Another year, another canoe trip. This year Martin and I went to Temagami, starting on Anima Nipissing Lake and looping down to Red Squirrel, across Ferguson Bay, up Whitefish Bay, through Aston and into Turner Lakes, returning via Eagle, Little Eagle and Whitewater. If you don’t know the area none
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350 or bust: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
If all goes well, and Hurricane Leslie hasn’t kept us inside all week, we (my husband and I, along with two good friends – at least they were friends before the hike started!) will have completed our hike in the Long Range Traverse back country of Gros Morne National Park
Continue readingcmkl: Temagami, here we come
The canoe is on the car roof. The car is packed full of stuff. Tomorrow at 5am it’s up and out of here for four days. This year Martin and I are going to Temagami. More specifically, Anima Nipissing Lake. We’re doing Hap Wilson Number 9, the Turner Lake Loop,
Continue readingcmkl: Weekend in Frontenac Provincial Park
Irene, Mallory and I had booked a weekend in Frontenac Provincial Park but my father died and the only weekend we could schedule for the memorial happened to be the one we’d booked in Frontenac.
Continue reading350 or bust: Skinny Dipping: Therapy For A World Careening Towards Climate Chaos
I’ve just returned from an invigorating five day wilderness canoe trip in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park. The Park is part of an bi-provincial bid to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is right out our back door. My family, along with 2 other families who were dedicated enough to
Continue readingcmkl: Parks Canada: firing staff, shortening seasons privatizing hot springs. What’s next? Branded elk?
This week’s announcement of federal government layoffs featured a lot from Parks Canada. And then, a day later, the agency announces they’re going to sell off three of its most iconic attractions. Now I admit, I work for the union that acts on behalf of the people losing their jobs
Continue readingcmkl: Can I use a sea kayak in the Algonquin Park interior?
Well, it’s not against the law. And you probably won’t die if you do. But my strong suggestion would be ‘no’. Why? Three reasons: the portages, the portages and the portages.
Continue readingcmkl: How far can you go in a day
Another canoe tripping question. Trip planning is fun but there’s too many variables, I tell you. And if you’re travelling in one of Ontario’s managed parks, it matters how far you can go every day because you have to book into a particular lake for each night of the trip.
Continue readingcmkl: Do you drink the water in Algonquin Park?
I got an email from someone planning a trip to Algonquin Park this spring and he posed me the question. It’s a good one. And while I hasten to add I’m no expert I’m making my response into a post because… uh… I need a post today and it’s an
Continue readingcmkl: Topographic Maps Canada – an app that puts all Canada’s topos on your iPhone or iPad
I’m someone who likes to hang out in bars and talk about where to paddle a canoe. It doesn’t happen that often but I’m forever bringing maps along which is fine – because Tyvek is also beer resistant – but inevitably the question is ‘how far is that’ or ‘do
Continue readingcmkl: Looking for kid-friendly Algonquin interior destinations
We’ve thought of Achray. We’re headed to the park (we hope) in August, and were hoping to keep crowds to a dull roar. We’re willing to do a couple of short portages (aka less than 500m each). We’ll be coming from Ottawa and driving four or five hours is about
Continue reading350 or bust: On The Line: Conversations Along The Pipeline Route
Talk about timely! On The Line is a eco-documentary that follows the two filmmakers, Frank Wolf and Todd McGowan, on a 2,400 kilometre self-propelled journey by foot, bike, raft, and kayak as they walk the route through Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, that the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline would follow,
Continue readingcmkl: Wolf Lake Wednesday
It’s late but here’s my week’s contribution to Wolf Lake Wednesday. Friends of Temagami, Earthroots and no doubt a bunch of other organizations and individuals are trying to pressure the Ontario government to take Wolf Lake in the Chiniguchi waterway off the table for mining and logging.
Continue readingcmkl: Where’s the peak of Silver Peak
Someone posted a comment on my recent trip report wondering where indeed is the highest point in Silver Peak. Apparently there used to be a fire tower on top of it? And the tower footings mark the highest point. At the end of the Silver Peak trail sect…
Continue readingcmkl: Killarney Park: to Silver Peak and back via Three Narrows
I have posted my usual report on the canoe trip my friend Martin and I took last weekend. This year we went to Killarney Park. Martin had never been so I had to take him ’round to show him the sites. The trip did not disappoint. Read: Killarney Park: C…
Continue readingcmkl: Back from Killarney
I’ll have a full report soon, but I wanted to say re-bonjour to the internet after my server also decided to take the weekend off. I’m looking into the causes and the solutions. Apologies to all whose websites I host and who missed my blog.
Continue reading350 or bust: Take Time To Renew Your Spirit
We cannot win this battle to save species and environments without forging an emotional bond between ourselves and nature as well – for we will not fight to save what we do not love. ~Stephen Jay Gould
Continue readingcmkl: What have I forgotten?
Tomorrow is an early morning and a long drive to Killarney Provincial Park. The car’s packed. The boat is strapped onto the roof. Hope them foam blocks hold. Hope I haven’t forgotten anything. Hope the weather’s good. Hope the route is navigable.
Continue readingcmkl: Foam blocks? Check. Spatula? Check
Next weekend my friend Martin and I are off to Killarney Park. Our third annual fall canoe trip. I’m very excited. I was trolling the gear shops in the west end for bits and pieces of gear, including foam blocks to put the canoe on the roof of the rental.
Continue readingcmkl: As kid-focused and limited as it was
This weekend’s trip really did whet my appetite for this September’s canoe trip with my friend Martin. We’re going to Killarney Park this time. Something of a re-do of trips I’ve done before, but we’re going through some terrain I’ve never seen and Kil…
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