest hunting attire and carrying the latest technology designed to make the kill easy, I see an imbalance, an unfair advantage.
I have killed, not for need of meat, but rather to end the misery of an animal which has been mortally wounded. I hold no ill-will towards human hunters as long as they follow the rules and hunt ethically. 

For me, all life is sacred and should be treated with respect and compassion. We are an apex predator and as such have a responsibility to act sustainably. 

When I see a blood trail from an animal in distress, I am compelled to follow. I have an innate desire to uncover the story behind the crimson writing on the forest floor. 






Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Chainsaw fire starter


 I discovered an easy way to make tinder one day while trying to split some elm logs for firewood.

Elm is incredibly hard to split by axe. I used steel wedges and a sledge hammer. After several attempts, my brain started working again.  

I cut the log along its length with my chainsaw to a depth of an inch or so. by doing so, I broke the grain enough to allow me to assault the log with my axe. Success!


The added bonus - Perfect tinder for starting my campfires. 

I know it could be considered non-bush crafty, but who cares - it works. 






Sunday, November 22, 2020

How to build a survival shelter


 Survival skills are an absolute must if you travel in the back country. The "what if" scenario is always following you as you wander or paddle. 

For example; what if you are traveling through the woods on a motorized ATV and it breaks down? You're a long way in, there is no way of walking out. Cell coverage is non existent, your cell phone has just become an expensive flashlight.  

Day-light is fading and the cool night air is pushing down on the land. The reality of being stuck in the woods sinks into your mind as you grapple with the situation. 

It's time to get to work. Set your mind free by using your hands. 

Your first task is to build a shelter which will keep you from the elements and prevent you from getting hypothermia. The shelter shown in this video is the only shelter which is easy to build by hand and it will keep you from freezing to death. 

The most important thing to do is stay calm, don't panic. A mistake out here can cost you dearly. Build your shelter and accept the situation for what it is. 

The chances of ever being in a situation such as this is remote, but if it should happen, it's better to be prepared then to be shivering in the dark as fear entwines your soul with its cold fingers. 







Saturday, November 21, 2020

How to build a functional fire pit stand


 Cooking a meal over an open fire is synonymous with camping.  

Several technical problems have to be overcome prior to placing a pot on the fire.
First - you have to have a place to put your pot so that it rests in the flames/coals to heat whatever it is that you are cooking. 
Second, you have to have a means to regulate the heat so that you can cook your food properly. 
Finally you have to ensure the pot will not flop over and spill your meal into the embrace of the fire. 

All of these problems can be solved in many different ways - This video explains how to solve this dilemma using a simple tripod, six feet of paracord, a 1/2" pulley and a tent peg.  

Super easy to build, and even easier to operate, this method is fool proof. It will ensure you will be able to cook and keep warm, any meal that fits in a pot. 




Camping is a life like no other, it will take you into a world which is removed from the controlled world of civilization. You will find yourself in a place where everything that surrounds you is part of a huge multifaceted organism.

Using your hands to create something such as a tripod connects you in a very real way to the world of the green. 

Please remember that when you cut a sapling, you are taking the life of a young tree, select saplings such a poplar. These trees will re-sprout from the base.  

The beaver clan taught me this - the trees they take will re-populate within ten years of their culling.
 
Beaver with maple sapling - R.G.Wright


P.S. 
Most Campgrounds and Provincial Parks do not permit
the cutting of any living tree. That is good thing!

The tripod in this video was made on my own property and the saplings were selectively harvested. 

This tripod can be made from dead branches - simply increase the stance distance of the legs and you are good to go. 

Happy camping!






Sunday, November 15, 2020

The Story of a Bear


 Years ago, I had the privilege of meeting a young black bear.  

He allowed me to wander with him for several years and our time together changed my world. 

I took a walk on a mid November night. The weather was unseasonably warm and the universe was wide open for my eyes to wander from star to star. 

I sat down on a rock outcrop known as deer ridge and decided to tell you the story of how I met the bear I called Blackie. 

P.S. 
Some words in this video could be considered offensive.   





Wednesday, October 28, 2020

A Beaver family finds a new home


 A beaver family is a tight knit unit. The kits are born in early spring and spend at least two years with their parents. During this time they learn the essentials of being a beaver. 

Dam construction and repair, lodge construction, channel building and most importantly, how to identify predators. These are some of the lessons mom and dad teach their kits. 

The beavers in this video were displaced from their home by people who just simply don't get it. Instead of placing mesh around their shoreline trees, they tore the lodge apart and chased the beavers from the marsh they inhabited. One kit died in the process. 

It is my hope, that simple videos like this will help people understand that the wild folks of the forest have much to teach us.  

I watched this family for three years, they accepted me in their home. I floated for hours in my canoe as they paddled around me. I sat quietly by the shoreline as they chewed on saplings I brought them. Mom would sit on my foot as she groomed her fur. 

I learned volumes about these little forest folk and I learned much about myself. 

I hope you enjoy this video; shot with an older camera it is a bit grainy, but moments like this are rarely repeated. 

With much respect to those who care. 

Hawks. 


Sunday, October 25, 2020

Collecting firewood


 Most sites I have camped on are picked clean of firewood. 

Shreborne Lake - R.G. Wright

Generations of canoeists have wandered in ever-widening circles into the woods to gather the dry firewood which will sustain them while on-site. 

Most of the time, I find it much easier just to venture out in my canoe to collect the dead wood which is normally in abundance along the shoreline of any wilderness lake. 

A campfire is something we all look forward to, especially when the temperature drops into the single digits. The shear volume of wood required for a couple of days of camping, can be somewhat daunting. 

Camping is a lot of work, but in this case, work is fun. When you're collecting your firewood, use the time to investigate the forest. You will be amazed what you can discover when your canoe is beached and you are wandering through the woods with your saw in hand. 

Happy adventuring.  







Wednesday, October 21, 2020

How to dry out a tent



Setting up camp is full of expectations and excitement, the days ahead show promise of adventure and freedom. 

When it's time to strike camp - thoughts of unpacking your gear once you arrive home fills your head with thoughts which are not conducive to making you smile. 

A wet tent is a problem because you can't leave it packed. Mold and mildew will ruin the shelter and stink up your camp closet. You must set the tent up upon arriving home and wait until it dries out. 

A simple way to preclude this extra step is to dry the tent out at camp before packing it away. If the campsite has bushes, simply place the tent on top of the them and let the air dry the shelter out. 

It's fast, efficient and beautifully simple. The entire tent will be ready to bag and put away until your next adventure. 

P.S. 
Make sure the bushes are the gentle type and not full of thorns.  Of course, this method doesn't work if it is raining. ðŸ˜‰

Happy camping!   





Wednesday, October 14, 2020

How to tame campfire smoke


 Once the tents are set and the gear is organized, Campers gravitate to the fire pit and spend hours contemplating life while staring into the flames. It is a beautiful sight. 

The smoke eventually finds you, targets you, and the game is on. You and your friends end up running around the fire pit trying to get away from the smoke. So much for the tranquility.   

If you make a few simple changes to the pit, the fire will burn efficiently and smoke will take a back seat to your ringside seat. 

This is my go-to technique for creating an efficient and safe wood burning fire pit. 


R.G.W. 

  


Saturday, October 10, 2020

The Freedom of Imagination


When the rain is hitting the window pane and the wind is making the trees sway, an outdoors person can find themselves at a loss for things to do that day. 

HR and WC Model Railway - Built by R.G. Wright

Climbing into your head and feeling sorry for yourself, as you stare at your beached canoe, quite simply will never do. The secret I find, is to totally unwind by climbing into my mind and opening up the magical world hidden within the box  labeled - Imagination. 

Finding the box may not be easy amongst all the clutter. 

You will find it hiding under a thick moldy blanket labeled with an old worn tag. 

A single word is written upon the aged paper. Leaning in close, you will see the letters, faded with time and barely recognizable. You squint and discover that the word is non other than - logic. 

Pull off the blanket and find that box. Dust it off and open it; then dive in. This is where you will find a world which is all yours; the shadows of the day will certainly fade away as you connect with influences far beyond the reach of everyday matters. 

Life is always a long paddle home. 




Sunday, October 4, 2020

R.G. Wright - Why the second name?


 During the introduction to any outdoor teaching, I always explain the name of Hawks Shadow. 

A birth name is simply that, a birth name - you pop out and your parents name you. 

A name that floats into your consciousness unbidden, is a name which has meaning. 

There is much more to this story than what I describe in the video. One day I will share the whole story.
 


 

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Sunrise Meditation


There are times at camp when I am simply at a loss for words when witnessing one of natures many wonders. 

I woke up on this particular morning to mist dancing on the lake. Mesmerized, I could barley take my eyes off the coalescing vapor. 

Many thoughts wandered out of the mist to mesh with my mind as the cold air plucked at my skin. I immersed myself in the moment which became a memory which I will hold for many years to come. 

Hope you enjoy the dancers on the lake. 


 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Morning Lesson


The play between cold air and warm water can result in a magical display which is irresistible to the wandering eyes of an outdoors person.
I paddle into the mist and become invisible to the world. My mind conjures up images of spirits dancing to a melody which only they can hear.


 
As my canoe drifts through the surreal scene, an island appears from the depths of the lake. It seems, for the moment, that I am standing still and it is the island which is moving.

The Earth spins a few more degrees and the sun's heat begins to dissipate the dancers on the lake. I paddle to shore and spend a few minutes immersed in the magic.


A thought moves into my mind; unbidden but welcome. It's message remains shrouded for a short time and I do not search for it's meaning. Slowly it moves to the forefront and I write it into my memory. 

The message is clear and poignant. It tells me that life is fleeting. Most of us believe that the future holds more promise than the present. We look beyond the moment to moments which have not occurred yet. We miss the lessons of today for the hope that a greater lesson will present itself tomorrow.

As I walk back into my campsite, I become aware of everything I did not see just moments earlier. I turn my eyes back to the lake and thank the universe for the lesson I have just learned.



Saturday, September 12, 2020

Welcome Home



As the sun slowly slips down the western arc of the sky, shadows extend out from the surrounding trees pointing to the place where the sun will appear the next day. Wood smoke rises in a thin blue haze reaching upwards towards the pink hued sky. You sit quietly on a log in front of the fire pit immersed in thought.
 

The Light begins to fade and the cool night air stalks into your campsite forcing you to forgo your contemplation and move toward your tent. Opening the zippered door, you rummage around in your clothing bag looking for the hoodie that you know you packed. 


Clothed for the cool night air, you take your seat by the fire and resume watching the flickering flames as the fires' light pushes the relentless darkness back toward the forest and creates shadows which seem imbued with life. 

A loon cries out, the plaintive call filters through your mind and pulls your soul deeper into the wilderness.  Within the blackness of the forest, a barred owl calls out; four haunting notes repeated twice, then silence fills the camp site. A slight shiver runs up your spine as you realize you are a stranger in this wilderness, simply visiting from a place which does not allow the wild to exist. The realization that you are being watched by creatures which do not need the aid of artificial light, makes you feel inept and out of place.  




 Pulling yourself away from the warmth and security of the fire, you wander toward the shoreline upon which your canoe is resting. Keeping your headlight off, you gingerly make your way down the time-worn path. Your eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and you begin to see the world in black and white. A slight glow to your right alerts you to a phosphorescent fungus which imbues the forest with a hint of magic. 

A slight breeze tickles the water which reacts by sending ripples to tease the shoreline. You close your eyes and breath in deeply. Holding your breath for several seconds you then exhale the baggage your mind has conjured up. 

When you open your eyes, the sky is filled with pinpoints of light which are mirrored by the lake. The Big Dipper points toward Polaris, Orion stands on guard and Cassiopeia forms the letter W. 

Your eye focuses on Cassiopeia and your mind formulates two words, why and who. A question walks out of the fog within your consciousness.
 "Why am I here?"

As your mind grasps with the enormity of the query, a creature, unseen, laps at the water. You listen as it drinks. Not daring to move, you are instinctively frozen to the ground, becoming part of the wilderness you paddled into. Within a few heartbeats, the animal vanishes without a sound; you begin to breath again. 
The answer to your question has dislodged from your civilized brain. It is simply answered by two words; 
"To feel."  




Another question forms in your mind, coalescing out of the darkness like a far distant flashlight. 
"Who am I?"

The stars have rotated clock-wise while Polaris remains in place. A slight chill has wormed its way to your skin and you want to return to the fire, yet you linger because the question of "who?" requires some more thought.   




Shuffling your feet slightly, your right foot slips into the cool water sending ripples out into the blackness, informing everything they touch that you exist. The clarity of the moment lifts the fog from your mind and the question of "Who am I?" is answered. 

By simply re-arranging the words, the answer if forthcoming.  The sentence embeds itself  in your consciousness and you smile. The answer to the question is simply; 
"I am." 


As you walk back to the fire, the light of the moon begins to fill the site. Fear no longer lingers in the corners of your mind, you have blended into the wilderness and the simple act of breathing becomes special. Wood smoke fills the air with it's comforting aroma and you feel as if time is standing still. 

You place another log on the fire and resume your vigil beside the fires' glow. Heat seeps into your clothing and chases the chill away. Once again the owl calls out into the moonlight bathed world. You cup your hands over your mouth and call back in poor imitation.  Surprisingly, the owl responds. You have now become part of it's world, blending in and flowing within the dictates of nature. Any thought of dominance has evaporated and a sense of belonging has infused your soul. 

Welcome Home. 





 

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

"Dam" Beavers!

How many times have you cursed the number of beaver dams blocking your route as you traverse a river?

The itinerary you painstakingly worked on during the planning stages of your trip is now in serious jeopardy of failure. A far distant lake is going to serve as your sanctuary for the coming night, yet this small wall of sticks, stones and mud is hampering your forward momentum.

"Damn Beavers!" You yell aloud to the reeds and cattail that surround you like a living wall as you pull your canoe and gear over the engineering works of the resident beaver. 


In reality, the problem is not caused by the beaver and it's penchant for building dams; the problem exists within our minds. 
We are habituated to time schedules and as such, anything that impedes our progression becomes an irritant.

It takes me several hours of paddling to leave my "society" mind behind. The pressures of everyday societal life slough off me as my paddle digs into the water. The first few beaver dams I encounter are considered annoyances, the following dams are welcomed. Without the dams, we would be forced to portage or walk our canoes down many water courses. 

The beaver builds the dam to ensure adequate water for its existence. That sequestered water is deep enough to navigate with a fully loaded canoe. 

The much maligned beaver is in fact responsible for shaping the multitude of original watersheds found throughout Ontario. Without this large rodent, Ontario would not be a paddlers paradise. 

I grew fond of these large intelligent creatures while traversing the forests and ponds of my youth. Their tenacity and strength was always something I marveled at.  


These images are those of a female beaver who became a companion of mine, she would follow my canoe whenever I chose to invade her pond. 


She would sit mumbling to herself as she groomed her fur. I would talk to her quietly as I surveyed the world she had built.
Climbing back into my canoe, I would paddle away as she followed in my wake. As I pulled my canoe over her large dam, I would thank her for her company and bid her farewell. 



The pond I once shared with her is now marshland; she and her family moved onto another area of the river where the food supply would sustain them through the winter. 

One day, the marshland will once again become a pond and I will pull my canoe over the rebuilt dam and make acquaintances with the resident pond builders. 

Happy Paddling. 

 

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Mayhem on a cottage lined lake


I often wonder what draws me to the quiet solitude of a wilderness lake or forest.

As a child, I spent as much time as possible wandering the forest trails around my home. It was within those green walled paths that I learned the ways of the forest and learned to "see" the lessons painted on the forest floor. It was there that I learned to remove myself from society and become a part of something that was ancient and profound.

Nothing has changed since those days long past, I have no power to resist the siren call of the woods. The trials I have traveled slide beneath my bare feet as body sleeps and my soul searches for messages and insight.

There are times when curiosity pulls at me and forces me to venture into places I would usually avoid, places where people rule and all other creatures must step aside and stay hidden.

I ventured out onto a cottage lined lake near my home. The cacophony of noise which bounced from shore to shore shattered any illusions of a peaceful paddle within moments. Boats and high powered watercraft created a chaos of waves which shattered on the shoreline continuously. My prospector canoe handled the waves perfectly; but the rat race on the lake forced me to retrace my strokes back to the seclusion of the marsh and then the portage trail from whence I came.

 
R.G.Wright

As I pulled my canoe back up onto the shore where the portage trail beckoned me home, the silence of the forest filled my being and pushed aside all the "noise" that had encapsulated me. I hoisted the canoe on my shoulders and walked the portage trail home pondering many questions pertaining to the impact of humans on the world. I have my thoughts which will remain my own. I am more than thankful that there are many wilderness areas here in Ontario which have been protected and provide us quiet paddlers a place to roam.
 




Tuesday, August 11, 2020

The Portage - Repairing the marsh crossing

 

Portage trails are varied in length and can be anything from an easy walk through the woods to a muscle challenging trail that would test the most athletic woodland traveler.

Many portage trails cross bodies of water which are not navigable by canoe. Bridges of all sorts can be found throughout canoe country. These range from simple planks of wood which test our sense of balance to engineered crossings complete with railings. Most deep woods crossings are made from logs gathered in the surrounding area or rocks thrown into strategic places. 

This video displays one method of crossing a marsh area. I describe marsh-land as a submerged or a semi submerged area which has a tendency to suck shoes off unsuspecting hikers. 

This building method maintains water flow and helps to mitigate damage to the wetland.  Nails and fasteners are not required.  


                    Happy wandering!

   


Monday, August 10, 2020

River Otters - Weasels who love to have fun.



The river otter is a member of the weasel clan. These powerful predators patrol waterways in search of fish, frogs, turtles and a host of other species which live in, and around water. 

Otters usually travel in groups and are incredibly playful. I have seen them playing a game of water tag where one otter chases the others; they in turn try to avoid being tagged. The game usually falls apart quickly and the whole gang gets into a rollicking game of "pile-on" which entails a lot noise and chatter which is hilarious to hear and see.




I spotted these otters chilling out on a floating log grooming their fur. I moved in as close as I possibly could and watched them for well over thirty minutes. 

The secret to this kind of interaction is to keep your excitement as contained as possible. Keep all movements to a minimum. Move position only when the otter submerges.  

I have spotted them on almost every canoe trip I have undertaken through Algonquin Park and the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails.  

I truly hope you have an opportunity to see otters in the wild. They are truly amazing creatures. 


Thursday, July 23, 2020

First portage of a 10 day trip and my son gives me lip. Great.


We had just arrived at the east arm of Opeongo lake in Algonquin Park. I make one simple comment about the canoe pack that I am about to carry and my son decides to give me a piece of his mind.  

The fun had just begun. 


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