5 Into The Wild

Temagami

            In an earlier post I had mentioned Temagami, a gorgeous piece of crown land. It is not patrolled like public camping sites or provincial parks. You’re alone with whatever and whomever you take with you. Daniel Trask, a man from Waterloo, Ontario fell in love with Temagami, just as I had. In high school he was said to be an expert partier and socialist, and continued on later to bar-tending and construction work. It was against his parents’ wishes, and completely out of the blue when he left to Temagami, he had been there before, but this was the first time he’d venture alone. According to an article I’ve read from Explore Magazine all he left behind was a note saying “So I go to Temagami not knowing where I’m going”. He was gone for ten weeks before returning, and apparently he had transformed to a reserved, intense 28-year-old.He had become an expertise camper, and just before the winter came he decided to venture into the woods one last time.

            Daniel Trask was officially considered missing on November the 3^rd, 2011. It was known he was in Temagami, as his car was still parked in the area. Many search parties were sent out to find him, but he was never spotted and he left no traces to be found. It wasn’t until May 18^th, 2012, that pair of men’s large snow pants were found, inside out. It was confirmed they were Trask’s. It is assumed that he might have slipped into the freezing water, and to avoid hypothermia, he took off his freezing clothing as quickly as he could, leaving his soaked lime-green snow pants inside out. Since then his body has still not been found, and I assume it never will be.

Daniel Trask
1983-2011

 This story is heart breaking and frightening all at the same time. 

A great reminder of Mother Nature's power over even the greatest and most ambitious campers.

4 Smart Survival

           Where to begin? No matter where or what forest your adventure takes place, there are basics to survival. If you're going to be comfortable (let alone thriving) you're going to need these basics: food, shelter, water, and fire. Throughout my next posts I'll try to help by dispensing advice on how to catch, create, and scavenge just these.
            But let me bare a warning before hand; adventure only within your means and common sense.   When suggesting one should be lost in the woods, a figurative meaning is encouraged. For a lack of better terms, I'm basically asking you bight off only what you can chew. As much as the wilderness is welcoming, it's not empathetic. Be realistic.

The woods can be dangerous. So here are some things you should always ensure.

- If you’re leaving, make sure someone knows where you’re headed.

-Pack intelligently! You never know what’ll happen.

- Along with a first aid kit, keep in mind to pack other items for emergencies like a knife, compass, map, flash lights or head lamp (head lamps are so handy, no matter how funny they look), small water purifier, bug spray, high energy food, water, waterproof fire starter, protective clothing, and obviously shelter.

-learn what medical procedures are required when treating emergencies.

-Remember to keep yourself and important gear dry!

-Check the weather before you leave. If you’re tough it won’t matter, but it’s always best pack clothing and gear appropriately for the weather.

-Know what wild life will be accompanying you in the woods. Be wary of bears or other dangerous animals.

3 Provincial Parks

          There are many other beautiful places to explore that aren’t as secluded as some parts of crown land. Many breath taking pieces of land are made into provincial parks, and become operated by the Canadian government. These parks usually supply designated camping spot, public bathrooms, water spouts, and other things to help make camping a little easier. The problem I have with these parks is that you’re surrounded by people. Although it’s not as lonely, and you can meet some great new friends, I can’t help but feel like a tourist when exploring Canada’s natural beauties with in a heard of others. Still, provincial parks provide the beauty of the wilderness, while keeping you connected to a community. The choice between the two is yours. Do what you feel comfortable with!


             One of my favorite places in the whole world (which I’ve only recently discovered) was Tobermory, Ontario. Tobermory is right along Lake Huron, at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula in The Georgian Bay. The water is unlike anything I’ve seen in Canada! It is crystal clear and absolutely wonderful! If you head here, definitely pack some swimming goggles. One of its main attractions is the escarpments along the water. The most popular spot is the famous “Grotto”, a cave only reachable by swimming along the coast, or climbing through small holes. On a sunny day when in the cave you can see sun rays peaking through an underwater tunnel which is swimmable to the brave.

Famous Grotto shore, Tobermory, Ontario

              Maybe in a past life I was a fish, because I love to swim more than almost anything and this is what pulls my heart (and many, many others) to Tobermory. My one warning before diving in is to watch out for the heavy waves.

This water can get rough easily, and large chunk of rock (escarpment) are swimming spots. It is a challenge to get back on the rocks some times when the water is ill mannered (I know this from experience). Although there are some great sand beaches found in Tobermory.



In side the Grotto cave, Tobermory, ON

             
                There are many other very popular spots across Ontario, some other highly recommended places are Killarney or Algonquin park! I personally haven't been camping to these places, but I never stop hearing about them! Check them out online for further detail!

2 Crown Land

CROWN LAND

               If you want to go 'get lost' in the woods, my first recommendation would be finding yourself Crown Land. Crown land is forests which are not deemed 'provincial parks', and are freely open to anyone interested in exploring. These forests were gifted to the queen, and although it is against the law to build on it, any one is welcomed to venture and camp on it within their means. There are no government funded out-houses, water spouts, conservation officers, signs, rules or regulations; you just go out there, find a spot to set up camp (presumably far away from anyone else), and voila! Your adventure begins. If you're in the right crown land, you’ve probably done a large portage and have ended up in an old growth forest (a forest that's been around for at least 120 years) and you probably will see maybe one or two other sets of campers on a popular day. This is what I personally call getting lost in the woods; you’re roughing it in the great outdoors. Everything you have, you’ve carried on your back. A wall of trees and miles of lakes have cut off and isolated you from the rest of the population. You’ve got to work for what you need. Although this hard work and loneliness may be frightening to some, I promise you, it pays off, and it gets easier.

              Now where is some good crown land, you ask? A family favorite for me is Temagami which translates to Deep water. Temagami is a lake up in northern Ontario.  The sights are breath taking and the adventure is one of a kind. Head north on Highway 11 ‘til Temagami lake Access Road, about an hour north of North Bay. At the end of Temagami Lake Access Road there will an arena, and a large free parking lot. Grab your canoe, unload your stuff, and head to the lake. You’ll be surrounded by small forested islands. It’s all crown land, so, unload and begin where ever you please! I’d recommend finding  a personal island to feel like you’ve truly gotten lost in the woods.

Personal photo of  Temagami at dusk

1 lose yourself

                There's something healing about the woods... Your essence: body, blood and heart are uplifted in the calming warmth of the sincere outdoors. I don't know about you, but I live in a world where everyone is lost; people are dazed and confused by a digital screen. One wakes up to the sound of their phone, falls asleep with it under their pillow, and all the time in between it is hiding in their back pockets. To many people, the woods are new. Traditions of survival have died out at the hands of convenience and modern technology like the micro-wave. This leaves the woods forgotten, lost in the back of our minds.

                If I could take you to the woods right now, I would. Rain, sun, or snow, the silence would be soul mending, and a sight apart from an asphalt jungle would be captivating. But what would we do? And how would we stay? This blog is basic tips for survival and to encourage finding the Canadian woods, and getting lost in them. I’ll dedicate blog posts to places to get lost, food, shelter, directions Forget your cell phones, micro-waves, and all that packaged food you take with to your reserved camping spot around the public lake. Just remember the beauty of being alone or only with the people who matter, in a place long forgotten. Get back to the great woods, get lost amongst the cedar trees.

Ben Howard-Old Pine