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!

   

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. 

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. 

Excerpt from the novel, "A Long Paddle Home."

The novel "A Long Paddle Home," follows the life of a park ranger as he carries out the duties of his position. He is haunted by a past of which he has no knowledge, and a future which tears at the very fabric of his soul. 

Accompanied by Rusty, a Labrador Retriever, the protagonist wanders into a surreal world which challenges his sanity and forces him to make decisions which could alter the very essence of who he is. 

Mystery, love and fear team up to create a novel which will portage you into the depths of the wilderness where shadows come to life and control is just an illusion. 

This video was taken on site 17 on Sherborne Lake. The text within the video is from the book "A Long Paddle Home." 

Campsite 17 on Sherborne Lake is the place where the book first manifested itself. I was sitting on the "outlook rock" and I could feel the presence of something which was just outside of my understanding. 

 

 

A quote from a reader's review:

"The novel is set within the wilderness of The Algonquin Highlands. The lakes, forests, campsites and portages as detailed within the book are real places, places where the reader can actually visit and feel what the writer is conveying."

Enjoy the adventure!  

 

A TENT IS JUST A TENT - RIGHT? PART TWO.

When a single person or two person tent just won't do, you will have to scale up to a larger shelter. Tents are usually sized by the amount of people they can hold.

The problem with this measurement is that gear is never taken into account. A two person tent will house two adults and their sleeping equipment. All other gear must be stowed outside. As you scale up, the same holds true. 

The size of tent you bring to any camp will be determined by the number of occupants wishing to share the tent. Once that is determined, comfort becomes a factor. If you wish to share your tent with one other person, a three person tent will give you wiggle room and a place to stow a couple of packs. The trade off is weight. The larger the tent, the more it weighs. A few pounds extra seems like no big deal until you get into your third portage of a long day and I promise you, you will wish your pack had wheels. 

Algonquin. R.G.Wright.

A tent becomes your home when you are camping.

It's imperative that you choose your shelter wisely. 

I have seen many broken poles, ripped tarps and a 

myriad of other problems due to people purchasing 

substandard tents. 

You can get away with this if you are car camping 

as the car can become a shelter if something should 

go wrong. 

Interior camping is another story, a ripped door or

broken poles will ruin your stay in the woods if no

repair can be made. 

Please see my previous post "A Tent Is A Tent, Right?" 

Part One, on other tent models, for the best fit. 

See my YouTube video explaining more below.

It is my hope that these videos will help you choose a 

tent that is right for your needs. 

Happy camping. 

                                               

A Tent is a Tent - Right?

Long ago, I remember camping with the Scouts in massive canvas tents that housed at least eight people. How the scouters managed to get those  tents to site is beyond my memory, but I do know that setting them up was a task which took the concerted effort of the entire troop. Once erected, we stuffed all of our gear into them and claimed dirt space. I always picked the back of the tent for my bedroll. The reason for me choosing that area was simply because raids by other troops were the norm. When the interlopers came through the door,  I simply rolled out from under the sidewall and was free of the mayhem ensuing inside the canvas walls. This enabled my buddies and I to take on the would be raiders face to face.  

Animals would venture under the sidewalls and make incursions into our shelter, making off with all kinds of gear which they stowed away in the surrounding forest. 

I truly do wish those days never ended. But time moves past our canoes and slips away in the boats wake.  

Modern tents are perfect for camping, provided that you choose the tent which suits your needs. Mesh doors and walls preclude the tiniest of insects from entering the shelter. Advanced ventilation keeps the occupants dry and comfortable. A tripping tent is lightweight and compacts into a very small space saving precious room for other camping necessities within your pack. 
  

Choosing a tent can be a confusing task. It is my hope that this video helps you navigate the confusion and pick a tent that will suit your needs for many years to come. 

Please see "A Tent Is A Tent, Right - Part Two:" ~ enjoy!

Portaging can suck, but it gets you to where you are going.

To some, a canoe trip without portaging is simply not a trip at all. Tripping by its very nature requires the tripper to move many kilometres into the interior of any given nature reserve or wilderness area. This requires the tripper to carry everything they have across land, on designated or non-designated trails known as portage routes. 

Portage trails usually follow the shortest route to the next lake. The problem is - not all portage trails are equal; some trails will test the endurance of seasoned veterans. 

It is important to plan your trip according to your capabilities. If you are new to canoe tripping, stay on well traveled portage trails. These routes will be well maintained and if you find yourself in trouble, a fellow tripper will come along in a short time to help you sort your trouble out. 

Portaging is a workout. It will force you to use muscles you may not have known even existed. Heat, bugs, rain and a myriad of other environmental factors could cause your mind to slip a gear and force you into a state of self reprisal. You may even wonder what the heck you were thinking when you sat down at your desk and planned the route you now find yourself on. 

Yep, a picture is worth a thousand words. This photo was taken on day six of a planned ten day trip. Total trip length was 140 km. The yellow signs informing us of another portage ahead became beacons of foreboding. Unless you have crossed the same portage prior - you have no idea what lies within the twisting confines of the forest trail which you are about to traverse. Once crossed, the mystery of that trail is now exposed and you have learned much. 

The trials of the trail are soon left behind as you set up camp and settle into the wilderness. The soft subtle sounds of the forest serenade you as the fire sends tendrils of smoke into the air and fills your camp with its intoxicating smell.

The primitive person in you escapes from the confines of civilization and your mind relaxes to the point where it is free to roam where it chooses. The only way to get here from there - is across the portage trail. 

Happy camping!