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Cover Photo by Mike Beedell.
EDITOR’S LETTER
WHAT AN ENTHUSIASTIC SHOW OF SUPPORT! We thought–we hoped–but we never expected this!
FIRSTLY, I HOPE YOU ENJOY our fall issue as much as you enjoyed our summer edition. We know you’ll find the articles and photos in this issue informative and pleasing throughout. Well, I’m happy to say that Ottawa (as hoped) has embraced Ottawa Outdoors Magazine with a tremendous amount of excitement and support. If you check with any of the outdoor gear stores and magazine shops, you’ll find Ottawa Outdoors Magazine has been selling off the shelves at a fast pace all summer. We attribute this to not only the Yours truly, climbing and rapelling local writing and feel of the magazine, but to fellow outdoor enthusiasts who make up our writing and photography staff. Kudos to them all! Below are just a few of the emails we’ve received from people who you’ve probably passed on a hiking trail, or perhaps met paddling on a nearby waterway. We’re grateful for the kind and appreciative comments we’ve received, and we’re delighted you’re reading the magazine now. Lastly, we’re pleased to publish some of these comments as a “thank you” to all who have written to us. Hi. I just picked up your mag and read it from cover to cover; great stuff, from trips and techniques, to gear and food! The accuracy and clarity of your information is also first rate. Great job! Lorne Clark I am really impressed with the content and quality of writing in your articles. I think they have a good punch and a lot of spunk. What I found most appealing is that most articles could apply to any age group. Antonia Mcguire Whenever I get into Ottawa I look for your magazine at the newsstand, and I’m looking forward to picking up the next issues. David Netz It’s great that an Ottawa-specific publication has been created catering to the outdoors. Congratulations! Tim Allard Just want to compliment you on your magazine. I certainly enjoyed the articles, especially the one on my favourite canoe escape, the Barron Canyon. Again, I am really impressed. Thank you. Rainer Bloess No, thank you. :) Enjoy the read, and we’ll see you in our winter edition. Happy Trails.
Dave Brown Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Ottawa Outdoors Magazine 2
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Dave Brown Managing Editor Allen Macartney Editor Lesley Cornish Contributing Editors Ken Parker Dominique Larocque Design and Layout Dave Brown Graphic Designers Dave Brown, Wah Phung-Lu Contributing Writers Cheryl Christensen, Eric Martinat, Fiona Trip, Matt Staneland, Mike Clarke, Ross Francis, Mike Waddington, Mark McCann, Yann Troutet, Tony Gariano, Wanda Purton, Cathy Brown, Mark VanKooy, James Roddick, Ken Whiting, Jason Yarrington, Chris Bourne, Julie St. Jean, Scott Shailer, Brian McCullough, Ryan Brown, Angie Brown Contributing Photographers Mike Beedell, Suzie Beaulieu, Peggy Sarson, Jean Levac–National Capital Race Weekend, Wilderness Tours, Jonathan Hayward, Allen Macartney, Frontenac Provincial Park, Martin Paquette, Yann Troutet, Carl Desbien, Simon Villeneuve, Paul Villecourt, Kristen Ritchie, Dave Lauzon, Ken Lange ADVERTISING Please contact: Dave Brown Publisher/Editor-in-Cheif Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent publication published seasonally. Email: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8688 SUBSCRIPTIONS See inside back cover of this issue. Ottawa Outdoors Magazine 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Suite #107 Ottawa, Canada K1V 7T4 Tel: 613-860-8688. Internet: www.OttawaOutdoors.ca CONTRIBUTIONS Ottawa Outdoors Magazine welcomes story and photo contributions. All photos should ideally be shot with colour slide. No unsolicited contributions will be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. CANADIAN / U.S. POSTMASTER: Return undeliverable covers to 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Suite #107, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1V 7T4. Return postage guaranteed. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. © Copyright 2002. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any materials published in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is expressly forbidden without consent of the publisher unless otherwise agreed between partners. Printed in Canada.
ARE YOU AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE? If you would like to write or submit photos for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine, please email us: Editor@OttawaOutdoors.ca
TABLE OF CONTENTS HIKING – 4
A tale of two great great trails: Wolf and Luskville Falls: Enjoy a few hours respite hiking on a couple of our favourite trails and settle any restless feelings you may have. Wolf Trail – 6
RUNNING – 8
Trail Running: You’ve run in the city, but there’s lots more to think about when you’re pounding the dirt. Here are some tips. Learning to run – 10
MT. BIKING – 11
Get airborne with the bunny hop: Tired of wiping out just because you can’t negotiate the log in front of you? Master this move and you’ll increase your fun-factor by ten, and lower your physio visits by the same amount. A trail with a view: Eagles Nest Loop – 13
CAMPING – 16
Are you prepared for wilderness adventure?: You may think you are, but most people don’t even know the five key survival ingredients. This article aims to change all that. Follow the advice in this piece and you’ll always have outings which are fun and safe. Frontenac Provincial Park: Great trails and great for the family – 18
2 – Editor’s Letter 14 – Guest Editorial 32 – K-9 Common Scents 33 – Environmentally Speaking 34 – The Bark 35 – Artistically Speaking 41 – Able & Active 42 – Urban Spice 44 – Gear Review 46 – Essential Cool Stuff 48 – Stargazing 50 – Survival Kids 51 – Pubs/Restaurants & Green Pages 52 – Escapes 53 – Ottawa Outdoors: Inside
ADVENTURE RACING – 20
Don’t get lost: Read from three-time North American orienteering champion, Mike Waddington, and make your adventure races and your trips to the Gats more enjoyable. Taking your first steps – 22
ROCK CLIMBING – 24
How to improve your footwork: If you are like most beginners, or even if you’re thinking of climbing this fall and winter, chances are you have overlooked the most important part: your feet.
KAYAKING – 36
Learning the “roll”: You don’t want to start kayaking without mastering this move. Now you can learn the “roll” one step at a time. The three golden rules of whitewater kayaking – 38
CANOEING – 39
Anatomy of a canoe: Okay, you know it’s called a canoe, and you might even know your port and starboard, but our job is to make sure you know all the other parts. Read on. A canoeing adventure in Algonquin Park – 21
PROFILE: Val Hinsperger – 40
An accomplished runner, a mother of two, and a big part of Ottawa’s running scene.
LOST IN THE GATINEAUS How compounding mistakes left us alone and cold throughout the night.
FEATURE – 26
Lost in the Gatineaus: Everything that could go wrong did. The swamps, the bugs, the injuries, the lack of water–and night is falling. Read how three of Ottawa’s own endured a day-hike that went terribly wrong.
HIKING
GO THERE
A Tale of Two Great Trails: Wolf and Luskville Falls By Cheryl Christensen, Mountain Equipment Co-op
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES not only speak volumes to us, but they also speak volumes about us. Whether we seek out these places to bring back good memories, to exercise, to slow life’s hectic pace, or to soak in pleasing sights, they recharge our batteries and renew our zest for living. It’s healthy to remove ourselves occasionally from the clutter of daily routines, roles and obligations. Withdrawing to peace and tranquility helps us keep things in proper balance. This doesn’t mean we have to “give it all up.” We don’t need to sell off all our worldly possessions and move to a remote cabin in the solitude of a mountaintop to quiet our soul and regain perspective. (Wait a minute! Embracing a nomadic lifestyle and living out of the provisions found in my backpack does sound very appealing.) Usually, all I need is a few hours’ respite hiking on a couple of my favourite trails to settle restless feelings and feed the hunger in my heart. Time to Head for the Hills! And so, in the midst of an early fall heat wave, I happily accepted the task of hiking two of my favourite trails in nearby Gatineau Park, and recording the experiences. Yeah, it’s a rough way to spend a sun-drenched weekend out there in the woods. Gatineau Park offers approximately 165 km of hiking trails. (You can check out the park’s web site at www. 4
capacan.ca/gatineau/nature/eardley.) The two trails I selected are: Luskville Falls Trail and Wolf Trail – two of my personal favourites. Though both hikes share in the landscape of the Eardley Escarpment, which divides the rugged landscape of Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands, they each offer a distinct flavour to enjoy.
Luskville Falls Trail
Though perhaps the lesser-known of these two hikes, Luskville Falls Trail is no stranger to climbers in the region. This trail takes you on a 4.5 km promenade (with the occasional scramble over rocks) up the Eardley Escarpment and back down again. If the breathtaking views don’t get your pulse going just a little bit, the hike up probably will. This hiking trail will take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to complete, so make sure you plan and pack accordingly. Though the trail is not a long one, be assured that its steep slope can still offer a challenge. At the parking lot, you’ll find a picnic area complete with outhouse facilities. Here, you’ll be able to take care of any
last-minute requirements. Several animal-proof garbage cans are available for hikers to deposit trash or litter. The Luskville Falls Trail is listed as being one with interpretive signs at key points. Although evidence of this feature remains in the form of podium style stands, the panels themselves are missing, taking with them the tidbits of scintillating information they possess. Slow Beginnings, Then… The hike starts off fairly gently with a set of stairs that bring you down to where you can start going up. In the spring, the trail follows alongside the Luskville Falls, which are often dried up in mid to late summer. In the autumn, the many lookouts will provide you with a front row seat to the bright colours of the changing leaves. At any time I’ve gone, I’ve also encountered plenty of bugs, so bring along bug juice. It’ll be a helpful sanity-preserver. Signs along the trail remind hikers that this is a “restoration area,” and urge the public to remain on the pathway at all times. Even if you have the best of intentions, it can occasionally be a little tricky distinguishing which rocky terrain Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Photo by Suzie Beaulieu. Photo by Suzie Beaulieu.
belongs to the trail and which does not. The task is aggravated when the blue, square, hiker signs disappear from view. But do your best to stay on the trail. The terrain gradually becomes increasingly rockier as you ascend, with the falls to one side and a rock face on the other. The thing I like best about this trail is that it starts off as the equivalent of a dirt sidewalk, then makes the hiker pick his or her way over and between rocks and boulders as it snakes its way towards a fire tower at the top.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Photo by Suzie Beaulieu.
It’s Picture Perfect Stunning lookouts reward hikers repeatedly along the route. Not only do these lookouts provide a sampling of beautiful views to remind you exactly why you’re hauling yourself up a hill when there is nothing chasing you, but they also provide an excellent opportunity to catch your breath and re-hydrate. Even if you’re too fit to need a break, you’ll do yourself a big favour by taking a moment to drink in the scenery. After all, admiring nature and enjoying it is what hiking a trail like this is all about. There’s no need to rush the experience like your after-work commute home. Relax. Enjoy. Just when it looks as if you won’t need to ascend any further, the path takes you down a little dip in the trail, across a small creek, and then up again on the last leg of your walk to the fire tower. This portion of the trail is a little easier, and nicely perfumed by coniferous trees that line the rocky path. (This is also the area where I once saw a pretty big snake - the same diameter as a garden hose.) Arriving at the fire tower at the top signals the end of your climb and provides you with an excellent venue. What better excuse for a pre-descent rest and picnic? Okay, so you’re not actually allowed on or in the fire tower, but the foundation of an old shelter nearby and some shady trees offer other prime spots to kick back, relax, snack, and attempt to correctly identify the large birds circling overhead. The loop back down offers a chance to enjoy a different portion of the trail with its own variations of impressive vistas. Though the trek down doesn’t force your heart and lungs to work as much as the haul up, it can still make your knees beg for mercy, especially by the end of the hike. For this reason, some people might appreciate trekking pole on this portion of the walk. One of these will both help “cushion the blow” as you step down repeatedly, and provide additional stability. Soon you’ll find yourself back on familiar ground beside the falls, on your way to the parking
lot. Your next challenge will involve winning the debate on whether the road trip home should include a stop at the Tim Horton’s in Aylmer or the Dairy Queen in Hull.
How to Get to Luskville Falls Trail FROM the Quebec side of the Champlain Bridge, turn left on Alexandre Taché. This becomes chemin Principale d’Aylmer, and true to its name, takes you through the main street of Aylmer before you join up with Jct 148. Continue on Jct 148 for a while, and look for a smallish, brown Gatineau Park sign on your right. Watch closely, because very soon afterwards you’ll turn right (rue Hotel de Ville). HEAD down the unpaved road towards the very obvious Eardley Escarpment, which juts out from the surrounding farmland, and turn left following the Gatineau Park sign. You’ll pass a horseback riding farm; very shortly after you’ll come to the parking lot and picnic area almost at the base of the Escarpment.
THE SPECS Distance: 4.5 km Estimated duration: 2.5 to 3 hours Level of difficulty: Moderate, very steep slope Anticipate: Lots of lookouts, the falls in spring, a nice view of changing leaves in the fall, a rest break at the fire tower at the top. Watch out for: Bugs (repellent recommended), occasionally sparse signage, some bears in the area. Facilities: Unsupervised parking lot with picnic area, outhouses (not always with toilet paper), animalproof garbage cans for litter that you pack out.
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HIKING
GO THERE
Photo by Suzie Beaulieu.
truly caught me by surprise. Here, sitting on top of all this rock, which is sitting on top of a big hill, I found a beaver pond. Well, I’ll be… (I’ve got to say it) …dammed!
Wolf Trail THE WOLF TRAIL does double-time as one of my favourite snowshoeing spots in the winter. Wolf Trail starts at Parking Lot 13, across the street from Blanchet Beach, which has washroom facilities for those feeling the need. The parking lot sits where the Blanchet farmhouse once stood, with the farm property extending uphill. According to a sign posted near the trail entrance, the property once belonged to a Vermont owner (coincidentally named Blanchet), who came to the area after encountering some hard times. The sign also alleges that some of the trees from his orchard are still producing fruit (apples, pears, plums). Unfortunately, I saw no evidence of this, and had to rely on the treats heating up inside my backpack. Take along a good quantity of treats and water on this hike. The trail takes you on an 8.3 kilometre jaunt up the back of the Eardley Escarpment. It takes about four hours to complete. What type of terrain will you encounter? It varies from fire road, to single track, to root and rock trail. In wet weather, count on mud. The Blanchet portion of the trail gives your body the courtesy of a gradual, gentle warm-up with an easy walk 6
uphill. After approximately 15 minutes, signs will present you with the choice of either continuing straight to the Tawinda Lookout (3 km), or heading right to the actual Wolf Trail. Both options will take you along the same loop, but I prefer heading right, and accepting the uphill hike. Somehow, I enjoy the lookouts more when I feel like I’ve really earned them. After climbing a few smaller hills, one first-time hiker on this trail remarked, “Is that it? That wasn’t bad at all.” Her question was soon answered by a hilly climb that seemed to keep extending itself. First Prize Winner The prize awaiting hikers at the top, however, is well worth any effort. It offers not only a self-congratulatory moment to reflect on where you just came from (i.e. all the way down there), but also a nice opportunity to take a photograph of the Ottawa River Valley. The next portion of the walk lets you continue along this ledge to a second lookout, which comes complete with a bench to sprawl out on while you drink in the breathtaking scenery. The man-made bench is somewhat of an accessory to the seating nature provides. The first time I hiked along this portion of the trail I encountered something that
True to the Laws of Physics You’ve heard the old saying, “What goes up, must come down?” The Wolf Trail does not contradict those words. The trail demands that you begin picking your way down through a path etched by roots and rocks, before you have an opportunity to head to the Tawinda Lookout. The Tawinda Lookout is one of my favourite places in Gatineau Park. This high, bald rock offers nearly 360 degrees of fabulous views. It’s the perfect place to put your butt down, feet up, contemplate life, and enjoy a picnic. (There I go mentioning picnic snacks again. Basically, I like taking any opportunity to enjoy food on a hike; everything just seems to taste better outdoors.) Over the past couple of years (judging by the crowds I’ve encountered there recently), this lookout has become very popular. Today was no exception. Brought out in droves by a gorgeous sunny weekend morning, flock after flock of hikers arrived at Tawinda until the lookout (and when I say “the” lookout, deep inside I mean my lookout. Mine. Mine!) began to resemble a Dirty Sweaty Person Convention. And though it was obvious that none of us had planned to meet anyone there, we greeted each other pleasantly, and did our best to respect everyone else’s illusion of privacy. Besides, there was plenty of scenery for everyone to enjoy. After a refreshing break, our group enjoyed a somewhat more relaxed hike back towards Blanchet. To our right lay large boulders and rock formations; to our left was a marsh that no doubt was home to many critters. Everywhere, trees filtered the sunlight into many shades of green. It would have been so easy to forget that civilization was closing in on us again. Unfortunately, the constant sound of traffic intruded upon our reveries. Approximately three kilometres further, we found ourselves re-converging on Ottawa Outdoors Fall
How to Get to Wolf Trail Take Highway 148 East, then Highway 5 North to Maniwaki. Exit 12 will take you to Old Chelsea. About another 10 km will get you to the trailhead.
THE SPECS Distance: 8.3 km Estimated duration: 3.5 to 4 hours Level of difficulty: Moderate Look forward to: Lookouts (including Tawinda), beaver pond, great snowshoeing in winter. Drawbacks: The crowds, but really, can you blame them? Ongoing traffic noises. Facilities: Unsupervised parking lot, washroom facilities and drink machine across the street from the trailhead at Blanchet Beach.
succumbed to crowds of people seeking to cool off. Dissuaded by the crowds (and by signs warning of “swimmer’s itch”), the promise of refreshing showers upon our return to the city held more appeal. After this brief respite from life’s encounters and situations, I returned to work the following week feeling much refreshed. I had collected a little more sun on my face, had felt a little more wind blow through my hair,
and felt that I could be a little bit nicer to people who bristled my patience. Why? Because even though I had left these favourite trails to return to routine, my favourite places would be waiting there whenever I needed them. And I’ll be back. Soon.
that sign at the start of the hike that asks you to choose which direction to take on the loop. This time, it warned us that our woodlands vacation would come to an abrupt end in half a kilometre.
Photo by Suzie Beaulieu.
Swim Time? Perhaps Not Before starting our walk, we had toyed with the notion of a post-hike plunge at Blanchet Beach. But as morning met afternoon, and the heat wave raised the temperatures, the beach had
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
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Trail running:
Photo by Peggy Sarson.
RUNNING
And you thought traffic was a pain By Eric Martinat THE THOUGHT process of a trail runner: “Ok. I’m getting a little tired here. I’ll just relax my stride a bit. Oh look at the cute raccoon up in the (trip) uummph! [%$#@$&%]” “Oh crap, that hurt. Down on my face again in the middle of the trail! I hope no one saw this one. Only a skinned knee and bruised ego. Ok. Let’s get up and try to concentrate this time! Pick up your feet–that’s it–good.” There is so much to think about when running on a trail. Trail running is enjoying a surge in popularity these days. While mountain biking in the Gatineau hills, you’re as likely to be passed on a sharp uphill by a runner as you are by another biker. These days, it seems more and more people are including trail runs in their weekly running program. What’s up with that? Trail running adds a new dimension to our sport. It can be an important training tool to cover the endurance aspect of your overall program. Going uphill and downhill, making quick turns, hopping obstacles, and moving side-to-side to traverse rocky sections all give a great workout to muscle groups that wouldn’t normally be used on the roads. But there’s more to running on a trail than just a workout tool to help you achieve your goals. There’s something about running through the woods–just you and nature–that appeals to the deeper being. The smell of the forest, the sound of the wind in the trees and the sight of wildlife along the trail all make you feel like you are a part of nature, not just on the outside looking in. Running is natural, so it makes sense to run in nature–it’s food for the soul. We’re very fortunate in Ottawa to have so many incredible trails at such close proximity to the city. Kanata Lakes and the Gatineau Park offer trail runners a great variety for every ability level. 8
You can choose a loop or an out-andback route that can be an easy “jog in the park” or one that will test your limits of strength and endurance. Detailed trail maps are readily available and most areas have lots of free parking. Trail running groups offer regular outings. (Check out Rudy Hollywood’s Internet site or ask at some of our fine running stores in the city to find out more about these groups.) Unlike a jog up and down the canal to see the latest rollerblader fashions or how small the bathing suits are in front of the University of Ottawa, trail running requires that you dedicate a small amount of thought to preparation. An ounce of prevention (blah blah blah)… The following are some points to consider.
Route Planning
Knowing where you’re going is très important! Get a map, give it a look before you head out and keep it with you. You would probably be able to find your way back without it if you lost your way, but it may take a long time. Try not to sweat all over the map. They tend to come apart and are generally hard to read when soaked. A little water-proofing might be a good idea.
Equipment
Trail running shoes are great to have but they aren’t an absolute necessity. However, shoes with a good tread are a necessity. After you’ve wiped out and skinned some part of your body because you lost your footing, you’ll know what I mean. Most major brands, and virtually all the running stores in Ottawa, have a great selection of trail running shoes. Wear non-cotton socks. You might well end up stepping in a puddle or slipping off a log into some mud, so you want a sock that is going to wick water away from your foot. You’ll avoid painful
blisters that way.
Fluid Intake
There aren’t many water fountains along the trail, so take some fluids along for the run. A nutritional bar of some sort wouldn’t hurt either.
Dry Clothes
Unless you’re fortunate (like me) and live near the trails, you’ll have to drive to them. Bring some dry clothes to slip into after your run so you won’t stink up your car seats on the drive home.
Optional Equipment
The chances are fairly slim, but you may encounter some wildlife on the trail. Animals have keen hearing but sometimes we surprise them. I sometimes wear a bear-bell. It’s irritating as hell, but the animals know I’m coming and if they want to hang around and laugh at me as I run by it’s entirely up to them. If it’s bug season, a small bug-repellent spray may be in order.
Leave a Note
If you’re heading out on your own, let someone know where you’re going and when you should be back. Injuries can happen to anyone. On the roads, there’s usually a passing motorist with a cell phone willing to help. In the woods, there’s less traffic, so getting injured can become an ordeal. Letting someone know just makes sense. There are several races sprouting up around Ontario that cater to the trail Ottawa Outdoors Fall
running crowd. The Ontario Ultra Series (www.ous.kw.net) has several longer trail races that will test your metal–from the Iroquois Trail Test on the Niagara Escarpment to the Haliburton Forest 100 Mile Trail Run (you get to listen to the wolves howling while you’re running the trails through the night. Yikes!). Even the Xerox 10K through the Arboretum will get you off the road and into a more natural setting. It’s time to get out there and see what the fuss is about. When you decide you’ve sucked up enough car exhaust, dodged enough people on the sidewalk and are tired of the same-old-same-old, then it’s time to try trail running. Find a trail and just get out there. Remember to pick up your feet and run the way God intended– just you and the natural world. You’ll fill up your senses and become hooked like me. See you on the trails.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
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RUNNING
So you’d like to start running By Fiona Trip Bushtukah Great Outdoor Gear
IT SEEMS A BIT OF A CULT, this running thing. The Ottawa populous has embraced its beautiful surroundings and run with it. At any time of day, there are runners out there taking in the crisp autumn air. Whether it is in Gatineau Park, along the Riverside pathway, down along the canal or out along the Western Parkway, running is well past the start line. The past several years has witnessed a surge in running participation. Involvement is growing–both in recreational running and for those bent on competition. What has driven this increase? It’s simple really. Most people are looking for something that’s easy to do, does not require a great monetary outlay and can fit into any schedule. Running is it. Running will improve your fitness, health and social life, if you go about it the right way. If you are not inclined to go to a gym (which can be daunting), running is the logical thing to do. After all, you can just step outside the door and all you really need is a good pair of running shoes. The journey begins as you train slowly and build up time on your feet. How do you start? For those new to running, and those not so new, a run program can provide the much-needed motivation to get you started and keep you going. It’s that goal-setting thing. Program leaders supply us with knowledge. It can be as simple or as detailed as you want. They pass along information on a variety of topics: cross training, nutrition (always a favourite), running form, shoe selection, running in hot and cold weather, hill training, and speed training, to mention 10
a few. At the starter level, there is a great deal of camaraderie. Almost all participants are at the same starting line and heading towards a common goal. Classes generally follow a running/walking program that gradually increases the runner’s endurance. Clinics are often aimed at a race event, which provides a goal to motivate the group. Runners enjoy their own excitement and accomplishments, and share in those of the entire group. Many outlets in the area offer clinics for new runners. For some, large numbers can be intimidating and the beginner may get lost in the crowd. A smaller group can allow for more individual attention and still offer the support of others. It also gives the coach a greater opportunity to become more acquainted with each runner. When choosing a running program or clinic, consider your goals, the size of group that gives you a comfort level, the amount of time you can commit to your training and location. Also consider what is available for you after you complete a level. Will you be ready to jump into the next level or is a period of transition required to build endurance before the next level? Is there a transition level program available to you or are you left to “fend for yourself”?
There are a few other things for which you should probably be prepared. You will find that your eating habits may change as you become a little more conscious about what goes into your body to fuel you for running. Water will become a main staple. You may lose interest in regular clothing, opting to check out the running gear (which will serve double duty as your cross-country ski gear). Your dress watch may be a little more difficult to follow. Your posture will improve; you will have more energy and could become less of a couch potato. Your family will question how you can go outside in winter wearing just a fleece and shell, but you will and you will be warm. You will find it easier to get up in the morning and in fact may be up and running, and back before the kids are out of bed. Of course that can vary depending on the age of your children–if they’re teenagers, you could run a marathon before they crawl out of bed on the weekend. Whichever way you choose to approach it, running will be a lifestyle change that you can control and do at your own pace. There are lots of us out there and there’s sure to be someone or some group ready to run with you. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting out the door, but no matter what the pace, it will be faster than sitting on the couch. Go for it!
About the author: Fiona Trip has been coaching and teaching runners for three and a half years, from the beginner level to the marathon level. She works at Bushtukah Great Outdoor Gear where she will soon be starting a series of run clinics geared for the starting runner, taking them to the National Capital Race Weekend.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Photo by Jean Levac and the National Capital Race Weekend
Here’s why it’ll be a great experience!
MT. BIKING
Get airborne with the bunny hop
Step 1
By Matt Staneland Wilderness Tours Resort
LOGS, ROOTS, ROCKS, and other riders. What do these words all have in common? They’re all objects that mountain bikers find lying on the trail in front of them. If they’re small enough, in some cases you can just ride over them. But often this results in every mountain biker’s least favourite four-letter word, the dreaded “endo!” So how do you avoid endo-ing? What’s the secret of riding over smaller objects that continually find their way onto most popular mountain-biking trails? That’s easy, you bound over them with what’s called a bunny hop. Bunny Hopping Basics: Easy Rider
Bunny hopping is a skill that every mountain biker should master. By knowing how to hop over objects, you can ride trails more quickly, safely and smoothly. Even if you can’t clear the object completely, by following the steps outlined here you’ll ride over obstructions blocking your path with less risk of painful tumbles. Here’s how to begin practicing the bunny hop. Find an object eight to 10 centimetres high (swimming pool noodles are great). Place it in an open field. Practice hopping this object until it poses no challenge. Once you can clear it with ease, gradually increase the size of the object. Again, practice until you can hop over the object without difficulty. When you’ve mastered the bunny hop in a safe, controlled environment, you’re ready to try it out on the trails.
Step 1: The Setup
Approach the object at about a jogging pace. Stand up with your pedals level. Crouch down, bending your elbows so they’re almost bent at 90 degrees, and bend your knees so that your butt is just Ottawa Outdoors Fall
hovering above your seat. Keep your head up, focused on your point of take-off. Depending on your speed, this can be anywhere from 15 to 30 cms in front of the object.
Step 2
Step 3
Step 2: Getting the Front Tire Up
As you approach the take-off point you’ve chosen, quickly shift your weight backwards until your arms are fully extended. Simultaneously, drive your feet down and forward. This action will help raise your front tire high off the ground, and compress your rear tire (or rear suspension if you have it). This will help you with the next step.
Step 3: Getting the Rear Tire Up
As soon as your front tire is directly above the object, shift your weight forward again. Draw the handlebar into your chest, point your toes down and concentrate on your feet. Pull back and up on the pedals, sucking the bike up to your body and over the object. (If you have clipless pedals, this action is much easier to execute.) All you have to do is pull up with your feet, and the rear tire will become airborne.
Step 4
Photos–Wilderness Tours / Rider–Dave Stibbe.
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MT. BIKING Practice this with flat pedals so you can learn the proper way to get your rear tire in the air. This will make your bunny hops smoother once you go back to clipless pedals.
Step 4: The Controlled Landing
Set Your Sights Higher Before heading for your mountain bike, let’s recap the four essential bunny hopping steps. First, set up the jump. Second, shift your weight back. Third, suck the bike up. Fourth, make a controlled landing. Mastering the bunny hop will not only open up a lot more adventure trails to you, but it will make you a safer, more proficient rider. It is the most basic mountain bike trail skill. Even if you can’t completely clear an object, by following these steps you’ll be able to ride over it with much greater safety. Good luck, and keep the rubber side down.
About the author: Matt Staneland is a professional mountain biker and river guide at Wilderness Tours Resort in Beachburg, ON.
Photo by Jonathan Hayward.
Clear the runway! You’ve followed all of the steps correctly, and now you’re a confident, airborne mountain biker hurtling through the air with near-reckless abandon. Oops! How are you going to land your machine safely? Well, here’s the good news. Landing is the easiest part. Just keep your head up, looking for the next opportunity to bunny hop. Suck up the impact of landing with your arms and legs.
Josh Mead of Ontario face plants into his tire as he crashes during the Senior Men’s Elite downhill competition during a National Mountain Bike Championship taking place in Camp Fortune, QC.
Wise Rules of the Trail • Always wear a helmet. Don’t let it ride back on your head, exposing your forehead. This just invites disaster. • Never trespass on someone else’s property. • Leave wildlife alone. Give animals a wide berth. • Bring a good trail map, and know where you are at all 12
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
MT. BIKING
GO THERE
A trail with a view
Eagles Nest Loop is sure to capture your mountain biking spirit IF YOU’RE NOT AFRAID of climbing, love riding rock and appreciate breathtaking views, then the Eagles Nest loop is what you want to hit at Calabogie Peaks Resort. This seven-kilometre trail starts at the base of the mountain and is a mixture of single-track, double-track and old forestry roads. As the trail has a couple of intersections, the correct route has been lined with white rocks to guide you on your way. Start off at the base of the mountain and head up the road towards the garage. Continue past the garage along the laneway. I refer to this section as the ghetto of Calabogie. At the end of the laneway you’ll cross a small bridge over a creek on your left. This is the start to your first climb, which will get you thinking twice about why you mountain bike. This single-track section turns right onto double-track trail and continues to climb away from the resort. This double-track trail rolls up and down before joining with a road and turning left for one last climb before you head back into single-track. The trail doesn’t waste any time in making sure you’re on the ball, with a three-step drop that will raise the hair on your back. Fortunately, every descent leads to a climb–keep your momentum because the next one is the steepest on the trail. At the end of this climb you’ll be rewarded with your first panoramic view atop the Eagles Nest escarpment. The next section of rock gardens and roots gets you fighting for traction before blessedly leading to rock slabs that you can crank off. If you can drag your concentration away from the trail, this whole section is spotted with breathtaking views. The trail will again test your technical Ottawa Outdoors Fall
skills with a bunch of drops along the rock ridges that line the top of the escarpment. At this point you might run into a few climbers topping out over the rock. The next climb sends you away from the edge of the escarpment and into a forest of pines with the entrance marked by a massive fallen pine. The forest leads you to the most technical part of the ride with a series of three drops. On the first drop, stay left and you’ll be able to ride out the ledge. The second is a steep 2.5 metre drop that has a sharp right at the bottom, so bank out to the left and you’ll be able to make the corner. The next drop gives you two
choices. If you stick to the original line, it will bring you atop the rock slab before dropping you into the rock garden below. You can then use the bank at the bottom to make the corner. The second choice is to stay left and break the descent into three smaller, less vertical drops. Having survived that section, you’ll take a gentle climb back atop the escarpment. After some twisty and pitted
Illustration by Wah Phung-Lu.
By Mike Clarke Calabogie Peaks Resort
13
GUEST EDITORIAL ground you’ll approach a rock clearing. This is the most picturesque spot on the ride. The escarpment now stands about 60m above the valley below with a rock wall lining the landscape to the right. The valley floor is a mixture of rolling hills and a beautiful cedar lined pond. This is one of the places that causes me to reflect on how fortunate I am to live in the Ottawa area. After indulging yourself with this beautiful picture of nature, head down another technical descent to the road below. This road is refreshingly rolling and fast, giving you the chance to crank your bike out. Upon reaching a ‘V’ in the road, head left, where the fast road continues. This leads you to a right that heads onto a double-track trail. You’ll have a short climb that brings you to an incredibly rewarding downhill section. This section veers to the right and hooks up with the beginner ski run. Head as fast as you dare down the access road and that’s all she wrote for the Eagles Nest loop.
Mountain bikers want to feel welcome By Dominique Larocque Creative Wheel
I’M TIRED OF THE ENDLESS RHETORIC surrounding mountainbiking in Gatineau Park. I’m tired of mountain-biking being the scapegoat for lack of creativity and decision-making abilities at the National Capital Commission (NCC). I doubt that the NCC, along with uneducated hikers, will succeed in making our sport into the sacrificial lamb of Gatineau Park. People can complain all they want about the negative effects this sport has on the Gatineau Park trail system, but I believe that riding a bike is better for the environment (and for the waistline) than driving a car with an air conditioner blasting. The NCC, hikers and bikers need to unite in the preservation of clean air and green spaces. So, what could possibly spoil such a pristine place as the Gatineau Park? Here’s the answer: a large group of unaware, commercial-recreational users.
Time to Start Paying? Yes!
I agree that mountain bikers have been very lucky to be permitted to roam freely among the rocks and trees for so long without having to give anything back financially (i.e. a daily/seasonal/annual user fee) or physically (i.e. trail building and maintenance). I don’t agree the illegal trail cutting and unofficial trail riding that takes place in the park. I do know, however, that we need funding to guarantee the preservation of our green spaces. User fees could generate a big part of this funding. Bumper-to-bumper traffic during Gatineau Park’s Fall Rhapsody could start generating money that is urgently needed to guarantee proper land management and educate current mountain bike users. If we are to preserve recreational activities in Gatineau Park, we need to start giving back. From what I hear around me, people are ready to give back. What boggles my mind is why the NCC does not create more initiatives that would allow people to do so.
NCC Lacks Vision
I was a mountain bike trail user when the NCC officially welcomed the mountain bike crowd into the park in 1990. What the NCC lacked at that time was vision, because it did not foresee the consequences this exciting and ever-evolving sport was going to have on the park’s landscape. I specify “ever-evolving sport” because we can no longer discuss and/or write about mountain-biking without specifying the style of mountain-biking one practices. The 100,000 annual mountain bike visits to the park have to be categorized into either recreational or hard-core biking. The latter means free-riding, downhill, trail riding and cross-country racing. It is by fulfilling the specific needs of these different 14
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Time for Consultations
Camp Fortune and the NCC need to agree before next spring on trail user fees for mountain biking and other summer recreation activities. This money could be utilized for trail design, building and maintenance. The single track leading out of Camp Fortune could then be restored to increase the quality of experience of both hiker and biker. mountain bike retailers and suppliers need to start playing a more active role in getting their customers motivated and involved in the politics of the sport. Otherwise, the avenues for biking will only keep declining, along with their bottom lines. Educators and race organizers also have to find solutions to issues revolving around this sport. They could start by working at changing the “mountain masters, weekend warriors, rock jocks, cowboy” image of our sport. Partnerships between landowners and Ottawa Outdoors Fall
About the author: Dominique Larocque runs Creative Wheel, which organized 130 women and 400 children in mountain bike camps this past summer at Camp Fortune.
COMMENTS ON THIS OR OTHER ISSUES? Email us: Comments@OttawaOutdoors.ca
Photo by wpmcelligott.com
leaders in the sport are needed to create ways to provide the type of riding that people want. I was very disappointed by the content of a recent NCC flyer entitled “Show a Little Respect – Have a Lot of Fun.” Being a consultant in the field, I wish I had had an opportunity to comment on the flyer before it went to print. It lacked valuable information on the technical requirements of the sport, and missed out on educating mainstream bikers and park users of the evolution that has happened in our sport in the past decade. I have been mountain biking for 17 years and represented my country at the 1991 Mountain Bike World Championship in Lucca, Italy. Since 1995, my firm, Creative Wheel, has taught individuals of all ages the health benefits of outdoor recreation. Mountain biking plays an important role in promoting fitness and countering obesity. I know that numbers will keep increasing as more families and individuals from all walks of life start discovering this wonderful sport. I can only hope that it is those same individuals’ creative spirits that will guarantee the survival of the sport.
Photo by National Capital Commission.
land users that we will smooth out our ride in the park. The question is: can it be done, and in time, to save the sport? I believe it can, but it will require time and energy from people who share a passion for the sport. Here’s the vision I’ve had for the past six years: develop Camp Fortune ski hill as the hub of all hard-core mountain bike activities, and provide a technical play park with more single tracks, and an information and service centre. If we follow this vision, the rest of the Gatineau Park trail system could then be enjoyed by recreational mountain bikers and hikers who want to enjoy a leisurely pace in the park.
Take your Peak...
With the Ski Extra Lift Ticket
$28.95/ ticket
Sold in books of 5 limited quantities
available only at Tommy & Lefebvre
Come see what’s New! Visit us at our Open House Sunday November, 10, 2002 at Camp Fortune 10 am - 2pm
Call (819) 467-5200 www.montstemarie.com
Are you prepared for wilderness adventure?
Photo by Allen Macartney.
By Ross Francis EVERY GREAT WILDERNESS adventure involves a certain amount of research and planning. Ya, I know. Research and planning sounds as appealing to you as the word “homework” does to a teenager. But together, these two important words build the foundation for a fun, enjoyable, outdoor trip. Also, they go a long way to contribute to the safety and well-being of all participants.
We Do It All the Time
Whether you and I realize it or not, we do research every day. In fact, it’s usually one of the first things we do every morning. We wake up, check the weather, think about our schedule or activities for the day, and then decide how to prepare, what to wear, what to eat, how to dress and what to take with us. You know the drill. Well, preparing for an outdoor adventure is much the same. We must find answers to questions like: • Where will we go? • How long will we go for? (One day, two nights, a week, or a month.) • How will we travel? (Hike, bike, canoe, or ski.) • When will we go? (Time of year and 16
season.) • What will the weather be like while we’re there? • Who will come? How many people? • What equipment will we need? • Do we have the equipment already, or will we have to rent or buy items that we don’t already have? • What will we eat? • What clothes will we need? • What risks/hazards are we likely to encounter? • What maps will we need? Do we need to get road, topographical or trail maps of the actual route? • What will our emergency or back-up plan involve? • Do we have a first aider in the group with an appropriate first aid kit? • What will the trip cost? • Who will lead the trip? • What knowledge, skills and abilities will we need? • What knowledge, skills and abilities do we have now? • What kind of physical and mental fitness levels will the trip we’re taking require?
Building Commitment and
Anticipation
Getting all participants involved in the pre-trip research and planning helps build the “team.” It helps participants gain an awareness, commitment and appreciation for what they are about to do. Spreading the responsibility around for gathering pieces of information, doing research, finding maps and equipment, etc., ensures that everyone is involved and has a role to play. They begin to feel that they are contributing something to the team, and they’ll soon feel excitement and anticipation. Even children can play a significant role. They can help design menus, search the Web for tips or ideas, sort and clean gear, and prepare themselves for the trip. Make sure a large part of your research focuses on the route itself. What sort of risks and hazards will you encounter along the way? Find out.
“What If” Questions
Talk to people who have recently travelled your intended route. Read books that describe the route. Pick up maps and spend time poring over them. If you’re going on a canoeing or Ottawa Outdoors Fall
CAMPING
Deal With Identifiable Difficulties
This is the time to identify any shortcomings of individuals in your group, or shortcomings in your equipment, or in the knowledge, skills and abilities of participants. It’s a lot easier dealing with these at this point than ignoring warning signs, and experiencing problems, or worse, experiencing avoidable accidents during the trip. You can deal with shortcomings by doing things like: • Taking additional training to gain necessary knowledge, skills and abilities; • Setting out a physical conditioning plan to follow; • Conducting pre-adventure outings to test your gear and help build a strong team. If, at the end of this research, you still feel that you’re not ready, or your group Ottawa Outdoors Fall
is lacking in certain significant areas, perhaps you need to delay the trip or choose a different trip that’s within everyone’s capabilities. Perhaps you’ve set your sights too high for this outing. But don’t despair. Have you considered starting with a guided trip, where you rely on a professional guide and his or her expertise to lead the adventure? This decision isn’t easy, but always err on the side of caution.
Take your Peak...
Final Plans: Excitement Rockets Upward
Now that you’ve done the research, it’s time to plan the adventure. This is where you nail down who’s bringing what, develop group and personal equipment lists, draw up food lists, decide who’s buying the groceries, work out travel logistics, set up shuttles, and make parking arrangements and camp reservations. You’ll also look at your maps and, based on the skills and abilities of participants, decide how far you will travel each day. You’ll choose places to camp, and identify possible side trips along your route that will show interesting features of the area. Once you have your trip plan finalized, choose a family member or friend with whom to leave an itinerary and map. Indicate on the map the route you plan to travel, highlight campsites and stops along the way, and tell when you expect to be finished, and what time you’ll be home. The trip plan should identify all members of the trip by name, and give contact telephone numbers. If applicable, the person should have the leader’s cell phone number.
Where the Rubber Meets the Trail
When will you know how well you did your planning and research? You’ll know as soon as you actually get out on the trail or water. Many people keep logs or journals of their trips. Here they record: what they learned, trip highlights, things that worked well, as well as things that didn’t. Try to learn from your mistakes. All outdoor trips become a “test” not only of you and your skills, but of the
Photo by wpmcelligott.com
kayaking adventure, find out the class of rapids you’ll encounter. If you’re going on a hiking, backpacking or camping trip, find out the elevation gain or decline of trails. What’s their surface quality? How many stream or river crossings will you have to make? Is there a strong potential that you’ll encounter animals or poisonous plants? What weather is forecast? For each point, ask yourself “what if…?” What if my canoe dumps in those Class III rapids, and wraps around a rock? What if the weather turns really nasty? What if we get lost? What if I slip on a rock and sprain an ankle? Who will look after me? Where is the nearest hospital? How can we get help if required? Will we be in a location where a cell phone will work? Asking these questions prior to your trip will give you time to find solutions for potential problems you may encounter. Once you’ve finished gathering all of this information, participants must assess their own personal level of preparedness. This relates to their individual physical and mental condition, as well as their attitude. A positive attitude shared by everyone contributes significantly to the success and enjoyment of any trip.
With the Ski Extra Lift Ticket
$28.95/ ticket
Sold in books of 5 limited quantities
available only at Tommy & Lefebvre
Come see what’s New! Visit us at our Open House Sunday November, 10, 2002 at Camp Fortune 10 am - 2pm
Call (819) 827-1717 www.campfortune.com 17
CAMPING
GO THERE
research and planning you’ve done. Also, the trip becomes a test for the team, and how well its members work together. If you doubt this, just watch the dynamics of your team change when members discover that someone left the coffee at home on the kitchen counter, or when someone burns supper!
Frontenac Provincial Park:
End at the Right Time
Great paddling, great trails, let’s go!
Don’t end your trip when you get home. There’s more to learn and enjoy following the experience, which can help make future outings more pleasurable. (Scouts refer to this as “processing the experience.”) On the way home or even at a gathering later when you’re looking at trip pictures, do a bit of a debrief, or an evaluation of the experience. Make a list with these points: • What went right? • What went wrong? • Would we do the route again? • What would we do differently next time? • How well did the equipment work? As you start reliving (and enjoying) the adventure through pictures, stories and debriefing, you might find your members learn some not-so-obvious lessons. Don’t miss this terrific opportunity. Scouts Canada has been conducting camping and outdoor adventures for nearly 100 years; during this time it has found that research and planning prior to the adventure generates as much thrill as the trip itself. Any group or family can easily apply the same practices that Scouts Canada uses for camping and outdoor adventures. Ed. Note: Be sure to pick up The Fieldbook for Canadian Scouting. It’s guaranteed to make your outdoor adventure run smoother.
18
Photo by Frontenac Provincial Park.
By Ross Francis “I'VE GOT A YOUNG FAMILY, and would like to get into back-country camping and canoe tripping. Where should we go to get started, and what parks have you tried?” These are questions that I'm asked frequently. They're the same ones I asked people several years ago when my wife, son and I moved to Ottawa.
Roundabout Route to Frontenac
Back then, our son was almost four. We had already introduced him to backpacking and canoeing in New Brunswick, so we were looking for two, three and four-day trips into the back-country. Nothing too tough, just a place to escape the crowds. Camping is important to us, so we wanted to share our love for the outdoors with our son, hoping that he would eventually “catch the bug.” We wanted to find places where a few hours of paddling or hiking would take us to our campsite. “You've got to go to Algonquin,” everyone said. So our search started at Algonquin Park's Tom Thompson/ Canoe Lake circuit. This is a great trip, but not in July. It's simply too busy. What seemed like hundreds of canoes buzzed by, reminding us of Queensway traffic. We loved the park, the scenery and the route, but it was simply too busy for our liking. (Some people find that reassuring, knowing that there are lots of other people nearby in case something happens.) We still enjoy trips in Algonquin but we wait until fall when there are fewer people, and the selection of campsites and routes is better.
Back-Paddling to Frontenac
Back to square one. At this point I remembered that a friend in New Brunswick had once worked in a park near Kingston where access to campsites was only by foot or by canoe. That sounded great to us, so we picked up the map. That's when we discovered a hidden jewel: Frontenac Provincial Park. This park proved exactly what we were looking for. Of course the park is much smaller than Algonquin, so there are fewer routes and campsites, however, for some reason we didn't seem to have any difficulties choosing and booking them. Our first trip involved an overnight experience—just long enough to scout out the lay of the land and decide if it suited our needs. We selected Site #5, at the end of Big Salmon Lake, because it was accessible without having to portage. We arrived on Saturday morning, just as the wind was picking up. Fortunately, it was at our backs and we got a “double bonus.” How? We had remembered to pack a small parafoil (a kite). After paddling out from the dock, we simply got the kite flying, and “sailed” down the length of the lake. It didn't take long to find our campsite. We set up the tent, explored a bit, and had an enjoyable night.
Many Happy Returns
Since that first trip into Frontenac, our family has returned many times. Our next trip took us around the perimeter of the park in three or four days. Most of the portages that we encountered were fairly easy, but the portage linking Birch Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Portaging into the Park
Shortly after moving to Ontario we quickly learned that in this province, paddling and portaging pretty much go together. I know what you're thinking: canoes are meant to be paddled, not carried. But sometimes it's necessary to carry them to where they'll be paddled. Now, this doesn't have to be a bad thing. In fact a short portage can provide a welcome change of pace and scenery. Frontenac is a great park to develop your portaging skills. It offers many portage routes that link beautiful lakes; they range in length from under 100 metres, to just over a kilometre. The longer ones take you deeper into the interior, and typically farther away from the crowds. Making portaging enjoyable (okay, tolerable) depends on your ability to carefully select and pack lightweight gear efficiently in as few packs as possible. Not having the lightest and sleekest equipment available shouldn't Ottawa Outdoors Fall
stand in your way; it may just require a second trip. So what if you have to “double portage” (make two trips)? Part of the beauty of “getting away from it all” involves kicking back and relaxing, so take your time on each portage. Enjoy it. I've seen people portaging with big coolers and metal lawn chairs. But, hey, if these make your camping experience better, go for it.
hiking trip, you'll have lots of planning and preparations to do. Scouts Canada's Fieldbook for Canadian Scouting is an excellent resource for anyone getting started, so stop by the Scout Shop at 1345 Baseline Road in Ottawa and pick up a copy. You're sure to find it helpful. While there, check out the great selection of camping equipment and other excellent deals.
Portage-Free Routes
Don't end your camping season when the lakes freeze over; Frontenac is open year-round. Simply switch gears, and wax up the cross-country skis, or even try some winter camping.
Frontenac offers many “portage-free” routes for those who don't want to carry their canoe at all. However, this will mean a little bit of extra driving. After you've registered and obtained your camp and vehicle permits, you'll have to drive to an access point. Here's how to get to several. You can get to the back-country from the Snug Harbour Road at Mitchell Creek. From this point you'll have portage-free access to campsites on Birch and Kingsford Lakes (both of which offer beautiful, well maintained sites). Another access point is off Devil Lake Road (formerly Salem Road) at Kingsford Dam. This route provides portage-free access to Kingsford and Birch Lakes. If you follow the Devil Lake Road a little bit further east, turn off on a side road to Michael's Old Frontenac Landing. This route provides access to Devil Lake and Campsite #10 at Hardwood Bay. If you access the park from the two public boat launches on the Old Perth Road (County Road #10), you'll gain portage-free access to Campsite #1 on Buck Lake, and Campsite #10 on Devil Lake. At some access points, you'll find outfitters or property owners who will allow you to leave your vehicle on their property for a small fee. (This provides a bit of security.) Remember–before driving to one of these access points and heading for a campsite, you must first obtain proper permits at the Park Office.
Before Setting Out...
Frontenac: All Year Round
Photo by Frontenac Provincial Park.
and Little Salmon Lakes was a different story. Whether you are ascending or descending to or from Little Salmon Lake, it is quite steep. But even with young kids, that portage is quite manageable if you take your time. After having seen or camped at most of the sites, Frontenac Park has become a favourite destination for our family. What makes Frontenac Park ideal for general camping, hiking and canoeing? It offers: • Beautiful campsites • Short paddling routes • Interesting hiking trails • Great swimming • Well marked and maintained hiking and portage trails. The park offers real variety, satisfying almost anyone's wants. Most sites feature a raised platform on which to set up your tent. This means water doesn't lie in puddles, but drains well, reducing the possibility of a flooded tent. Frontenac not only offers great canoe routes, but also a wide selection of excellent hiking trails and campsites for backpackers. Most are easily accessible for family camping (less than 10 kilometres).
How to Get to Frontenac Park Our route (from Kanata) usually takes us out through Richmond, where we follow Route #10 to Franktown. Then we turn left along Highway #15 for a short distance to the Old Perth Road #10. After driving through Perth, make a right turn and continue following Route #10 to Westport. Continue through Westport (still on #10) and head towards Kingston. At Route #5, turn right on Rutledge Road toward Sydenham. Continue along Route #5 watching for Route #19 (Bedford Road). Take another right on Route #19, which will take you to the park.
Before setting out on any camping or 19
ADVENTURE RACING
Don’t get lost! Successful navigation starts with orienteering. By Mike Waddington Adventure Racing Canada
“HAVE FUN AND DON’T GET LOST!” somebody yelled. I was leaving the start line in an orienteering event in the Gatineau Park almost 25 years ago. I was only 10 and it was my first visit to this new terrain. The woods were dark with thick underbrush, beaver ponds and rocky ground. It was very different from the Dundas Valley back home in Hamilton. Before too long I was alone, I was lost and I’ll admit I was a little scared.
Despite my fear, I discovered a strange sense of adventure that got me hooked on this challenging sport. Two years later I was back in the Gats–this time as a participant in an orienteering navigation clinic hosted by then National Team member Gord Hunter. I returned each year to participate in local or international orienteering events hosted by the Ottawa Orienteering Club. These visits culminated in a win at the National Championship in 1996 near Wakefield. That navigation clinic must have taught me something right! The moral of the story is that navigation doesn’t have to be scary. A few important skills will help you find your way. I’ll share some tricks I have learned over the years. But first, what is orienteering?
Orienteering: The navigation sport
Orienteering is a sport in which participants use map and compass to locate several checkpoints in the woods. The route the participant takes between the checkpoints is not specified and is entirely up to the participant; this element of route choice and the ability to navigate through the forest are the essence of orienteering. Whether you 20
are a runner, hiker, skier, paddler, or adventure racer, the navigation skills that orienteering provides will be valuable to you. “Canadians need to escape the rat race and experience our great outdoors,” says Nina Wallace, founder of Backwoods Adventures and the Dontgetlost.ca navigation clinics. “Canadians need to experience adventure, and orienteering skills can help them do that. The better your navigation, the more adventurous your outdoor quest becomes,” she adds. Wallace has coached Canada’s National Junior Orienteering Team as well as teams that have recently competed in the Eco-Challenge Adventure Race. The sport of Adventure Racing is growing at an extraordinary rate in Canada. It takes orienteering to the next level by combining mountain biking, canoeing, running and orienteering. Adventure Racing Canada (ARC) hosts the Subaru Adventure Racing series—Canada’s largest adventure racing series—with races ranging from the five to eight hour Enduros to the 24 to 30 hour Outback events. These events all require good orienteering skills, and the all night Outback races also require good night orienteering skills. ARC also
recently hosted the Eco-Challenge Canadian Championship in Golden, BC, and most participants found that the mountain orienteering was the toughest part of this gruelling 300km, three to five-day race. Orienteering is also a winter sport. Nevin French, who has taught orienteering to the National Military Pentathlon team, prefers orienteering in winter. He enjoys ski orienteering, which combines the challenges of navigation with the speed of cross-country skiing. “In ski-orienteering you can never relax mentally because smart course planners will make you do a lot of navigation on downhill sections, right when your legs are burning and you just want to tuck.” Perhaps this is why orienteering is often referred to as the “thinking sport.” If you aren’t thinking, you may be going quickly but in the wrong direction. Even if orienteering isn’t in your plans, learning map and compass navigation skills will make your next visit to the Gats more enjoyable. Here are some pointers on orienteering and navigation basics.
Declination
Sometimes you will have to use a map Ottawa Outdoors Fall
REMEMBER: Each brown contour line signifies a 10-metre change in elevation. Notice that there are many brown contour lines crowded very closely together. “Reading between the lines” will tell you that this could be nature’s Stairmaster program. Be prepared for the exertion.
that only shows grid north, so you will need a tip on magnetic declination. Declination is the difference between grid north, shown on the map, and magnetic north. The trick that my adventure racing team uses in a race is to draw in magnetic north lines. Then we don’t worry about the declination again. All topographic maps will list the magnetic declination on the side of the map. Fortunately, orienteering maps, like the ones the Ottawa Orienteering Club have in the Gatineau Park, have magnetic north lines on them.
Orient the map!
Keeping your map oriented is the single most important skill to becoming a better navigator. If your map is oriented properly, the features in front of you should be towards the top of the map, the features in the terrain behind you are towards the bottom of the map. And yeah you guessed it; features to your right and left should be to your right and left on the map as well. If your map is oriented, then your compass needle will point in the same direction as the magnetic north lines on your map. If you turn, then you need to turn your map. If you keep your map oriented then you should always know what kind of terrain lies ahead.
Are we there yet?
To judge distance, all top orienteering navigators use a process called pace Ottawa Outdoors Fall
counting. To measure your distance with pace counting, count every second step (double pace) i.e. every time your right foot touches the ground. Count the number of double paces on a known distance of trail (or track). Normally a double pace for walking is 60 or 70 double paces for 100m. It is usually between 30 and 40 for 100m for jogging or running. Now try the same in rough terrain. You will take more steps when the ground is soft or vegetation is thick. Use this pace counting continuously when you are racing or training.
Take a safe route
Route choice makes orienteering the adventure that it is. You or your team get to choose the route between the checkpoints. Cherie Mahoney, a National Orienteering Team member who works for a hi-tech company in Kanata, escapes to the Gatineaus regularly to participate in orienteering events hosted by the Ottawa Orienteering Club. “Choosing good routes between checkpoints is important in orienteering. Often taking longer routes on a trail can be faster and safer than bushwhacking through the woods on a compass bearing,” says Mahoney. “Choose a route that is within your abilities; it builds confidence and is safer,” she adds. Routes with large ‘handrails’ such as a trail, stream, ridge or fence can often be better than going on a compass bearing straight through the woods. You should be aware of your abilities when choosing a route.
I’m lost? What do I do now?
You are orienteering or adventure racing through the woods and it dawns on you that you don't know where you are. Some will call this being lost while others will call it “losing contact with the map.” Whatever the terminology, you or your team have made an error– what do you do? The first thing you need to tell yourself and/or your team is that there is almost nothing you can do to make up the time you have lost. However, you can learn to recover through the process of relocation. This is how it is done in a few easy
steps: 1. When you feel you have lost contact with the map, stop. 2. Orient the map with the compass. 3. Relocate or attempt to establish your location by looking at the oriented map and the features in the terrain around you. For example, if there is a big hill in front of you and a stream on your right, where on the map does this exist? 4. If you can't relocate right away, then reconstruct where you think you went since the last place you knew where you were. If you are adventure racing, involve all the team members with this. For example, ask everyone independently what the team did since the last known place. Did we run uphill, north, through a creek, how far, etc? All of this information will help you determine your position. 5. If you still cannot figure out where you are, then return to where you last knew where you were and try again. Another important thing to remember is that even the top orienteers and adventure racing teams get lost now and then. Earlier this year my team got lost at night. After an hour of attempting to relocate at night we packed it in and slept for an hour until sunrise.
Practice makes perfect
Practice makes perfect, so learn from the best and sign up for a clinic such as the Dontgetlost.ca navigation clinics, or join your local orienteering club. You will be surprised where this sport can take you. For more information on the Ottawa Orienteering Club visit www. magma.ca/~ottawaoc.
About the Author: Mike Waddington is a threetime North American orienteering champion and a member of the Team Muscletech/Hammer adventure racing team (www.teamhammer.ca) and Golden Horseshoe Orienteering Club. Mike teaches navigation clinics for Adventure Racing Canada (www.adventureracingcanada.com) and Backwoods Adventures (www.dontgetlost.ca). He is an Associate Professor of Hydrology at McMaster University.
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ADVENTURE RACING
Taking your first steps By Mark McCann Outlast Adventure Racing “WHEW, THE HARD part's over,” you might say, after registering for your first adventure race. But think again. The hard work (and fun) has only just begun. Preparing for your first adventure race can be very intimidating, confusing and sometimes frustrating. There’s no need to be afraid, just be prepared. Since beginning my adventure racing career in 1999 with Raid the North Extreme in Whitehorse, I have seen many successful and not-so-successful teams enter, start, not finish, and (thankfully) finish a variety of different races. Here’s some advice how to make your first adventure race a fun, satisfying and enjoyable experience.
everyone else to agree to them in full before starting. In fact, if it’s your first time competing in an adventure race, set no other team goal than to go out and have a good time. Adventure racing is not so much about winning as having fun. In my first race, having no idea what to expect, my team didn't finish at all, but we had a great time. After several years of racing, our speed increased substantially, but had we gone with higher goals and expectations on our first time out, we’d probably have had a miserable time. We would have kicked ourselves constantly for not going faster, and possibly never registered for another race. Don't let that happen to you.
Picking Your Team
Choose Your First Event Carefully
Pick the right team with which to compete. Most adventure races involve team events, although there are some very interesting solo challenges. Working with others is one of the greatest challenges of adventure racing, but it offers you great gain. Pick teammates who have the same goals and objectives as you do. If some members just want to finish the race, while others hope to win the event, be assured that your team will not survive the competition. If you want to come out of the adventure race with your friendships (and personal sanity) intact, don’t ignore this most important rule. Establish how your team will make decisions. Ensure that members have all of the required skills (e.g. navigation, whitewater paddling, horsemanship, etc.).
Your First Goal: Fun
Clearly, and realistically, state your team goals and objectives, then get 22
Pick a very manageable race for your first challenge. Races like the Eco-Challenge or Raid Gauloises require huge commitments (e.g. preparation, and fundraising). Find a race that does not require a twelve-month commitment. In the United States, excitement generated by week-long races has spawned an increasing number of shorter challenges, including races that take anywhere from six to 48 hours. You’ve got other options available too that can help you prepare. Have you considered multi-day snowshoe races, rogaines, Iditasport, or ultra-run events, like the Barkeley?
Race Strategy
Prior to your first race, discuss goals and strategy again with your team. Talk about the start of the race, and the kind of pace you want to take. Many new adventure racers make the mistake of starting out too fast, particularly in
longer races. Pacing is critical when Adventure racers negotiating part of the course. This could be you! you’ve got five to seven days of nonstop activity ahead of you. Don’t concern yourself with how other teams are doing; during a long race anything can, and likely will, happen. Settle into a comfortable pace for the whole team and ignore what everyone else is doing. Here are some specific strategies to try: • Assign one team member the task of reminding everyone else to eat and drink at intervals. Try setting a watch alarm to beep every 15 minutes, and call out “Drink!” when it goes off. Every other time, add “Eat!” to the call. • Watch out for teammates who aren’t eating or drinking regularly. They will quickly get into trouble. Give them some of whatever you’re eating. • Make sure everyone is urinating frequently; their urine should be clear. (These are good indicators of healthy hydration levels.) • Instead of the whole team stopping every time someone needs to urinate or get something from their pack, try having that person pick up their pace to go ahead, while the rest of the team slows their pace temporarily. The team will pass the stopped teammate, and can pick up the pace again when the teammate has rejoined them. This strategy allows a continued forward motion at all times. Just make sure no one is forced to expend too much energy when following this strategy. Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Recognize the Warning Signs
Pay attention and learn the signs your teammates exhibit when they start to experience trouble. For example, one person might start fidgeting with their pack or clothing when they don’t feel great. Another might become uncharacteristically quiet. Your teammates will learn to read your unspoken signals too. Listen to your teammates, and accept their help.
Things You Might Experience During an Adventure Race
Don’t be surprised if you experience both high and low periods. Fortunately, when you’re feeling low, another teammate may be peaking and can help you. Remember, if you eat, drink and take care of yourself, a low point is only a temporary state. An hour later you’ll be feeling great again. Most racers’ emotions cycle up and down throughout a race. Lack of sleep can result in mild hallucinations during a race. If you experience one, try eating something with caffeine, or sing or talk to your teammates. Typically, these Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Photo by Martin Paquette.
• Assign one teammate the task of monitoring everyone's condition. Have that person periodically request each teammate to rate how they are feeling on a scale of one to five (five means great/ strong). Develop a predetermined strategy for the team if someone experiences unacceptable pain or fatigue. For example, someone who describes his or her condition as a “five” could take the other person’s pack for 10 minutes to give them a chance to recover.
hallucinations aren’t scary. Wearing a headlamp can give you a kind of “tunnel” vision. Keep your lamp switched off as much as possible, or occasionally take it off your head and use it as a flashlight. Moving your headlamp around will break up the tunnel vision effect.
generally rudimentary; check with climbing schools in your area for instruction. Though you only need the fundamentals, don’t underestimate these; your safety (and that of your teammates) will be at risk. Practice these skills thoroughly.
Things You Might Experience After an Adventure Race
The equipment you select is dictated by the race: the terrain and climate, the expected disciplines and the safety requirements. Heed the race organizers’ suggestions. If they say you need some specific type of equipment, there’s generally a very good reason why. Within the guidelines and requirements, you want to minimize the weight you’ll be carrying. Be innovative, but don’t skimp on safety. Races take you into places where few people go. Self-sufficiency is a key to these events. Don't count on race organizers bailing you out if you encounter difficulty. Have the necessary equipment to deal with emergencies, and know how to use it.
Occasionally racers experience post-race swelling of feet, legs, hands and face. During a long race, it’s possible for your electrolytes to get out of balance, resulting in this swelling. By eating salty foods, taking electrolyte capsules, or using some other method to replace electrolytes, you may be able to limit this problem. Swelling can occur during a long race, making it difficult to get your bike or trekking shoes on. The swelling will go away after a few days. Some people, especially those completing their first race, experience a mild post-race depression. If this happens to you, don’t worry. It will pass, especially if you begin to prepare for another race!
Physical Training
Prepare yourself physically in a manner that anticipates the way you expect to race. Running with a pack, and doing long hikes are excellent preparations. In adventure races, paddling segments often last 30 hours long; efficiency in your stroke is a key to survival. Almost all events require swimming or wading through water. Your swimming pace is much less important than being able to manage a full backpack in soggy conditions.
Skills Required
Begin learning the skills required for adventure racing early; navigation is probably the most critical. To work on this, contact your local orienteering club. River reading skills are another key element. Instruction is generally available wherever commercial rafting trips are offered. Rope skills required for racing are
Selecting Equipment
Health and Nutrition
Nutrition planning is another critical element. For events that last over eight hours, expect that you will burn fat as your primary fuel. Your body must be trained to do this, and you must plan your eating with this in mind. The race format will obviously play a major role in determining your plan. These will include the event’s length, the frequency of transition areas where you can eat, and whether support crews are permitted, or whether you must look after yourself. Adventure racing offers unbelievable highs. As long as you’re fully prepared, it will be an experience you’ll love.
About the author: Mark McCann is the co-founder of OUTLAST Adventure Racing with it's headquarters based in Ottawa. Mark has extensive experience with all aspects of Adventure Racing. (www.outlast.ca) Addtional contributions to this article came from "Adventure Racing– The Ultimate Guide" by Liz Caldwell & Barry Siff.
23
CLIMBING
How to improve your footwork Why you should look down By Yann Troutet
SO YOU’VE STARTED CLIMBING, and now you can’t help but see the world as an immense playground. You do chin-ups on the kitchen doorframe, and you’d rather climb the underside of staircases. You’ve even detoured by the local schoolyard several times to exercise on the monkey bars.
Photo by Y. Troutet.
Week after week, your fingers are getting stronger, your grip, more powerful. Soon, no climb will escape your arms and legs, right? Overlooking Important Details
Well, if you are like most beginners, chances are you have overlooked an important part of your anatomy: the feet. Sometimes I feel more comfortable on a steep climb with good hand-holds, than on an easier route that requires more balance or tricky footwork. It’s natural to trust your arms and hands more than your feet; they’re closer in your field of view, and are much more agile. The fact that most of us learn to climb indoors also contributes to the problem. While indoor walls provide an accessible and safe place to train, their steepness and texture offer little opportunity for the beginner to devolve as much weight to his or her feet as on real rock. But because legs are so much stronger than arms, it’s critical that you learn to use them properly and efficiently. Whether it is by trusting the friction of your shoes on a featureless slab, by finding a key toe hook on a steep problem or by confidently jamming a foot in a crack, knowing how to take full advantage of your feet on a climb is a skill that can lead to great progress. 24
Shoes: They’re Critical
In terms of climbing performance, the most critical piece of a climber’s gear is the shoes. Climbing shoes help you direct the strength of your entire foot on the part of your sole that is in contact with the rock. But, because there is a variety of climbing terrains, there is also a wide selection of shoe designs from which to choose. The more flexible a shoe, the more sensitive it will be. This sensitivity is helpful on technical and overhanging terrain. Stiffer shoes offer more support, hence good purchase on small holds and in cracks. What type of shoe should a beginner purchase? For a first pair, a new climber is usually best to buy a fairly rigid model (typically a lace-up), with a symmetrical cut. While experienced climbers will sometimes seek an extremely tight fit, this might not be the best choice for beginners. You cannot learn to climb properly if your feet are causing unbearable pain. Keep in mind that climbing shoes stretch over time; expect it. Buy your first pair with this thought in mind. You
want a tight, but comfortable fit. As you progress, you’ll soon want a second pair of shoes. Then, your first ones may serve as a comfortable pair for easier, longer climbing routes.
Smearing, Tennis Balls, and Blindfolded: Great Exercises
A few simple exercises will help speed the learning curve when you climb with your feet. The best exercises will be done outdoors, where you’ll find rock surfaces with various angles. Start by wearing your climbing shoes as you walk around on some big, clean boulders. Without using your hands (a stick can be useful for balance), try walking up sloping surfaces. Let your heels fall into a relaxed position, and put as much of your shoe soles as possible in contact with the rock. (This technique is called smearing.) Concentrate on standing upright; notice how solidly your soles stick to the rock. Try this technique on surfaces of various angles to determine the maximum slope angle you can comfortably “smear.” Now walk down backwards and from side to side, until you feel confident on the rock. This easy exercise can be done at the Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Most novice climbers concentrate on developing their hands, and ignore their feet. small steps, which is important. On steeper slabs with suitable footholds, try using only your elbows instead of your hands. Now try climbing down. If you repeat these exercises occasionally, your confidence level will increase noticeably. As you reach near-vertical grades, you’ll need help from your hands and arms. Here’s a good exercise; climb using only one hand, while keeping the other hand tucked behind your back. Now using both hands, climb without grabbing any handhold above your shoulders. These exercises force you to put lots of weight on your feet. Climbing with a blindfold can also help you visualize your overall body position, and will teach you to adopt a stable stance. On vertical terrain, keeping your hips close to the rock shifts your centre of gravity over your Ottawa Outdoors Fall
feet, which relieves your arms. At this point, leg flexibility becomes a significant asset.
More Basic Footwork
After doing these exercises, you’ll develop considerable confidence in your feet in all types of climbs. For instance, by confidently twisting your foot into a crack, you’ll obtain an excellent foothold. Crack climbing feels very secure to experienced climbers, but it does require getting used to it. You’ll quickly become proficient if you make a point of practising crack climbing. On small holds, use the edge of your shoe near the front of your foot. Using the outside edge of your shoe can sometimes put you in a better body position. On larger footholds, think of relaxing your calf muscles by putting your entire foot on the hold. In a corner, bridging (having a foot on each face of a corner) takes a lot of weight off your arms. Even the tiniest holds work for bridging. Watch for them. In some cases, you may have to bring your foot up to a hold that you’re using as a handhold. Similarly, getting established on a ledge (to perform a mantle) requires confidence, balance and flexibility. The more you practice these techniques the more progress you’ll make.
Advanced Footwork
As you start climbing steeper, more technical terrain, you’ll have to develop creative footwork to make the most of available footholds. Knowing when to hook a heel or a toe, to flag a leg, to drop or bar a knee can make a significant difference on harder routes. There isn’t space in this issue to tackle these techniques, but you can learn a lot by watching people boulder at your local gym. After you’ve seen how someone
else has conquered a problem, try it yourself.
Photo by Carl Desbien.
beginning of any climbing day, and may benefit every level of climber, particularly when traveling to areas of new rock types. Smearing is the essential skill for slab climbing. Slabs are rock faces that are less than vertical. In their purest form, they offer very few holds. Your arms aren’t much help on a slab, and because you must trust your feet to climb them, slabs are a great place to practice balance and footwork. Set up a top-rope on an easy slab, then try these amusing and very beneficial exercises. Try climbing a route while holding a tennis ball in each hand, pressing the ball against the rock. How does this help you learn to climb? It allows you to use your arms for balance, but prevents you from pulling yourself up. This exercise will force you to take
Leg Training: Flexibility and Stretching
While advanced rock-climbing may require that you gain more upper body strength, your legs can repeatedly lift your entire weight without any specific training. However, what the average climber’s legs need is more flexibility. Having flexible legs allows you to bridge, take big steps and “mantle” comfortably and safely. It also helps you keep your hips close to the rock. Stretching is the only real training needed for your legs. You can do it anywhere, anytime, and it’s very beneficial. Yet, somehow most climbers forget all about it.
Last Words
Good footwork is the basis upon which one builds sound climbing abilities. Make a conscious decision right now to practice your footwork. Not only can it result in significant gains, but you’ll also enjoy the experience a lot more. Climbing is a creative sport. The exercises described here are mere suggestions, or starting places, for you to explore. Create exercises of your own. Cultivate your inner-motivation. Climb outside as often as you can, but most of all have a great time on the rock. About the author: Yann Troutet grew up in Hull, where he started climbing in 1994. An enthusiast of everything upward, in 2001 he published a guidebook to some of Ottawa’s most popular climbing destinations entitled, Climbing on the Eardley Escarpment. He now lives in Sherbrooke, Québec.
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LOST IN THE GATINEAUS How compounding mistakes left us alone and cold throughout the night. By Tony Gariano
“ME LOST IN THE GATINEAUS for 36 hours? I don’t think so.” That would have been my response to anyone suggesting the possibility of me getting lost on the Eardley Escarpment, west of Gatineau’s Lusk Falls Trail. After all, since friends introduced it to me five years ago, I had completed more than 25 hikes there. First, I had gone with groups who knew the trails well. Not all parts of the steep, winding pathways are marked clearly, but after a few hikes, I knew my way better and introduced others to Gatineau’s quiet beauty. 26
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
As I led friends through the trees and scrambled over rocks, we experienced only a couple of missed turns. On one, I led a group along a path I had never taken before. We crossed some rough terrain, but ended up very close to our starting point. Terrific. No harm done, I thought. Besides, it was a great hiking experience. On another occasion with a friend, we missed a turnoff completely. Our three-hour casual hike turned into a six-hour marathon. Finally, we found ourselves at a major road, a long way from our truck.
Together, we hitch-hiked and jogged back to our vehicle. But in June 2002, I endured a hike on this trail system that I never want to experience again.
A Developing Crisis
Heather, Monique and I (all good friends), decided to go for a long Sunday hike. None of us had any commitments that day, except for me; I was invited to an early evening birthday party for a niece. That gave us plenty of time to forego the shorter (and well-marked) Gatineau Ottawa Outdoors Fall
were dressed in shorts, T-shirts and good hiking boots. The heat made the climb difficult, so we took our time and made several stops. Because we were burning so much energy, I suggested we go to a restaurant on Sparks Street after the hike to replace the hundreds of calories the climb was expending. “Great idea!” Heather and Monique cheered enthusiastically. We followed the trail at the top of the ridge, heading westward, and eventually came to a large beaver pond. Here we stopped at a rock outcropping, opened our packs and soaked up the quiet serenity. Soon we consumed our small lunches and water, packed up and resumed our hike. At this point the trail branched off in several directions. Continuing along what appeared to be the main trail, we looked for a pathway that would take us back down the ridge to our vehicle. Because none appeared, we continued. Doubt rose in my mind, but I pushed it aside thinking, “No problem. We’ll just continue walking and look for another turnoff.”
Photo by Allen Macartney.
Pressing On
trails for a more demanding outing– something less congested with people. We agreed to choose a trail in a nearby area, several kilometres west of the Lusk Falls Trails. Heather and Monique had not done this hike before, so they relied on me for guidance. At about 11 am on Sunday, we parked our car at the base of the Eardley Escarpment. After putting water, juice, fruit and cookies in our day packs—enough for a three to four hour hike—we set off climbing. As it was a very warm day, we Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Eventually the pathway petered out, then disappeared entirely. We looked to no avail for tree markings that had appeared sporadically along the trail. We couldn’t even find tramped down vegetation or exposed soil that would indicate a trail. Of course, at this point we should have turned around and gone back the way we had come. But that would have meant a long, hot hike retracing our steps. “Look, we’re probably still on top of the main ridge,” I reasoned with my companions. “We’ve just gone a bit too far west. All we need do is go down the ridge and find the trail at the base, which will lead us back to the vehicle. It’ll take less time than tramping all the way back that other way.” Having never been on this trail, my companions had no reason to disagree, so we headed slowly down the hill. What did we meet at the bottom? Not a wide, inviting trail, only thick
brush. Nothing looked familiar to me. We were lost, but I felt no panic. All we needed to do, I believed, was to head either west or south; either direction would lead us eventually to a major road. It was still early afternoon and we had plenty of time. In the few hours we had been hiking, our feet had covered a lot of ground, but it wouldn’t take long to get back to the vehicle.
From Bad to Much Worse
Our trip was not going well, but very soon it got much worse. First, we encountered a series of beaver ponds and small lakes. No longer were we able to walk in a straight line, but instead were forced to weave around them. This added considerably to our effort and discomfort. Then, we ran into a real problem – a leg injury. While picking her way around water obstacles, Heather took a wrong step that caused her knee to lock up. Although she could hobble along at a slow pace with great difficulty, she could no longer bend her knee. Naturally, this slowed our pace even further. Where earlier we had covered several kilometres in an hour, now we crawled along at less than one kilometre an hour. A very small lake (100 metres across) and associated swamp took us nearly an hour to pass because of the uneven shoreline, boggy terrain, thick bush, lack of trail and Heather’s injury. And did I mention the horrendous clouds of biting insects that continually assaulted us? Up on the ridge we had encountered almost no insects, but stumbling through swampy ground we met squadrons of hungry deer flies, mosquitoes and black flies. Then a thundershower stuck. It swept the skies clear of bugs for a short while, and provided us with a bit of fresh water. (Our water bottles had run dry an hour before.) It was late afternoon by the time the rain stopped. I had my cell phone and a signal, so I called my sister’s home, knowing everyone would be gathered there for the birthday party. After explaining that we were lost in the Gatineaus, but confident about finding our way out, I added, “We’ll call when 27
FEATURE: LOST IN THE GATINEAUS we’re on the road.” With these words, I hung up and Heather, Monique and I continued walking. Another beaver pond appeared in our path. Rather than taking time to skirt around it, we decided to cross a narrow stream emptying into the pond. After checking the stream bottom for hardness, we sloshed across. The water rose to our waists. Soon we met another pond, and once more we forged our way across a stream, getting wet to our chests. Holding our day packs over our heads out of the water, we looked like infantry, minus the guns. To buoy everyone’s spirits I called out cheerfully, “This is just like being in ’Nam.” By now we were completely out of drinking water and quite thirsty. After considering the dangers of drinking untreated water in beaver territory (i.e. giardia), we drank greedily from a warm, discoloured stream. It was getting very dark. I tried my cell phone, but couldn’t get a signal. Discouraged, we continued walking through very rough and dense bush, but soon decided that it was too dangerous to continue.
This offered some warmth and relief. Suddenly, at about 11:30 pm, my cell phone rang. (Earlier I had tried to make a call, but the phone had gotten wet, making it impossible to call out.) It was my mother. The call lasted for less than a minute until the signal drifted off. During that short minute I learned that authorities had been contacted, but only my father was out looking for us at the time. Rescue would probably come the next day. Disheartened, I crawled under the mound of branches. Monique and I placed Heather between us, so she could warm herself with some of our diminishing body heat. Sleep avoided us that night. The cold,
our position. He relayed the information to authorities. Now we knew a search and rescue effort was really underway. All search and rescue manuals counsel lost people to stay in one place. It makes searching easier. So we waited. At one point, I climbed a tall tree to get a better view of our location and to flag down a passing aircraft, if any appeared. Several times small planes crossed through the area, but none noticed us. Once, a helicopter flew directly over our position, but completely missed seeing us wave an orange t-shirt. Questions assaulted us: Is there a search and rescue operation underway? What should we do? Wait? Get moving?
the bugs, the hard rock and a sense of isolation seemed to press in from all sides, along with the considerable weight of the branches. Next morning, when the sun had started to poke some light through the trees, we rose from underneath our natural comforter. After checking my cell phone, to my surprise I found it had a signal. After some effort I reached my work supervisor. I filled him in on the situation, and told him approximately
Try to rescue ourselves? Not knowing what was happening made waiting more difficult. It proved a restless morning. We tried to keep a positive outlook, but it was difficult. My cell phone only worked sporadically. This added to the uncertainty. If we could start a smoky fire, that would help rescuers, we reasoned. But, we had no matches, and rubbing sticks together proved futile. Despondency descended on us.
Shelter Is Vital
“We need to find some high and dry ground to spend the night on,” someone said. We made our way up an incline (sometimes scrambling on all fours) to the top of a hill with a small clearing about 20 metres long. The spongy moss covering the site would have made for excellent bedding, but it was too damp. Because the exposed rock was dry, we chose this as our bed. The temperature, which had hovered around 30 degrees Celsius during the day, had now begun to drop. A cool breeze that penetrated our damp clothing made us feel miserable. Heather, in much pain and discomfort, began to shiver. Soon her teeth were chattering like a typewriter. Was this the first symptom of hypothermia, we wondered? “Let’s find some shelter,” I said, “something to protect us from the cold and bugs.” While Monique tended to Heather, I broke a number of leafy branches off nearby trees and formed a thick blanket of branches over the two. 28
Photo by Suzie Beaulieu.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
“Let’s Go. We Can Do It.”
Around 1 pm, with still no sign of any rescue, we talked our situation over as a group. We needed to do something to maintain our spirits. Both Monique and Heather, who had shown remarkable good spirits throughout this ordeal, were eager to get going. We knew, roughly, the direction we needed to travel, so after more discussion and looking at Heather’s injured knee, we decided to start moving. Monique took the lead. I stayed back with Heather to help clear the area in front of her by tramping down brush and breaking branches. Within 30 minutes, we hit another stream and a sharp incline on the other side. We made it across and up the incline, then headed into more swampy terrain. By this time we could hear aircraft flying around. Around 5 pm, at the end of a horrible walk around a swamp and after being attacked by every biting insect in the area, we sat down on a rock, discouraged. None of us wanted to spend another evening in the bush. I believed we were close to the main ridge, but didn’t know how far it was, or in what direction it lay. “Listen. I’m going to try to find some high ground so we can figure out where we are,” I said. After a brief discussion, I left. Breaking into a slow run through the woods, I scrambled up a small hill and then through some thick brush. Slowly the woods started opening up, until I could see rock outcroppings. The terrain looked like the top of the ridge–something very familiar. A little further, the proof emerged; this was the main ridge! In no time, I retraced my steps to Monique and Heather; soon all three of us were at the top of the ridge where we had stood the previous day. My cell phone had just enough power to make one quick call, so we called the police and said we were standing on top of the ridge. A short while later an aircraft appeared overhead, and dropped a streamer indicating our location. In ninety minutes a rescue Ottawa Outdoors Fall
party (consisting of my father, brother, brother-in-law, and several volunteers) reached us just as the sun set on the horizon.
Found!
“Great to see you!” Our excited, cheerful yells rang out over the escarpment. It took some minutes to bandage up Heather’s knee in preparation for our trip down the ridge, but soon we were moving slowly through the dark using flashlights, looking for trail markings. Our spirits were soaring. At the base of the trail, we met the rest of the search and rescue team. Here Monique, Heather and I expressed our collective gratitude, appreciation and apology. By 11 pm Monday night, exactly 36 hours after starting up the hill, we were back in my truck. Over the next days, concerned with the mental and physical condition of each other, we kept in close contact. All of us nursed many cuts and scrapes, especially along our shins. Heather had the worst time, recovering from the knee injury, but when the next weekend arrived, we gathered at a friend’s place for a barbeque. Needless to say, our adventure proved the main conversation that evening. About the author: Tony “Wrong Way” Gariano vows to be well prepared for his next hike.
ASimpleSurvival Kit EXPECT PROBLEMS when going on a three-hour hiking trip. Here’s a list of basic items to take with you. All fit easily into a small day or fanny pack. • Map • Matches or lighter • Fire-starter • Space blanket • Small first aid kit • Pocketknife • Signaling whistle • Compass • 10 metres of parachute cord • Rolled up, large plastic bag (for shelter) • Extra water
FiveKeySurvival Ingredients 1. Attitude. This includes the knowledge of how to survive. 2. Shelter. Even a large plastic bag can provide shelter. 3. Water. No one can survive more than several days without water. 4. Fire. This provides warmth and comfort, and helps when signaling for rescuers. 5. Food. This is the least important item
If You Are Lost... AND YOU? WHAT IS YOUR WORST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE THAT GOT SCARY SUPER FAST? WRITE TO US AND WE’LL SHARE IT WITH OUR READERS! Send an email to: ThisReallyHappened@OttawaOutdoors.ca
of the five, because people can live for weeks without food, but not without water. • Never move quickly or run. • Never split your group up. Stay together. • Find a place in the open where you’re likely to be seen, and wait for rescue.
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CLIMBING
GO THERE
Black Bear Slab
A beginner’s outdoor climb you
can handle By Yann Troutet
LOCATED ON THE BLACK BEAR SLAB, the Bear’s Crack lends itself to slab climbing, even though it really is a crack. Black Bear Slab is a tiny cliff but it is very regular and has a handful of routes of varying difficulty. The Ron and John Cliffs are also just a few minutes away. The Bear’s Crack can be led safely with a set of nuts, but can also be top-roped easily. The slab immediately left of the crack is a challenging 5.8 called Ursus Pro Minimus, a great place to measure your slab climbing skills. The crack to the right of the Bear’s Crack is The Right Paw (5.3). The Black Bear Slab is located on the Eardley Escarpment, directly behind a new housing subdivision on Cartel Road. Parking on Cartel Road is not tolerated. Please stick to the described trail and be respectful of local landowners. To get there, take highway 148 out of Aylmer. About 15 kilometres further on, there is a four-lane section of highway. At the west end of this section is a small shopping mall. Turn right on Lebrun Street just past the mall. Turn right again on a small lane. Park here. Walk along this lane toward the escarpment to a gate. Once through the gate you are on private land. Follow a track down to a partially washed-out bridge and up to a fence. Cross under the fence and across the field, leaning to the right, towards the tree line. Enter the woods and walk down and across a creek, then up a flagged trail behind the houses to the slab.
Recommended routes
In addition to this edition’s featured route, here is a selection of short local climbs that lend themselves well to the exercises suggested in this article. Divided by type of climb (slab, face and crack), the list covers a range of difficulty and thus offers a progression. The routes best suited for top-roping are marked with an asterisk.
About the author: Yann Troutet grew up in Hull, where he started climbing in 1994. An enthusiast of everything upward, he enjoys all forms of climbing. In 2001, he published Climbing on the Eardley Escarpment, a guidebook to Ottawa’s foremost climbing destination. He now lives in Sherbrooke, Québec.
Photo by Carl Desbien.
The Bear’s Crack:
Simon Villeneuve demonstrates perfect body positioning on The Bear’s Crack. Not over-gripped, the crack is used as a handhold. The right foot is smearing. The climber is looking down at his feet, not his hands. He is taking small steps. The right hand is used for balance and support, fingers pointing down with the palm against the rock. Climbing confidently, Simon hardly feels the need for pro...
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Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Climbs nearby that you can do Slab climbs Crocodile Rock* (5.4) The Bear’s Crack* (5.5) Pascal’s Hole (5.6) Primitive Primates at Play (5.7) Ursus Pro Minimus* (5.8) Primal Scream (5.9)
Face climbs
Crack climbs
Gound Zero* (5.3) Jugness* (5.5) Moonlight Delight* (5.6) Gogo Gadget* (5.7) The Face* (5.8) Living Dead (5.9)
North Wall Route B* (5.4) Fire Free* (5.5) Morning Crack (5.6) Fern Crack (5.7+) Colonel Buckets* (5.8) Grolsch (5.8+)
Reference: Climbing on the Eardley Escarpment, available at Mountain Equipment Co-op and Bushtukah
Right Arete:
Dôme:
Many climbs require little more than good balance and a head for heights. Souren Beylerian on Le Dôme, Charlevoix region.
Photo by Simon Villeneuve.
Photo by Y. Troutet.
On lower angles, stand upright and keep your hands fairly low. For better contact with the rock, and to relieve your calves, let your heels drop to a relaxed position. The author, cross-legged, on Right Arete.
K-9 COMMON SCENTS
K-9 common scents trail etiquette By Wanda Purton and Cathy Brown K-9 Common Scents
THE AIR IS CLEAN, the sun is shining, and you and your best friend are ready to hit the trails. There’s nothing like a long, lazy hike with your favourite canine buddy. We Common Scents girls have put together a few rules of etiquette to consider while enjoying Ottawa’s outdoor wonderland. Common Scents is a division of SLR (Search, Locate and Recover), Wanda and Cathy’s Search and Rescue team. The company also likes to dedicate time to educating the public about the canine olfactory system (“scent”). Its practical application enhances the bond between dog and owner. But we digress— back to the trail!
Tips for the Trail
Before heading out for several hours on the trail, fill your water bottles with plenty of drinking water. Remember, while you may be planning a four kilometre hike, if Rover is off his leash, he’ll be hiking more like eight kilometres. At one time you could count on streams and open water to irrigate your companions, but those days are past. Stagnant water can breed many forms of bacteria and diseases that can be fatal to canine friends, so don’t let your guy drink from unknown sources. What’s the easiest way to carry water? Several methods are available. Bladder packs are our favourite. You can get them at almost any outdoor store. Add a fold-up water dish to your pack for your furry buddy. If the hike is going to be long enough, take along a lunch. What? You don’t want to leave Rover out of the feast? Be careful. Too much food before or during heavy exercise can cause bloat—a condition that can be fatal in dogs. We like to pack a power bar specifi32
Wanda oversees Cathy and Tanner during one of SLR’s
cally made for dogs. Pet or outdoor stores stock these tasty treats that will make any dog’s tail wag. Now that we’ve taken care of the essentials, let’s get back to trail etiquette.
Tip #1: Poop and Scoop
Most dog owners observe the “poop and scoop” rule, but inevitably you come across a little something that someone else has left behind. Why not pick it up? Consider it damage control, and consider what it’ll do for your Karma. Remember, what goes in and around, comes out and around. Since you won’t encounter garbage disposal facilities along the trail, carry some zip-lock, sealable bags with you so the “little treasure” can be carried out without smelling up everything else in your pack.
Tip #2: Be Considerate
Be aware of where you are and what rules pertain to dogs. If you happen to meet someone without a dog walking along the trail, here’s the Common Scents thing to do. Call Rover to your side, move to the edge of the trail and make him sit. This will demonstrate to others that you’re yielding, and have control of your dog.
Tip #3: “Leave It!”
Make sure your dog knows what to do if given the command, “Leave it!” You don’t want to have your dog chasing the wildlife or rolling in the deadlife. If your dog’s command of the English language is still pretty poor, and you’re
encountering a lot of wildlife, put him on a leash. A good two-metre lead is all you need. The ever-popular retractable leash is fine, provided you’re skilled at handling it. But this type of leash can prove to be as much of a hazard as an asset if you don’t operate it safely. After all, nylon burns fur as well as skin.
Tip #4: Don’t Assume Anything
If you’re in a leash-free area, and you meet someone else who has a dog on a leash, call Rover to you. Don’t assume that all canines are dog-friendly. The other dog may be on a leash for a reason. Respect that, and keep your dog under control as you pass by.
Just a Bit of Trail Smarts
Don’t forget to tell someone where you’re going, just in case you get turned around. Remember, just because you have a cell phone, doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods, so to speak. Cell phones are not always conducive to Ottawa’s frigid winter temperatures or rolling landscape. Common Scents: that’s all it takes to have a good time on Ottawa’s pristine hiking trails. Happy tails. :)
About the authors: K-9 Common Scents is owned and operated by professional dog trainers, Wanda Purton and Cathy Brown. Through their Search and Rescue work with their canines, Wanda and Cathy came to realize the satisfaction of a job well done by both dog and handler, and as such strove to provide that for the family pet. A division of S.L.R. (Search, Locate, Recover), they can be contacted at 613-566-5086 or 613-7151216.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
ENVIRONMENTALLY SPEAKING
Cleaning lost canoe routes By Mark VanKooy Mountain Equipment Co-op BRILLIANT SUNSETS, laughing loons, sparkling water. Paddling in one of Ontario’s many provincial parks can be a wonderful experience. Lately, though, the experience also requires a healthy dose of patience and understanding – patience while you wait in line to reach a portage trail, and understanding when you have to step over someone else’s gear and canoe at the portage head. The word seems to have gotten out about canoe tripping. Everyone is doing it. Crowded provincial parks have driven many canoeists seeking a little solitude to look for new paddling destinations. Many of these people are finding their new destinations in old, “forgotten” canoe routes.
Find Those Lost Canoe Routes
Canoe guide author, Kevin Callan, released a book last year to help those in search of the less traveled route. In writing Lost Canoe Routes, Callan realized the position into which he was putting himself. By publishing these routes, they would no longer be “lost.” What’s more, the very solitude some people seek might also be lost. But Callan hoped that if more canoeists started to use alternative riverine trails, it would relieve congestion on overcrowded routes, and introduce paddlers to new places to dip their paddles. Here’s the problem: many of these routes were not just forgotten by paddlers, but had been abandoned by local and provincial ministries. Years of budget cutbacks had spread Ministry of Natural Resource staffing so thinly that they could no longer maintain all of the canoe routes that Ontario has to offer. That’s when Callan approached us at Mountain Equipment Co-op. He wanted Ottawa Outdoors Fall
to know if we would be interested in helping to maintain some of these “lost” canoe routes through our Social and Environmental Responsibility Program. We readily agreed.
Setting Do-able Goals
Not long afterwards, our store set a practical goal: clean up at least two canoe routes per year, including those listed in the Lost Canoe Routes guide, and others that were not. The task involved: • Cleaning up old campsites • Putting in new campfire pits • Trimming and clearing portages • Even removing loads of garbage from some sites. Where did we start? Wicksteed Lake, just north of North Bay, was our first challenge. Over 20 campsites nestle into the hills along the endless shoreline of this beautiful lake. The entrance to Wicksteed Lake involves a simple drive to the water’s edge. This ease of access has also been the lake’s biggest enemy. Large groups of weekend campers using motor boats take everything with them, stopping just short of the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, many of them forget to take these items back out with them. Years ago when it was popular to bury trash behind your campsite, Wicksteed Lake was a popular canoe route. Finding buried garbage from the 1970s did, however, provide some nostalgia for some of us. After visiting 22 campsites, we had eight canoes heaped to overflowing with refuse consisting of lawn chairs, bottles, cans and polyethylene tarps.
Not Wilderness Landfill Sites
Please don’t let me scare you away from visiting this beautiful lake. It may sound as though the campsites were
little more than wilderness landfill sites, but they were not. At many of the lake’s campsites, we had to look hard to find any garbage; at other sites, the treasures were more obvious. (Let’s face it, if no one cleans up campsites on a lake for many years, they’re going to get messy.) What do we hope to accomplish with the clean-ups? We anticipate folks will notice that someone has taken time to clean the sites, and do the same when
they leave. Perhaps they’ll be inspired to even pick up some refuse left behind by previous campers. We’re not trying to take over where provincial ministries leave off. What we are hoping is that everyone using a canoe route, regardless of whether or not it is “lost,” will clean up after themselves, and if they have to, the folks before them. Right now we are making plans to head to the historic York River near Bancroft. Mountain Equipment staff are anxious to paddle down this river on a cool November weekend, leaving clean campsites and renovated portages in our wake. Can’t wait!
About the author: Mark VanKooy is Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Social and Environmental Responsibilities Coordinator. If you’d like to discuss this, or similar, programs with him, call 729-2700, or e-mail him at mvankooy@mec.ca. 33
THE BARK
Supplements: Who needs them? By Ken Parker CANADIAN triathlete Kelly Guest’s positive drug test (blamed on contaminated supplements) has brought to the forefront the growing use of supplements in sports. Supplements are big business in North America. One recent report estimates that consumer sales of dietary supple-
in endurance sports in North America and the growth of the sports supplements market. However, statistics seem to prove Sharp right. In 1983 Americans produced 267 sub-2:20 performances in the marathon, but just 41 in 1997. In Ottawa's National Capital Marathon,
Statistics suggest that supplements slow athletes down, not speed them up. ments is a US$23.3 billion industry involving 2,026 manufacturers and materials suppliers, nearly all of which are American. Why are athletes so interested in supplements? The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) offered one answer. “The sports world is filled with pills, potions, powders, bars and drinks that promise to give the athlete a winning edge.” But the question remains: do these products work as advertised? Scientists are skeptical that there’s a direct correlation between supplements and an athlete’s performance, according to the AIS. In the Institute’s words, the relationship between the two is little more than “circumstantial.” Professor Craig Sharp, who carries out research into the science of sport at Brunel University, takes a slightly cynical approach to supplements and vitamins. He doesn’t believe they help athletic performance. In his words, “It has been said that the only difference between doping and ergogenic aids is that doping works.”
a finish time of 2:42 was good for 118th place in 1981; this year it would have resulted in a 30th placing. In shorter distances, American high school athletes recorded 84 sub-nine minute performances for the two mile distance during the 1970s, but only 15 in the 1990s. In the mile, high school athletes recorded 95 instances of running under 4:10 in the 1970s, but only 36 in the 1990s. While there are a number of factors that influence performance times, it seems that the increasing use of supplements is having a negative impact rather than a positive one. Want more evidence before making up your mind? The Physician and Sports Medicine Journal says this about supplements: “Aggressive marketing has led millions of recreational and elite athletes to use nutrition supplements in hopes of improving performance. Unfortunately, these aids can be costly and potentially harmful, and the advertised ergogenic gains are often based on little or no scientific evidence.”
More Records Broken?
Even if someone decides to ignore the issue of supplement effectiveness (or lack of it), athletes must consider the well-documented risk of registering positive on drug tests. There appears to
If professor Sharp is wrong, one would expect to have seen an increase in endurance performance standards in recent years, especially with the boom 34
Don’t Forget the Risks
be almost no control over what the supplements actually contain, and many of them contain nandrolone—the banned substance for which triathlete Kelly Guest tested positive. “Unfortunately, these supplements are subject to little regulation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” says the Physician and Sportsmedicine Journal. “The resulting lack of regulation can lead to unscrupulous advertising, impurities in manufacturing, and potentially dangerous reactions among supplement users.” The Web provides more documentation on this topic than most people would be able to read in their lifetime. A word of advice: don't bother reading so-called “scientific” studies done by makers of the products. Remember all those studies funded by the tobacco industry? According to the Australian Institute of Sport, “...most of the research that has been undertaken has failed to support the claims of the majority of nutritional ergogenic aids.”
The Bottom Line: Eat Healthy
Do you need supplements? Probably not, unless a doctor prescribes them. Most people don’t need any special food supplements to take part in competitive sports. All they need is to get back to the basics of eating properly. As most doctors will admit, eating good meals with solid nutritional value, provide the most important benefit to your training program. Talent, hard work and time are three extra ingredients that will lay a solid foundation for your athletic goals. In short: recreational athletes don’t need supplements; elite athletes should only consider their use after medical consultation. About the author: Ken Parker is a long-time runner, coach and race-organizer.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
ARTISTICALLY SPEAKING Featured Artist
CLAUDE LATOUR ARTIST The Return of the Hunter (2002) From the dawn of time, humans have felt the need to leave their mark, beginning with ancient pictographs on cave walls and cliff faces. Artist Claude Latour is fascinated with contemporary versions of such universal expressions. This series of works features urban pictographs as carved in tables at a local bar by those who felt the primal urge to leave their mark. Table of Contents (Part III) Vernissage Thursday, November 21,2002 6:00pm - 8:30pm
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KAYAKING
Whitewater kayaking: learn to do “the roll” By James Roddick Wilderness Tours QUESTION: What’s the real advantage of paddling whitewater in a kayak? ANSWER: When you flip over, you can roll your kayak right-side-up without ever swimming or having to exit the boat.
THIS ANSWER IS TRUE, but only once if you’ve mastered “the roll” technique. When you know how to roll your kayak, you’ll paddle more frequently, and tackle more advanced manoeuvres and rapids with greater confidence and safety. For many, the thought of spending time underwater upside down seems absurd, especially as seasons change and water temperatures cool. But winter is as good a time as any to put on a kayak skirt and sit in a boat. Many Canadian paddlers spend a large portion of their time kayaking in swimming pools when rivers are frozen; and pools are great places for novices to learn the basics of the kayak roll in warm, clear water.
Step 1: The Set-Up
In this article, let’s assume you will always be rolling up on the right side of the boat – the generally preferred side. Begin by placing your paddle on the surface of the water, parallel to your boat on the left side. Position the power face of your right blade (the side of the blade that will pull against the water) facing up. Hold your paddle firmly in this position, and flip the kayak over simply by leaning to one side or the other until you fall over into the water. Now you will find yourself upside down, and your head pointing to the bottom of the pool or river. Your paddle should be in the same position parallel to the kayak, still in the set-up position. Don’t get tense just because you’re underwater. Relax! Time isn’t running out. Open your eyes so you can see the surface of the water and your paddle.
Step 1 The set-up (view from side)
Rolling Tips 1. Make sure you’re comfortable getting out of a kayak when upside down, before attempting a roll. (Leaving a kayak when it is turned over is called a “wet exit.”) Step 1 The set-up (view from front) 36
2. Stay relaxed when rolling a kayak. Test how long you can easily hold your breath
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Step 2: Paddle
Repositioning
Your
From this set-up position, sweep your right hand and paddle blade away from the left side of the kayak in an arc out to a 90 degree angle. Keep your paddle blade at the surface of the water. Your left hand will now be resting on the hull of your kayak directly under your bum (actually over your bum, because you’re
Step 3 IMPORTANT! (Relax under water, you have lots of time to roll up)
Step 2 Repositioning the paddle (upside down in the set-up position)
Step 3: Hip Flick
Step 2 Repositioning the paddle (Finish at 90˚ angle)
underwater. You’ll be able to do it for at least 30 seconds, right? Well, the entire roll process will only take you five seconds. 3. Nose plugs and swimming goggles help to make many people more comfortable underwater. These allow them to concentrate more on learning to roll, rather than the fact that they are underwater.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Photos–Wildnerness Tours Kayaker–James Roddick.
Step 2 Repositioning the paddle (begin the sweep to 90˚ angle)
When your paddle has been repositioned at a 90 degree angle from your boat, pull down on your right blade. As you pull, drive your right knee up into the hull of your kayak and transfer your weight to your left butt cheek. This hip flick will right your boat. Finally, drag your head to the back of the kayak before taking it out of the water. IMPORTANT! Your head must be the last part of your body to clear the water, or you’ll go right back under. Once you’ve mastered the roll on flatwater, go to a gently moving stretch of deep water (Class 1 or 2), and practice there so you can gain an understanding of how the current will move the kayak around. The current may work against your preferred side. Stay relaxed. Sometimes it’s okay to let your kayak spin a few seconds until the current isn’t working against your roll, before attempting it.
4. Remember that it’s a hip flick and a coordinated pull on your right paddle blade that will roll your kayak right-side-up, not brute strength. 5. The biggest difference between rolling in whitewater and in flatwater is that in whitewater you never flip over in the set-up
Step 3 Hip flick (pull down on paddle)
Step 3 Hip flick (Head is last out of the water)
position. This means that you have to establish the set-up position upside down in the whitewater once you have flipped.
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KAYAKING
The Three Golden Rules of Whitewater Kayaking By Ken Whiting Liquid Skills Photos: Paul Villecourt ALL PLAYBOATERS need to understand and apply the three golden rules of whitewater kayaking. They are essential. What are these three golden rules? • Separate your body movements • Maintain control of your kayak with an active blade • Use the power of your torso. Let’s start by looking at what these rules mean, and why they’re so important.
Rule # 1: Separate Your Body Movements
Good playboaters have learned to let their upper and lower bodies work independently, yet cooperatively with each other. What does this mean? It means that there needs to be a distinct
Rule # 2: Maintain Control with an Active Blade
Today’s short boats are incredibly responsive. This makes them very easy to turn, but it’s also easy to lose control of them as even the smallest river feature will push them around. The only way to maintain control of your kayak is to have an active blade in the water (See photo top left).
What does this mean?
It means that it’s important to get your next stroke in the water as soon as one stroke is finished. By having a blade in the water, you can take an active role in deciding where you’ll go, rather than always reacting to the things that happen to your kayak.
Rule #3: Use the Power of Your Torso
separation of movements at the hips between the upper and lower body. This separation of movements will allow you to control the kayak in the most efficient and safe manner possible. 38
Use much more than just arm and shoulder muscles for all paddle strokes. You need to use the power of your whole upper body for any stroke you take. Rotating your torso is how to incorporate your front and side stomach muscles into all strokes. By using these larger muscles, you’ll be able to harness all or most of your power, and will
improve stamina as your efforts are spread over more muscles. Torso rotation is also important for keeping your shoulders safe from injury. Torso rotation involves three components: • Winding up the body • Planting a pivot blade • Unwinding the body. Winding up the body means turning your upper body at the waist so your chest no longer faces the direction that your kayak does. Once your body is wound up, your paddle gets planted in the water as a pivot. As you push or pull on this pivot blade, your knees and stomach muscles together will pull your body back to its position of rest. The act of using stomach muscles, along with your knees, to return your body to its position of rest is referred to as unwinding the body. Think of your body as an elastic band. The more you wind it up, the more power you’ll have available to you. Though there’s no need to fully wind up your body for every stroke, your stomach muscles should be involved with each and every stroke you take. About the author: Ken Whiting won the 1997/98 World Freestyle Kayaking Championship. This is a segment from his new book entitled, The Playboater’s Handbook II. For more information on any of Ken’s books or videos, visit www.playboat. com, or check out the Liquid Skills Kayak School at www.liquidskills.com.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
CANOEING
Anatomy of a canoe By Jason Yarrington WE’RE CONFIDENT YOU, as a passionate paddler, know all the parts of the canoe. Really we are. But just in case you can’t remember all the definitions, we thought we’d compile a diagram to remind you of the correct terminology. If you and your canoeing partner can commit it to memory you’ll communicate better when you’re out on your next excursion. 1 – The Bow is the front end of the canoe. You can usually spot the bow by looking at 2 the seat 3 arrange10 ment. 4 The front seat is 8 further 9 from the 16 end of the 7 canoe to provide leg room for the bow paddler.
9 – The Yoke is a shaped thwart, designed to fit the shoulders, which supports the canoe's weight when carrying.
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10 – The Decks are triangles of wood that sit between the gunwales at either end of the canoe. They provide a grip for carrying the canoe and a 1
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6 15
5
3 – Port is the left side of the canoe. 4 – Starboard is the right side of the canoe. 5 – Beam is the width of the canoe. 6 – The Hull is the body of the canoe which displaces the water and provides the canoe's buoyancy. 7 – The Gunwale (gunnels or rails) are the upper edges that frame the upper part of the hull. The gunwale can be one piece or can consist of two pieces–an inwale along the inside of the hull and an outwale along the outer edge. This supports and adds rigidity to the hull. 8 – The Thwarts are one or more cross-pieces attached at gunwale level to provide support to the gunwales and sides of the hull.
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place to attach a painter (rope).
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11 – The Seats are set in wide cross pieces which are usually attached to the underside of the gunwales. 12 – The Keel is a narrow strip running along the bottom of the hull from bow to stern which provides greater tracking capability and gets most of the wear and tear when launching and beaching a canoe. 13 – The Ribs are the flat cross pieces that follow the shape of the hull, pushing it outward into its shape and giving added strength to the bottom of the hull. In fibreglass, kevlar and ABS canoes, there may be only one (or none) since the material itself gives the shape.
Photos–Langford Canoe.
2 – The Stern is the back end of the canoe where most of the steering is done.
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PROFILE
Val Hinsperger An accomplished runner, a mother of two, and a big part of Ottawa’s running scene! By Fiona Trip VAL HINSPERGER HAS BEEN a fixture in our running community for a number of years. From competitive running, to teaching and coaching clinics, her enthusiasm is infectious and makes it a pleasure to be in her company. A member of the race committee for National Capital Race Weekend, an executive member of the National Capital Runner’s Association, manager of human resources and staff development at Bustukah Great Outdoor Gear, and sharing the family responsibilities of owning and operating the Bonnechere Caves, it’s a wonder Val has time for her running and other activities. At the age of 13, and one of five children growing up in Winnipeg, her mother insisted that each child choose an activity. Val chose track. It seemed to be the easiest team to join. She ran
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800m and 1500m, but really enjoyed crosscountry because of the challenge of the terrain, with the mud and the dirt of running crosscountry. She credits her junior high school coach, George Tanner, as being a significant part of those teenage years as he instilled a positive attitude by his dedication and spirit of sport. After moving to Ottawa as a young adult, Val would do track workouts by herself. One day, an elderly gentleman, who coached master’s runners, asked if she would be interested in joining. Danny Daniels, with a passion for training, then became coach and mentor for 15 years. But a memorable moment of running occurred at the Whitehorse Marathon. Being on target for a 3:10 finish, and in the last kilometre, Val was passed by her 66 year old coach. It left an unforgettable and inspirational feeling. While Val has taken many breaks over the years from running, she has not restricted her outdoor activities to running but has learned to enjoy life. Though running has not been the only outlet, she’s been around the block enough to know that injuries will heal in time. This has made a difference in handling and overcoming injuries. Along the way, Val continues to enjoy crosscountry skiing, biking, swimming, walking, hiking and snowshoeing. All these are great cross training and readily accessible in our Ottawa area. The social aspect of running also
started when Val moved to Ottawa. Any sports activity can be bonding, as Val enjoys weekly runs with university buddy Patty and former nemesis Diane and “sister” Karen. The Hash House Harriers have brought out the joy of running, and indulging has its perks. The trails of the Gatineaus are a favorite place to run, with lots of adventure. So what motivates Val Hinsperger? Val considers her biggest asset to be her husband, friends and children. Early in their marriage, she realized that she had a partner who was as keen on challenging life as she was. They are now in their 21st year of marriage and both are as active as when they first met. A talented hockey player, youth worker and business owner, Chris has always marched to his own drummer while dancing with Val. Recognizing the individual and mutual skills within themselves has been their theme in raising their kids and choosing their friends. Respect is a key word in the Hinsperger household. Their sons, Nic and Dan, are involved in all levels within their community, which includes Ottawa Outdoors Fall
ABLE & ACTIVE refereeing and playing hockey, working and a heck of a lot of playing. All members of the family have chosen to work in places that match their need to share time with dynamic individuals who challenge yet play with them. The introduction of many types of role models is a constant staple of the family diet. Fifteen years ago, when few women were running, Chris would ride his bike with one child on the back, while Val ran. Later on, Chris’ parents would pick up the boys while Val went running. It was a gift for which she is ever grateful. Val has shared in many events over the years, but as with all of us, there are always some favorites. The Cabot Trail Relay in Nova Scotia is a beloved occasion. As a founding member of the Ice Girls team, she has helped organize 17 women to run Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail in May during a 24-hour period, while wearing ridiculous costumes (a different colour theme each year). It builds team spirit and takes the competitiveness out of running. You run for fun. The course is such that friendship and participation are what’s really important. Being the 1:50 Pace Bunny for the National Capital Half-Marathon a couple of years ago is another fond memory. She felt privileged getting to share in the group’s success and goals in an actual race situation. In the past, she has worked extensively with young single parents to help them get through their tough times. That, in itself, has been extremely self-motivating. These days you will find Val working at Bustukah where she takes great pleasure in meeting and working with people who enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. From the participatory to the competitive, the junior to the senior, she continues to thrive in being surrounded by those who, like her, think life is an adventure.
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This section of Ottawa Outdoors is dedicated to persons with disabilities who are keen to live an active outdoors lifestyle.
Attitude is Everything! By Chris Bourne SO YOU’RE SITTING in front of your television and thinking that getting into some sort of physical activity program may be a great way to meet some new people. It might add some variety to your life and strengthen your self-concept. It would likely be a lot of fun. Heck, it’s probably even good for your health. Well right you are! Getting physically active can provide all of these benefits and many more. And now that you’re thinking about doing it, you’ve taken the first step to making it happen. Now that you have decided that you want to get out there and get active, it’s time to think about what it is that you’d like to do. Gardening? Mall walking? Join a gym or a youth centre? Cycling? Square dancing? Scuba diving? The possibilities are endless. Remember that tomorrow’s limits are today’s doubts, and that in the end you will only accomplish things if you view them as possible. Use your imagination and think about some of the physical activities that you used to enjoy or that you’ve heard about others with a disability doing. No doubt you’ve seen some attractive options on TV or in magazines. Make a list of the possibilities and start to think about the ones that you’ll follow up on. Challenge yourself by setting some goals for the amount of time you will spend being physically active or the number of activities you will try over the next couple of months. At this point you’ll start searching for information. Regardless of your interests or your level of ability, there are bound to be appropriate opportunities in your community for you to get involved. The first step is to find out about them. So where do you look for answers? Your local parks and recreation department is one place to enquire. Contact an
Independent Living Centre in your area. Organizations such as the Canadian Paraplegic Association, the National Network for Mental Health and many other consumer organizations that serve those with a disability have offices all over the country. They can put you in touch with others who may have the same interests and needs as you. Chat with your friends. Chances are they will be able to give you some insight to the adaptations that they’ve made to different activities and introduce you to some of the things that they are involved in. The Active Living Alliance for Canadians with a disability can connect you with its provincial or territorial representatives who have an excellent idea of what is available at the regional and local levels. Once you’ve identified some options, get out there and do it! If you enjoy the new activity, commit to taking part on a regular basis and set up a schedule to ensure that you remain involved. If not, try some of the other alternatives that interest you. Once you’ve found something that you like doing, it is likely that your interest will grow and being active will become an important part of your life. As Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” It all starts with a positive attitude toward becoming and remaining physically active. Next is a proactive approach to letting others know what you’d like to do and finding the information. While it may be necessary to have a friend help you out as you do your research or as you take part in an activity, it’s up to you to initiate things. Once you start, you’ll find it hard to stop! Have fun with your newfound activities. About the author: Practicing what he preaches, Chris is an accomplished athlete. His sport of focus is triathlon. In 2001 he won a gold medal at the World Triathlon Championships and in 2002 a silver at the World Duathlon Championships. In addition to these multi-sport events, Chris is an avid downhill skier, water skier, and loves to take part in any activity that lets him enjoy the great outdoors. Find out more at the www.ala.ca.
Fall Grilling Recipes: Simply Mouthwatering! FALL HIKING AND CAMPING inspires hearty appetites. Perhaps it’s the fresh air that makes us seek warm food that can replenish the energy we’ve burned all day, rekindle our internal furnaces, and make our spirits soar. Grilling food over a campfire or barbecue is an excellent way to keep delightful tastes locked inside. Before grilling any food, get to know your fire. Find out where the hot and the warm areas of your grill are located. Test for heat levels by holding your hand five to eight centimetres above the grill. The longer your hand can stay there before moving, the higher the temperature. Six seconds indicates a low temperature, while two seconds indicates a high one. I prefer a cast iron pan for grilling. Why? It withstands the rigors of direct fire, holds heat longer, and doesn’t require soap for cleaning.
Grilled Romaine Lettuce
For this recipe, you’ll need one head of romaine lettuce (with outside leaves trimmed, then quartered), four to six garlic cloves (peeled and thinly sliced), 80 mL olive oil, 80 mL aged balsamic vinegar, 1/2 bunch of basil (thinly sliced), 4 oz chevre, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, capers (optional), and one French baguette (sliced diagonally). Heat the olive oil in a deep-sided, cast iron pan over medium to high heat. When the oil is hot (but not smoking), add the sliced garlic, salt and pepper. Heat until the garlic starts to turn a very pale golden colour. Remove the pan from the heat, and add the balsamic vinegar. Stir or whisk together. Brush the cut sides of romaine lightly
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with vinaigrette. Then place the cut sides directly on the grill over medium heat. Sear for one or two minutes per side. Put the lettuce on a plate, crumble chevre on the romaine, and drizzle it with warm vinaigrette. Garnish with sliced fresh basil, and/or capers. Brush the baguette with olive oil, and grill each side over medium heat until toasted.
Creamy Polenta
This recipe serves four to six adults. You will need stone ground cornmeal, 500 mL chicken or vegetable stock, 500 mL milk, olive oil, one small onion (diced), two or three large garlic cloves (minced), kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, and smoked cheddar. Heat the oil in a deep-sided, cast iron pan. Add the diced onion, and sauté until golden. Add the minced garlic, and sauté briefly. Add the chicken stock and milk, then season with salt and pepper. Bring the liquid almost to a boil. While stirring, slowly add the cornmeal. Continue stirring for approximately 15 minutes. Set the pan aside on low heat while you prepare the rest of the meal.
Grilled Tomatoes
This recipe requires two ripe tomatoes (cut them in half widthwise), kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, and olive oil. Brush the cut side of your tomatoes with oil, then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Place on a grill over medium heat, and cook three to four minutes, or until they’re seared, hot and juicy.
Chipotle Lime Black Beanz
You will need 500 mL cooked black beans, one chipotle chili (minced with 15 mL of sauce), juice of two small limes, 15 mL olive oil, two garlic cloves (minced), 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro (roughly chopped), and kosher salt. Combine all the ingredients together in a cast iron pan, and place it over any heat that is available on your grill. (It just needs to warm the ingredients.) Don’t let the food burn or stick to the pan.
Grilled Chorizo Sausage
Grill two to four sausages (sliced lengthwise) over medium to high heat until they’re seared on each side, and hot. This will take two or three minutes per side. If using raw sausage, don’t slice or poke the casing. Then, grill the sausages on medium heat for about 20 minutes, or until juices run clear when poked with a fork. Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Photo by Kristen Ritchie.
By Julie St. Jean Chef, Urban Spice
Seasonal Fruit with a Spirited Chocolate Sauce
The following may be thickly sliced, and grilled or sautéd: apples, pears, peaches, plums, and bananas. To sauté, melt 30 mL butter in a cast iron pan. Add sliced fruit in this order: the firmest flesh first, and the softest flesh last. Sauté until warm and golden. They should hold their shape when cooked. If they don’t, put a little bit of extra spirits into the chocolate sauce and no one will notice! Optional, but highly recommended: add a splash of frangelico, sambuca, brandy or Grand Marnier to your sauce.
Spirited Chocolate Sauce
For this delicious sauce, you’ll need 125 mL of semi-sweet chocolate (shaved or pure chocolate chips), 125 mL whipping cream (35%), and 30 mL of your favourite spirits. Bring the cream almost to a boil, remove it from your heat, and add the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate has melted and is smooth. Add the spirits to taste. Drizzle this sauce over warm fruit, or use it as a dip for fresh fruit.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Island Eye Kristen Ritchie Photographer 613-385-1569 P.O. Box 292 Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0 43
GEAR REVIEW canister in your sleeping bag and cooking in short bursts, will keep the flames a burn’n if the mercury drops. $60, TRAILHEAD. 86 grams (stove only). MSR IsoPro gas canister 1-2 hours.
Backcountry kitchen gear
3–The Coleman Exponent Apex II
By Scott Shailer
FROM DAWN TO DUSK your kitchen is the gathering place to share thoughts with friends and family, and enjoy a warm meal too. With today’s technology there is no reason wilderness dining should not be like home but with a much, much better view. Included in this gear round-up are stoves to tenderly warm your feast, pots to harbour your meal’s contents and headlights to maintain a constant watch over meal preparation. Although each item listed in this review is of high quality, when purchasing you should seek out the advice of store personnel to ascertain which is best for you.
1–The Primus Himalaya Omni-Fuel
stove is the epitome of versatility. You can cook food with any petroleumbased liquid fuel available or a screw-on gas canister. With the gas flow regulator located on the burner, simmering control is easy, but the lowest flame can be unsteady. Stove ignition is simple using gas canisters, and with liquid fuel, the presence of an absorbent pad controls flare-ups and reduces priming time. While the stove can use any petroleum-based liquid fuel such as kerosene or diesel, the Himalaya Omni-fuel burns cleanest with white gas or canisters. Heat output is very high. Water boils in three minutes and the stove will work well in cold temperatures and at high altitude. The stove is quieter than some but certainly is not a whisper. With all metal construction and solid footing, it is robust and stable in use. Care must be taken, however, not to lose the star plate off the top of the burner. $129, MEC. 540 grams. Gas canister 2.8-5.6 hours (450g) / white gas 2.5 hours.
2–The MSR PocketRocket is one of the most compact and lightweight cookers on the market today. Remove the palm-sized stove from your pack and within four minutes you can have a 44
boiling pot of water. There is no pumping, no flare-up, no fuel spill and nothing to clean. One needs to stir delicately, but the PocketRocket’s
stove will make any backcountry chef blush with its wide ported burner and top-notch flame control that disperses heat evenly over a large area. Stove ignition is relatively fast with minimal flare-up. While the stove is designed for Coleman‚ Fuel (white gas), it will burn unleaded gasoline if you are in a bind. Heat output is rated as mediumhigh. It will boil water in four minutes and work well in very cold temperatures but may require priming paste in extreme cold temperatures. This stove is extremely quiet and will allow you to fully enjoy nature’s sounds of silence. The Apex II is bulkier than most, but fits inside a large set of pots to
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stability is no worse than other canister stoves. This stove effortlessly adjusts from rip-roaring full blast thru to a dull simmer in the absence of wind. On gustier days a very low simmer may be blown out but, on the bright side, it can be quickly restarted. One draw-back to canister stoves is that they do not perform well in cold temperatures. Some tricks, such as keeping the
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maximize space and minimize damage. $89.95. SCOUTS CANADA. 520 grams (stove only). Coleman‚ fuel 2 hours. 4–Optimus Nova Multifuel expedition grade stove will sauté mushrooms and onions anywhere in the world. You can prepare your next gastronomic adventure using any petroleum-based liquid fuel available. With the gas flow Ottawa Outdoors Fall
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7 regulator located on the burner, simmering control is easy and precise. Stove ignition is straightforward with the aid of a fuel absorbent pad that reduces priming time and minimizes flare-ups. Like most multi-fuel stoves, the Nova works best with white gas. Although the stove is slightly noisy at its highest output setting, boiling water takes only three and a half minutes. The stove will work well in highly variable temperature and altitude ranges. With an all metal construction and a terrific collapsible design, it is quite stable and sturdy in use and compact in storage. Again, however, similar to the Primus Himalaya Omni-Fuel, the star plate on top of the burner is prone to dislodging if care is not taken. $169, BUSHTUKAH. 547 grams. White gas 2.5 hours.
5–MSR Alpine stainless steel cookset (pictured above) is sturdy, light enough and cleans easily. The pan sizes are about right for one or two nature seekers. The cookset’s simplistic design has a lid that doubles as a frying pan and a well-engineered pot gripper to move pots or pour. $45, BUSHTUKAH, 733 grams. 1.5L and 2L Pots, lid/fry pan, PanHandler™ & stuff sack.
6–MSR BlackLight™ Guide non-stick cookset is lightweight luxury that is Ottawa Outdoors Fall
10 super-easy to clean, stays put on the stove and heats evenly. In order to reduce weight for those who travel and cook for others, there is no frying pan, but the 6 pots are large
enough to do double duty. To ensure the non-stick coating’s longevity, use plastic utensils, heat pots slowly, and make sure when melting snow to add water first. $63, TRAILHEAD, 847 grams. 3L and 4L Pots, lid, shammy, PanHandler™ & stuff sack.
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7–Coleman Exponent Backpacker
stainless steel cook kit is more than just pots-n-pans; it contains small plates, sporks, and a bowl as well. The large pot uses a locking bail handle and the remainder of the set uses foldout handles that pack neatly and have no pot gripper to lose. $55, SCOUTS CANADA. 936 grams. 2 sporks, 2 - 14cm plates, 0.25L cup, 1L fry pan, 1L and 1.5L pots & stuff sack.
8–MEC Base Camp stainless steel cookset will handle the cooking duties of a large family. The bail handles will allow you to suspend the pots over a fire. For those who prefer not to use the bail handles, there is a pot gripper supplied. The pots are thick and could pass as home pots. $55, MEC. 1620 grams. 1.6L, 2.5L and 3.5L pots and 3 lids/fry pans & stuff sack. 9–Princeton Tec Aurora headlight is a full-featured, long-burning LED light that can be pointed up or down via a
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hinge. The light has three power settings; yes you guessed it, high, medium and low output. There is even a flashing option that is great for cycling in town or–gasp–for search and rescue. $54, TRAILHEAD. 3 AAA (included). 50 – 160 hours.
10–The Petzl Tikka is an LED minimalist lightweight headlight with a long battery life and durable plastic construction. The beam does not focus or move up or down, but for most types of camping that is not required. Accessing the battery compartment with cold hands can be difficult, but since you do not need to that for over 100 hours it’s no big deal. $38, BUSHTUKAH. 3 AAA (included). 150 hours. 11–The Princeton Tec Solo headlight allows the user to swap a brighter bulb with a longer- burning bulb and change the beam reflectors from narrow to wide. Although changing bulbs or beam patterns is not as convenient as turning a knob, it is fantastic to have that functionality. The hinged light allows the user to point the spotlight beam in a tight and bright beam directly where it’s needed. $50, SCOUTS CANADA. 2 AA (included). 2 - 8 Hours.
SO YOU NEED BACK COUNTRY KITCHEN GEAR? HEAD OVER TO ANY OF THESE LOCAL OUTDOOR GEAR STORES. THEIR FRIENDLY STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO SET YOU UP WITH ALL THE GEAR YOU’LL NEED!
STARGAZING
“Landmarking” Ottawa’s Northern Sky By Brian McCullough
AHHHHH–THE DAY’S ADVENTURE is done. The tent has been pitched and the embers are burning low in the campfire. You lean back and look up to see a thousand points of light sparkling against an inky black sky. Wow! There sure seem to be a heck of a lot of stars up there, far more than you can see from your backyard. Confused? Don’t worry. You’re not the only one who gets “lost in space” under a sky peppered with stars. If you learn to recognize a few of the landmarks, you’ll soon find that navigating your way around the constellations is both fun and easy. Let’s begin by looking at three constellations in the northern sky. With the September equinox well behind us, the crisp, clear evenings of late fall are perfect for getting out to observe the stars. We’re headed north– into bear country!
Ursa Major and Ursa Minor
Once upon a time there were two bears… The ancient Romans called them Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, but most of us know them better as the Great Bear and Little Bear, or Big Dipper and Little Dipper. For Ottawa area outdoor adventurers, these two constellations are well worth knowing. Not only are they the stuff of legends, they are also home to the eight most useful stars in the sky for finding direction–the seven bright stars of the Big Dipper and the North Star in the Little Dipper. The first step is to get oriented. Stand facing roughly north (the spot where the Sun set will be on your left), and search above the horizon for the handle and bowl of the Big Dipper, or Plough, as it is known in Britain. Technically 46
speaking, the two dippers are asterisms, or recognizable patterns of stars in the much larger constellations of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. According to North American Indian legend, the big and little dippers were long-tailed bears constantly circling the northern sky. Native tribes even used the Big Dipper as a sort of “star clock” based on its position at any given moment during the night. Predictably, the ancient Inuit saw in the Big Dipper a polar bear, forever prowling its ice-cold starry realm. But it is to classical Greek mythology that we must turn for the steamy, R-rated (sex, violence) version of events. Here’s the spin: life is good on Mount Olympus until Hera, wife of the great god Zeus, discovers that her husband has been carrying on a passionate affair with the beautiful maiden Callisto. In a fit of scorn, Hera angrily transforms Callisto into a great bear and banishes her to the forest. (Which goes to show you that even a supreme god like Zeus is no match for a goddess on a mission.) Callisto’s son Arcas, unaware that his mother is now a bear (!), tries to shoot her with an arrow. To save her life, Zeus flings Callisto to safety among the stars to become Ursa Major, and then sends Arcas after her to become Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. You can’t tell from looking, but the
five middle stars of the Big Dipper are moving through space together at an average distance of about 80 light-years from Earth–that’s about 800 trillion kilometres as the crow flies. The stars at each end are actually much further away and moving in the opposite direction. Depending on how sharp your eyesight is, you may detect that the second star in the handle has a much dimmer companion nestled nearby. These two stars are sometimes referred to as the horse and rider. Of course, the real reason we studied the Big Dipper in Cubs and Brownies was to be able to find the North Star–which is still a very handy thing to know when the batteries in your GPS receiver run down. The easiest way to find the North Star (a.k.a. Polaris) is to follow the two “pointer” stars which form the outside of the Big Dipper’s bowl. The North Star marks the end of the handle of the relatively inconspicuous Little Dipper. Contrary to what many people believe, the North Star is not the brightest star in the sky. That honour goes to Sirius in the winter constellation of Orion the Hunter. At a distance of nearly 700 light-years from Earth, the North Star simply doesn’t have the candlepower to make even the list of the top forty brightest visible stars. It’s too bad, really, because the North Star is very useful to us for navigation as it lies–wait for it–almost exactly due north from any point in the northern hemisphere. (Hard luck, mates– there’s no corresponding “South Star” for trekkers in Oz.)
Cassiopeia–Ice Queen of the Milky Way
We leave our two bears now to find the distinctive “W” (or “M”) shaped constellation of Cassiopeia riding high overhead these autumn evenings. Look for it on the opposite side of the North Star to the Big Dipper. The five or six bright stars that form the “W” are line-of-sight dance partners only as they range from about 40 light-years to more than 500 light-years away from Earth. Cassiopeia lies in an area of our Milky Way Galaxy that is rich with stars and well worth exploring with binoculars. If Ottawa Outdoors Fall
Stargazer’s Checklist What You Need to Get Started • A Reasonably Dark Sky: You can see a lot from a suburban backyard, but you’ll be astounded by how much more you can see under a dark sky away from city lights. At least turn your porch lights off. • Your Eyes: The constellations are so large that they are best viewed with the naked eye. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are easy naked-eye objects, and even the Andromeda Galaxy can be glimpsed without optical aid under very dark skies. A photograph of the stars as seen in the sketch above.
Illustration by Brian McCullough. Photo by Dave Lauzon.
• Binoculars: The same binoculars you use for birding or camping can peel away enough layers of night to show you something like 30,000 stars — five times more than you can see with your naked eye. This is the way to explore the countless star clusters hiding among the constellations, and to catch a glimpse of Uranus and Neptune.
Ottawa Outdoors Fall
you’ve recovered enough from your last portage by then to get out and enjoy the action! Until then, the long, cool nights leading up to the December 21st winter solstice are prime time for getting out under the stars. Make a few notes of your observations in your palm device or journal, and you will be rewarded with a wonderful memento of your explorations. Clear skies and happy observing!
• Sky Maps: You can’t do much better (IMHO) than Canadian astronomer Terence Dickinson’s easy-tofollow sky guide, NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe ($30). Look also for Dickinson’s bi-monthly SkyNews magazine to keep up with the ever-changing positions of the planets, meteor showers and other “happening” sky events. • Meet Other Stargazers: Monthly meetings of the Ottawa Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada are open to everyone. Meetings are normally held at 8:00 p.m. on the first Friday evening of each month in the auditorium of the Canada Science and Technology Museum on St. Laurent Blvd. Admission is free.
About the author: Brian McCullough is a past president of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Ottawa Centre), and an astronomy educator with the Canada Science and Technology Museum. He also conducts astronomy programs for adults and children in co-operation with the City of Ottawa and with the Mill of Kintail conservation area near Almonte. Photo by Dave Lauzon.
you feel up to a challenge, see if you can spot the faint glow of the Andromeda Galaxy. As you can see on the chart, the right-hand “V” of Cassiopeia’s “W” points the way to this galaxy, which appears as a ghostly smudge a short distance away. Should you manage to locate it, take a moment to appreciate the view. It’s more than just eye candy. What you are witnessing is the combined light of 500 billion stars gravitationally bound in a spiral galaxy some 2.2 million lightyears away. In other words, the smudge of light you see in your binoculars shows the Andromeda Galaxy as it was, more than two million years before Survivor first aired–around about the time Homo habilis (the original “handy man” survivor) was developing stone tools in east Africa. Very cool. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find the galaxy on this occasion. Andromeda is on a collision course with the Milky Way Galaxy and will be much easier to spot in a few billion years–presuming
• Telescope: You will need a telescope to see the ring around Saturn, the Galilean moons of Jupiter and dust storms on Mars. A suitable backyard telescope will cost you $150-$400, and deliver its best views in the 30x-150x magnification range. Choose a telescope that suits your needs. A heavyduty scope that would look more at home in an observatory atop Mauna Kea is not what you want on your next kayak trip. Several manufacturers offer compact telescopes that make ideal backpack companions.
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By Angie and Ryan Brown
Gone Fishing!
WE LIKE FISHING! And the Ottawa area is a great place to do it! The Survival Kids are going to let all of you in on a few of our favorite fishing holes, including what type of fish we usually catch (and release) there. • Mooney’s Bay
Right across the street from our home! We just grab our tackle boxes, our rods, a healthy supply of live worms and off we go. We normally catch rock bass, but our friends have caught perch, catfish, pike and largemouth bass. You can just pick a spot along the shore and cast away.
• Hog’s Back Falls
Our spot is actually on the west side, at the foot of the falls. If you have ever seen the movie, “A River Runs Through It”, then you will know what we are talking about. (Actually, we have never seen the movie, but my Dad always says this part of the falls looks just like the scenery in that movie!) Anyway, it is a
great spot for carp, walleye, muskie, perch…basically every fish in the Rideau River. Here’s a little piece of advice. Only fish on the west side! The NCC Conservation Officers make regular patrols of the area.
• The Mill at Manotick & The Locks at Black Rapids
These areas are really pretty (Angie said that). Our parents love them because there is plenty of green grass to lounge on while we try to land the ‘big one’. Perch, rock bass, and sunfish are the main catch of the day. Bring lots of worms, these fish strip your hook as fast as you can bait it!
• Ottawa River, near Dunrobin We went fishing there in September, at dusk. We caught largemouth bass, and the largest sunfish we have ever seen. They say that there are also lots of catfish.
• Calabogie
Our aunt has a cottage on Calabogie Lake. We’ve never seen water so clear! We caught pike, small and largemouth bass, perch and sunfish, right off the dock. We recommend live bait whenever possible. We like the quality of the worms we buy at the Heron Road Canadian Tire. Fishing is a lot of fun. We learn a lot about the waters we are fishing in, and the fish that we are lucky enough to catch. Our biggest fishing accomplishment this year, however, was getting Angie to pick-up her first live worm…maybe next year she will actually bait her own hook!
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escapes
“Fall Giants� A lone mountain biker cycles her way along Trail #1 through the Gatineaus during a late fall day. Photographed by Ken Lange
