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

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

What's under your canoe? The underwater world of a woodland pond. Part one.


Woodland ponds are an integral part of any forest ecosystem. Thousands of creatures live in, on and around these bodies of water. 

The transition from winter to spring is slow but dramatic. The previous years vegetation begins to decay over the cold winter months. Frogs and turtles dig into the detritus and mud on the bottom of the pond and enter a state of metabolism which mimics death. 

Otters, beavers and muskrats hunt and forage throughout the entire winter as deer, wolves and a myriad of other land mammals leave their tracks on the snow covered pond ice. 

As the ice melts, and sunlight once again penetrates into the depths of the pond; life awakens slowly to the gentle touch of the sun. 

This video is a short underwater exploration of a small woodland pond showing the difference between winter and mid spring. 

Fascinated by the process of renewal in natural ecosystems, I plan to film the pond in the same fashion each month until ice once again covers the pond's surface.  




  
  

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Otters and more on the Tim River


Way back in August of 2015, my son and I planned a trip which would take us down the Tim River in Algonquin park. 

The main purpose of this trip was to do research for my book. I had to gain a first person perspective on the route my protagonist would take on his fateful journey. 


We connected with the river via the portage from Queer Lake. Debris dams and beaver dams were brutal for the first two kilometers, this forced us to load and unload our canoe many times before finally reaching navigable
 water.  


The river bends and twists as it flows to Shippagew Lake, so much so, that I swear your compass will get dizzy.


If you decide to tackle the Tim, give yourself at least seven hours, yep, 7 hrs, to make the run from the falls to Shippagew Lake. 

This video highlights small portions of the river as it was back in 2015. 

Happy Paddling! 

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Quiet thoughts


 I spend much of my free time wandering through the woods. It's within the forests embrace that I can re-connect to the real world. I shed the encumbrances of social engineering and return to simple thoughts which lead me to a place of belonging. 


Shelters, such as the one shown in this video, give us a place to hang our hat so to speak. If the shelter is placed in a strategic position on your trail system, it becomes a place where you can relax and settle in for a light meal. 

I vocalize my thoughts as I carry on with simple camp tasks such as sharpening my knife and tending to the fire. 

Please remember to place your shelter in an area where it will not disrupt the flow of wildlife. The shelter in this video is totally portable. Within a few hours I can move it to another location if I feel it is affecting the flora and fauna in the area. 




Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...