Issue #44 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

Page 35

Peterborough & the Kawarthas for a different world PETROGLYPHS, FIRST NATIONS CULTURE AT CURVE LAKE, PADDLING EVERYWHERE By Katharine Fletcher | Photos: Eric Fletcher

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tudying at Trent University started my lifelong affection for Ontario’s Peterborough & the Kawarthas region. It has a geological foundation of glaciated drumlins, eskers and lakes that have been developed by local residents into a wonderland for play, relaxation and learning. Eric and I have visited many times and will return in June to paddle and perhaps take another workshop at the Canadian Canoe Museum. What’s bringing us back, again and again? Take a look.

ELMHIRST’S RESORT This family resort on the north shore of Rice Lake offers so much outdoorsy fun that you’ll want to just park, pick your activity and jump in. Horseback riding offers an intriguing way to explore the woods and fields, topped by grand views of the lake itself. Hike the grounds and swim or paddle the lake, then finish the day with a farmto-table “terroir” dinner. Or rent a lakeside housekeeping cabin for family or friends and stay a while. If you’re inclined to go kiteboarding, host Stephen Elmhirst has best-practice tips and a friendly welcome here from all the Elmhirst family, dedicated hands-on owners And it’s only a three-hour drive from Ottawa. What’s special? An aerial orientation and perspective of the landscape via Elmhirst’s floatplane. Take off from the lake and see it and the resort recede as you gain altitude. Our enthusiastic pilot was totally up to speed on local landmarks and offered an intriguing aerial perspective of where we had been canoeing at Curve Lake First Nations. Then we flew over “my” Trent University and two of Canada’s National Historic Sites: the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Peterborough Lift Lock. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Carving our own custom-built paddle.

CURVE LAKE FIRST NATION This community about 25 kilometres northeast of Peterborough occupies a peninsula that splits Buckhorn and Chemong lakes, and is home to about 2,700 people. We rented a rustic housekeeping cabin overlooking Chemong Lake from the band council, ditched our gear, and headed out into the shallows in the canoe that came with the cabin, paddling through metre-high stands of wild rice. These emerald-green plants whispered and rustled as we skimmed between their long, cattail-like blades. Great blue herons stood sentinel, awaiting an unwary fish or frog, mallards and black ducks paddled by, and an osprey hunted overhead. On shore, two white-tail deer watched as we spied painted turtles basking on logs. What’s special? The wild rice. This native plant was decimated when the Trent-Severn

waterway flooded its natural habitat. Built over 87 years starting in 1833, this waterway now links Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario. But shallow lakes became deep lakes unsuited to the plant and First Nations people lost a staple food source. Today, James Whetung still gathers it from remnant shoreline stands and sells it at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market in autumn. Despite this calamity the community retained its art and culture, on display at the Whetung Ojibwa Centre, including one of my favourite crafts – porcupine-quill boxes. And if you don’t get there before summer’s over, the September powwow is fun too.

PETROGLYPHS PROVINCIAL PARK This park became a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981 because it’s home to the largest concentration of ancient rock carvings ottawaoutdoors I 35


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Articles inside

Ottawa’s Ultraman Canada champion: Kevin Willis

10min
pages 60-64

Exploring world flavours in your backyard

3min
page 57

Add a spa and hot tub to your backyard staycation

1min
page 58

Deck out your outdoors for spring

5min
pages 53-56

Golf putting basics

1min
pages 48-49

Adventure Travel: Sea kayaking Thailand’s coast

4min
pages 46-47

Outdoor Adventure Clubs

3min
pages 38-39

Biking for bass

6min
pages 40-43

Adventure Travel: Manitoba’s “big five

5min
pages 44-45

Slacklining has arrived

5min
pages 36-37

Peterborough & the Kawarthas for a different world

2min
page 35

Cool Gear Hot Clothing

5min
pages 32-33

Ottawa Outdoors Music Festivals

1min
page 34

Temagami wilderness

4min
page 31

The lost art of outdoor whittling

2min
page 25

Making molehills out of mountains

2min
page 24

Riding to the hounds – not

5min
pages 22-23

Gravel bikes circle back

8min
pages 20-21

How to get rid of leeches

3min
page 19

Dust off your boat for the season

2min
page 17

Ottawa’s natural environment

3min
page 16

Survival 101

3min
page 18

Ottawa Valley spring adventures

4min
pages 14-15

Local races

3min
pages 12-13

No trace camping includes the campfire

1min
page 11

How to bike for weight loss

2min
page 10

How to buy a bicycle

3min
page 9

To rent or to buy outdoor gear?

2min
page 6

In early spring, leave the woods to the animals

2min
page 5

Eat local and buy a “share” from the farm

3min
pages 7-8

Publisher’s Letter

3min
page 4
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