2023 Subaru Outback Wilderness | POV ride | Quiet Forest Road

 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. 

Rain Returns to the Forest | Brother Bear Leaves His Mark

 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. 

Wicked Mosquitoes | Testing Bug Jacket | Forest Life

I purchased this bug jacket/pullover from Marks- a clothing store in Ontario. I test it out in this video against hordes of Algonquin Mosquitoes.

 

Explore By Canoe | Big East Lake | Day Trip

Flint and Steel Fire lighting

 This method of fire lighting pre-dates ferrite rod and steel. It is tricky to use as it is affected by moisture. 

A carefully constructed "nest" of tinder is vital to success. 

Don't rely on this method - always carry other means of lighting a fire when you wander into the forest. 

Wander and Wonder - R.G. 

Mother Raccoon Asks For Help

A wild raccoon has decided to take a chance and ask for handouts from a human - me. 

I normally do not do this as it habituates the wild ones and makes them believe that humans are not dangerous. 

News Flash - Humans are very dangerous; however, I decided to lend a hand in this case as I saw she was struggling to maintain her weight whilst taking care of her two young ones. 

Raccoons are omnivores and will eat almost anything. They will certainly eat anything that you eat and once these intelligent creatures learn where handouts are offered, Halloween becomes a nightly affair - after all, they are wearing masks. 

All that said, I named this one Scruffy as she always looks disheveled. 

Hope you enjoy her as much as I do. 

Forest Hike | Mosquitoes and More

Simple Yet Essential - The Fire Kit

It took thousands of years for Humans to discover the art of fire making. Now we have the ability to create fire whenever we choose to. 

When hiking or camping, always carry a means to light a fire, be that a lighter, a match or a flint and steel. 

Fire is the one thing that Humans require that no other species does. Learn how to create a fire in all weather and your good to go. 

Happy wandering

The Humble Porcupine

The porcupine is a woodland mammal which loves to spend its days high up in a tree minding its own business. 

You will often find them on a narrow branch huddled in a ball. 

Porcupines are not a prolific mammal. 

The gestation period is lengthy - up to 250 days.

The female gives birth to a single offspring anytime between April and August. The little ones are born with quills!

The young are weaned after 3 to 4 months. 

I watched a female porcupine give birth several years ago and it was truly fascinating. The baby was born with a layer of skin around it which protected the mother. Once born, the mom opened up the "baggie of skin" and the little ones quills popped up and started to dry out and harden up.  

These gentle animals will do you no harm as long as you don't get too close to them. They can't run and they can't shoot their quills; however, they will swish their tail around as a warning to stay clear. 

If you should get a quill in your skin, do not cut the tip off as recommended by many misinformed people. It will do nothing to ease in the removal of the quill. 

Quills have scales on the business end which swell when they enter flesh. The only way to remove them is to endure the pain and pull them out. Quills also have a nasty tendency to work their way into your body as you move. Get them out as soon as you can, disinfect the wounded area and chock it up to experience. 

These docile creatures are slow, near sighted and absolutely the masters of chill. 

Happy Hiking  

 

What's This Beaver Doing?

  It's a special moment when a forest wanderer gets a chance to watch wildlife without influencing their behavior. 

Recently, as I was returning from a wander through the woods, I was able to witness a beaver as it groomed itself. I am sure the pond keeper knew I was there but he didn't see me as a threat and allowed me to hang out and film him.

I filmed for over an hour and have condensed the footage to six minutes. 

Come along and watch as this much maligned woodland creature calmly goes about oiling his coat prior to a days work. 

Spring is Coming

 Spring is on it's way! The Sun is climbing higher in the sky and pulling the blanket of snow off the slumbering forest floor. 

Soon, the sound of spring peepers will fill the air and the dance of life will be in full swing within the green embrace of the wilderness. 

Clay Pot Heater | Does it Work?

Clay Pot Heaters are comprised of four or more clay planting pots separated by washers and nuts forming a multilayered unit. 

The idea behind these heaters is heat absorption then dispersion via radiant heat. The space between the pots captures the heat of the candles which then heats up the clay. The clay then radiates this stored heat into the surrounding air. 

I have watched several YouTube videos of this heater and found myself compelled to test the idea out. 

This post highlights my conclusion about the viability of the so called "Clay Pot Heater."  

Firewood and a Woodland Lunch | A Perfect Day

 Collecting firewood for the homestead is heavy work; however, when you couple it with an outdoor fire and a warm bowl of soup, it makes for a perfect day. 

Working alone in the forest frees the mind and lets you de-stress from the confusion of society. Hence the term "No BS" in the title of the video. 

Come along for the ride and check out the sights and sounds of a homestead cookout and workout. 

 

Snowshoeing at Minus 30

 When temperatures drop well below zero, the forest becomes quiet; very quiet. 

The sound of your passage echoes off trees and spreads deep into the surrounding woods. When you stop moving, silence fills the air and you stand alone, immersed in the wonder of the woods. 

The cold is relentless as it looks for ways to seep into your skin. Walking helps to generate heat; however, the speed at which you walk must be carefully controlled, for if you should begin to sweat, the water will dampen your garments and hypothermia will stalk you. 

Learning how to create and maintain a fire in the dead of winter is a skill which must not be taken for granted. Without it, you are at the mercy of the cold which surrounds you. 

Hiking in the winter is an activity which is invigorating and challenging. Being prepared to face the bitter cold is a necessity. 

If you have the skills and are prepared, there is nothing like a long snowshoe hike through the deep silent woods of winter. 

Happy Trails. 

Rob

Bitter Cold | Firewood Gathering | Yamaha Bravo

 Firewood gathering can be a huge chore; however, if you look at the work as a chance to workout and be outside for days at a time, collecting firewood for the homestead becomes somewhat fun. 

On this particular day, the sun was bright but the temperature was brutally cold. I fired up my little snowmobile and away we went to cut up some trees which had blown down in a violent summer storm.

The little Yamaha Bravo is a perfect sled for the woods as it is nimble and narrow. Air cooled and no frills it's perfect for the punishment I put it through to supply my home with wood. 

Come along for a ride and experience a day in the woods collecting firewood. 

 

Bitter Cold and This Little Sled Still Goes

The temperature outside was - 25 degrees Celsius as I trudged toward my little 256cc sled. 

I needed to pack in the trails for future firewood gathering but I was unsure if the little Bravo would fire up. 

One pull on the cord and the little Yamaha started. The game was on and away we went to pack in the trails and collect a few pieces of firewood I had previously cut. 

It's amazing how fast the wildlife catch onto the trails and use them to their advantage. Instead of pushing through deep snow, they can traverse the land and conserve energy. 

In the coming days, my little Bravo will be put to heavy work hauling out the cord wood needed to keep the homestead warm. 

Stay Warm and Happy Trails. 

 

Reflections on Summer Past

This is a very short video where I practiced with some editing techniques. 

I didn't realize it was to become an ode to summer past. 

With the canoe stored away and the paddles hung in the barn, it's time to embrace winter because; the more you like it, the faster it goes. 

Happy Wanders. 

Breakfast In The Woods | Perfect Start To A New Day

Taking a break alongside a babbling forest stream and enjoying the company the wilderness. 

Hope you enjoy. 

Rob.