Issue #47 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

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SPRING ISSUE

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OTTAWA • GATINEAU • ONTARIO • QUEBEC • US & BEYOND

ADVENTURE | TRAVEL | FAMILY | HOME | HEALTH

Your first backcountry adventure See the world as it awakens on Mount Algonquin History of Wolf and King Mountain trails

Choosing the right backpacking stove

EXPLORING ARNPRIOR’S MACNAMARA TRAIL www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 01

Beach Days and

Nights Playing on the beach, splashing in the water and snuggling in front of a crackling fire; camping with your kids makes for a pretty perfect memory. Book your, “Mom, that was so AWESOME,� camping trip at one of The Parks of the St. Lawrence riverside campgrounds.

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Parks of the St. Lawrence

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OUTDOORS 20

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YOUR FIRST BACKPACKING ADVENTURE

SPRING ISSUE

YOUR OWN 22 CRAFT WOODEN PADDLES AND CANOES

4 Publisher’s Letter 5 Human and natural history on Wolf and King Mountain trails 7 Tie the perfect boot knot 9 Arnprior's Macnamara trail 11 How to portage like a pro 13 Choosing the right stove 14 A definitive new book on beavers 16 Old rhymes –­ fact or fancy?

17 Seven reasons to visit Dows Lake Pavilion 18 Climbing into a colour spectacular 20 Get set for that first backcountry adventure 22 Craft your own wooden paddles and canoes 24 Finding your inner dragon 26 Survival Quiz 28 Two bike roads for all ambitions 30 Cool Gear Hot Clothing 31 Ottawa Outdoors Music Festivals 32 Outdoor Summer Adventure Clubs 33 Campfires make you healthy 35 Making molehills out of mountains 37 Bug-free camping and other helpful tips 38 Hollywood survival myths can kill 40 Cast off, set sail, take the helm and climb aloft 42 Budapest Beckons 44 Support MitoCanada 45 Hike from Ottawa to Kingston with the Rideau Trail Association 46 Quebec’s Dumoine River watershed faces the future 48 Golf tips 51 Ideas for a relaxing backyard 53 In like a lion, but lamb tastes like a delicacy

Cover Photo by www.linkedringphotography.com

read it online

COOL GEAR HOT CLOTHING? Check out some hot items to pick up this spring!

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PUBLISHER'S LETTER

THE TEAM

SPRINGING IN ALL DIRECTIONS

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e're really excited for four big reasons. Firstly spring isn't just in the air it's all around us and everywhere we go.

Secondly, the distribution of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is now the largest ever! Of course the free copies continue to be picked up at the major outdoor adventure stores around the region and many other high-traffic locations, but from now on we're also reaching far into eastern and northern Ontario and western Quebec. This means articles in each issue will entice the in-city DAVE BROWN readers in Ottawa-Gatineau to head to these beautiful locations; while at the same time bringing the Ottawa Valley readers in to PUBLISHER Editor-in-chief Ottawa to shop locally. Everybody wins.

Ottawa Outdoors Thirdly, keep a lookout for the next issue as we plan to make ottawaoutdoors.ca a fun announcement that will be prize-filled and packed with SHOW OWNER summer adventure excitement.

The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show Lastly, in case you hadn't heard, our past Outdoor & Adventure adventureottawa.com Travel Show was a resounding success with new retailers selling PUBLISHER gear and clothing at great prices; and these exhibitors all mixed Fish, Hunt & Ride fishhuntandride.ca in with nearly 100 others; all providing information and products for your outdoor adventure lifestyle. Next spring will be our 6th annual show and will be the largest ever!

Okay, now to this issue. Once again our crack writing team have pulled together a wide landscape of articles we're sure you'll love. If you're a hiker then you can read about the Wolf & King Mountain trails; or learn how to tie the perfect boot knot; or head to Arnprior to experience the Macnamara trail; or climb Mount Algonquin in the Adirondacks, plus much more.

If you're a paddler head over to p.11 and learn how to portage like a pro; or read reviews on Wally Schaber's book about the Dumoine River or even on our Canadian beavers. Want to make your own canoe or paddle – then p.22 has all you need to know to get started.

And if you're a camper or backpacker up for real adventure, learn how to survive by taking Allen Macartney's quiz on p.26; or follow tips on your first backpacking adventure on p.20. And don't forget our tips on bug-free camping p.37, or reading why Hollywood movies can get you killed.

As always there is a feature on adventure travel (Budapest), tackling the Rideau Trail or just relaxing in your backyard and cooking a lamb delicacy.

Spring is here people. . .time to take the steps to great times and memories!

mail me your comments: editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca

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OTTAWA

OUTDOORS MAGAZINE

April 1-2, 2017

6TH YEAR | EY CENTRE

PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVE BROWN EDITOR ROGER BIRD WRITERS KATHARINE FLETCHER, ALLEN MACARTNEY, SHANNON PEDDELL, CHANTAL MACARTNEY, LESLEY CASSIDY, JENNA THOMPSON, CRAIG MACARTNEY, FRASER MOFFAT, NIGEL BRERETON, LANDSCAPING IDEAS PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS ERIC FLETCHER, MARC CHARRON, ROBERT BROWN, EGONZITTER FOTOLIA, IPAPINA - FOTOLIA, KATHARINE FLETCHER, KEVIN CALLAN, GDVCOM - FOTOLIA, GALYNA ANDRUSHKO, BELINDA IVEY, FRANKIE'S - FOTOLIA, SIMON INGRAM, GIGRA FOTOLIA, CANADA TRAIL, GOBIKING.CA, VISIT LAKELAND, KEITH MILNE, GORD COULTHART, THE POETIC IMAGE, KTSDESIGN - FOTOLIA, TALLSHIPS ADVENTURE, JULIE ST-JEAN ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Dave Brown, Publisher | Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent publication published seasonally every four months and distributed FREE at sports stores and a hundred other locations around the region.

E-mail: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 Fax: 613-482-4997 HOW TO GET PUBLISHED Ottawa Outdoors welcomes story and photo contributions. Publisher may publish any and all communications with Ottawa Outdoors, and may edit for clarity and style. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. © Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any materialspublished in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is expressly forbidden without consent of the publisher.

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GATINEAU PARK LOOKOUTS AND FORESTS REMIND HIKERS OF THEIR FOREBEARS

BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

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A

s Ottawa struggles into spring after El Nino’s wintery grip, people of an outdoorsy bent are dusting off the hiking boots and heading for the hills.

Lucky us. Gatineau Park’s Wolf Trail and the King Mountain trail, provide grand views of the Ottawa River and Valley and an introduction to intriguing human and natural history for anyone who pauses along the way.

WOLF TRAIL, No. 62 (used to be No. 16) Access along Meech Lake Road, west of Old Chelsea Time: at least three hours, but allow for 4½ Drove to parking lot 13 on Meech Lake Road, so you can ascend this trail in back of the Eardley Escarpment, aka “the Ridge.” You climb 218 metres through mixed forest, picking your way along a rocky trail throughout this 8.3-kilometre hike.

About 500 metres from the trailhead, the path splits. Stay right, then remain on trail No. 62 following the signs to Mahingan (380m) and then the reward of Tawadina Lookout (335m).

NATURAL HISTORY: You are climbing through mixed hardwood and softwood forest. Watch for black bear claw marks on the smooth silvery-gray bark of American beech trees. When you see them, stretch your hand up to the lowest ones – a great selfie where you can compare the span of your fingers to the bear’s paw.

Looking down at the Ottawa River valley from Tawadina Lookout on Gatineau Park's Wolf Trail.

As you approach Tawadina, notice how the vegetation changes to a habitat of stunted red oaks along the escarpment edge. Don’t be fooled by their size: these are not young trees. Their height is limited by the scant topsoil and rigours of weather in this harsh, exposed environment. They are well over 100 years old. Come summertime, roses blossom here, along with harebells and other flowers that need direct sunshine but can get by on little moisture – quite unlike the understory plants of the dense forest you climbed through.

At the Lookout, smooth Canadian Shield rock formations allow an unimpeded view over the Ottawa River. Formed in Precambrian times, these hills are remnants of a mountain range higher than the Rockies, eroded to their current height after millennia of glaciation, faulting, and exposure.

HUMAN HISTORY: The name Meech Lake recalls Asa Meech, a Congregationalist minister, doctor, and teacher who arrived in Hull (now part of the city of Gatineau) in 1815 from New England. By 1821 he owned the first farm “up the mountain” in what’s now Gatineau Park. Although his house isn’t identified by the National Capital Commission, you’ll have driven past this white clapboard home along Meech Road en route to Blanchet Beach.

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PHOTO BY ERIC FLETCHER

Human and natural history on Wolf and King Mountain trails

Hike in a group. Always have at least one other person with you if you are going on low-traffic trails or be accepting of the risk you take in having no one able to aid you.

• Drink often to stay hydrated.

Carry enough water for the day and your pack will get lighter as the day wears on.

• Small snacks often will keep your energy level up rather than waiting for a big lunch meal after you've emptied your body's reserves.

• Keep a small amount of surplus food ready, just in case.

• Embrace Leave No Trace ethics using the open spaces is not a right, its a privilege we need to keep available to others years from now.

• Leave your hike plan with someone back home and call them when you get off the trail.

• Bring and use sunscreen and a hat to prevent sunburn, even on cloudy or cold days.

• Leave all your cotton clothes at home.

• Keep a bandanna tied to your pack strap for a quick wipe of your brow as needed.

• Inspect your emergency and first aid kits before each hike. Replace consumed items. Especially be able to start a fire.

• Water is critical for staying alive, but it is also deadly when mixed with cold on the trail. Keep yourself and your gear dry. Put items in zip-loc baggies, sleeping bag in heavyduty plastic garbage bag, clothes in waterproof bags.

Carry and use raingear.

• Take a photo ID, insurance card, and credit card on the trail.

Before a long trek, taking digital photos of your documentation and emailing it to yourself can be helpful if they are lost or stolen.

Easy access to a copy of the document may aid in getting replacements faster.

Another view of Wolf Trail.

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KING MOUNTAIN TRAIL, no number Access along the Champlain Parkway for roughly five kilometres from intersection with Gatineau Parkway. King Mountain/Black Lake parking is on your left.

Time: 1½ hours King Mountain is a 1.9-kilometre loop trail. From the parking lot trailhead, keep right alongside Black Lake, then ascending steeply through dense hemlock forest. Notice near the summit of King Mountain, the flora dramatically opens from shaded forest to grasses and stunted oaks. While hiking the ridge top, you’ll see little paths to lookouts over the Ottawa River and Valley floor. The most significant lookout is marked by a stone cairn. Its plaque explains this is where mapping of all Canada started in 1905, “the triangulation system of the Geodetic Survey of Canada, the basis of surveys for all purposes topographical, engineering and cadastral [land ownership and taxation].”

When returning, you descend through a cathedral-like grove of maples. Their deep shade and quiet contrasts markedly with the exposure of the ridge.

NATURAL HISTORY: Eastern hemlocks are evergreen trees that prefer moist, shaded environments and can live for 600 years.

Pause as you pass Black Lake, to examine their trunks: you can usually see rows upon rows of tiny holes in the bark. They are left by yellowbellied sapsuckers which have drilled the trunk to drink the sap and attract insects. The bird flies away until a worthwhile bunch of insects have gathered. They become the sapsucker’s next meal.

HUMAN HISTORY: Although some think the mountain is named after former Prime Minister Mackenzie King who owned property nearby (the Mackenzie King Estate), it’s not the case. Likely it was named for Dr. W.F. King of the Geodetic Survey of Canada. In the mid-1900s, Kingsmere cottager and poet Arthur Bourinot wrote that when a boy he saw “the surveyors’ lanterns shining as they climbed the mountain path at night.” In these memoirs he says that prior to this cairn “a huge red cross … could be seen for miles around.” It was erected by Father Maguire, parish priest at Old Chelsea between 1888-91.

Wherever you hike, bike or explore in Gatineau Park, it’s intriguing to know that we follow in the footsteps of First Nations peoples, as well as pioneers from Europe. In the late 1800s there were 200 or more families of the newcomers living in what, in 1938, became Gatineau Park.

As we explore its trails, we are walking in their footsteps. Sometimes tumbled stone walls, wells, iris blossoms, and other clues remind a visitor of long-ago human habitation. ~ Katharine Fletcher’s Historical Walks: The Gatineau Park Story invites readers to learn about the human and natural history of the park. For information at katharinefletcher.com

PHOTO BY MARC CHARRON

Hiking Tips

Both lookouts remind us we are walking on Algonquin peoples’ original territory, where Tawadina means valley, and Mahinga means wolf.

Although we’re unlikely to spot wolves here, the view of the Ottawa Valley is awe-inspiring from Tawadina. From it, look for settler Joseph Lusk’s Ghost Hill Farm in the valley below. To find it, locate Highway 148 and look east to a terraced edge whose steep slope is delineated by a dark swath of evergreens. The highway descends towards Breckenridge here via a steep part known as Ghost Hill, named after tales of murder, hidden treasure, and the “ghostly” will-o’-the-wisp marsh gas.

GEAR ADVICE: Sturdy hiking boots rather than sneakers, because exposed ankle bones can bang into rocks – plus, this trail has muddy sections. Take a windbreaker and protection from sunshine, wind and cold. Take lots of water, especially in summer; it’s strenuous hike. Binoculars can help find birds, and locate Ghost Hill too.

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Boot care for beginners

TIE THE PERFECT BOOT KNOT

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY One frustration haunts all hikers: how to tie boot laces so they don’t loosen. Loose laces invite falls and sprains, so the rougher the trail, the more important properly laced boots become.

And there’s more to it than that. Specific lacing techniques help boots feel more comfortable for different foot sizes and shapes and the lacing method employed by boot makers is not necessarily the best for your foot. But before we look at some techniques that work, remember that not all laces are created equal. Some round laces loosen almost spontaneously regardless what you do. I prefer laces with a rectangular cross-section – not round. They hold their knot even over the roughest terrain. And before hitting the trail with your newly laced boots, try wearing them around the house for several days to make sure you have them adjusted right.

That way you’ll find out if laces loosen too easily.

If they do loosen, tame them by changing the tension around foot and ankle. Do this by looping

It’s discouraging to buy expensive outdoor boots only to watch the leather become cracked and leaking even after a casual splash through mud.

Avoid this with attitude. Make caring for your boots a pleasure by thinking about upcoming trips as you clean and apply oil.

Start by gently washing away any mud or grit off your boots, including under the laces. Allow them to dry completely, then apply a thin coat of Mink Oil or Neatsfoot Oil – both work.

Don’t apply too much. Let it sink in and dry for several days before applying a second, heavier coat. Reapply every month, depending on use.

Those boots will remain soft, pliable and waterproof.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 07

Boot-drying made easy

“window” in the lacing pattern around the widest part of your foot so the lace creates no tension there. Presto! That boot area will be looser and the pressure relieved. Vary the size of the window depending on the width of your foot. ~ Allen Macartney is an experienced outdoorsman who has trekked parts of the rocky Chilkoot Pass and Klondike Valley.

(left) Forming a window with laces relieves pressure on a wide foot in the area of the window.

It works like magic! The window appears at the bottom of the boot in this case. (right) Another lacing technique that is absolutely wonderful involves just looping the lace a second time around itself.

PHOTO BY IPAPINA - FOTOLIA

How to dry out wet boots at your campsite so they’re ready for tomorrow’s adventures?

The key is do it slowly. If placed too near a campfire, leather boots will dry too quickly from the heat, cracking the leather and damaging internal glues and stitching. Here are some ways to slow things down.

Undo the laces and pull out the tongue to expose the inside of the boot. Brush off any dirt or mud, then use a rag to dry as much of the inside of the boot as possible.

Or you can stuff boots with wads of wrapping paper or newsprint. Paper really absorbs moisture. Let them sit for 30 minutes, then replace the soggy paper with dry paper.

Repeat this process several times until the boots are fairly dry, then prop them up downwind from your fire so they catch the warmth but not the heat of the flames. Leave them like this for several hours.

Inuit boot drying works by suspending boots above a campfire on a pole or strings so they hang with the boots opening downwards. Keep them well above scorching heat so gentle warmth can waft inside.

the lace around itself several times near the highest eyelets. This is called a locking loop (see illustration). For extra security, tie a double knot on the boot lace itself.

Then think about keeping your heel. A lifting heel leads directly to blisters, so here’s a method to prevent this and to stop the heel from moving forward in the boot – dangerous when descending steep hills. Start by making a locking loop fairly high up in the lacing. Then, rather than cross the laces over to the opposite eyelet, lace them vertically before crossing them over (see illustration).

There are useful ways to lace up narrow feet, which can be particularly helpful for women who often have narrower feet than men: Lace up your boot it comes from the manufacturer, then over the narrowest point of the foot loop the lace twice around itself (a locking loop) before continuing the common back-and-forth pattern up your boot. The double loop effectively “locks” the lace tension over the narrow part of the foot, drawing the sides in closer. Your narrow foot will love it!

I’ve got the opposite problem – wide feet.

Normal lacing makes my feet ache, because the boot sides crush inwards over the full length of my foot. The solution is simplicity itself. Make a

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ARNPRIOR'S MACNAMARA TRAIL Rich in interpretation

BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

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PHOTO BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

ith 19 interpretation points along its fourkilometre loop, Arnprior’s Macnamara Trail, helps visitors to learn the flora and fauna of the Ottawa Valley. Carleton University biologist, photographer and author Michael Runtz wrote the richly informative trail descriptions available in brochures at the trailhead (or on PDF at mfnc.ca). As you explore, you’ll likely meet joggers, hikers, birdwatchers and others out enjoying the natural world.

At the trailhead next door to the Nylene Canada factory at 200 McNab St. in Arnprior, orient yourself with the map, grab a brochure and plunge into this mixed hardwood and softwood forest.

Stop No. 1 explains the club’s namesake, naturalist and photographer Charles Macnamara (1870-1944), who kept meticulous diaries of his exploration of Ottawa Valley wildlife. Also, in 1913, he and Ligori Gormley started the Arnprior Christmas Bird Census. So it’s unsurprising the Macnamara Field Naturalist Club adopted his name when forming this organization in 1984. Club members join community volunteers to maintain the trail with support from the landowner, Nylene, and the K.M. Hunter Foundation.

The second information stop explains wildlife recovery. Around 100 years ago, beavers were so uncommon that Macnamara was astonished to discover a lodge in a nearby pond. In the brochure, Runtz explains that although Macnamara took many photos of beaver lodges and dams, not one depicts the animal itself – these rodents had been trapped almost to extinction..

Their rarity prompted Macnamara to pressure the Ontario government to protect this. So on Dec. 22, 1920 the Nopiming Game Sanctuary was formed. Runtz notes “Nopiming” is an Ojibwa word taken from a longer phrase meaning, “the dweller in the woods is always happy.” Perhaps, like me, you’ll think this remains an apt name for a 21stcentury visitor.

If you continue walking, signpost No. 6 will introduce you to a Walking Fern. Then take a side trail to signpost No. 7 at Goodwin’s Bay on the Ottawa River and the marsh where the Macnamara Club plans to build an observation tower in the fall of 2017. Runtz writes, “The periodic flooding and drawdown (when the waters recede) is important to the ecology of this and all marshes. The flooding brings into the marsh a flush of nutrients from the river, and the draw-down exposes decaying organic matter to the air, allowing for more complete

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Getting there

PHOTOS BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

From Ottawa’s Parliament Hill it’s 66 kilometres. Go to mfnc.ca for directions or check Google Maps using Nylene Canada, 200 McNab St, Arnprior as the destination. Free parking across the street from the Trailhead.

Macnamara club asks, “Please, no dogs.”

More trail coming soon

Janet Mason has been a club member for 15 years and is in charge of its “trail extension project.” It will mean a new observation deck and an additional loop to connect the existing trail on the south section of the property to the currently unused north side near McNab Street. This will open a different forest ecology for visitors.

Construction is planned for late summer or fall 2017. Runtz said the planned loop “will give users a first-hand look at a marsh ecosystem, which supports a diversity of wetland plants and animals including swamp sparrows, Virginia rails, muskrats, and beavers. It will also take trail users through a stately grove of eastern hemlocks, offering yet another option for those seeking to spend more time exploring natural habitats in the Ottawa Valley.”

You too can get in on it

If you join the Macnamara Field Naturalist Club you’ll learn more about how nature operates in the Ottawa Valley. Monthly meetings have a “bottom-up” approach – they all start with recent observations by the members. Later in the meeting, professional biologists give illustrated talks. Regular outings such as the spring Owl Prowl get everybody outdoors. Details on joining at mfnc.ca

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Wild Ginger on the Macnamara walking trail White Cedar with pileated woodpecker holes

decomposition by bacteria, which require oxygen for their work.”

(Not all of Runtz’s notes are pure biology. His powers as a punster and humourist show up in some of the signs.)

Backtrack briefly to the main trail and continue by turning left. You’ll encounter other signposts marking plants like the demure wild ginger – in early spring its heart-shaped leaf hides a brown flower that hugs the earth. Other signs explain points of geological interest such as Precambrian marble outcroppings.

And there’s human history too. Stop No. 16 marks the stump of a white pine, the species which, along with red pine, birthed the Ottawa Valley logging industry. Valley logs gave Britain muchneeded timbers for the Royal Navy after Napoleon blockaded the Baltic Sea and its surrounding forests in 1806.

Runtz explains, “Arnprior’s status as an insignificant little hamlet changed dramatically with the arrival of Daniel McLachlin, an important lumberman and politician. In 1862, he established the first of four water-powered sawmills at the newly incorporated Village of Arnprior. By the early 1900s, up to a thousand men, including Charles Macnamara, were employed by the McLachlin Lumber Company.”

Enjoy your stroll shadowed by these historical figures and I bet you’ll emerge, just as my husband Eric and I did, refreshed with learning how rich nature is in what could be considered “just an ordinary little path through the woods.”

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How to portage like a pro IT’S ALL IN THE TECHNIQUE

BY CHANTAL MACARTNEY PHOTOS BY KEVIN CALLAN

I

couldn’t believe the condition of the portage trail before my eyes. Gooey mud lay thick over slippery rocks. If my ankles could utter a sound, they would scream in terror. Beyond the rock garden, trees had fallen across the path creating a dangerous obstacle course. This was bad, but after picking my way through this area, a steep, winding trail over more slick rocks and roots awaited me.

Was the effort worth the trouble to reach the beautiful lake on the other side? For a second I hesitated. You bet it was! Adventure awaited. Gingerly, I reached down and swung the canoe up through the bushes along the trail, and let the vessel settle gently on my shoulders. If I had been a less experienced portager, even lifting the canoe through the thick undergrowth would have been dangerous. But a little experience simplified the task.

Let’s look at various methods to safely and easily get that canoe up onto your shoulders. When it’s firmly in place you’ll be able to negotiate almost any portage, regardless of its condition.

There are different ways to carry a canoe. The technique you decide to use will be determined by the length of the portage trail, the weight of the canoe, and the strength and number of people who are on hand to help.

ONE-PERSON PORTAGE CARRY It’s sometimes easier for one person to carry a canoe over a very flat, short distance portage (i.e.

10-20 metres) using a sideways shuffling motion.

With this type of carry, the canoe does not actually go over your head. Instead, the hull of the canoe is supported on your hip while you hold the gunwale with both hands. It’s slightly awkward and requires some strength, but it’s often useful.

Here’s how to do it. With the canoe sitting on the ground, position yourself beside the centre thwart.

Place one hand on either side of the thwart on the gunwale, and raise the canoe until it sits on your hip. Then, start shuffling sideways.

THE TRADITIONAL PORTAGE CARRY By carrying the canoe solo on your shoulders, you can travel far along a portage trail and you won’t tire as fast. The hard part is getting it up onto your

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shoulders, but once you’ve got the technique, it’s easy!

1. With the canoe resting flat on the ground, stand beside the yoke of your boat so that the yoke is on your left.

2. With one hand on the thwart, take hold of the gunwale closest to you, and lift the canoe onto your thighs. Remember to bend your knees.

Grab the gunwale closest to you with your left hand and reach as far across the thwart as you can with your right hand.

3. Using your knees to help you, roll the canoe over your head onto your shoulders, ducking your head out of the way.

4. Balance the canoe by reaching out both hands along the gunwales. Now, you’re ready to head down the trail.

A variation of this traditional carry involves turning the canoe over so the open area faces the ground. Now, one person lifts the bow above his head, allowing the second person to scramble underneath, and put the thwart on his shoulders.

Straightening his knees, he takes the full weight, then lifts the stern, getting balance help from the person holding the bow, who then lets go.

TWO-PERSON CARRY There are a few different ways to carry a canoe involving two people. The first is generally for short portages, where each person simply picks up one end of the canoe by the handles and walks. Paddles and lifejackets can stay in the canoe for this carry, but never put anything else in it.

Another way for two people to carry a canoe for longer trips is to sit the canoe flat on the ground, keel down. The bow person picks up the very front of the canoe, holding onto the keel and one gunwale. The stern person then lifts the far end of the canoe, once more holding the keel with one hand and the gunwale with the other.

TANDEM SHOULDER CARRY This carry works well if one person is stronger than the second. The stronger one should position himself at the stern of the boat where most of the weight lies.

OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 11

Both people need to be on the same side of the canoe for this type of carry. Facing the bow of the boat, one person should be at the stern, and one at the bow. Both people must grab hold of the gunwale using the same hand (either right or left). Now, lifting the canoe, they swing it upside down onto their shoulders.

LAST THOUGHTS Before you begin to unload your canoe at a portage trail, take a look at how you packed your canoe when you first set off. By making a mental note how you did it before, you will be able to pack it again much quicker on the other side of the portage.

Wear good shoes or hiking boots when portaging. Ankle support is important, especially if you are going over uneven or rocky ground.

When carrying something heavy, like a pack or a canoe, always make sure that you are comfortable with where the pack is sitting before you start out. If it’s not sitting right, it may cause problems for your back. As in backpacking, place softer clothing and items against your back and arms. This will act as padding and protection from the harder and larger objects.

Put on a lifejacket before portaging. This will provide cushioning for your shoulders when carrying a canoe or kayak.

No one likes to portage a heavy canoe. Even Canadian canoe icon Bill Mason agreed with this truth. But a little practice and experience can simplify the task, making it almost enjoyable, even along a muddy trail.

Portaging Do’s and Don’ts • Avoid loading your canoe on shore! You can really damage it by dragging it into the water.

• Consider carrying lighter gear through to the end of the portage before taking the canoe.

This way, you’ll be able to take note of any difficult or dangerous spots.

• Before you set the canoe down, look for sharp rocks and other things that may scratch or dent your boat.

• When you are walking over slippery rocks, move slowly, carefully picking your way through obstacles. Sudden movements can lead to falls and injuries.

• If you’re portaging in really buggy weather, before you put the canoe on your shoulders remember to spray yourself with bug spray. It’s no fun finding your arms and neck covered in hungry mosquitoes half way down the trail, with a 60 lb canoe on your back.

• Take a drink of water before you begin your portage, and drink more if you take a break to stay hydrated.

• Don’t try to be a superhero and complete the entire portage in one trip. That can be dangerous. Some people carry a heavy pack on their back while simultaneously portaging a 60 lb canoe. If they slip, they’re almost bound to get injured. No fun.

• Rest several times over a long portage. Look for a low-lying limb in a tree or a “V” formed by branches, where you can prop up your canoe.

• Keep the front of the canoe up above trail level so you can watch out for any dangerous obstacles or even wildlife on or near the trail.

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Choosing the right stove

BY SHANNON PEDDELL A stove on the trail can be a blessing, making a rainy hike day less miserable with a hot cup of coffee or soup. Lightweight backpacking stoves have their pros and cons, worth exploring so you buy the one that suits you and your activities best.

We’ll look first at iso-butane canister stoves, the kind with a screw-on canister containing a mix of propane and butane. They’re quick and easy to use – screw on the canister, turn the knob and light. The flame is adjustable for heat control and they are quick to boil. Prices vary a lot, from $20 to more than $150.

More money buys faster cooking time, lighter weight and more uniform cooking. (Cheaper stoves are prone to hot spots.) Drawbacks: you can’t tell how much fuel is left in the canister; they’re expensive and hard to dispose of responsibly; and they wimp out in cold weather because low temps reduce pressure in the cans which means flame or none at all.

WHITE GAS OR LIQUID STOVES These are free from cold weather failures. They are refillable (no throwaway canisters) stoves that require priming. This can take practice to avoid over priming, but the refillable cans mean you can pack just what you need and always know how much fuel is left. Liquid stoves cost from $100 to $250 but the fuel is cheap. They require more cleaning because the fuel burns “dirtier,” but are typically more durable than canister stoves.

You have to be a careful cook because it’s hazardous if you spill gas near or around cooking or campfire.

TABLET STOVES These are cheap, from $15 to $35, have no heat control and their solid tablet fuel – it’s called hexamine – burns without smoke, leaves no ashes, and costs a lot in comparison to other kinds of fuel. These are a good emergency stove in a car or camping gear, but not great for backpacking.

BIOLITE STOVE The biolite stove is a relatively new arrival in the backpacking world. It’s a large device that burns sticks and leaves, so you need no camp fuel. It has a USB outlet to charge electronics! It’s heavy and costs about $125 and up depending on accessories.

Before you buy any backpacking stove, read online reviews, and check local fire regulations – open fires and certain kinds of stoves are sometimes prohibited.

And never leave any kind of stove unattended. Never. At all.

ALCOHOL STOVES Think lightweight, small and cheap, from $30 to $120. You can make your own with empty cat food or other small tins. Just pour fuel into the empty can and light it, but there is no heat control. A major benefit with alcohol stoves is fuel versatility, so you can resupply even in towns without an outdoor store.

Fuel sources include methyl hydrate (in any hardware store), high proof alcohol and fondue fuel. As with liquid stoves, you have to be careful not to spill the fuel bottle or knock over an operating stove. The heat and “dirtiness” of the burn varies depending on the fuel.

Methyl hydrate burns hot and gives off no toxic fumes.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 13

CARLETON UNIVERSITY BIOLOGY PROFESSOR MICHAEL RUNTZ CELEBRATES CANADA’S NATIONAL SYMBOL

BY KATHARINE FLETCHER

14 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

All of which brings us to realize how amazing it is that the populations rebounded, often thanks to reintroduction of breeding pairs in protected places like Gatineau Park. Their re-established numbers are such that residents bordering the park or living inside it sometimes regret their rodent neighbours.

But notwithstanding blocked culverts and burst dams that wash out roads, Runtz conveys what amazing creatures they are. Who knew that beavers resemble hippos and alligators? Eyes, nose and ears of all three species are set on the upper part of their heads so they remain above the waterline as they swim on the surface. This enables full sensory perception to locate predators – and for beavers to use their strong, flat tails to slap the surface of the water to communicate danger.

To me, this slapping sound is an iconic “call of the wild.” Although not as hauntingly romantic as loon laughter, when I was a little immigrant girl getting used to her new home in Canada, beavers enchanted me. I sat still as a mouse, pond-side, trying to spy that V-shape in the water which signified a swimming beaver. As quiet as I was, often the beaver would sense me and with a slap of its tail and a splash of water, it dived. Then a delicious wait … would I see it again?

Runtz’s book captures this magical mood of nature, and wistfully suggests return our children to the wild, so they too can sit spellbound, listening to the dawn chorus of birds while searching for beavers.

He blends facts and photos adroitly, weaving a profile of Canada’s national symbol, and going as far as showing us how even an abandoned, dried up beaver pond becomes useful habitat for a host of other wildlife.

The Dam Builders is a splendid addition to Runtz’s 10 other natural history books.

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PHOTOS BY GDVCOM – FOTOLIA

A definitive new book on beavers

“None of the countless hours I have spent in the wild have been more enjoyable or educational than those spent at beaver ponds. Beavers are fascinating animals to watch, and even if none are visible when you visit a pond, you never leave disappointed for there is always so much to see and experience.”

So writes Michael Runtz in the introduction to his latest book, Dam Builders: The Natural History of Beavers and Their Ponds (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $45).

The book has about 400 full-colour images. “Most are mine,” Runtz said while we chatted over coffee at Westboro’s Bridgehead, but a few required permissions – reproductions of contemporary logos from Parks Canada and Roots, plus the crest of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Old and recent, these visuals of the animal show how beavers have become a cherished national symbol of Canada.

No wonder. Beavers are perceived as industrious creatures who live companionably in social groups – qualities we Canadians might say define us.

Moreover, hats made from felted beaver fur became the rage in Europe, spawning the fur trade where coureurs de bois joined native peoples in trapping then shipping the skins from Canada’s hinterland to Montreal, Quebec City, and Europe.

Indeed, pelts set the standard of currency here, where beaver populations seemed inexhaustible.

Runtz said, “The great naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton estimated that in the period from 1860 to 1870 more than ten million beavers may have been killed in North America.”

Europeans over-trapped beavers just as they overhunted bison: to the brink of extinction. Runtz explains in his book. “In the winter of 1828-29, trappers harvested a grand total of four beavers in 25,000 square kilometres of wilderness near James Bay, a reflection of the situation across the entire continent.”

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OLD RHYMES ­– FACT OR FANCY?

BY CHANTAL MACARTNEY Red sky at night, sailors’ delight; Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.

We’ve all heard rhymes that predict the weather, but should we believe them?

Many traditional weather forecasting proverbs come from sailors and pioneers whose lives depended on battening down the hatches. It turns out there’s some good folk-wisdom in the old rhymes. Modern weather forecasting equipment and satellites show that lots of these proverbs were generally trustworthy and often accurate.

Weather predicting is a tough business because weather changes are often fast, furious and frequent.

Predicting basic weather developments is often as simple as reading cloud patterns. Various cloud formations telegraph impending weather: Are clouds becoming more or less abundant? Are they descending or rising? Is there a shifting pattern in the sky?

WELL-WEATHERED RHYMES Forecasting rain is the mainstay of most weather proverbs and rhymes. Even today, tourists and travellers can use these ancient verses to decide whether to get out the rain gear and put up the tarp.

The rhyme at the beginning of this article has some credence in basic meteorology. Weather patterns tend to travel west to east, and the sun tracks the opposite direction. The setting western sun illuminates the pollution and dust particles to create the red sky associated with dry air. Since weather in the west is heading toward the viewer’s location, the red sunset glow suggests approaching dry conditions. If the evening sky has a yellow or grey hue, however, you might want to sleep in the tent instead of under the stars. Likewise, wet weather might be telegraphed by a reddish sky in the morning, as the sun illuminates high-altitude cirrus clouds that might drop later in the day.

PHOTOS BY IGOR MOJZES – FOTOLIA

The moon with a circle brings water in her beak.

If you see the moon or sun surrounded by a halolike circle, rain could be on the way. Light bends when it hits the ice crystals in cirrus clouds, creating the halo effect. It is a sign that rain may prevail when the cirrus clouds sink in the sky.

16 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

Mackerel skies and mares’ tails, Make tall ships carry low sails.

Cirrus clouds were nicknamed “mares tails” for their wispy likeness. If the sky is streaked with cirrus clouds, rain may be approaching. A sky with patches of high-elevation cirrus clouds typically depicts highquality weather for the day, but if the wispy ends of the clouds are turned down, break out the umbrella.

Lightning from the west or northwest will reach you, Lightning from the south or southwest will pass you by.

For the most part, storms and thunderclouds head from west to east. This proverb holds water

because when lightning is seen in the south, the rain is probably passing you by. The rest of the storm could track south, too, leaving you high and dry.

Rainbow in the morning sailors take warning.

Rainbow towards night, Sailors’ delight.

Much like the first weather proverb mentioned in this article, this rhyme is all about rain. Rainbows are usually seen away from the sun. In the morning, the eastern sun shines through the raindrops in the west and forms a rainbow. The water-laden clouds move east toward those hapless mariners. In the evening, the sun shines through moisture in the east and shows as a rainbow. Eastern rain has already safely passed over.

Sound traveling far and wide, A stormy day does betide.

Has your canoe partner’s voice ever sounded a wee bit more insistent as the clouds roll in?

It could just be louder. If your voice or the pots and pans clinking together sound louder then usual, this might foreshadow a storm.

High humidity from lower clouds causes sound waves to bounce back to you, creating the illusion that everything is louder. You may think that your ears are more sensitive, but when the clouds lift, the sounds will return to normal.

If smoke goes high, No rain comes by; If smoke hangs low, Watch out for a blow.

The smoke raising from a campfire can help you detect whether or not rain is on its way.

If the smoke hangs in the air in a cloud, the air is in a low-pressure stage and likely, rain will occur. If smoke is rising in a thin, vertical twisting pattern, this indicates a high-pressure system and clear weather around the corner.

When the dew is on the grass, Rain will never come to pass. When the grass is dry at night, Rain will come before the light.

Because dew only occurs when the air is clear and tranquil, there cannot be any conflicting humidity or low-pressure points.

Wind evaporates the dew and could be a precursor to rain.

READING THE WEATHER Many outdoors enthusiasts have memorized the weather proverbs to help them predict what lies ahead. The weather is never so important as when we are at the mercy of the elements. The weather proverbs will work for you, but it doesn’t hurt to have a good radio, too!

~ Chantal Macartney is a camper and canoeist who is ever-vigilant to approaching storms.

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DOWS LAKE PAVILION Seven great reasons to visit this adventure location all summer LAKESIDE ESCAPE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY | Don’t have a cottage, or the time to drive all the way out of town? No problem!

Located at the base of Preston Street and minutes from downtown, Dows Lake offers an “urban hinterland” retreat in the centre of Canada’s Capital.

FUN ON THE WATER | Try out a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), a kayak, canoe, pedal boat or one of our brand new row boats!

EXPERIMENTAL FARM | Make a day of it!

Bring the family and friends and after a nice paddle on the Lake, take the quick walk over to the Central Experimental Farm and enjoy one of the many programs and attractions on offer.

degrees of physical challenge that are bound to get the blood flowing and keep you smiling.

THREE FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS | After it’s all said and done, take some time to relax; no matter if you’re looking for Tex-Mex, pub style fare, or casual fine dining. Dows lake has it all!

ARBORETUM | Paddle along or stroll through the 26 acres of diverse flora.

PATHS AND TRAILS | Jogging, walking, biking, or rollerblading, there’s hardly a nicer setting in Ottawa than the paths running along Dows Lake and snaking through the arboretum.

STAY FIT! | Whether you’re on the water itself or taking advantage of one of the surrounding areas, all activities in the vicinity offer varying

PHOTOS OF ACTIVITIES YOU COULD BE DOING this SUMMER AT DOWS LAKE PAVILION

• PADDLE on stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes or pedal boats • WALK OR RUN the boardwalk ending where you began, at the Pavilion • DINE on the large decks of any of the three restaurants • RELAX watching the boats, SUP’ers and kayak/canoers come floating by • ENJOY the view day or night

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 17

CLIMBING INTO A COLOUR SPECTACULAR Early start on Mount Algonquin pays off

BY LESLEY CASSIDY

Waiting atop Mount Algonquin for the colours to appear.

Sunrise arrives in brilliant hues.

18 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

Being

a weekend warrior, sometimes you just have to get up and get at it.

Convincing two female friends to drive three hours to hike in the Adirondacks was not the hard part. Telling them we would camp and set the alarm for 1:30 to hike up Mount Algonquin for sunrise, was a tougher conversation. For some reason, they agreed to take on its 1,559 metres.

In early July, the three of us – fit and experienced hikers in our late 40s – drove to Lake Placid. We had booked a campsite at the Adirondack Mountain Club’s Wilderness Campground next to Heart Lake at the base of an area known as the High Peaks. We had hiked in the Adirondacks many times, but this was our first stay at the campground. After eggplant and fish stew for dinner over a camp stove, we headed for the tent to try and fall asleep early. We had organized our gear and clothing, the packs with water, food and first aid, so everything would be ready to go.

We even prepped a breakfast we could carry and eat on the trail. Despite all this, foggy brains and eyes did not want to co-operate when the alarm went off at 1:30 a.m. Bodies kept saying go back to bed – this is not right.

But we forced ourselves awake and quietly made our way to the start of the Algonquin trail. Hiking up, it took a while for eyes to adjust to the pitch black beyond the headlamp beams. We stopped well away from the campground, sat in the middle

of the trail and scooped cold oatmeal into our mouths. As we sat in our little breakfast circle, we peered around and wondered how many animals were awake and what they thought of our visit.

As we continued hiking up, we focused on putting one foot in front of the other instead of looking too far forward. There was little conversation, but comfort in the stillness and silence. About two hours into the hike the sky started to shed its inky black, and a deep blue emerged. The trail was getting steeper, the trees smaller and the large rocks were flatter, forming a solid base for our feet. We knew we were getting closer to the treeline.

Being the last of the three hikers, I watched the headlamps bob ahead of me as my friends made their way up the final steep stretch to the bald rocky peak of Algonquin.

Arriving on top to enjoy the stillness of a hot humid morning made it all worthwhile. The 360-degree views of the high peaks surrounding Algonquin kept us there for almost two full hours.

But the real treat was the colours. As the sun rose, the changing sky shifted from deep blues to soft pink, and as the sun climbed still higher, it became a bright hazy orange. It felt like we were on the roof of the world.

Descending, we ran into hikers who asked us how early we got up to be done so soon. We told them about our timing and most thought we were crazy.

Once back in the campground, we went for a long swim in the cool waters of Heart Lake, pulled out the sleeping mats, and slept for the afternoon.

Well deserved, we felt, and a definite repeat adventure for next year.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 19

The essentials Many organizations and guides agree on equipment that all backcountry trekkers should have. You may not need everything on this list, but taken together it can save you if things go wrong. This is the list from Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (eighth edition): • Navigation (maps and compass/GPS/altimeter) • Sun protection (sunscreen/ protective clothing/ sunglasses) • Insulation (appropriate clothing plus extra) • Illumination (headlamp/ flashlight and power source) • First aid kit • Fire (waterproof matches/ starters) • Repair supplies and tools (knife, multitool, duct tape, trowel) • Nutrition (enough food for one day longer than you plan to be away) • Hydration (water treatment) • Emergency shelter

20 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

Get set for that first backcountry adventure

BY JENNA THOMPSON

T

here’s a next-step question in the minds of many campground campers: how about the peace and freedom of backcountry camping? That step into the wilderness can seem intimidating, but it’s less scary if you break it into little steps with some easy-to-handle ideas.

Start with the car-camping you know, but practise backcountry skills along the way. Skip the infrastructure amenities of the campground (drinking water on tap, showers, electricity) and put the car off limits for storage. Take the familiarity a step further on a short one- or two-night trip with a doable hike on the way in, accompanied by a backcountry-savvy friend if you can. Short treks give a sense of what it’s like being away from the vehicle and other amenities, but leave you with the security of knowing they are close by if you need them.

Frontenac Provincial Park north of Sydenham has campsites as little as 20 minutes hiking away from the parking area and plenty more around two hours away. Charleston Lake Provincial Park, near Lyndhurst also has hikes from 10 minutes to

a few hours to your site. Packing everything in on these shorter trips shines a light on gear that’s inadequate, unnecessary or missing. After a couple of such outings, you’ll be ready to try longer, more remote trips.

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PHOTOS BY GALYNA ANDRUSHKO

EQUIPMENT Borrow or rent backcountry gear on your first trek. It has to be small and light, since you carry it yourself in a sturdy large backpack. Lightweight tents, sleeping bags and stoves designed for backpacking make a huge weight difference. You have to find your own drinking water, so bring a filter or iodine tablets. A first aid kit is essential.

No toilets or showers, so bring soap and towels, a trowel to dig a hole and toilet paper packed in something waterproof. Most gear needs to be packed efficiently and in a waterproof manner.

Signage may be limited at best, so get an area map and learn how to navigate with it using a compass or GPS. You’ve got to eat, and food storage will not be a cooler in the car, so choose foods that pack easily and need no refrigeration (dehydrated foods work well). Learn how to hang food in a bear bag, and think about the wildlife you might encounter and how to respond to it.

Plan what you might do if something goes wrong or if equipment fails.

That’s a lot to think about but the experience of the night sky, trees and lake with no cars or radio, and loons to serenade you to sleep, is incredibly rewarding. More info? Mountain Equipment Co-op runs free Backcountry 101 clinics. They’re on its website.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 21

Chateau Montebello In a cozy atmosphere, the outdoor enthusiast can choose from swimming, tennis, hiking, cycling and a plethora of other activities terrific for the entire family or for a romantic weekend away. Sit by the famous towering six-sided stone fireplace where you can relax with a nice book, game or conversation.

Only 45-min away, it's truly magical!

Visit their website at: www.fairmont.com/montebello

Craft your own wooden paddles and canoes LOTS OF COURSES TO TEACH A HISTORIC CRAFT

BY JENNA THOMPSON

22 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

T

here’s something special about canoeing with a handcrafted paddle. Very cool, very expensive looking, you might think. But you don’t have to buy one from a master woodworker. You can make your very own with one of these craftsmen teaching you. It’s a perfect activity while waiting for the weather to warm up.

And you could graduate to making an entire canoe or stand-up paddleboard.

The Ottawa City Workshop (https:// ottawacitywoodshop.com/) and My Urban Workshop (http://www.myurbanworkshop.com/) both offer paddle-making courses, with sessions ranging from six to 16 hours.

Andy Convery of Echo Paddles, who teaches at the Ottawa City Workshop, says participants range from experienced cabinetmakers to people who have never picked up a hand plane. He covers basic shapes and design, choice of wood for strength and weight, and all the skills from cutting and planing to jointing and laminating.

Results range from stand-up paddleboard (SUP) paddles, and touring, whitewater or flatwater canoe paddles.

Over at My Urban Workshop, participants carve a solid cherry wood canoe paddle. Lee Valley has offered paddle making courses in the past – check its schedule for upcoming offerings.

The extra ambitious can learn to make an entire canoe or paddleboard at Algonquin College.

Teams of six students work together to build a 17-foot cedarstrip canoe. Then there’s a raffle with the prize being an opportunity to buy the finished product for the cost of the materials; but everyone leaves knowing how to make their own.

My Urban Workshop, founded by Greg Anderson, will run an eight-day canoe-making course with a similar format this summer. Since stand-up paddleboarding has become so popular in recent years, he will offer a four-day SUPbuilding course. Pairs of students construct SUPs using computer controlled cutting technology, marine plywood and fibreglass.

Keep an eye on the websites as they tend to offer these courses yearly and whenever there is sufficient demand. You could end up with a oneof-a-kind piece that’s guaranteed to get attention on the water.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 23

FINDING YOUR INNER DRAGON

BY JENNA THOMPSON

D

PHOTO BY SIMON INGRAM

ragon boats have become an Ottawa tradition with some 5,000 paddlers and more than 75,000 fans descending on the Tim Hortons Dragon Boat Festival each summer. It’s a 2,500-year-old tradition from China, with ceremonial and religious aspects in addition to racing. Most of today’s boats are about 12 metres long and weigh more than 225 kilograms! Originally teak, they are now built with carbon fibre and fibreglass.

If you’re thinking about joining the fun, here’s some of what you need to know.

A dragon boat team has 22 people, including 20 paddlers who sit in rows of two. The drummer or caller sits at the front and counts out the strokes, or pounds the beat of the strokes on a drum. This person needs to be small and loud to be heard over a roaring crowd and the shouts of opposing teams. At the other end of the boat, the steerer guides the boat with a long oar and is responsible for balancing the boat and ensuring the team’s safety.

Then comes the muscle power. The six crew members at the bow are smaller paddlers with steady, long strokes. The first pair are the “strokes” and everyone synchronizes with them. The middle eight paddlers are the “engine room” and are bigger, stronger paddlers. The back six paddlers also need impressive strength to really pull hard in order to be effective.

For maximum power per paddle, it’s critical that all team members are synchronized, with the paddles dipping, pulling and leaving the water at the same time. You may notice teams fall out of synch with a resulting ripple effect called “caterpillaring” because it mimics many larva legs moving at different times.

Dragon boating involves an unusual paddling technique with six stages: ROTATION Rotate the torso toward the inside of the boat EXTENSION/REACH Reach as far forward as possible in a position that looks like a capital A from the side CATCH Dig the paddle straight down into the water PULL Once the paddle is fully underwater, sit up and with arms straight the entire time; EXIT Lift the paddle straight up out of the water and …

RECOVERY Move back to the A position, ready for the next cycle.

If you’re ready to try it, teams are looking for paddlers. Some may practise only once or twice before the big day, others require a year-round commitment, and some teams fall somewhere in between. Many private companies and organizations have teams, so ask around where you work or volunteer. The Rideau Canoe Club has a “Find team/paddler” page in its website’s dragon boat section. Festival organizers also try to place hopeful paddlers on teams in need.

This year’s festival is scheduled for June 23 to 26. The Rideau Canoe Club also hosts a dragon boat event scheduled for August 27. Both are held at Mooney’s Bay.

24 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

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If you get lost, these ideas can help you live to hike another day

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY

S

ooner or later, if you’re into the woods often enough, you get lost.

For paddlers, backpackers, off-road cyclists or just day hikers, it’s almost inevitable.

This quiz highlights some survival fundamentals. We hope it educates and entertains, and we know any increase in survival awareness reinforces confidence, comfort and enjoyment outdoors. Check off your answers, and look to the end of the quiz to find how well you did, and for brief explanations.

1. In late summer or early fall woods, what’s the biggest threat? a) Wolf attack b) Bear attack c) Moose attack d) Coyote attack 2. Put this list of survival concerns in the right order – most important first, least important last: looking after injuries, finding food, finding water, building a shelter, getting a fire going.

3. A good way to get something to drink is: a) Kill a bird or animal and drink the blood b) Make a divining rod from a green forked branch, and walk until it points down c) Walk downhill looking for water d) Soak up dew from grass and plants with a T-shirt in the morning 4. A shelter from the cold should be: a) So small that you can barely fit in b) Located at the bottom of a valley or hill c) Built only from dead material so you don’t damage living plants d) In a field to absorb solar radiation for warmth.

26 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

5. You’re lost in dense forest far from home.

What can kill you fastest? a) hunger b) panic c) wild animals d) thirst 6. A small survival pack should contain at least: a) large plastic bag, matches, fire-starter, whistle, knife b) trail mix, knife, fishing line, hooks, matches c) small hatchet, knife, energy bar, cord, whistle d) knife, matches, energy bar, plastic bag, Band-Aids 7. If you’re lost, the first thing to do is: a) Walk a little faster to try to find the trail b) Sit down and have a snack c) Build a fire and start collecting wood d) Look for game trails to follow 8. The main purpose of a shelter is to: a) Protect from wild animals b) Protect from wind, rain or snow c) Protect from heat and sunstroke d) Provide comfort

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PHOTO BY FRANKIE'S – FOTOLIA

SURVIVAL QUIZ

OWL Rafting

TRUE OR FALSE? 11. Drink salted water if you are dehydrated.

T____ F____

on the Ottawa River

12. Food is a top priority when you get lost.

T____ F____ 13. Any injury multiplies your danger when lost. T____ F____ 14. When lost, water is usually a greater priority than shelter. T____ F____ 15. A positive attitude is a better asset than matches and an energy bar. T____ F____

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16. When lost it’s very important to purify water to drink. T____ F____

PHOTO BY GIGRA – FOTOLIA

9. If you’re lost and darkness is falling and it’s starting to rain, you should: a) Build a shelter and prepare to spend the night b) Stop, gather firewood and build a shelter. c) Press on because you’re close to your car d) Eat your last energy bar, look at the map, then press on 10. Your canoe capsizes in a lake in July on a windy, cloudy afternoon. Your lifejacket is on and you’re close to shore. Your greatest danger is: e) hypothermia f) wild animals g) sunstroke h) drowning

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ANSWERS 1c

In August and September a bull moose in rut is dangerous. Wolves, coyotes and bears have eaten well all summer and will usually ignore you.

2

After injuries, the priority is shelter, followed by water, fire and food.

3c/d Walking downhill (the way water flows) often leads to water. Dew is a source too.

4a

A shelter needs to be small. Think of it as a blanket to keep you warm and dry.

5b

Panic can kill because it short-circuits rational thinking. Scared hikers are known to start running through the forest, often past trail markers; they get injured and exhausted, which accelerates fear and panic.

6a

The large plastic bag can provide shelter and warmth; matches and starter mean fire and heat. A knife can cut branches for shelter and fire; a whistle can bring help. A cloth can soak up water.

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(613) 628-3311

7b

Calming down is vital when the realization sinks in that you’re lost.

Stopping for a snack gives you time to think.

8b Ideally a shelter will keep you dry and relatively warm.

9a/b If you get lost even in daylight, pressing on in the dark won’t work either.

10a Hypothermia can occur even in summer, especially in wind.

11. False. Salty water will only dehydrate you further – potentially very dangerous.

12. False. People can live at least two or three weeks without food, but only a few days without water.

13. True.

14. False. Usually, shelter is a more important in Canada than water.

15. True. A positive attitude encourages clear thinking, flexibility and brainstorming.

16. False. Most lost people are rescued long before tainted water can make them sick.

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Two bike roads for all ambitions AN ALMONTE GEM FOR A FAMILY DAY TRIP AND A MORE AMBITIOUS TRIP ON THE QUEBEC SIDE FOR A LONG WEEKEND

BY CRAIG AND ALLEN MACARTNEY PHOTOS – GOBIKING.CA / CANADA TRAILS

28 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

Here’s a couple of cycling routes to generate adventure this summer, one close to home and the other north of Montreal. The first is perfect for a family day trip, and the second would make an excellent long-weekend adventure.

Conservation Area. Here, you’ll find a postcardperfect, water-powered, restored mill surrounded by mature trees. Scenic picnic areas surround the area, as do a maze of hiking trails. There’s also an art gallery and museum.

Continue your cycling trip down Ramsay Concession Road 8 to Wolf Grove Road, your your final left turn, and loop back to Almonte.

ALMONTE LOOP Start this 15-kilometre loop in the picturesque town of Almonte, a 30-minute drive west of Ottawa. Get there by driving west on Highway 417, then take Highway 44/49 to the town.

This loop is easy to keep track of – it’s left turns all the way. Start cycling on Martin Street North, heading northwest. This paved road leads out of town through lovely rolling farm fields where you can watch for wild turkeys and deer. At the village of Blakeney turn left, then peddle for 3/4 of a kilometre to the bridge crossing the Mississippi River.

You’ll want to stop here for a picnic, and to explore the many trails weaving through the forested area that hugs the river. It’s a band several hundred metres wide, almost like a highway of river and forest running through the farmland.

You turn left at Wolf Grove Road. The entire trip involves a left-handed circuit.

Then continue heading down the road less than a kilometre until you cross County Road 29 and continue to the village of Bennies Corners. Turn left on Ramsay Concession Road 8, and in less than a kilometre you’ll reach the Mill of Kintail

P’TIT TRAIN DU NORD | LINEAR PARK For those looking for a more challenging adventure, you can’t beat the P’tit Train du Nord Linear Park. This beautiful trail winds its way northwest for 200 kilometres along a former railway bed, from Saint Jérôme through the Laurentians to Mont-Laurier. The tracks have been replaced by either fine gravel (in southern portions of the trail) or pavement (in the north). It’s perfect for either hybrid and mountain bikes.

The grade is mostly gentle, except in a few locations (see map) that require a little more effort.

The northern half of this route (our preference) has rest stops every five to 10 kilometres with picnic tables and shelters beside swamps and ponds.

Outhouses make the trail child friendly.

During this trip you’ll pass through a wide range of picturesque villages and towns near quiet streams, rapids, golf courses, public swimming beaches, and lookouts, all perfect for picnicking. In addition to scenic vistas, you’ll see wildlife – foxes, ravens and raccoons. There are historical exhibits at some of the old railway stations along the route.

Cyclists planning an overnight trip will find seven campgrounds on or near the trail while most towns have B&Bs, inns or resorts, and restaurants catering

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to any taste. There are bike rentals positioned near the trail in some towns, and you’ll find hardware stores and repair shops in case you run into trouble.

For side trips there are several loops off the main route, as well as trails that lead to rock-climbing hills. Just watch for signs.

You can join the trail at many places, including StJérôme, Ste-Adèle, Sainte-Agathe, Mont-Tremblant, Labelle, L’Annociation and Mont-Laurier and there’s no charge for using the trail. You can also get free brochures from tourist kiosks in most of the towns along the way.

P’Tit Train du Nord – One the many beaches where cyclists can stop for a quick swim. This is in Nominingue. The photo was taken on a hot Saturday afternoon, so the beach was well used by the locals.

NO BIKES LEFT BEHIND www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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COOLGEAR FOR THE SPRING SEASON BUSHNELL TROPHY XLT 8X32 BINOCULARS – $145 Treat your peepers to crisp and bright images of birds, woodland critters, or the route ahead. They’re fully submersible, so you can pull them out in the rain, or wade streams without worry.

Soft-touch thumbgrips for handling ease.

Rubber armour coating buffers against impacts.

O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged for 100% waterproofness and fog-free function.

Look for it at MEC.ca

SNAPPY TOWELS™ SWIM TOWELS – FROM $35US The most comfortable, portable and absorbent towel for swimmers, travelers and water sport adventurers. It's big enough to wrap around your body and dry off comfortably, while small enough to fit easily into even the smallest bag. Most importantly, you'll love how it feels compared to other sport and travel towels. This is not like any other microfiber towel you've tried. Finally a microfiber towel that feels great to use! Feel the difference! Your days of bulky, heavy cotton towels are over. Stop lugging a towel. Start wearing a Snappy Towel!

Look for them at www.snappytowels.com LEATHERMAN WAVE MULTI‑TOOL – $105 This premier multi-tool has external tools that feature big thumbholes. so they can be opened with one hand.

A large bit driver allows you to switch bits to customize the tool to the task. The scissors are strong enough to cut cloth, plastic, and paper. Smooth, rounded handle are comfortable to hold.

Phillips and flat tip eyeglasses screwdriver bit, and Phillips #1-2 and 3/16in. bits included.

Backed by Leatherman’s 25 year guarantee.

Look for it at MEC.ca

HELINOX SWIVEL CHAIR – $170 Park this elegant chair by the campfire and swivel away from showers of sparks and plumes of smoke. Single shockcorded pole in the frame is superfast to set up and take down. Light and compact enough for canoe tripping and walk-in campsites.

Look for it at MEC.ca

MARMOT ALWAYS SUMMER SLEEPING BAG (4˚C) – $209 For traveling light in summer, this ultra-light bag provides reliable transport to the Land of Nod at just over two packable pounds, and it doesn’t skimp on features either. Updated with our Down Defender treatment offering an extra level of moisture protection for sleeping bags exposed to wet environments. “Feely” draw cords, updated baffle height and lining fabric, trapezoidal foot box with a heater pocket, and the included compression stuff and storage sack all add up to some seriously plush woodland digs. Wherever products are sold.

ECCO WOMEN'S OFFROAD SANDAL Versatile design features make this sturdy nubuck upper sandal great for all outdoor wear. Lightweight with a specially designed tread pattern to provide optimum comfort. Feet stay fresh with the stretch-fit material lining. Superior grip and traction in outdoor terrain. Sole has been created with advanced footwear technology to ensure increased support and wearability.

Look for them at Glebetrotters on Bank Street.

PATAGONIA FEZZMAN SHIRT – $68.99 A short-sleeved shirt capable of handling the sweaty, crumply, sleep-in-the-backseat rigors of the road. Made of a light and breathable 70% organic cotton/30% polyester plain-weave blend, the gig-friendly Fezzman is durable, wrinkle-resistant and comes in a host of fetching plaids and stripes for added groupie appeal. Wherever products are sold.

30 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

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TTAWA

UTDOORS MUSIC FESTIVALS

WESTFEST When? June 3-4 Where? Laroche Park Bike friendly? Yes (plenty of bike parking) Beer? Yes Tip: Bring a stroller to fit in. www.westfest.ca

WESTBORO FUSH When? June 10-12 Where? Richmond Rd near MEC Bike friendly? Yes (plenty of bike parking) Beer? Yes Tip: Bring your dancing shoes. www.westborofuse.com

CARIVIBE BEACH FESTIVAL When? Beach Festival, June 18 Where? Beach Festival, Petrie Island 727 Trim Road / Parade & Block Party, St. Josephs Blvd. to Centrum, Orleans Bike friendly? Yes (Bike Park) Beer? Yes Tip: Drink lots of water, bring your dancing shoes and a hearty appetite for jerk chicken. www.carivibe.com

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FESTIVAL FRANCO-ONTARIEN When? June 16-18 Where? Major’s Hill Park Bike friendly? Yes Beer? Yes Tip: Ride the Ferris wheel. Practice your French. www.ffo.ca

OTTAWA JAZZ FESTIVAL When? June 22–July 3 Where? Confederation Park (Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue) Bike friendly? Yes (Bike Park) Beer? Yes Tip: Try not to talk. Careful where you stand. www.ottawajazzfestival.com

BLUESFEST OTTAWA When? July 7–17 Where? Lebreton Flats Park (War Museum) Bike friendly? Yes (Bike park) Beer? Yes Tip: Leave your lawn chairs at home.

Take your bike, walk or bus to the site. www.ottawabluesfest.ca

MUSIC AND BEYOND When? July 4–17 Where? Various venues in the city Bike friendly? Yes (no bike park) Beer? No Tip: Arrive early www.musicandbeyond.ca

GATINEAU HOT AIR BALLOON FEST When? September 1-5 Where? Parc de La Baie, 988, rue St-Louis, Gatineau Bike friendly? Yes Beer? Yes and SAQ Tents Tip: Enjoy the Midway and the poutine! www.montgolfieresgatineau.com

CITYFOLK FESTIVAL When? September 14-18 Where? Great Lawn, Lansdowne Park Bike friendly? Yes Beer? Yes

Tip: Take your bike! Don’t smoke. www.cityfolkfestival.ca

OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 31

OUTDOOR SUMMER ADVENTURE CLUBS ACC Ottawa Section Adventure Sports Access Group Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists Black Sheep Cycling Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society Creative Wheel Esprit Rafting Hike Ontario Madawaska Kanu Centre Natural Fitness Lab Ottawa Bicycle Club Ottawa Inline Skating Club Ottawa Mountain Biking Association Ottawa New Edinburgh Club Ottawa Orienteering Club Ottawa Outdoor Club Ottawa Rambling Club Ottawa Rowing Club Ottawa Sailing School Ottawa Triathlon Club Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Association Oxygene Rideau Trial Association River Run Rafting Somersault Events TriRudy uOttawa Outdoors Club de plein air

32 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

www.alpineclubottawa.ca www.asag.ca www.abrweb.ca www.blacksheepmtb.com www.cpaws.org www.creativewheel.ca www.espritrafting.com www.hikeontario.com www.owl-mkc.ca www.naturalfitnesslab.com www.ottawabicycleclub.ca www.inlineottawa.com www.ottawamba.org www.onec.ca www.ottawaoc.ca www.ottawaoutdoorclub.ca www.ottawaramblers.org www.ottawarowingclub.com www.boattraining.com www.ottawatriathlonclub.com www.ocua.ca www.cluboxygene.qc.ca www.rideautrial.org www.riverrunners.com www.somersault.ca www.trirudy.com www.outdehors.ca

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CAMPFIRES MAKE YOU HEALTHY We all knew it, but now scientific proof

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY

T

here’s scientific proof that sitting around a campfire makes us happy, healthy, welladjusted, sociable people. The benefits span psychological, social and emotional effects.

In a recent study involving 226 adults, University of Alabama researchers found that those watching a campfire on a video screen lowered their blood pressure on average five per cent – a significant drop. The longer participants watched, the more life’s cares and pressures seemed to melt away.

Although scientists find this discovery exciting, it’s not news to outdoor enthusiasts. They’ve known it intuitively. And this test used a video screen! Imagine the extra benefits from watching a real campfire complete with the tang of smoke, the warmth, and a sunset fading over the calm waters of a lake. I can feel stress melting away just at the thought of it.

Toss in a loon’s call and that’s about as close as to heaven as anyone can get, this side of eternity.

The research participants watched their video while hooked up to medical monitors and answering questions. Some watched with the fire’s crackling sound on, others with the sound off, while still others watched an upside down fire image.

Those who watched without sound or with an upside down image registered a slightly lower than normal blood pressure.

Today’s campers know you rack up more than just better health around that fire. Prehistoric people gathered around fires for warmth and protection, but also gained community along the way. Anthropologists think that telling stories around a campfire may have served as an early form of social media, helping ancient tribes knit together in a common culture and values.

One study tracked differences in campfire conversations during day and night by Kalahari bushmen. Daytime chatter was utilitarian (complaints, gossip, plans for foraging) while evening talk usually involved stories and jokes – a form of positive social interaction.

So enjoy your next campfire in good health. But to reap these benefits in the 21st century, switch off those electronic devices from time to time.

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Research shows they short-circuit communication and interaction.

Perhaps doctors should skip “take two aspirin and go to bed,” and prescribe a campfire by a lake with friends three times a week, and ban phones.

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MAKING MOLEHILLS OUT OF MOUNTAINS Move your butt

34 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

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BY FRASER MOFFAT

T

ell me if this sounds familiar: you’re riding your mountain bike along a nice stretch of dirt singletrack, and suddenly a steep and rocky hill appears in front of you. You take a deep breath and start pedaling hard to make the ascent. About half way up, you spin your rear tire out in the dirt and run out of steam. You get off and push the bike and yourself up the rest of the monstrous hill. Most mountain bikers have found themselves doing this time and time again until they finally figure out how to climb properly.

PHOTO BY VISIT LAKELAND

One way to learn how to climb on a mountain bike involves riding with stronger riders – keeping close behind them and trying to see how they do it. This works, but it takes time and can be so frustrating and painful that you keep the bike safe and dry in your basement for a long time and don’t return your riding buddies’ phone calls.

A more rewarding way to learn is to read the rest of this article, take your newfound knowledge with you out on the trail, then practise, practise, practise. Soon enough, you’ll be out front on your group rides instead of bringing up the rear.

Hill climbing on a mountain bike is not just about gear selection, although this is important: When approaching a hill, you need to select a gear that will allow you to maintain a steady pedal stroke all the way up.

Feel free to change gears in mid-climb, but use the rear derailleur instead of the front unless you want to pick pieces of your chain up from the trail.

Climbing hills on a mountain bike is difficult because the laws of physics and trail surfaces are working against you. Your centre of gravity changes as you move uphill and traction is lost if you stay in the standard riding position. Add in loose dirt, gravel and rocks and whatever traction you have left becomes nothing but a fond memory.

You’ll need to apply “body English” to overcome these forces of nature. Here’s how.

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First, move your butt forwards on the seat so the nose of the seat is in the vicinity of your tailbone. You want to be more “fore” than “aft,” so your centre of gravity stays in front of the rear axle of the bike.

Second, lower your chest to the handlebars as you move your butt forwards on the seat – another strategy to keep your centre of gravity forward.

Third, bring your elbows close into your body. This allows you to maintain efficient control over your bike and keep it pointed in the right direction without much effort.

Now practise these three techniques on a small incline. Choose an appropriate gear and exaggerate the body and arm positions. Move on to bigger and steeper hills, and keep on practising these techniques. For steeper hills, move your butt further forward on your seat, your chest closer to the handlebars and your arms closer into your body. With lots of practice, you’ll be able to change your position easily to adjust to different conditions and climb most hills with relative ease.

At this point, you have become a Jedi master of mountain bike climbing with no need to avoid rides with your buddies. Happy trails. ~ Fraser Moffat is an experienced cycling instructor who has explored many of Ottawa’s best trails.

OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 35

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Bug-free camping and other helpful tips

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY Spring and early summer bring bugs, lots of them.

Try these ideas to reduce the bites, and check out some other tricks to try in the woods, on the water and on the trail.

BUG BLOTTER Some nights you crawl into your tent only to find it occupied by a swarm of mosquitoes on the tent walls waiting for your blood. Duct tape to the rescue again. Rip off a strip, wrap it sticky-side-out around your hand as a mosquito death-blotter against the tent sides.

DUCT TAPE CANOE SEAT It’s an old canoe with aging seat webbing, and it splits as you paddle. There’s never a good time for this to happen. But as long as the wooden seat frame is firmly holding its rectangle shape, you can make a replacement seat. Loop the duct tape across the narrow sides of the seat four times with one strip directly over top of the last one for strength.

Then form another four-ply parallel loop about two centimetres from the first one. Then repeat this process across the wide sides of the seat rectangle.

In the end the seat almost looks as if it has a duct tape weave pattern, and it will support your butt all day.

PHOTO BY THEPOETICIMAGE

TORN MOSQUITO NETTING A night with a torn mosquito net has shortened many a camping trip, but the solution is easier than you might think. If it’s a cut less than five centimetres (a couple of old-fashioned inches), sew the edges together with a needle and thread (or even dental floss).

Larger rips require more attention. If your tent has a repair kit, stick a piece of extra netting over the rip. If all else fails, dig out the inevitable duct tape from your pack, draw together the two sides of the cut, and press the tape in position close the gap.

Repeat on the other side so the tape doesn’t pull free.

Or … roll out a full length to protect the canoe floor and provide a comfortable, insulated base for your feet. Children love sitting on it in a canoe.

Or … cut a 60x90 centimetre piece as a kneeling cushion for whitewater paddling.

TRAIL TAPE DISPENSER Orange surveyor’s tape is great for marking trails or ensuring you find your way back to camp, but it comes in large rolls that unravel easily. The solution is an old 35mm film canister (still available in some photography stores). Cut a large X in the lid, stuff maybe five metres of tape inside and pull a little out through the X. Tear off what you need and leave the rest inside for next time.

ENSOLITE If you think that Ensolite pad is meant exclusively as a layer between cold ground and warm sleeping bag, think again. Cut a pad in half, making two pieces 60x120 centimetres (two feet by four feet).

Fold one piece in half and slip it into your backpack as a cushion between your back and the pack, then give the other one to another camper friend to do likewise. On the trail when you want to take a break on hard rock, stretch out in comfort.

Or … cut small shaped pieces as sole liners for rubber boots or hiking boots.

Or … wrap a water bottle in a small piece as summer or winter insulation.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 37

HOLLYWOOD SURVIVAL MYTHS CAN KILL

BY ALLEN MACARTNEY HOLLYWOOD loves wilderness survival movies where a star clashes with nature and wins. The Revenant is just the latest in a long string of box office successes like Castaway, Star Wars, Life of Pi, The Grey.

But just because a movie star survives a fictional (or “based on a real story”) wilderness ordeal on the screen doesn’t mean anyone else could in real life. Some of these movies have episodes which make you think the script writers haven’t left Los Angeles pavement for decades, and know little or nothing about real wilderness. Let’s look at some of Hollywood’s survival myths that can kill you – all in a single recent movie.

MYTH #1 | WET IS OK In this scene, the hero splashes around in an icy river in winter desperately stuffing raw fish into his mouth. He hasn’t eaten for maybe a week. The unspoken message: without food you’re going to die in the wilderness. But humans can go weeks without food. It might be very uncomfortable, but you’re hungry, not dead. However, being wet and exposed to cold winter wind can

3 38 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

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kill within an hour. That was the real danger for our hero, but you wouldn’t know it from the movie.

Hyperthermia is deadly in summer too if you get wet and are exposed to wind.

MYTH #2 | IT’S EASY TO STAY WARM The scene shows the hero sitting on a thin blanket on the ground, beside a campfire but exposed to a strong cold wind. Only tiny flickering flames provided heat, but the hero appears warm and snug. Impossible: without shelter, no one will survive very long, let alone be comfortable. Sitting on cold ground is a fast track to hypothermia, even in spring or fall. You need thick insulating layers under your butt. If you have no shelter, build a big fire about two metres from a rock wall or stone face and then sit between the rock wall and the fire so the heat will reflect back on you. This doubles the fire’s warmth-giving potential.

MYTH #3: | MENACING WILD ANIMALS Wolves and bears are perennial bad guys in movies – a constant threat to anyone in the woods.

The facts are completely different. Wild animals generally avoid humans in the wild because they fear us. Humans are at the very top of the food chain; they aren’t. Simple. But fearing wild animals can make you do dangerous things, like running through the forest and risking sprains or broken bones. Injuries like that drastically increase your chances of not surviving a crisis in the woods.

MYTH #4 | LIGHTING A FIRE In this scene the hero has to start a fire with flint and steel. Two gentle taps and, voila, his spark drops onto unprepared kindling and miraculously bursts into flame. In real life it’s much more complicated and takes careful preparation of your fire bundle – the prepared “nest” of kindling the spark falls into. A spark dropping from flint and steel burns at about 3,000 degrees F but only for about half a second.

Before it will ignite anything, it has to fall directly onto dry, prepared kindling with the consistency of cotton or shredded dry leaves. Then you must coax the ember into flame. It takes practice, so do the practising at home – a fun and safe way to develop a skill.

MYTH #5 | WARM ANIMAL CARCASS Crawling into a carcass in a blizzard to stay warm is a popular Hollywood scene but it’s a sketchy survival technique at best. If it’s your horse, you’re better off keeping it alive as an escape tool. If it’s a moose (rarely seen in the woods and almost certainly not when you need one) you still have to kill it, then clean out its insides before climbing in. And within 30 minutes you’ll be soaking wet. Wet means cold.

Besides, how long will a carcass stay warm in a blizzard?

Looking for a useful Hollywood survival flick? Try Castaway. The Tom Hanks character lives on a deserted island for four years before rescue. Emphasizing ingenuity and adapting to survive, this movie gives real insight into practical survival skills.

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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

Cast off, set sail, take the helm and climb aloft.

THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME AWAITS!

H

Experience sailing on a Tall Ship

on the Ottawa River or in the 1000 Islands

ave you ever wondered what it must have been like to sail aboard a square-rigged tall ship? This is your chance to experience the most exhilarating adventure of your life.

If you, your child or teen have always dreamed of an adventure on the “high seas,” look no further than a Bytown Brigantine Tall Ships Adventure. You’ll haul the lines, set the sails, climb the mast and even take a turn at the helm.

Bytown Brigantine summer programs for youth ages 12-18 are offered on the Ottawa River, the mighty St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario. For adventurous adults, the Fair Jeanne welcomes you aboard during the shoulder season, in June and September.  BLACK JACK ISLAND ADVENTURE CAMP Campers ages 12-14 board the Black Jack, an iconic, century old ship, at the Britannia Yacht Club and sail along the Ottawa River, charting their way to Alexandria Island for a weeklong campout.

In their free time away from the Black Jack and 27’ Navy Whalers, these younger trainees keep busy competing in island-wide games, building rafts, the Tall Ships Olympics and enjoying campfires to round out the day. Nothing can be better than talking with new friends and drifting off to sleep in a bunk on a loggingera bunk barge.

 FAIR JEANNE VOYAGES FOR TEENS Teens 13-18 years old looking for adventure should board a larger ship on larger bodies of water, sailing the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario from Brockville, Ontario. Navigating through the 1000 islands, trainees experience what it takes to work as a team to sail a Tall Ship. You might find yourself up to 70’ above deck, standing night watch or helping the cook in the galley; the adventure is yours to create.

Not only will trainees earn their sea legs, but high school students can also earn a summer school credit through select programs.  ADULTS ONLY ADVENTURES Challenge yourself to new heights (yes…that means climbing aloft to unfurl the sails), learn about chart work and navigation and get involved in port visits and shore excursions. On these unique adults-only voyages, you have time for photos and swimming but your main goal will be to work alongside crew to sail the 110’ ft. Fair Jeanne.

You will have the experience of taking a turn at the helm, helping in hoisting, trimming and lowering the sails, charting a course, keeping the ship’s log and participating in other on-board activities. No previous experience needed. During the voyage, a guest speaker will share his/her knowledge of the origins and customs

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CHARITABLE STATUS

Donations and fundraising events ensure the Captain Thomas G. Fuller Bursary is available to families who would like their child to experience a unique overnight summer camp.

They never want to leave a young person ashore for lack of funds.

VESSELS & CREW

behind their maritime traditions, their naval heritage and maritime aspects of local history.

 THEIR MISSION The staff and crew aspire to provide education, training and a demanding environment to allow young people to develop qualities of leadership and self-reliance through the medium of sailing vessels. Subsequently, Bytown Brigantine is committed to: • Never having a ship alongside if she could be sailing • Never sailing with an empty berth • Never leaving a young person ashore for want of funds • Encouraging excellence, not sameness * Bytown Brigantine also strives to leave no child ashore for lack of funds – the Thomas G. Fuller Bursary program offers financial assistance to youth wanting to set sail on the adventure of a lifetime.

 HISTORY For over 25 years, Bytown Brigantine has been an organization for youth, run by youth.

The program dates back to one young teenager who stubbornly believed he could take a lonely and unused sailing ship, refit the vessel into active duty and then sail it to Quebec City with a youth crew to participate in an international tall ship event.

The founder, Simon Fuller, stood before the tall ship Black Jack as a teenager and dreamed of adventure under sail. He believed young people, with the right support, determination, practise and  CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, visit tallshipsadventure.org, email resolve, could achieve the loftiest of goals and the info@tallshipsadventure.org or call 613-596-6258. highest of responsibilities, regardless of age.

All vessels are inspected annually

by Transport Canada for sail training certification. Crew are certified by Transport Canada guidelines.

Seasonal short and long term job opportunities exist.

ACADEMY

Bytown Brigantine Academy (BBA) is accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education to offer summer HS credits aboard. Officer in Training positions also available.

MEMBERSHIPS

They proudly support and hold memberships with the Canadian Sail Training Association, Tall Ships America and Volunteer Ottawa to welcome volunteers.

PARTNERS

Proud partners with 1000 Islands RiverQuest and the Aquatarium, offering One Day Adventures from the Aquatarium dock in Brockville, Ontario.

Summer Camps 5-10 day Black Jack Island Adventure Camp (Ottawa)

Teen Voyages

5-Day Discovery Voyages, 21– Day Summer School, Crew Training, Scuba Certification, (Brockville/Kingston)

Adult Adventures

Alumni/Sailor June voyage Adult September voyage

Don’t get left ashore, Register today!

Bytown Brigantine | 613-596-6258 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

www.tallshipsadventure.org OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 41

GETAWAY FEATURE ON THE LIBRARY HOTEL COLLECTION'S NEW ADDITIONS

Budapest Beckons!

Aria Hotel Budapest is the latest luxury boutique hotel awaiting adventure travel enthusiasts ARIA HOTEL BUDAPEST Celebrating its first anniversary this summer, Aria Hotel Budapest, attracts guests with a passion for music. The 1870s building, beautifully reimagined with precise attention to detail by Budapest master designer Zoltan Varro, captures a breathtaking blend of classical and contemporary styles. The seven-story Neo-classical façade was painstakingly rebuilt in limestone to replicate the beauty of the original architecture and designed to look exactly as the original architect intended.

Inspired and designed with music in mind, Aria Hotel Budapest feels like four boutique hotels in one, as each of the four wings has a distinctive inspiration of jazz, contemporary, opera or classical music, which has been expressed through décor and sound. Each of the 49 guestrooms and suites celebrate the musical contributions of one of the world’s greatest music legends. Decorated to commemorate a famous composer or artist, guests can find themselves in a room with Irving Berlin, Count Basle, Bob Dylan, James Brown and more.

EXTENDING THE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE Under the direction of Aria’s musical director Kornel Maygar, music lovers get a chance to experience the true local cultural scene and immerse themselves in Hungarian and international music. Creating the ultimate musical experience, Aria Hotel Budapest gives guests access to a digital music library, as well as a collection of books, CDs, and DVDs to enjoy on the in-room iPads and flat screens. Aria Hotel Budapest is also home to a rare Boganyi piano.

Created by Hungarian concert pianist Gergely Boganyi, the piano is what many are calling an innovation in modern piano manufacturing.

HUNGARIAN CUISINE AND COCKTAILS WITH A VIEW Guests can enjoy multiple dining options while staying at the luxury boutique hotel including the exclusive indoor/outdoor rooftop hot spot, High Note SkyBar; the

42 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

Hungarian bistro Stadivari, Satchmo’s Bar and Lounge and The Music Garden.

High Note SkyBar is the only year-round rooftop in Budapest which offers jaw dropping views of the city, creative cocktails and small bites. The spring menu features craft cocktails including the Budapest Mule a sweet Hungarian twist on the Moscow Mule and the Foxacana adding a bit of spicy sweetness to the menu.

Stradivari offers sophisticated bistro-style dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chef Gabor Ferencz incorporates classic Hungarian flavors using ingredients from local farmers and artisan producers. Satchmo’s Bar and Lounge, ideal for unwinding after a day of exploring Budapest, is the perfect spot to grab a cocktail and meet and mingle with locals.

UNWIND AT HARMONY SPA Aria Hotel Budapest also offers guests the opportunity to relax in the hotel’s luxurious Harmony Spa. Featuring an array of beauty treatments and services, the spa boasts a Swedish sauna, Turkish hammam, infrared sauna, indoor pool, Jacuzzi, three private cabanas, three private treatment rooms including a couple’s treatment room and fitness center.

The spa’s signature treatments are accompanied by musical playlists customized to the guests preferences.

COMING IN 2016: HOTEL X TORONTO The Library Hotel Collection will unveil a new urban resort in Canada later this year.

Hotel X Toronto set to open in fall 2016, is North America’s largest urban resort to date.

Opening on the historic grounds of Exhibition Place, the 404-room hotel, is located just a stone’s throw away from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The 30-story lakefront property, features a 90,000 sq. ft. sports club and spa, indoor pool boasting views of Lake Ontario, squash and tennis courts, four rooftop lounges, two restaurants, 11 meeting and event spaces, a 243-seat cinema, 56-seat screening room, Beer Garden, deluxe Starbucks Café, kids play center and more.

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Amenities of the Aria Hotel Budapest • Beautiful boutique hotel design inspired by music • Complimentary breakfast each morning • Complimentary afternoon wine & cheese • Free high-speed wireless internet • Perfect location beside St. Stephen's Basilica • Stunning year-round roof garden with 360˚views • Pool, spa, fitness centre, steam bath, sauna and whirlpool • Guestrooms start at $325 Euro, or approximately $410 USD with introductory rates as low as $195 Euro.

• Investment ties to Canada to support our economy and you can now ENJOY direct flights from Montreal and Toronto starting in June!

ARIA HOTEL BUDAPEST Aria Hotel Budapest Budapest H-1051, Hungary stay@ariahotelbudapest.com New York Sales Office: +1-212-201-1155 Hotel Number +3614454055 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 43

ABOUT THE LIBRARY HOTEL COLLECTION

The Library Hotel Collection is the operator of seven luxury hotels, including four boutiques in Manhattan, two in Europe, and the newest addition in Toronto. Founded and operated by Hotelier Henry Kallan, each hotel boasts a unique personality and charm, ideal for travel enthusiasts. In Manhattan, each property caters to a particular traveler including: the book lovers paradise, Library Hotel on 41st Street and Madison Avenue; the glamourous family friendly Hotel Giraffe on 26th Street and Park Avenue South;

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the Moroccan-Motif, named after the famous movie Casablanca Hotel in Times Square, on 43rd Street and Broadway; and the Country French styled Hotel Elysee on East 54th Street and Madison Avenue.

Each continues to achieve high recognition on Trip Advisor. Sister hotels Aria Hotel Budapest and Aria Hotel Prague, along with the Library Hotel were recently nominated for Conde Nast’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

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44 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS

On May 29th, Ottawa's Julie Drury will be running the marathon with Team MItoCanada at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend in memory and in honour of her daughter Kate.

Team MitoCanada is running for the 5th consecutive year. It is a charity close to her heart as it supports awareness and research into mitochondrial disease.

Kate suffered from an ultra-rare form of mitochondrial disease called SIFD. She died November 30th, 2015. And all funds raised by Team MitoCanada at #runOttawa2106 will go to mitochondrial diseaes research at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario where Kate was a patient for eight years.

Their team goal is $42,200 the distance of the marathon. Help them get there! www.mitocanada.org/team Thank you for your support!

Donate today in Kate's memory!

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GOING ALL THE WAY

HIKE FROM OTTAWA TO KINGSTON WITH THE RIDEAU TRAIL ASSOCIATION

BY NIGEL BRERETON Quick — how many ways are there to get from Ottawa to Kingston?

Driving, boating on the Rideau waterway, and cycling come to mind, right? And a few highfliers might take to the air in their ultra-lights.

Here’s another option this year — the Rideau Trail Association is leading a series of hikes that will leave Ottawa in April and get you to Kingston by October. Not to worry — this hike comes in segments. No land-speed records are going to be shattered, but the magic word here is “series.”

The Rideau Trail is a back-country hiking route meandering some 300 kilometres between Ottawa and Kingston that passes through interesting countryside that includes towns and villages along the way.

In some places, the trail comes close to the Rideau waterway and passes by some of the lock stations. It takes you through Murphy’s Point and Frontenac provincial parks, as well

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as Foley Mountain conservation area near Westport. The trail does not pretend to be a rigorous challenge and can easily be tackled by beginners and hikers with physical limitations.

The series of hikes will start in Ottawa on April 30 and continue each weekend. The average length of each hike is 14 kilometres and no hike is longer than 18 kilometres. Car or bus shuttles help to avoid retracing those portions of the route that you’ve already covered. Each hike is led by a knowledgeable leader and hikers can drop in and out as

availability and inclination dictates. Or, just go once and enjoy the scenery.

Hikers who go the full distance will receive a badge and a certificate. Hikers who aren’t available to finish the whole trail this year can still earn an “end-to-end” badge by completing missing segments either on other Rideau Trail Association outings or on privately organized hikes.

To find out more about the great group of the Rideau Trail Association, please visit them at www.rideautrail.org/.

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QUEBEC’S DUMOINE RIVER WATERSHED FACES THE FUTURE OTTAWA RIVER HIGH ADVENTURE & FAMILY RAFT TRIPS

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Outdoorsman Wally Schaber explains why this remote wilderness deserves protection

BY KATHARINE FLETCHER Chelsea, Que. resident Wally Schaber has written The Last of the Wild Rivers, an account of the Dumoine River, an undammed, hence “wild” river roughly 200 kilometres up the mighty Ottawa from Ottawa-Gatineau.

Schaber’s book (published by Burnstown Publishing) reflects his passion for the human history of the Dumoine and its watershed of 5,380 square kilometres. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) calls it the “largest area of unfragmented southern boreal forest in Quebec.”

Because Schaber has paddled and explored the Dumoine for the better part of 50 years, we sat down for an interview so he could describe the river’s watershed and outline what is needed to conserve it.

Katharine Fletcher: Why did you write this book?

Wally Schaber: As a teenager, I found the stories of the Algonquin, coureur des bois, voyageurs and lumbermen full of adventure, bravado and camaraderie with unique Canadian overtones. My first trips down the Dumoine brought that history to life and I began collecting oral and written stories of the gateway village of Des Joachims and the entire watershed. Everything came together as The Last of the Wild Rivers.

KF: Can you paint us a picture of the Dumoine’s landscape?

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The Last of the Wild Rivers: The Past, Present, and Future of the Rivière du Moine Watershed [ISBN], by Wallace A. Schaber, is published by Burnstown Publishing House, Burnstown, Ontario, and retails for $30.

WS: When starting your canoe trip in La Vérendrye Park, the dry area you’d cross through into the Dumoine watershed is called “la Vérendrye Hillocks” – large sand and gravel deposits, and a boreal forest dominated by birch and spruce. Lac Dumoine itself is 81 square kilometres, part of the Dumoine Plateau, which is 11 per cent water, six per cent wetlands, with the rest being a beautiful landscape where rock cliffs jut from rolling hills and shorelines of granite or sand.

All is covered in a mixed forest of birch, maple, oak, hemlock, and the “green gold” of the 19th century: red and white pine.

The Dumoine descends through an elevation of 152.4 metres in waterfalls and runnable rapids as it winds its way off the plateau to the Ottawa River. For 150 years lumbermen cut pockets of this beautiful forest and floated the best timber down to

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the mills at Ottawa’s Chaudière Falls. For three decades now the Dumoine forest has been spared from logging by as an “Aquatic Preserve,” a designation by the Quebec provincial cabinet that expires in 2020. Today the untrained eye enjoys a full and varied forest landscape.

KF: Why is the preservation this undammed river’s watershed so important?

WS: Aside from the obvious “why kill the last passenger pigeon because they’re not making any more,” there is academic reasoning. For the past 10 years Quebec civil servants have been ranking the province’s endangered species’ habitats, existing preserved areas, human impact, natural beauty, and cultural preservation. By a large margin, the Dumoine scored highest in all categories.

KF: Is there any legal protection now for the Dumoine?

WS: The Quebec Government hosted a series of open houses to make sure there was is more local support for a preserve than pressure to develop a mine, logging, hydro or large commercial development. Other aquatic reserves in Quebec have been in existence for five to 10 years. None have staff for specific tasks or a budget for them. It is more a designation that conservation and municipal officials monitor until a future government changes the status or decides to keep it.

KF: Which governmental and organizational groups help protect the Dumoine?

WS: Pontiac is one of the poorest areas in Quebec. The Dumoine is the boundary between Temiscamingue and Pontiac County. The closest community in Temiscamingue is Kipawa, a four-hour drive away from the river by skidoo or truck over bush roads. So Temiscamingue politicians get few votes to protect a watershed so distant from where voters live.

On the Pontiac side of the river, Liberal MLA André Fortin and federal Liberal MP Will Amos want good long-term jobs for their constituents, especially since forestry faces weak markets. Tourism is one of the few areas in the Pontiac with economic potential. A protected Dumoine watershed could be a foundation for tourism and all types of wilderness recreation.

But conservation politics are complicated. It would be a rare feat to get a federal national park created in Quebec.

However, some of us have a beautiful dream: a provincial/federal/First Nations “Park of the Algonquins” protecting Ottawa River tributaries from their headwaters down to the Quebec shoreline.

KF: What can ordinary people do to protect the Dumoine?

WS: Express support for this dream.

Political parties pay attention to blogs, Facebook posts, tweets, printed articles, and other media messages. Say what you feel some place, any place, every place! I’ve launched a Facebook page Friends of Rivière du Moine to get a few projects going – we can’t wait for government action and grants. We need to improve our behaviour on the trail because of the traffic on the trail. This summer a thousand canoeists will go to the toilet 5,000 times, throw out the remains of 5,000 meals in the river or fire pit, wash 5,000 dishes, leave 5,000 Royalex or fibreglass scrapes on rocks from canoes, burn 5,000 logs to cook dinner or tell stories around, and leave 500,000 footsteps.

KF: Anything else?

WS: Shop locally. Skidoos riders, hunters, fishers, ATVers and motorized campers leave a much bigger economic footprint on the local Quebec economy than canoeists, so when their voices argue for change, local and regional politicians and residents listen.

So get canoe rental, gas, beer, shuttle, overnight campsite, road permits, parking, even poutine in Des Joachims. This helps maintain a respected voice at the table when the future of the Dumoine watershed is being planned.

KF: Thank you Wally. I hope our readers will check out this treasure.

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The WoodSource is Ottawa’s premier specialty wood store with over 60 years of experience serving the region’s wood and milling needs. Ask us about our vast array of woods, including a range of hardwoods, eastern white pine, as well as a variety of exotic woods for that special project. We also specialize in custom mouldings, and can duplicate any profile you could think of. If it’s related to wood, there’s a good chance you’ll find it at the Source...the WoodSource!

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Ideas for a relaxing backyard

BY LANDSCAPING IDEAS

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Unfortunately, many also find their backyards to be places that aren’t comfortable and relaxing. Often by lack of knowledge or even lack of creativity we create formal spaces that really aren’t quite suitable for relaxing.

If you are one of the many seeking relaxing backyard ideas for your home and garden there are a few ideas below that may help you accomplish your goal. The first thing you must do however is identify what things you find relaxing. Just as many things in life, relaxation is not one size fits all.

BIRD PARADISE The first suggestion is to create an area in which birds will come to rest. Many people find that bird watching is not only entertaining and enjoyable but also very relaxing as a hobby. You can do many things with your landscaping that will attract birds and other wildlife to your backyard. Some of those things include adding bird feeders that are kept well stocked to your backyard, landscaping with plants, bushes, trees, and shrubs that are attractive to birds, and providing a nice bird bath from which birds can drink and play. These types of backyards are very relaxing to bird lovers and can be enjoyed all seasons if you have a sunroom overlooking your backyard. Be sure to have a hammock where you can lie back and relax while waiting for those rare birds to make an appearance.

NATURAL OASIS Mother Nature is a wise designer. If you take some of her greatest creations and features and have them in use on some scale in your back yard you should find a very organic and relaxing atmosphere from which to escape your day. I prefer using materials that are natural, particularly when landscaping or designing an outdoor living space. I find nature in and of itself to be quite relaxing. That doesn’t mean that I do not find a cedar hot tub relaxing I most certainly do (I also find the cedar to be a great fit for my backyard), it simply means that using materials that are natural for a good portion of the features is a great way to

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blend them all together.

Wood fences, stone tables or birdbaths, slate fountains, and wood furniture are also great backyard additions.

There are many other fantastic and relaxing backyard ideas all around you. Just look around and see what you think will create the atmosphere you are hoping to achieve and remember that some people

PHOTO BY EGONZITTER

f you are like many, your backyard is your oasis from the world. This is the spot you choose to spend your time off with your family and friends. It is a place where you will do a lot of your living.

find a basketball goal as relaxing as you may find a nice quite place to read in the shade.

By this I mean that there is no absolute right or wrong way to go about creating your relaxing backyard space. There is only the discovery or what is or is not right for you.

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In like a lion, but lamb tastes like a delicacy EACH YEAR, THE SUN melts away our roaring winters to uncover all that is new.

With spring and summer on our doorsteps, we can take great pleasure in eating well. For a perfect marriage of the fresh seasonal ingredients of spring and the welcome lifestyle of outdoor cooking, check out this Moroccan spiced grill for exciting new ideas.

The irreplaceable taste of fresh herbs complement light grains. They also balance the heat of Middle East spices in both the lamb burgers and the spicy chickpea salad.

LAMB BURGERS Lamb is a tender delicacy. Ground lamb from the shoulder is the most flavourful cut, and it stands up well to the heavy seasonings that make it the perfect vehicle for our Moroccan spiced grill.

2 lb (1 kg) ground lamb 1 small onion, diced fine 2 tbsp (30 mL) garlic, minced 2 tsp (10 mL) cumin 1½ tsp (7.5 mL) cayenne 2 tsp (10 mL) salt 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil ½ cup (125 mL) chopped fresh mint ½ cup (125 mL) ground pistachio or almonds

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Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Knead well. Divide mixture into six for burgers, 12 for large kebobs or 24 for small kebobs.

Barbeque burgers on a preheated grill over medium heat for approximately four minutes per side for a medium-cooked burger (140-150 degrees F). Barbeque large kebobs for approximately two minutes per side, and one minute for per side for the small kebobs. For a unique burger, serve with plain yogurt, lettuce, cucumber relish and tomato in half of a whole wheat pita pocket.

CUCUMBER MINT RELISH A refreshingly light condiment that takes only minutes to prepare, but tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Add this to yogurt for a homemade tzatziki.

1 English cucumber, seeded and diced fine 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 shallot, diced fine 1 clove of garlic, minced ¼ cup white wine vinegar or rice vinegar ¼ cup mint pinch of each salt and pepper Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook shallots and garlic briefly for one minute. Add vinegar, salt, pepper and fresh mint. Pour over diced cucumber. Makes 4-6 servings.

OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 53

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TABOULLEH Increase the amount of fresh lemon juice to give this low carbohydrate salad a welcome burst of flavour or try adding diced tomato, cucumber and red onion or toasted nuts for a heartier salad.

Salad: 1 cup bulgur 1 cup water 1 tsp olive oil salt Dressing: 1 bunch parsley, chopped fine 2 cloves garlic, minced 100 mL fresh lemon juice 100 mL olive oil 1 tsp salt In a large bowl, stir bulgur with olive oil and salt. Pour boiling water over bulgur and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and continue to let it sit until the water is absorbed. Add parsley. Whisk dressing ingredients and pour over bulgur. Makes approximately four cups or 6-8 servings.

SPICY CHICKPEA SALAD On a bed of wilted spinach with a side of basmati rice, this makes an excellent vegetarian meal. ¼ cup (60 mL) olive oil 1 large onion, diced 1 tbsp (15 mL) garlic, minced

RUSSKEENAN.CA 613.822.4733 1 tsp (5 mL) paprika 1 tsp (5 mL) salt ½ tsp (2.5 mL) cayenne 1 tbsp (15 mL) tomato paste 2 large ripe tomatoes, diced ½ cup (125 mL) fresh mint, chopped 1 can (19 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

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Heat olive oil in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium. Cook onions until translucent.

Add spices, garlic and tomato paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, chickpeas and fresh mint. Remove from heat. Serve warm as a side dish or cold as a salad. Makes 4-6 servings.

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OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 55 3/14/2016 9:57:17 AM

in a matter of seconds.

Water levels can rise Water near a dam or hydroelectric station can turn dangerous quickly and without warning.

OPG is a part of communities across Ontario, so we want you to stay clear and stay safe.

opg.com/watersafety