OTTAWA
SUMMER ISSUE
OUTDOORS Like/follow us on Facebook, twitter & pinterest @ ottawaoutdoors
OTTAWA • GATINEAU • ONTARIO • QUEBEC • US & BEYOND
ADVENTURE | TRAVEL | FAMILY
Elevate your camping experience in a suspended tent Take the ouch out of your bike saddle Camping challenges and life in the woods
Cool gear and hot stuff www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
WHY BACKPACKING WORKS
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 01
Go Play Outside With trails to explore and views that’ll take your breath away, come experience one of the most captivating waterways in Ontario. Whether you’re soaking up some sun, sitting on a beach, kayaking, or simply taking in the sites, sounds and beauty, there’s plenty to do in The Great Waterway.
Search. Plan. Book.
OutdoorActivities.ca
OTTAWA
OUTDOORS 29
Like/follow us on Facebook, twitter & pinterest @ottawaoutdoors
ELEVATE YOUR CAMPING EXPERIENCE
SUMMER ISSUE
THE TRAIL 32 HIT RUNNING 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 21 26 27 28 29 31 32 34 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
Publisher’s letter Huck Finn campfires you’ve got to try Paddling the route of canal explorer Muskoka River X Backpacking basics Why backpacking works Survival 101: Avoid the deadly ‘vacation mindset’ Hiking for fitness Catch the eco-spirit of Grasshopper Island The Adirondack Century Cycling with others – play nice! Take the ouch! out of your bike saddle How to tie a clove hitch Intrepid duo takes on ‘bikepacking’ Exploring the Ottawa Valley Survival and camping skills manuals have hundreds of tips Outdoor adventure clubs Cool Gear Hot Stuff Elevate your camping experience and get high with a suspended tent Travel Spotlight How to hit the trail, running Paddling the Chats – with care Mud, sweat and gears How to hang patio lights Easy paddle-in sites for first-time canoe trippers Craft your own wooden paddles and canoes Getting to know some summertime critters Staycation adventures for all types Community spotlight: Todd Morin Outdoor business spotlight: Dave Urichuck (The Adventure Coach) Camping challenges add spark and variety to life in the woods
Cover Photo by www.linkedringphotography.com
COOLGEAR
HOT STUFF 28 Check out some hot items to pick up this SUMMER!
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
read it online
GET EACH ISSUE E-MAILED DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX AND IPAD TABLET! OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 03
OUR TEAM & AD RATES
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
COOL IDEAS FOR A HOT SUMMER
O
nce again our amazing staff of writers and photographers have laboured with love and experience to share these interesting and informative articles with you. Collectively they have so much wisdom and curiousity that they can't help but find some new topics to write about. We hope you enjoy them. And as I scan our table of contents I see we have articles to satisfy the hiker, mountain-biker, camper, backpacker, adventurer, fitness-minded, road cyclist, canoeist, newbie, kayaker and whitewater rafter. That's a pretty broad audience. DAVE BROWN Yes fellow outdoor enthusiasts summer feels like it's just begun PUBLISHER with these hot days and hazy nights. So find your comfort level Editor-in-chief and either turn up the heat or cool yourself down. Ottawa Outdoors If you're too hot and want to cool down then enjoy the ottawaoutdoors.ca following activities: paddling the Muskoka River X (the water will SHOW OWNER keep you cool); trail running (p.32) (stay cool as you fly through The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show the shady forest; whitewater rafting (p.21) (Wilderness Tours, adventureottawa.com Ottawa City Rafting and Owl Rafting have the perfect solution); PUBLISHER glamping or hotelling at any of our favourite staycation listings Fish, Hunt & Ride (p.43). fishhuntandride.ca Likewise, if you're seeking the heat with a sort of Bikram yoga approach to sweat, then you'll love: the Huck Finn lessons on campfires (p.5); hiking for fitness in these hot sunny days (p.11); mountain biking local trails until your quads burn (p.37); or just camping by your bonfire with guitar in hand. The summer is here and the bugs are leaving. Enjoy it deep into the autumn season. Happy trails.
mail me your comments: editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca
PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DAVE BROWN EDITOR
ROGER BIRD WRITERS Allen Macartney, Sheila Ascroft, Shannon Peddell, Katharine Fletcher, Joseph Glibber, Kevin Callan, Lesley Cassidy, Derek Markham/ Treehugger.com, Dominque Larocque, Jenna Thompson
PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS Valarti/Fotolia, Hap Wilson/Ecotrailbuilders. com, Tiplyashina/Fotolia, Solisimages/Fotolia, Eric Fletcher, Joe Glibber, L.e. Baskow/Cycle Adirondacks, Tyler Olson, Andrew Walmsley Photography, Owl Rafting, Trevor Rush, Monkey Business/Adobe, Warren Goldswain, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Pavel1964/Fotolia, National Capital Commission, Maria Moroz/Fotolia Dave Brown is the publisher of both Ottawa Outdoors Magazine (15yrs) and Fish, Hunt & Ride publications published seasonally and distributed FREE at more than a 200 locations around the region and into Québec and Ontario. © Copyright 2016. | All rights reserved. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. PRINTED IN CANADA TO GET PUBLISHED, email us at editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES THE regional magazine for outdoor, family, adventure, and travel enthusiasts throughout the region! Distributed in more than 200 locations with 200,000 readers in print and online all over Ottawa, Gatineau, the Ottawa Valley, Pontiac, eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Get in touch to advertise to your target customers! FULL PAGE (h x w) | $1975 Standard Size = 10.0” x 7.65” Cover spots available 1/2 PAGE (h x w) | $1375 Horizontal = 5.0" x 7.65" Vertical = 7.5” x 4.7” 1/3 PAGE (h x w) | $1150 Vertical = 10.0" x 2.75" Square = 5.0" x 4.7"
Become an exhibitor in the show with your own booth at our annual spring Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show EY CENTRE | APRIL 1-2, 2017 • MORE THAN 100 EXHIBITORS • THOUSANDS OF SHOW VISITORS • GREAT SPEAKERS AND DEMO'S
www.AdventureOttawa.ca 04 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
1/6 PAGE (h x w) | $675 Vertical = 5.0" x 2.75" Horizontal = 2.5" x 4.7" 1/12 PAGE (h x w) | $350 Rectangle = 2.5" x 2.75" BACK PAGES | $250 Rectangle = 2.5" x 2.75" GET IN TOUCH WITH US
E-mail: advertising@ottawaoutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 Fax: 613-482-4997 www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
PHOTO BY VALARTI - FOTOLIA
Huck Finn campfires you’ve got to try A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST By Allen Macartney THERE’S SOMETHING about a “Huck Finn” campfire that makes camping so much fun, with friends gathered around the flames talking, eating, joking. I’ve always called cooking campfires “Huck Finn” types, even as a boy. Every time I think of him, I picture him using one of these kinds of fires. Few people use a campfire for cooking any more, preferring propane or butane-fired backpacking stoves. But rediscovering the skills and simple beauty of campfire cooking is a road back to our roots. And a back-up if the fuel runs low. But what did the hero of Mark Twain’s novel build when he needed a campfire during his adventures with Jim on Mississippi River islands and sand bars? We don’t know for sure, but there are several styles of fire he could have used.
SIMPLE THREE-LEGGED SUPPORT
long, as well as a second branch with a “Y” shape at one end. Sharpen the ends of both the long pole, and the Y-shaped pole. Pound the sharpened end of the Y-shaped pole into the ground near your fire, and pound the longer pole into the soil so it is supported by the Y. You might need to put a large rock on the ground where the long pole goes into the ground to ensure the pot’s weight doesn’t lever it out of the soil.
COOKING ON TWO LOGS
Find two equal-sized logs and place them on the ground where you want your fire. Separate them so your main pot can rest securely on the two logs with a fire between them. Now start a fire with kindling, place your pot, on the logs and you’re well on your way to heating water for tea. Be careful the pot doesn’t slide off one of the supporting logs and dump its contents in the fire. I’ve done that. Not fun.
This fire is perfect for regulating heat coming from either tall flames or glowing embers. Start by finding three sturdy poles, each two metres long (uh, don’t cut green boughs from a tree; scout around in the forest for dead limbs). Tie the three poles together near the end with heavy wire. Finish by gently spreading the support poles over the fire, keeping them well away from the flames. When the flames burn down, spread the poles to lower the pot.
POT IN THE COALS
ESTABLISHED CAMP
POT-HANGING TOOL
This campfire is perfect when staying several days at a site. Find two poles about a metre long, and five centimetres thick with a “Y” at one end. Sharpen the opposite ends and pound them into the soil on either side of your fire. Place another pole (thick enough to carry the weight you have in mind) into the “Y” shapes over the fire. Now you’re ready to hang a cooking pot above the flames.
QUICK-AND-EASY POLE FIRE
Try this single-pole structure when camping along a sandy beach or in an area with a gravelly surface. Find a pole two to three metres
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
One of the fastest ways to heat water for soup or noodles involves placing your cooking pot directly onto still-glowing coals that have burned down. Huck Finn would have used this method if he wanted to eat fast. Alternatively, he could have placed his pot pressed up against burning branches. When you try this, make sure your pot sits flat and secure to avoid spills. So how do you hang a pot above your fire? Two choices. The easiest is to bend a double thickness of clothes hangar wire so it hooks around your pot handle and the fire structure pole. Or you could find a five-centimetre-thick pole about half a metre long with a branch that angles off slightly. Cut off the branch leaving about three to four cms remaining, a stub to grasp the pot handle. Now cut a notch into the pole so it hangs easily and securely from the pole(s) of your fire structure. Φ
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 05
PHOTO BY HAP WILSON / ECOTRAILBUILDERS.COM
Paddling the route of canal explorer By Sheila Ascroft
DAMN BLACKFLIES. Damn mosquitoes. Damn bears. Damn portages. Damn the idea of trying to find suitable places to build canals. But our predecessors did it by canoe in the 1800s, over territory that today encompasses the waterways of Muskoka River X’s “Coureur des Bois” event. They found their way with maps full of blank spaces (no GPS of course), sustained by mouldy food or freshly shot squirrel or rabbit for dinner. Canoeing in 1800s Ontario wasn’t so much an adventure as plain hard work. Following the War of 1812, British expeditions made their way into the Muskoka watershed with the goal of finding routes west that were safe from American guns along the St. Lawrence River. Explorations in 1819 by Lt. Joseph Portlock and Lt. James Catty first made their way there, followed by Lt. Henry Briscoe, who recorded his 1826 expedition so historians can piece together his route.
"Canoeing in 1800s Ontario wasn’t so much an adventure as plain hard work." Without Gortex raingear, DEET bug repellent or lightweight Kevlar canoes, life was hard for those early British paddlers. And after their work was done, the final kick in the teeth was rejection of their recommended routes by the powers that be. According to the Muskoka River X website, this vast watershed was part of the territory of the Algonquin First Nations, uncharted when war broke out between the British and Americans.
06 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
Photo from the 220km Coureur des Bois-Muskoka River X Classic adventure marathon canoe race. Canoeing the Muskoka River, Briscoe travelled north from the Severn River into the Algonquin Highlands via the South Muskoka and Oxtonge rivers, then up to Big Porcupine Lake in what is now Algonquin Park and east to the Madawaska River. After several more expeditions throughout 1827, the British military finally decided the route just wouldn’t work for the construction of a canal. In 1829, Alexander Shirreff began another expedition, paid for by a private company, to build a canal west from the Ottawa River to Georgian Bay. Shirreff made his way along the Petawawa River to Tom Thompson Lake (Algonquin Park) and west to the Oxtonge and South Muskoka rivers. Although Shirreff found no useful canal route, he did find a vast inland waterway of navigable lakes and rivers. David Thompson led the last and best-known canal expedition in 1837. All this action shed light on the Muskoka watershed, resulting in expansion into this area with railroads, logging, frontier towns, steamships and holiday resorts. This activity continues to this day, and Muskoka River X is part of it. For more details, read Gary Long’s This River the Muskoka, published by The Boston Press in Erin, Ont. Φ
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
MUSKOKA RIVER X By Sheila Ascroft
P
ADDLES not running shoes are what’s needed for the rugged Muskoka River X race in Huntsville Sept. 16–18. There are limited spots available, so register now. Considered the world’s longest singleday expedition paddling race, it features an 80-kilometre sprint, a 130-kilometre classic course, or the 220-kilometre Coureur des Bois. Non-stop, unmarked and self-supported, racers get a marathon paddle by way of lakes, river systems and rugged portages.
THE SPRINT
New this year, sprint teams paddle a 80-kilometre course over Stages 1 and 2 of the Muskoka River X Classic (see below) before ending their journey in Bracebridge.
THE CLASSIC
Teams paddle two river systems, three lakes and make 20 portages for 130 kilometres in less than 24 hours. The Classic is completely self-supported. There is no outside assistance, no
support teams and no resupplies. Considered the world’s toughest singleday canoe race — in four stages — the Classic is not your traditional marathonpaddling event.
THE COUREUR DES BOIS
The River X crew created this expanded course in 2015. Building on the heritage of the canal expeditions of the 1800s (see sidebar on page xx), Coureur des Bois will challenge even experienced expedition and marathon paddlers. Teams travel along the expedition routes of early explorers as they traverse Algonquin Park east to west from Whitney to Oxtongue Lake. After an overnight layover, these teams then merge with the MRX Classic on Lake of Bays on day two. Paddling the full northsouth length of Lake of Bays, the Coureur des Bois will complete stages 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the MRX Classic before returning to Huntsville. At approximately 220 kilometres in 48 hours or less, the Coureur des Bois is entirely selfsupported with no re-supplies. For details: www.muskokariverx.com Φ
Beach Days and
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
Nights
The Parks of the St. Lawrence riverside campgrounds.
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 07
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca www.StLawrenceParks.com
|
Parks of the St. Lawrence
Backpacking basics
MORE THAN HIKING, BUT ANYONE CAN DO IT IF THEY’RE PREPARED By Shannon Peddell
W
HEN SOME PEOPLE hear the term “backpacking” they think of extreme nature enthusiasts or mountain climbers, and it’s no wonder. This recreation has been distorted by misunderstandings and myths, so here’s an effort to clear things up. BACKPACKING OR HIKING Hiking is a relatively unencumbered walk, in nature, away from housing, roads, stores and the like. It lasts up to a few hours. Backpacking is in the same setting, but lasts more than one day, and you carry camping gear, a lot heavier than a day pack. You’ll be far from society in the woods, so map and compass navigation is necessary and a GPS or cellphone are good ideas too. Beginners should stick to a well-marked trails.
FITNESS FOR THE TRAIL Just because you are hiking multiple days, those days don’t have to be long. If your one-day limit is five kilometres, then hike the five and set up camp. That said, anytime you strap on a loaded backpack, the intensity goes up, so train before your first overnighter (you could find a tall office building and climb its stairs repeatedly). Then research your chosen trail. If you can’t find out enough about it, pick another that suits your level. New backpackers need short practice hikes with a backpack to learn about balance and adjustment and how the body reacts to extra weight. COSTS Ultra-lightweight backpacking gear can be expensive, so look for clearance items and don’t spend a fortune. But spend where it really counts. Don’t skimp on boots – they need to be durable and comfortable, waterproof and more stiff and supportive than light hiking boots or shoes. Before you go on long hike, wear new boots around the house and on short hikes to make sure they fit and are broken in. Outdoor clothing can be pricey, but it generally lasts a long time and can be the difference between a cold body and a warm one, a ventilated body and one soaked with sweat. Look for breathability and wicking, that special fabric trick that gets moisture away from your skin. Backpacks are costly and come in many sizes and types, so get fitted by someone who knows what they are doing – if they don’t add weights and stuffing to your pack while trying it on, ask someone else. WILDLIFE Wildlife encounters are scarce, but animals warrant a cautious approach. Bears (a few in some backpacking areas), coyotes (lots of them, everywhere), wolves (rare) most often avoid people. They become a problem only if careless people teach them that humans are food suppliers. So … • Keep food away from your tent (and scented toiletries too). • Store food in a bear canister to keep it safe, but hanging food off the ground works too. But don’t hang a canister! The rope becomes a handle for a bear to carry it away. • Make yourself heard. A bear will hear you long before you hear it. Bells work well, but even talking or whistling is good. • Cook and clean up well before dark and away from your camp area. NAVIGATION Learn how to use a map and compass and/or a GPS. If you have never hiked the area, contact the trail association or park office for guidance and estimates of hiking times. Two to three kilometres per hour hiking time is standard, but if you’re new at it, make that two km/hr. This gives extra time to handle difficult terrain and enjoy the scenery. Set aside time for rest and food breaks. Set a morning departure time and stick to it, and get to your next campsite before dark – so you have to know sunset times. Know too that things get darker soon in the bush. STAYING FIT You may end up with a few blisters or hot spots even with properly fitted boots that you broke it ahead of time. Put moleskin on hotspots or blister points before they damage your feet. Same deal with a backpack: get one that fits properly and learn how to adjust it and weight-balance it. POOPING IN THE WOODS If you’re squeamish, get over it. Dig a “cat hole” and cover it up, and stay away from any water source. There are actually YouTube videos with tips for doing doo in the woods.
08 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
EATING WELL There are many options for eating well on trail so no need to chew on twigs and bark. Blueberry cobbler or pad thai? No problem. There’s a huge selection of dehydrated meals, and some of them taste pretty darn good. They come in handy packs: just add boiling water and eat out of the pack, so you don’t have to clean your camp plate. A cheaper route is do-it-yourself backpacking meals online. Coffee addicts rejoice: Instant coffee packs well and comes in single-serve packets. (Add half a pack of hot chocolate and you’ve got a mocha. My camping rule book says it’s totally OK to eat chocolate, because you burn so many calories each hiking day – woohoo!)
A PERSONAL TALE By Shannon Peddell
LET’S GO BACKPACKING, she said. It’ll be fun, she said. Backpacking is hiking and camping combined. You carry all of your gear, hike to a location, set up camp, sleep, get up, pack up, and repeat. When my friend asked, I thought carrying heavy camping gear for kilometres sounded downright miserable. I loved camping, and I loved hiking, but backpacking - a combo of the two - sounded like something only for the super-fit or unemployed. So my friend recommended Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. And a strange thing happened. It made me want to learn more. I researched everything about backpacking I could find, watched hours of YouTube videos, learned about knots and woodcraft until I felt ready for our first multi-day hiking adventure. We wanted to start easy, so we planned about 100 kilometres of the Rideau Trail, nice and close to home. I bought a sleeping bag, a cheap lightweight tent and a few things to get by with before spending big bucks on the good stuff. We planned and planned and finally the day came when my husband dropped us off at our starting point in Sydenham. We stayed our first night in Frontenac Park, but the second day …
The trail was hard and took way longer than planned. So we left the trail hoping to make up lost time to the campground on a road. Bad idea. Blazing heat, cars roaring past. What we discovered was cheap tents leak, road hiking sucks, and if it’s your first trip, whatever distance you think you’ll hike each day, cut that by a third. But astonishingly after all of that, we didn’t quit. Instead we planned a nine-day trip to Newfoundland’s East Coast Trail. The cause of this apparent insanity was that after the Rideau Trail adventure was over, we missed it. There was something to be said for carrying everything that you need to survive in the woods. You forget about material possessions, work, commuting and the daily grind. You get to be what human beings are meant to be. We are built to move and we have the minds to survive. In short, backpacking had made me feel more alive than I have in years. After that, every morning I wake up planning to get back at it again. Backpacking may not be for everyone, just as running, or camping, or fishing isn’t for everyone, but if you are even slightly intrigued by the idea, try it. It can change your life. Φ
~ Shannon Peddell is the editor of trailaddicts.ca
PHOTO BY TIPLYASHINA - FOTOLIA
REWARDS There can be backpacking times when you’ll be tired, sore and fed up and want to quit, but there are rewards for persevering. The sense of accomplishment is a big one. You’ll also see aspects of the natural world that only a small group of people will ever see, and that’s pretty cool. Just educate yourself so your fears fade and you are as prepared as you can be. Then you’re headed for addiction to the trail. Φ
WHY BACKPACKING WORKS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 09
Survival I 101: Avoid the deadly ‘vacation mindset’ By Allen Macartney
ALLEN MACARTNEY
S IT FEASIBLE to be on vacation in a tiny touristoriented park, get lost, and need rescue? It happens every year in North Carolina’s Jockey Ridge State Park. Covering an area less than two square kilometres, and hemmed in between the ocean on one side and a highway on the other, rescuers are called out more than 20 times a year looking for lost hikers there. People park their car, and head out on the trails. Soon they get completely turned around: darkness is coming, panic sets in, they start to hurry or even run. Many are found crying and injured. How could anyone get lost on a postage stampsized park? “When they get out of their car, it’s as if they stop thinking,” says the warden. “I call it a vacation mindset.” And it happens everywhere. It’s rampant close to home in Algonquin Park. Each year scores of people overload their canoes with camping gear (even barbecues!) and paddle down Algonquin’s Smoke Lake for a weekend adventure. Sometimes you can see them zigzagging down the middle of this long lake, right into the teeth of an approaching storm. Low, black clouds scud overhead, and thunder echoes over the hills. Yet the paddlers seem oblivious to the imminent danger as they bash through huge waves. They’re on vacation. Somehow, their survival instincts have totally shut down. Often those with just a bit of experience set off with great self-assurance into the forest, feeling as if they’re masters of the universe. Though this overconfident attitude might work fine in downtown Ottawa or Montreal, it fails completely the further you go into the wilds. In nature, you can find yourself quickly out of your element without even knowing it, believing you are perfectly safe.
"Each year scores of people overload their canoes with camping gear ...and paddle down the middle of a lake oblivous and right into the teeth of an approaching storm..." From the cradle to the grave we’re conditioned to the fact – and it is a fact – that most of the time we’re totally secure. We don’t have to second-guess or be super-alert to manage perfectly well. Life is controlled, predictable and under control. We can leave work, shift our brains into neutral, drive home and arrive in our driveway without even recalling the trip. It’s happened to us all. Hollywood reinforces this assumption of safety and control by presenting heroes in ever-more
10 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
violent movies, and living through impossible perils – even thriving. In nature, those assumptions can get you killed. When Mount St. Helens blew up, despite repeated warnings, scores of people went deep into danger zones, just to watch. They ignored primal alarm bells – if there were any – ringing in their heads, ignored police advice, brought coolers, rolled out picnic blankets and ate sandwiches in the very shadow of the valley of death. Several years ago tourists in Thailand were seen videotaping – instead of fleeing – the enormous, foaming tsunami as it sped towards their beach. They didn’t want to miss it, the amazing changing colours, the raw power of nature. And they didn’t, and nature didn’t miss them. Thousands of years ago humans were very wary beings constantly alert for approaching threats. Survival was tenuous. Life often ended violently. Today, “survival of the fittest” no longer rules our lives. Totally oblivious, we can wander deep into danger zones without a care in the world. Twenty percent of deaths in the Grand Canyon Park occur when people are either taking photographs or posing for one. Often they’re standing right beside a warning sign: “Danger! Exposed cliff!” Taking one confident step closer to the precipice for a better picture, they drop their guard, not understanding that this is no familiar, artificially controlled environment. It’s quite possible to avoid this vacation mindset in the outdoors, and it won’t ruin your fun. Stay keenly aware of your surroundings. You’ll actually enjoy your walk more, staying connected with the world around you. Keep a day pack with essentials, just in case. Expect the best, but plan for a bit of trouble. Several years ago I paddled all alone to the Arctic Circle – 1,300 kilometres through the Yukon and Alaskan wilderness. Often I felt joyously overwhelmed by the utter silence and beauty, but I refused to completely relax. Wild animals surrounded me in the forest, and every one of them was on edge, sniffing the wind for danger, alert to approaching threats. That’s how nature operates. So I forced myself too, to stay constantly alert – my guard never dropped for long. Adopt a vacation mindset in deep forest or wilderness at your peril. Eventually your luck can run out. Φ
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
HIKING FOR FITNESS
H
IKING IS AN AMAZING workout, and all you need is a good pair of shoes and maybe a backpack. Studies have shown that being out in the woods can improve your mood, focus, creativity and intuition, as well as its many beneficial effects on your physical well-being. But be prepared – you might get addicted to it. HIKING ENGAGES THE FOLLOWING MUSCLES: Abs, low back, glutes, hamstrings, calves, ankle stabilizers, quads, hip flexors, and if you have hiking poles you will also engage your biceps, triceps, forearms and delts, not to mention your heart. In case this didn’t stand out to you, that is almost your entire body that gets involved while you are hiking, providing both an aerobic aspect and a muscle strengthening aspect. A 155 pound female will burn on average around 350 calories per hour. Add a backpack and that number increases to 400 calories per hour. Climbing a hill with that backpack? Then your numbers just jumped to around 500 calories per hour (*calorie burn is estimate and depends on fitness level, terrain, backpack weight etc.)
You might say, “Well I can get those benefits from the gym, so why go hiking?” Well, numerous studies have linked spending time in nature with a reduction of glucose intolerance, reduced LDL (Bad cholesterol) as well as the aforementioned mental benefits which also includes improved selfesteem and reduced depression and anxiety. Those same studies showed that people walking indoors (like on a treadmill or at a gym) instead of in nature did not receive the same benefit and in some cases showed increased rates of depression and anxiety. Don’t get me wrong I am not anti-gym (I work at a gym). Gyms can provide a great social aspect to your exercise regime and weight training is essential to help increase your strength for your next hike, but there are ways to strength train out on the trail too. Φ
PHOTO BY SOLISIMAGES – FOTOLIA
By Shannon Peddell
MEC OTTAWA TRAIL RACES July 10: 3K | 5K | 9K August 7: 11K | 20K | 30K | 50K Tackle steep routes and natural obstacles at Ottawa’s toughest trail races. Chip-timed, multiple distances and good times at the finish.
July 10 at Camp Fortune
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
August 7 at Gatineau Park
Register Register
mec.ca/events OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 11
If you go Directions to Island Spirits are at islandspiritsricelake.ca. Rice Lake is part of TrentSevern Waterway National Historic Site of Canada, operated by Parks Canada. Its locks, dams and connected lakes extend from Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario. At northumberlandtourism.com there’s more about Northumberland County, home to outdoorsy destinations such as Presqu’ile Island and its circa 1930s Clarke Denson Cottage. It’s rustic at Island Spirits. Browse the website ando note the hot links at the bottom of the page. Even if you stay in a cabin like we did (it’s $225 a night for two people), you bring your own bed linens, towels, food, cutlery, Coleman or other cookstove and more. T.J.’s rustic retreat offers a wide range of shelter (including aboard a floating deck!), but essentially you’ll be camping. So it’s a wonderful spot to learn more about being in nature before you head out on a weekend or weeklong truly “out there” campground experience. If you have questions, contact T.J. She welcomes questions because she wants to ensure you have an absolutely grand time.
12 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
Catch the eco-spirit of Grasshopper Island NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY’S ISLAND SPIRITS RETREAT INVITES GENTLE EXPLORATION OF NATURE by Katharine Fletcher (photos Eric Fletcher) “SO HOW’RE YOU DOIN’? Are you ready to relax, enjoy nature, and meet my composters?” asks Captain T.J. Chernuck as Eric and I climbed aboard Spirit of the Loon, her passenger ferry. While she transports us to her 25-acre eco-retreat, Island Spirits, we realize we’re in the capable hands of an entrepreneur possessing a quirky wit. We’re absolutely prepared to fully enjoy nature on Grasshopper Island, but composters …? “Oh,” she laughs, “I get everyone’s attention saying that. They’re pigs!” The composters, that is. Upon arrival, we soon meet them. The pigs are penned up in the shaded forest an easy stroll away from any cabin, platform tent, or teepee. Like everyone on-island, we offer them all our organic kitchen waste. And as each family’s vegetable trimmings are tossed to the pigs, the cacophony of squealing is astonishing – well matched by our laughter. Each piggy scurries about investigating which manna from heaven is the choicest – before squabbling over who’ll get the preferred item (yes, pigs have their own pecking order). Back at our cottage, we settle into cabin number 1, called Sunset. Here, T.J. explains what makes Spirit Island an eco-retreat. “We don’t allow any cars on-island, mowing is done by alpacas and a few sheep, our chickens manage some of the bugs, rain barrels collect water, and we have solar showers in the woods. Solar panels provide power in the cabins, too.” After settling in, we’re eager to explore, so we hiked walking trails, figuring out the lay of the land, how to get to the water, the best swimming spots,
and other island lodgings. In a clearing we were startled by movement. Was it a bear? But the big dark brown shape turned proved to be an alpaca. Although they chose not to approach us, they emerged into the sunshine, grazed about, then drifted away. They’re cute … as are the sheep, which similarly wander at will, unlike those four-legged composters. Perhaps you’ll meet a jogger, enjoying the island breezes as you roam about. For us, however, binoculars and looking for wildlife is more our thing.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Using them in summertime might reveal such migratory songbirds as Baltimore orioles or rosebreasted grosbeaks, and a host of waterfowl, including common loons and great blue herons. Even though trails are not demanding, summer’s humidity got to us and the lake beckoned. After our three-hour drive southwest of Ottawa to Roseneath (north of Cobourg) we were eager to jump into Rice Lake. Take your snorkel: the water is clean and clear, and no matter how far you swim around the island, it’s fun to investigate lakewater life.
Etiquette for recreational trails
TRAIL ETIQUETTE is a fancy way of saying be polite and consider others when walking, biking or riding horses on multi-use trails. Trail use is a privilege, so treat it with respect. • Take heed of those trailhead signs about what you can and cannot do • That said, pedestrians always have the right of way • Step off the trail and speak calmly when a horse rider comes along • Keep to the right • Warn others when passing • Don’t speed • Pack out whatever you take in • Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them • Don’t disturb wildlife • Go easy on the environment by staying on trail • Respect private property • No booze, no drugs • Equestrians • Observe speed limits • Clean up after your horse • Tie up your horse at least seven metres from lakes, streams or springs • Control of your horse always and never leave it unattended Φ
As firm believers of the adage “have paddle will explore,” we were happy that T.J. supplies canoes, kayaks and paddle boats, plus adult life jackets. Again, take binoculars and look for beavers, muskrats, painted and snapping turtles. Also, Rice Lake is famous for muskie fishing, along with smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappies, and walleye being caught. Note that getting down to the water at Rice Lake can involve a steep slope, depending which cabin you’re in, but it’s all in good fun even if you have to descend via the help of ropes. That’s what we had to do at Sunset cabin but the going is easy if you take your time. If you’re looking for a place that’s fun to explore, easy for families, with a built-in message about how to enjoy an eco-friendly holiday, Northumberland County’s Island Spirits is it. Youngsters and friends can learn how to camp, with basic amenities provided. Not to mention fabulous sunrises and sunsets. Φ
When hiking the island, an alpaca cosied up to our friend. (top left) Katharine gathered fresh organic eggs from Island Spirits chickens. (bottom) Chowing down on our camp cook stove breakfast. (above) www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 13
Optional Detour: Tooley Pond Waterfalls
The Adirondack Century A CYCLING ROUTE TO ENJOY THIS SUMMER By Joseph Goliber
T
he Adirondack Century cycling route begins in the centre of St. Lawrence County, in Canton N.Y., 20 minutes from the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, between Adirondack Park and the St. Lawrence River. Several bed and breakfasts await you along the loop if you plan an early start or want to make a two-day trip out of your ride. From Canton, you wind your way on country roads (Route 68) through rolling farm land stretching ahead for the ascent into the foothills of the Adirondacks. About 32 kilometres into your trek, you will reach Higley Flow State Park (off Route 56), a place where you can pitch a tent, shower, swim and picnic. From Higley Flow, you will continue climbing the foothills until you enter Adirondack Park itself about 45 kilometres in. At 2.4 million hectares, it’s the largest national park in the continental United States. A few kilometres further along, you will reach the all-season Catamount Lodge, designed for family and group accommodations. It has hiking trails to Carry Falls Reservoir and Catamount Mountain itself. You can take a swim or a hike, even if you’re not staying there. Leaving the lodge behind, you continue on to intersection of Route 56 and Route 3, known as Sevey’s Corner. It has Sevey’s Point convenience store, the first opportunity for water and provisions. From Sevey’s Point, you continue southwest on Route 3 along a flat road with wide shoulders into
some of the most beautiful and remote areas of the county. Around the 80-kilometre mark, you enter the hamlet of Cranberry Lake, an outdoor enthusiast’s playground and home to one of the largest remote lakes in the Adirondacks, 20,000 hectares of untouched wilderness and the Cranberry Lake 50, a challenging 80-kilometre loop around the lake that offers hikers some of the most breathtaking views in the county. You can turn off of Route 3 into Wanakena to visit Otto’s Abode, a community centre with art, information, snacks and bathrooms. Continuing down Route 3, you ride into the hamlet of Star Lake, population 800, where you should seek out an Adirondack gem, Coffee Fever, a café open seven days a week. Stop in for a specialty coffee, fresh salads, upscale sandwiches, wraps and free Wi-Fi. After cycling through Star Lake, continue on Route 3 until you begin descending out of Adirondack Park, taking a right on County Route 27A and another right on 27, passing Dodge Pond Lodge, another option for group accommodation. About 134 kilometres along is the trailhead for Lampson Falls, the most popular waterfall in St. Lawrence County. After a short hike on a well-maintained trail, you reach the top of the falls, 30 metres across and 12 metres high of cascading water. At the bottom, a small beach allows for swimming and picnicking. Staying on Route 27, your trek will transition from big woods back to rolling farmlands to close the loop after 163 kilometres in the village of Canton. For cue sheets, maps and visitor Information go to NorthCountryGuide.com or call toll free 1-877-228-7810. Φ
Cyclists Along Route 3 (top) Lampson Falls (left) 14 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
Adventurous cyclists can take the Tooley Pond Road short cut beginning in Cranberry Lake. This route shaves roughly 18 kilometres off the Adirondack Century ride, but adds 15 hard minutes to your ride. This is no ride for beginners – it’s got sections of dirt road and steep hills with rough pavement. But it takes you through some of the most beautiful wilderness that Adirondack Park offers – including six major waterfalls like Twin Falls and the gentle slopes around Sinclair Falls, a perfect place to picnic. Some of the falls can be seen from the road, while others are a short walk along trails. Once you reach the end of the Tooley Pond Road, take a right onto County Route 27 to reconnect with the Adirondack Century.
Don’t let tires make you tired A soft tire will slow you down, so it follows that pumping up your tires (every two weeks) makes riding easier. You are actually pumping up an inner tube, made of latex or butyl, which naturally loses air over time. How much air to put in? The manufacturer’s recommended pressure range is embossed on the tire’s sidewall. It will be a range from 80 to 110 psi (pounds per square inch) for a road tire. The maximum isn’t necessarily ideal. It seems logical to think higher pressure means lower rolling resistance, that isn’t always true. And on a rough road, like chip-sealed asphalt, high-pressure tires bounce harshly. Running five to 10 psi less than the max makes for a more comfortable ride. At the other extreme however, running way below the minimum invites more flats. A hand pump with a pressure gauge ensures the correct amount of air, and it’s easy to do before a ride. Don’t rely on your fallible thumb. ~ Sheila Ascroft
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Cycle. Hike. Fish.
SONEAR • SO EASY
SOFUN
Right across the Ogdensburg-Prescott or Cornwall-Massena International Bridges Easy access waterfalls, scenic or challenging cycling routes, firetower hikes and world-class fishing.
Discover it all in St. Lawrence County, New York.
For more information or a Free Travel or Anglers Guide visit:
www.northcountryguide.com 1-877-228-7810 fishcap.net
PHOTO BY TYLER OLSON
Cycling with others – play nice! By Sheila Ascroft WHEN YOU HIT the road on your bike, be polite. With everybody, even the idiot who cuts you off. Manners matter because like it or not, you represent the rest of us two-wheeled road riders. What you do affects the attitude motorists and pedestrians will have toward all cyclists. Ring that bell when passing pedestrians, cyclists, roller bladers, dog walkers, anybody, on recreational paths. Not everyone can hear your wheels, and a bell is less offensive than shouting at them. Just do it early enough so they have time to react. Communicate. Nod your head, wiggle a few fingers off the handlebar, say hello to another cyclist passing by. We’re all together in this crowded world, so keep it friendly. Unless you are doing road intervals, slow down when passing another rider on that quiet road and chat with them for a few minutes. Find out why they cycle. Sharing the road has more than one meaning. Offer help to any cyclist stuck by the side of the road even if you don’t know how to fix a flat. Stop and offer to help anyway. They might just need a tube, a tool, or a cellphone. What goes around comes around and next time it could be you. Even if they don’t need anything, it boosts morale to know there are others about and they care. Stop at kids’ lemonade stands whether you’re thirsty or not. Buy a cup of kindness while boosting junior’s self-esteem. This girl might be a cyclist someday and you have a chance to make a good first impression for cyclists. And if you meet little cyclists, praise them for wearing cool-looking helmets, for stopping at corners, for ringing their bells when passing, or for anything that will keep them safer. Ask before drafting. The faster rider will probably let you enjoy his energy-saving wake, but not always. It’s safer for both of you if the puller knows you are tucked in behind. Some speedies just don’t like hangers on who get a free ride. If you get the 16 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
OK, take a turn up front if you can. Signalling when slowing or changing lanes will keep you from “kissing wheels” and crashing. Don’t create a dumb accident. If you stop on a pathway to fix something or to chat, move your bikes all the way off the path so other cyclists won’t be impeded. If you invite a neighbour or friend who is a novice cyclist out for a ride, for goodness’ sake ride WITH them. Don’t hammer away and expect them to stay with you, and never brag about how many kilometres you’ve ridden. Instead, focus on your friend and her cycling progress. Show maybe one specific thing that might help improve the friend’s cycling, and don’t nag about her failings. Don’t be gross. Spitting or blowing out your nose can be tough on anyone riding beside or behind. And if a bio-break is needed outdoors, be discreet. And if outdoors isn’t going to work, pay for peeing. When you use the bathroom at a convenience store or gas station, buy something, even just a bottle of water. Storeowners will be glad to see you again. Φ
Bicycle friendly communities There’s something out there called the Bicycle Friendly Community award program, and it’s in business to provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and recognition for communities that support bicycling. It was launched by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in Canada in August 2010 in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists. Ottawa received a gold designation in 2013 for demonstrating achievement in each of the “five Es” (below). Only platinum and diamond are higher. Engineering infrastructure and hardware to support cycling Education to ensure cyclists’ safety, comfort and convenience Encouragement incentives and opportunities to inspire and enable people to ride Enforcement of laws and programs to ensure that cyclists and motorists are held accountable Evaluation and planning to measure results and plan for the cycling future The application form for towns to be designated as bike-friendly can also be an assessment tool to see where they can improve in these categories. Trek Canada is the lead sponsor the program, with support from the Canadian Automobile Association and Norco Bicycle Company. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
TAKE THE OUCH! OUT OF YOUR BIKE SADDLE By Sheila Ascroft BICYCLE SADDLES can be uncomfortable, whether you’re big or small, fit or flabby. This awkward fact comes about because cycling balances most of your weight on two tiny “sit bones” (ischial tuberosities to the medically curious). The longer you ride, the more pressure on your butt. The right saddle for your body and weight can significantly up the comfort of your ride. Choosing the right one starts with saddle width – wide enough to accommodate the spacing between those sit bones. Saddles for women are generally wider than men’s because theirs are wider-spaced. Heavy riders may need a slightly wider saddle than average-weight cyclists to support a larger butt. But if the saddle is too wide, it leads to rubbing or chaffing. It’s tempting to go to extremes to cushion your tush with the widest, most-cushioned saddle, but more isn’t always better. Too much cushioning can actually put unnecessary pressure on your sensitive parts. This happens when the foam or gel padding gets squished and balloons up in areas where you don’t want it. So, go for a saddle that has the least amount of cushioning you’re comfortable riding on. Something what feels great for an hour’s ride may be too soft for three hours. So think about the kind of cycling you normally do. A harder saddle can take some getting used to, but over time you’ll have more support and a comfy derrière.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Durability matters. Foam saddles break down over time, so you will need to replace it more often. Leather saddles can be a great for heavy riders because they are extremely durable and, after the initial break-in, become moulded to the rider’s individual anatomy. And get a saddle with rails made of durable metal, such as chromoly or titanium. Carbon fibre rails are best for lightweight cyclists. Finally, it’s an imperfect two-wheeled world and most cyclists have saddle soreness at some point, even with the right saddle. If you feel too much pressure in your crotch, you could get padded cycling shorts, which help absorb road vibration and protect against chaffing. Or use a chamois cream on sensitive skin. And maybe it’s not the saddle but its position on your bike. Is it level or tilted? It’s best to start with it level. Perhaps the saddle to too far forward or back, maybe the seat post is too high or too low. All these things can hurt. The best solution could be a proper bike fitting. Shops will do a fit when you buy a new bike. Some are more thorough than others – eyeball versus actual measurement. Otherwise it costs anywhere from $75 to $300. Φ
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 17
Cycling up the achievement scale Einstein is said to have defined insanity as doing the same things repeatedly, and expecting different results. It applies in cycling too. If you want to improve your cycling – to ride faster, longer, or more comfortably in a group – you have to practise doing those actual things. Not all the time, but sometimes. It seems obvious, but hands up everybody who has actually tried to pedal faster, harder or longer. If you ride the same 25-kilometre route at the same speed every Sunday morning, nobody can expect their body to perform differently. It gets used to the physical effort you’re asking for and nothing more. It actually becomes so efficient at the repetitive task that it uses fewer calories to do it. But if you decide to get better at it, and demand a little bit more and then a little bit more still, improvement will come. It’s natural to want to know what you can do, whether riding for the fun of it or prepping for a big competition. We want to know how good we can be, given the time and resources available. A goal with a name or a number makes it easier to improve to achieve it. ~ Sheila Ascroft
How to tie a clove hitch
1A
1
THE CLOVE hitch is a quick and easy knot for tying things up, and the best part is that it’s 2 2A easy to adjust and untie, even after you apply a heavy load to the rope. Tie this knot using one of two methods. The first involves making two loops by twisting the rope in opposite directions. Now, place the left loop under the left side of the right loop. This forms the hole, 3 3A which you then place over the object you want to tie onto. To finish, pull both ends of the rope to tighten. The second method involves wrapping the rope around the object. Next, wrap the running end around a second time and pass it under the first wrap. Pull both ends to secure the hitch. Either method works, but the first can only be used when the rope can be placed over the object you’re tying onto. (from Kevin Callan's Happy Camper book.) Φ
a step towards
discovering the real you
. . . in mother nature • personal • career • entrepreneurship coaching
PACKAGES BEGINNING AT $250 | BASIC ADVENTURE (3hr session) | VALUE ADVENTURE (4x1hr outings) | ADVANCED ADVENTURE (3mo's x 1hr/wk, multisport) | COMPREHENSIVE ADVENTURE (1-6mo's/ weekly) All packages include some or all of the following: dave urichuck b.a., c.l.c. telphone or in-person coaching, hiking/trekking, explore your life! biking, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, bouldering, downhill skiing, xc-skiing, snowshoeing, 613.852.2283 zip-lining, bungee jumping, camping, caving, whitewater rafting, aerial walking. *TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITES OFFERED *FREE 30MINUTE CONSULTATION
www.TheAdventureCoach.com 18 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Intrepid duo takes on ‘bikepacking’ EASY FUN, EASY LESSONS ON HOW TO COMBINE CAMPING AND CYCLING By Lesley Cassidy STANDING IN A GRAVEL parking lot in Bristol, Que., my friend was trying to pedal a hybrid bike with two fully loaded panniers. It wasn’t going well. “Maybe I should have tried riding this bike with everything packed on it before this morning,” she said wryly. Laughing at ourselves, we knew this was going to be an adventure. We were set to ride from Bristol, Que. up to Chapeau, close to the Ontario border at Pembroke, following an old railway line converted to a biking and hiking. It opened officially in 2005 along the old Pontiac Pacific Junction (PPJ) rail line and is 92 kilometres one-way. Neither of us had ever tried to combine camping and cycling, but both of us are cyclists and I’ve done quite a bit of canoecamping. After researching online on how to pack a bike for camping, I went to “my” local bike store – Tall Tree Cycles on Wellington Street West. Options ranged from racks and panniers to small packs designed to attach to various parts of your bike. I rented three packs. One fit behind my bike seat, one hung from the top tube of the frame and the third attached to the handlebars. I wondered how the heck I could fit a tent, sleeping bag and other gear into them – it looked like a squeeze. My friend had borrowed a bike rack and panniers and bought a handlebar pack too. On a warm and sunny Saturday morning in early June we were excited about giving this new adventure a try. The trail is flat, generally hard-packed gravel in good condition. The first few kilometres cut through forest dotted with marshes and beaver lodges, and continues through rolling farmland with greying wood farmhouses. There were refuelling stops for snacks and cold drinks along the way in Shawville, Campbell’s Bay, Fort Coulonge and Waltham. Lots of rest areas with picnic tables and outhouses too. Our pace was steady and we started to see the blue waters of the Ottawa www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
River through the trees as we rode north towards Campbell’s Bay. At kilometre 63, we arrived at a campground right on the trail – Base Macrocarpa – with sites for both RVs and tents. It was still early enough in the sunny warm day, so we continued to the end of the PPJ trail with plans to return to our campsite later. When we arrived at scenic Waltham it turned out that the trail portion built on the rail bed ends there. But it continues anyway, past farm fields and cottages at the south end of l’Isle-aux- Allumettes. We rode the trail, diverting onto gravel roads when it got a little too rough. At the kilometre 92, the trail ends unambiguously at a parking lot in Chapeau, Que., on the main road to Pembroke across the river. Hot, tired and hungry, we stopped for a break at one of the many nearby gas stations and restaurants. Soda and chips were fuel for our return to the campground, after we rested in the afternoon sun. Once back to the campground, we pitched out tent at a small sandy site on the beach. Hours ahead of nightfall we could swim and relax – no putting up a tent in the dark. Spicy tomato pasta sauce and a chocolate dessert filled our hungry bellies. Beside a campfire, we watched the sun set and the sky’s changing colours, laughed about our unrealistic packing and figured out how to do things differently next time: leave the iPad, small pillows and some cooking gear at home, and share stuff like toothpaste. Sunday started off gray and gloomy. We rose early, ate lukewarm oatmeal and started to ride. Two hours into it, the skies opened and wind blew the rain into our faces. We had rain gear, but it was a windy and wet ride. Our legs were
tired from yesterday’s effort, and it took hours to reach our cars: we turned the heaters on, grateful to be out of the rain. We had made it. We had learned to pack lighter – space beyond the bare essentials too often translates into things we didn’t really need. As well, we decided cyclecross bikes are lighter and more comfortable for this type of ride. With those lessons under our belt, another a multi-day bikepacking adventure is very much on our minds. Stay tuned. Φ
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 19
Immerse yourself in our unique blend of heritage and outdoor recreation where the possibilities for play are endless. #ComeWander
Look for your copy of the 2016 Ottawa Valley road
map in the summer issue of Ottawa Outdoors and
plan your next adventure today!
OttawaValley.travel
OttawaValleyTravel
Photos: Trevor Lush
Proudly located in
When was the last time you wandered? FROM PRISTINE waterways and breathtaking wilderness to small town charm and authentic hospitality, the Ottawa Valley is a place steeped in culture where you can immerse yourself in a unique blend of heritage and outdoor recreation. And what’s even better? It’s all within a 30 minute drive from the Nation’s Capital. paddle guide you through interconnected waterways where towering white pines dot the shorelines and sandy beaches beckon. Feel the power and rush of the whitewater as you manoeuvre through the rapids of the mighty Ottawa, Madawaska or Petawawa rivers, retracing the footsteps of the First Nation’s people and early European explorers as they would have hundreds of years ago. Seasoned outfitters, such as OWL Rafting, River Run Rafting, Wilderness Tours, Horizon X Rafting and Madawaska Kanu Centre, offer whitewater rafting and paddling experiences never to be forgotten. If doing the J-stroke is not your thing then let Ottawa River Adventures take care of the work with a guided zodiac excursion.
PHOTO: OWL RAFTING
Cradled between the Ottawa River and Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario’s Highlands, the Ottawa Valley is the ideal place to disconnect from the everyday hustle and bustle of life and slow the pace. It is a place where traffic jams cease to exist, cell service is sometimes nonexistent and happy hour is convened on a dock. The summer season never seems to be long enough and we are all too guilty of trying to cram as many activities as possible into a 3-day weekend. But imagine if we approached summer without a schedule and just wandered? The Ottawa Valley is the perfect place to do just that. Renowned as the Whitewater Capital of Canada and home to more than 900 lakes and dozens of rivers, consider ditching the car for a canoe, kayak, SUP board or raft. Let your
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 21
PHOTOS: TREVOR LUSH
Follow your feet as you take the trail less travelled. Extensive trail networks leading to scenic lookouts provide nature lovers with an opportunity to get up close and personal with Mother Nature. Meander through untouched old growth forests, such as the Shaw Woods and Gillies Grove, to observe an array of plant and wildlife. Hike to the top of Manitou Mountain in Calabogie or the Barron Canyon in Algonquin Provincial Park where awe-inspiring vistas will leave you breathless. Learn about the story of our earth through a variety of recreational geology activities. Explore the Bonnechere Caves, Ontario’s most extensive underground cavern; see ancient remains of creatures dating back more than 500 million years ago along the Geology Fossil Trail or take part in a fossil hunt. Dig for buried treasure at Aqua Rose Gems and Minerals. Discover small towns and rural hospitality where smiling faces and waves of hello from complete strangers will greet you at every street corner. Connect with the locals to find out what makes a community tick and get tips and suggestions for area hot spots. While they may not give away the location of that secret fishing hole, locals will be quick to tell you where you can find the best meal, most comfortable bed and favorite hang out. Every community has a story to tell. Explore Wilno – Canada’s First Polish Settlement; Renfrew – the birthplace of the NHA/NHL; Eganville – the Ordovician Fossil Capital of Canada; Barry’s Bay – home of the Avro Arrow; Killaloe – birthplace of the Beavertail; or Pembroke – host of Canada’s largest fiddling and step-dancing competitions. Let the farmers’ markets be your grocery store. Fresh seasonal produce abounds during the summer months and there is nothing better than knowing the food you are about to eat came from down the road. Taste of the Valley is your one stop shop for organic and natural produce, meat, jams and baking mixes, as well as arts and crafts. So come wander the Ottawa Valley this summer. You’ll be surprised at what you find. Check out all your options at this website: www.OttawaValley.travel
22 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
3-Hour Trips
Whitewater, Nature & History!
The Perfect Outdoor Group Activity in Ottawa for Families, Corporate Team Building and Visitors!
Based at Britannia Beach Park
1.844.688.7238
www.OttawaCityRafting.com
Raft & Resort
Weekend Packages Raft, Dine & Stay With Us
65+ Cabins Ontario’s Only On-Site For Rent Bungee s rt nes eso ew ldeurs R enfr i W To R
Trans Canada
or pri Arn 417
After-Rafting Entertainment a nat Ka
a” “Top Dog on the Ottaw Mail - Globe &
1.5 Hr Drive West of Ottawa on Hwy 417
1.888.723.8669 www.WildernessTours.com
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 23
Close to Everywhere,
Far From Ordinary
Eight unique destinations in South Eastern Ontario all with an abundance of incredible things to do. Your play time is …closer than you think.
1.5hrs from Toronto
1hr from Ottawa
1.5hrs from Montreal
On the Water
Golfing
Just Add Water
Swing into Action
With the mighty St. Lawrence River, the historic Rideau Canal
Throw your clubs in the trunk, The Great Waterway is home
part of the Rideau Heritage Route and thousands of other
to some of the most beautiful golf courses in Ontario. Make
lakes and rivers throughout, one thing is for sure; we know
sure to play a round or two in The Bay of Quinte, known
water and we’ve mastered how to have a whole lot of fun on
for their expansive courses and superb conditions. After
it. Climb aboard a 1000 Islands cruise to discover majestic
you’ve sunk your last putt, there’s still so much left to do;
castles and extravagant vacation homes. Pack your scuba
explore the waterfronts, take in some local theatre or just
gear and dive the waters along Brockville’s shores and
relax on an outdoor patio.
discover an array of sunken ships. Or travel to Land O’ Lakes for world renowned fishing.
Farm Fresh Goodness
Hiking & Cycling
Waterfront Patio’s Await
Explore Our Trails
In this region, cool urban eateries and farm fresh goodness
Whether your passion is peddling or if you’d rather go the
collide. For chefs and craft brewers, fresh local ingredients are
distance on foot, we have an abundance of opportunities
meticulously sourced and celebrated in tapas and on tap. On
for cyclists and hikers. Cycle through quaint towns, forests,
the picturesque shores of the St. Lawrence lies Kingston; the
parklands or on paved recreational pathways along the
city that has embraced the art of food. With more restaurants
St. Lawrence River in Cornwall and The Counties or take
per capita than almost any other city in Canada, this is the
a hike on one of our scenic trails. Beautiful scenery is around
place to indulge your inner foodie. Or head a bit further
every bend whether you travel by foot or bike.
west to Prince Edward County where world-class wineries, inspired breweries and amazing restaurants are all serving up farm-to-fork master work.
This is your time. Go Play! Search. Plan. Book.
OutdoorActivities.ca
Survival and camping skills manuals have hundreds of tips By Allen Macartney What makes one person feel relaxed and thrive in the outdoors, while another feels threatened and deeply uncomfortable? Sometimes it’s just a bit of know-how. Two recent books, The Ultimate Survival Manual (from Outdoor Life) and The Total Outdoorsman Skills and Tools (from Field & Stream) offer literally hundreds of ideas to expand your outdoor knowledge. Well illustrated with colourful photographs and artwork, these books will not only inspire your imagination but expand your outdoor skills and enjoyment of nature. Paired up, these books make nice companion volumes – dealing with a similar topic (outdoor living) but touching on different subjects.
THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL MANUAL
This book offers more than 300 (333 to be exact) survival skills that go well beyond most survival manuals. Although it starts with the outdoor essentials (building a shelter, fire-making, water purification and self-rescue techniques), it provides crucial information for anyone caught in a real life-and-death situation: how to trap geese, squirrel and rabbit, and then skin and cook them over a fire. It has tips on how to survive natural disasters like forest fire, tornado, lightning strikes and floods. The book comes alive with real-life stores of people who have used these techniques and lived to tell the tale.
THE TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN SKILLS AND TOOLS
This book is aimed at developing outdoor skills in people who love to camp, hunt and fish. It too offers more than 300 tips in a near-identical format to The Ultimate Survival Manual with lots of colour photographs and artwork. It too features real-life stories. Topics include: • Give your knife a spa treatment • Re-waterproof a rain shell • Pack lunch in a water bottle • Supercharge a lure with a nail • Improvise a pair of snowshoes • Remove a fish hook • Trail a dog to follow a game trail These books provide a ton of camping and outdoor-living tips to expand your skills at fast-forward speed. Φ
THE UPPER GATINEAU WHITEWATER 2016 – 20TH EDITION MANIWAKI
It is with enthusiasm that the Quebec Federation of Canoeing and Kayaking in partnership with Action Plein Air Haute-Gatineau launches the 20th edition of the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival. The festival was founded in 1997 with the mission of protecting and preserving the Gatineau River which at the time was under threat of hydro-electric development. Twenty years later the River is still free-flowing but the threat has never completely disappeared. Come and join in the fun on the Gatineau River on August 26, 27 and 28. Rafting will be available for all levels of paddling experience. For intermediates and experts, bring your canoe or kayak. We’ll shuttle everyone to the river and make sure that you have a memorable, fun-filled weekend. At the same time you will be helping to preserve the Gatineau. For more information: Quebec Federation of canoeing and kayakingPhone: (514) 252-3001 Email: info@canotkayak.qc.ca
KIDSPORT OTTAWA: 6TH ANNUAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
We are happy to announce that registration for this years beach volleyball tournament is now open! As always, the proceeds from this event will go directly towards the funding of registration fees, programming, and sports equipment for deserving families in the community. WHAT? KidSport Ottawa’s 6th Annual Beach Volleyball TournamentWhere? Britannia Beach WHEN? Saturday, August 20th, 2016 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (with a complimentary breakfast on the beach from 8:00-10:30 am!) To register, visit the following link: www.kidsportcanada.ca/ontario/ ottawa/calendar/6th-annual-beachvolleyball
28 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OUTDOOR SUMMER ADVENTURE CLUBS ACC Ottawa Section
www.alpineclubottawa.ca
Adventure Sports Access Group
www.asag.ca
Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists
www.abrweb.ca
Black Sheep Cycling
www.blacksheepmtb.com
Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society
www.cpaws.org
Creative Wheel
www.creativewheel.ca
Esprit Rafting
www.espritrafting.com
Hike Ontario
www.hikeontario.com
Madawaska Kanu Centre
www.owl-mkc.ca
Natural Fitness Lab
www.naturalfitnesslab.com
Ottawa Bicycle Club
www.ottawabicycleclub.ca
Ottawa Inline Skating Club
www.inlineottawa.com
Ottawa Mountain Biking Association
www.ottawamba.org
Ottawa New Edinburgh Club
www.onec.ca
Ottawa Orienteering Club
www.ottawaoc.ca
Ottawa Outdoor Club
www.ottawaoutdoorclub.ca
Ottawa Rambling Club
www.ottawaramblers.org
Ottawa Rowing Club
www.ottawarowingclub.com
Ottawa Sailing School
www.boattraining.com
Ottawa Triathlon Club
www.ottawatriathlonclub.com
Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Association
www.ocua.ca
Oxygene
www.cluboxygene.qc.ca
Rideau Trial Association
www.rideautrial.org
River Run Rafting
www.riverrunners.com
Somersault Events
www.somersault.ca
TriRudy
www.trirudy.com
uOttawa Outdoors Club de plein air
www.outdehors.ca
OWL Rafting on the Ottawa River
800-461-7238 owlrafting.com www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 29
COOLGEAR HOT STUFF
SECRID – RFID CARD PROTECTOR WALLET (APPROX. $100) The Secrid card protector. Reddot Award winning design credit card holder. With a click all cards slide out gradually. The cards will not fall out. A perfect wallet. No problem to keep it in your back pocket. No breaking, No bending. Just 8mm flat. Can hold 6 cards maximum. 2 year warranty. RFID protection. Prevents hackers to steal your privacy and credit card numbers. Look for it at Glebe Trotters on Bank Street.
QWICKWICK (FROM $60 FOR A BOX OF 50) Starting a wood fire can actually be tricky at times but not with easy light kindling fire starter. Get your fire burning within minutes without using any paper of flammable fluids. Easy light kindling burns up to 30 minutes giving you a flame as tall as 8 to 10 inches. Look for them at www. qwickwick.com.
TILLEY TEC COOL HAT ($85) Made with a special membrane in the fabric called c_change®, this membrane reacts to changing temperatures. Keeps you comfortable when your temperature starts to climb to allow heat and perspiration to ecape. Certified UPF 50+, the maximum rating given. Ties on in the wind, floats and repels rain. Look for it at the SAIL store in the Trainyards.
CONQUER™ 200L AND 250L LED HEADLAMPS ($39-$49) Battery Lock ™ Technology with a two metre impact resistance. Uses Kinesix – No Touch control to change settings with a wave of your hand! It has five modes and 10 hrs of runtime on low, and 40hrs on low. Easily operates on (3) AAA batteries. Look for the 200 Lumen available at Sail, Cabela’s and colemancanada.ca MSRP $39.99 or the 250 Lumen available at Sail, Cabela’s and colemancanada.ca MSRP $49.99. 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. Look for this and more at Great Escape Outfitters at 369 Richmond Road.
30 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
PATAGONIA FEZZMAN SHIRT – $68.99 A short-sleeved shirt capable of handling the sweaty, crumply, sleep-inthe-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. Look for this and more at Great Escape Outfitters at 369 Richmond Road.
FAST PACK 24G MANUAL INFLATABLE ($169-$229) Designed for fishing and boating enthusiasts. Nylon construction with 22.5 lbs. of buoyancy and high visibility reflective trimming. A solid 1” adjustable belt for secure fit with a mesh storage bag. Available at stearnscanada.ca MSRP $169.99 or the Auto-Manual version available at Canadian Tire and stearnscanada.ca MSRP $229.99
LEGUANO BAREFOOT SHOES ($70U.S.) Walking or running is the easiest and most natural thing on earth. It keeps you fit and young and your entire locomotor system healthy. But only if we move naturally, in other words: barefoot! Otherwise, we are very likely to risk injuries to the feet, knees, hips and back. Those who have suffered such injuries know what pain they can cause, how they restrict your range of motion and all about the dismal forecasts for the healing process. Look for it www.leguano.ca.
40OZ BOTTLEWORX BLACK ($49) Our 40oz bottle is a versatile mid-size design that's perfect for your every day use and a wide variety of activities. Whether you're sweating through hot yoga, at the construction site, or even on an all-inclusive vacation, our double wall vacuum "maxilation" will keep drinks freezing cold for up to 24 hours and piping hot for up to 12! Our 2.2" wide mouth easily accepts regular sized ice cubes and is easy to pour to and from. The 18/8 food-grade stainless steel is resistant to bacteria, does not retain unwanted odours or flavours, and clean up is a snap with just warm soapy water. Lifetime warranty and are 100% recyclable. Look for the "BW" shield to ensure you're getting the market's best premium insulated bottle. Look for it www.bottleworkx.ca/. *** 100% approved by Ottawa Outdoors Magazine!
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Elevate your camping experience and get high with a suspended tent By Derek Markham (@derekmarkham)
PHOTOS BY ANDREW WALMSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP, LEFT)
FOR TRULY UNIQUE CAMPING accommodations, Tentsile's 'portable treehouses' enable you to sleep in comfort up among the trees. Whether you're a treehugger, a tree-climber, or just an outdoors enthusiast with a penchant for doing things a bit differently, these tree tents from Tentsile are sure to raise some eyebrows while also raising your bivouac above the ground. I first covered the Tentsile portable treehouses about four years ago, but considering that since then, the company has improved upon its designs and brought the costs down considerably, coupled with the fact that we're deep in the middle of camping season, these suspended tents are well worth another look. Originally conceived as "treehouses that you can take anywhere," Tentsile's "tree tents" are an easy-to-deploy camping shelter that are far and above the coolest way to spend the night in the woods. These suspended tents are like conventional hammock tents on steroids, and if you've ever spent the night in one of those, you know that while they may be a convenient and lightweight option for sleeping among the trees, they're not exactly built for comfort. The offerings from Tentsile, on the other hand, are designed with comfort in mind, with flat floors and rugged three-point tree attachments to minimize sway or movement (which is most definitely not the case with standard hammocks), as well as insect mesh and rain fly to keep both bugs and moisture off of you while enjoying a night in the great outdoors. All you need to supply is the location with plenty of trees to choose from, plus a little bit of adventurousness, and your days of hanging from the forest are on their way. The largest Tentsile model, the Stingray, measures 14' x 14' x 14', weighs just 19 lb, can accommodate 3-4 adults (maximum load of 880 lb), and be set up in about 15 minutes, at a cost of about $650. The Connect model, which is a two-person tent, offers many of the same features as the Stingray, and the same load capacity, but at a lower cost ($450) and a bit lighter of a weight and smaller packed size. Tentsile now also offers its lightest model yet, the Flite ($350), which is a 7.3 lb two-person tent that can handle about 420 lb of capacity, and also includes an insect mesh top and removable rain fly for comfort and convenience. The one caveat is that while it might seem like the coolest thing ever to suspend one of these shelters far above the ground, it may not be the best choice for those who don't have adequate training, safety gear, and experience to handle an extremely elevated camping site. In light of this, Tentsile recommends setting up its models at a height of no more than 4 feet above ground. Tentsile also makes and sells two- and three-person hammocks (also designed to be anchored to trees or other stationary supports), as well as accessories for both the tents and the hammocks, and offers a one-year warranty on its products. Used with permission from www.treehugger.com
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 31
TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT
Family fun activities when travelling to New York this summer! HERE ARE JUST a few great destinations or companies to visit to ensure you have a great time in New York when you go. The CityPass from NYCgo.com has all sorts of great deals and prices, so be sure to check them out prior to leaving.
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | Explore human cultures, the natural world, and the universe with a visit to the attraction voted #1 in New York City by Zagat Survey "U.S. Family Travel Guide"! See world-renowned dioramas, the 94-foot-long blue whale, and incredible dinosaur halls. Don't miss features in the LeFrak IMAX theater, with screenings in spectacular Digital 3D and 2D film, or the stunning new Hayden Planetarium Space Show Dark Universe. Visit their website at www.amnh.org.
CENTRAL PARK ZOO | More than a million visitors a year flock here for quality time with some 130 species that inhabit this 6.5-acre corner of Central Park. Visit the frigid penguin house to see the gentoo and chinstrap penguins waddle, and try to spot king penguins. At the Amphibian Crisis Centre, children can observe jungle frogs, poison-dart frogs, Surinam toads and tons of other little critters. Your fam can also gape at a giant indoor ant farm complete with interactive "I Spy‌" challenge. Visit their website at www.centralparkzoo.com.
32 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Going to New York? Love Italian food? Check out Tony's after a Yankee's game or any of the great New York C tyPass options!
GET A NEW YORK CITYPASS FROM NYCGO.COM
.....and save lots while gaining entry to all sorts of great sites, including: The Empire State Building Experience, American Museum of Natural History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock Observation Deck (or Guggenheim Museum), Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (or Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises), 69/11 Memorial & Museum (or Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum). Price $116 ($92 for children ages 6–17. Great for anyone who wants to hit all the biggies and skip ticket lines. Visit the website at www.NYCGO.com.
Nothing says New York like visiting a Yankees game. See you there!
PHOTOS: NEW YORK YANKEES
Visit www.Yankees.com to book your tickets to enjoy the game with family and friends. Visit Yankee Stadium and tour the legendary history of the greats past and present.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
www.Yankees.com OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 33
GETTING YOUR CORE IN SHAPE WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE By John Klich “THERE’S SOMETHING about running through the woods that appeals to the deeper being.” That observation came from Eric Martinat in these pages four years back. It’s still true today. Like any physical activity that requires mental focus, trail running connects the mind to the body, and natural surroundings reinforce that connection. To understand it, be aware of the unique physical demands that are involved. Anyone deciding to take their running offroad this season knows there are risks. The greatest involves falling, which can mean an ankle sprain or a skinned knee. However, falls occur a lot less frequently than risk of insect bites and poison vegetation that can leave you itchy and scratching. In rare instances, animals or mountain bikers may pose a threat. (Sometimes, it’s a jungle out there.) Despite these irritants, trail running can breathe new enthusiasm into your stride and make you a better runner overall. With preparation and patience, the transition from road to trail can be both rewarding and safe.
34 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
Trail running and road running have many similarities, but are not identical. Runners are faced with different physical demands as they move through forests, meadows, wilderness or backcountry areas, usually on single-track dirt, rock, scrag and woodchip paths. These uneven surfaces have roots, logs, leaves, mud and rocks – a clutter that makes foot placement and weight transfer challenging. Climbs on a trail run can be steep, winding and frequent, with your whole body involved in maintaining balance and forward momentum. More muscle groups are at work, and because your metabolism is kicked up a notch, a trail run will feel much longer than a road run of equal distance. Recognizing and appreciating these demands can help anyone become a stronger and more efficient trail runner. The challenges also require more from the body in order to perform efficiently and safely. It’s not just running anymore, so it’s important for runners to assess their core strength, balance and agility. Your core is what connects your lower body to your upper body; as such, it’s the foundation for sport movement – running, jumping,
throwing, lifting. It involves more than just “six pack abs,” but all the muscles you don’t see as they stabilize the pelvis and spine in every direction, not just in a crunch. You can strengthen your core in many ways (e.g. yoga and Pilates), although some simple exercises are often all that is needed to do the trick. Traditional and one-legged variations of a push-up position are a good start to engaging your core. Hold the position for 20-30 seconds and repeat a few times. When working from your core, think balance. Good balance requires “proprioception” – the feedback system built into the body that tells you where it is in space. Using information from muscles, inner ears and eyes, the brain gets a picture of body position. Then neuromuscular response kicks in with the right combination of muscles acting with the right force to hold a body position. One simple balance exercise involves standing on one leg. Increase the difficulty by closing your eyes while standing. Or, stand on an unstable or uneven surface. Or, incorporate movement (e.g. jump from one leg to the other and hold the position). On trails, balance is the key to keeping your body from falling victim to
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
PHOTO MONKEY BUSINESS/ADOBE (LEFT) WARREN GOLDSWAIN (RIGHT)
How to hit the trail, running
gravity or momentum as you climb or descend a slope. With adequate core strength and balance, the next step to improving your running involves developing agility. Agility means being able to move in a controlled manner through a set pattern – like hopscotch. This is the start of the mindbody connection. Begin by going through a movement pattern slowly and deliberately, focusing on each step. The pattern can be something as simple as jumping back and forth across a line on the ground. As you work through a pattern and the movement becomes more comfortable, slowly increase your speed. By practising patterns, you boost your ability to execute a movement with speed and power. On the trails, agility becomes cognitive. As you approach a technical section, you scan and pick a line to follow. Your strategy for foot placement will determine how much agility will be required to keep you moving forward at the speed you want. At this point, trail running is the cumulative application of all the physical attributes your body has to offer. Balance, agility, strength, endurance and power are harmonized into a whole body effort that is tempered by the mind’s ability to evaluate the surroundings and come up
with the right physical response. The ability of your mind to coordinate the body is what determines how deeply you connect to your trail running experience. As the body responds to the terrain quickly and efficiently, the movement becomes more fluid. The mind and body begin to work together, and your run starts to “flow” – like a leaf moving smoothly over the surface of a river. As with any new activity, trail running requires acclimatization. It will take time to develop the physical attributes and the mental connection. Start off with a route that offers only mild challenges, like a woodchip trail in a park. As your body becomes stronger and your mind becomes more focused and in tune to your body, you’ll feel more competent and confident on your feet. Then it’ll be time to move to more challenging terrain. Trail running. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a delight for many.
GEAR FOR TRAIL RUNNING Trail shoes differ from road shoes, which are built to provide cushioning and gait stability. Trail shoes are designed mainly to protect your feet and keep them where you put them. Reinforced toe boxes, stiffer soles with aggressive tread patterns, and different lacing systems are a few features you’ll find in a trail runner. Trail running can mean blisters and wet feet. Having the right socks can help avoid both, but socks are a very personal thing. It really comes down to wearing what works for you. Just make sure your socks fit well, and avoid cotton. It can cause blisters. Not many trails have drinking fountains nearby or convenience stores, so you’ll need something to carry water. Whether you choose bottles or bladders, be sure you carry enough fluid to stay hydrated. Other gear you might consider includes eye protection from branches, sunscreen, bug repellant, a whistle, and the ever-useful duct tape. If you wrap a metre of duct tape around a film canister containing your favourite pain reliever/anti-inflammatory, you’ll be able to deal with several emergencies if they occur. Trail Running Tips • Use road running to build your endurance base. • Begin with one trail run a week. Allow yourself time to integrate the trail experience into your program. • Make the first step easy; try running on a woodchip trail in a park before anything tougher. • Increase the duration of your trail runs before you increase the difficulty of the terrain. • Run for time, rather than distance.
LIVE YOUR ADVENTURE VISIT OUR OTTAWA LOCATIONS: ORLEANS · RIDEAU BAYSHORE · TANGER OUTLETS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 35
Paddling the Chats – with care OTTAWA RIVER PADDLE INTRODUCES US TO LITTLE-KNOWN CANADIAN HISTORY By Katharine Fletcher “I call this area the Kingdom of the Chats,” said local historian Armand Ducharme. “There’s so much history here.” Standing at the ferry docks at Quyon, Que., Ducharme was spending a morning with a group of paddler-explorers keen on hearing about this richly historical section of the Ottawa River. It’s between the ferry dock and the 1932 Chats Falls Dam and Generating Station which silenced forever the 10.7-metre-high surging whitewater. So let me take you on a historical tour before you paddle what’s locally known as “the Chats” in the Pontiac region of the Outaouais. WHAT’S IN THE NAME? The name “chats” is from the French for “cat,” but Ducharme noted that although racoons are raton laveur in French, they are colloquially called chats sauvages (wild cats). So the name comes from the French explorers who travelled with First Nations’ guides, traders in their own right who negotiated the rapids and portages where jagged rocks gouged canoes. In his 1613 journal, Samuel de Champlain described the tobacco ceremony at the Chaudière, where his native guides asked the river gods for safe passage. Maybe Mishapashoo, the capricious spirit of the rapids would not tip their canoes, imperilling goods and lives. PONTIAC BAY, BORN OF THE FUR TRADE Paddling northwest along the Quebec side of the Ottawa, you’ll see Quyon’s Tim Horton’s Camp des Voyageur’s children’s camp overlooking Pontiac Bay. What a different scene would have greeted us in the late 1700s. In 1785, French settler Joseph Mondion
built a supply depot and cleared a small farm overlooking the Bay, where he remained for 14 years. In 1814, Philemon Wright (founder of Wrightville, which became Hull, now Gatineau) built a timber slide so white pine and red pine logs could bypass the falls en route to ByTown (Ottawa). By 1821, the Hudson Bay Company operated Chats House at Mondion’s Point as a fur trading post. By the 1840s, the lumber trade was in high gear, on rivers serving as transportaww tion to get the log booms to Ottawa, Montreal, and Britain. In 1840 imagine a sawmill at Pontiac Bay … and a few years later, one on the Quyon River, both built by lumber baron John Egan. Eventually, Pontiac Bay became a community of 141 residents – but when you paddle past today, everything’s gone, lost to history but being recalled by tellers like Ducharme. People settled here, Ducharme explained, because the Chats’ four kilometres of rapids presented a barrier to westward travel. From 1832 to 1914 the steamships plying the waters from Ottawa to Pontiac Bay were unable to transport people and goods upriver, so a community grew alongside the portage. But, how could business get upriver past Pontiac Bay? ENTER THE HORSE RAILWAY The Union Forwarding and Railway Company, which built the steamships Lady Colborne and George Buchanan, seized the opportunity. In 1847, the company constructed almost five-kilometres of horse railway to link Pontiac and Union bays, through rocky, forested and marshy land. Workers blasted rock, and dumped fill where wooden trestle bridges completed the job. Envision that horse railway: a two-horse team hauled carriages with steamer passengers and goods along a cut through the forest. This makeshift conveyance enabled
trade to continue up and down river for about 40 years. You can find traces of it at Pontiac Bay, west of the Tim Horton Camp in a shallow bay with an outcrop of Precambrian Shield. Imagine the Ann Sisson or another steamboat at its base. Passengers disembarked here, climbed a steep flight of wooden stairs up the rock face, then boarded the horse railway’s tram carriage, alighting at the Union Bay village of Chats Lake (not a real lake, just a broad section of the Ottawa). Here, the Oregon conveyed goods to Portage-du-Fort. River transportation dwindled after 1886 when the iron horse – The Pontiac and Pacific Junction Railway – opened along the north shore, bypassing Quyon, stopping just north of it, at Wyman. Pontiac Village residents drifted away, moving to Quyon, where John Egan’s 1840s mill on the Quyon River offered jobs. THE GEORGIAN BAY CANAL Under the heading of “What if?” history, there was a scheme link Montreal to Georgian Bay by canal. “Business folks thought a canal could link river traffic from Montreal to Ottawa and from there to the Great Lakes,” Ducharme said. In 1854, the partners were given $500,000 for the project, which commenced a year later. With 500 men working, and within an astonishing 15 metres of the culmination of the canal, money ran out, leaving behind the pile of gunpowderblasted rock we can see at the end reach of Pontiac Bay. The rock holds back a cut filled with river water, and the canal cut is still visible around Chats Lake and Pontiac Bay. Just imagine how this 4.5-kilometre, sixlock canal would have altered the face of the Ottawa River and brought settlements to its
An 1821 painting of the Chats by artist John Elliott Woolford.
36 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Timber slide at Chats landing. upper reaches. But it wasn’t to be. Instead, the St. Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, bypassing the ancient “trans-Canada highway” of the Ottawa River. Happily, there is movement afoot to create a park here, and a feasibility study for a proposed Parc du Sault-des-Chats de Pontiac has been done. Many of us locals hope to see the park created, to preserve Canadian history – as well as preserve rich wildlife habitat. IF YOU TAKE ON THE RIVER This is an uninterpreted historical paddle needing an active imagination to transport you back in time. You can start from Quyon or Fitzroy Provincial Park on the Ontario side. Starting from Quyon, you can put in just east of the ferry docks at the Quonset-hut Lions’ Hall. There’s ample parking and a chip stand. Paddle west, (watch out for the ferry cable) with your PFD firmly strapped on – winds and waves can be treacherous. Stay close to the north shore and keep in mind it’s mostly private property, so not many opportunities to get out. Alternatively, you could camp at Fitzroy, go for a paddle, and then return for a swim, hike, and overnight tenting or RVing. NOTE: Swimming at the mouth of the Quyon River is unsafe due to unpredictable, strong currents. How long you paddle completely depends on what route you select. The Quyon-Chats Dam-Fitzroy loop is about 11 kilometres. As for other activities, at time of publication, no paddling events or hikes were scheduled, but in the fall the Municipality of Pontiac might arrange a paddle or historical outing. Information at info@municipalitepontiac.ca or municipalitepontiac.ca. EXTRA CAUTION It’s really dangerous to paddle close to Chats Falls Dam. Signs are posted saying go no further, so don’t – if sluice gates open, rushing water can capsize boats. Φ
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 37
Looking for a beautiful deck or fence this summer?
Let Vick and his team build it for you...QUICKLY! • 20 years experience • Exceeding your expectations! • Written 3-year "Diamond" warranty!
DECKS & FENCING
Whether it's decking around your pool, fencing around your yard (including vinyl fencing) or functional benches and storage boxes, whatever the ambiance you're trying to create, we can build it for you.
GAZEBOS & SCREENED-IN PORCH
A screened gazebo or porch is a great way to get outside and still have some cover and relief from those pesky mosquito's, why not have your own little private spot where you can go to get away from it all.
PRIVACY SCREENING
You may want to consider some type of privacy rail or screening in order to achieve your goal, as much as you may be friendly with your neighbours there comes a time when you just want to relax and have some alone time and privacy screening can offer you that and still look good.
PERGOLAS
Pergolas can accentuate your space or create a certain amount of shade, consider what purpose you would like your pergola to perform before deciding on the design.
diamond andfence deck Exceeding your Expectations. FREE ESTIMATE, CALL:
613-600-4877
admin@diamonddeck.org
www.diamonddeck.org
Mud, sweat and gears
HOW TO RIDE THROUGH MUD IF YOU CAN’T AVOID IT
R
ESPONSIBLE MOUNTAIN bikers always try to preserve their riding environment. This means evaluating the trail condition and avoiding damage as much as possible. So I cringe every time someone asks how to ride muddy trails on a mountain bike. The answer involves two responses. First, in a perfect world no one would ride a bike on muddy trails. This activity contributes to trail erosion and closure. Not good. Second, because I know that some people will ride muddy trails, I offer this advice: Don’t get dirty if you don’t have to. If you’re not racing, stay off mud. It’s that simple. If you have to ride what looks like a large surface of deep muck, charge straight through it. Why? Riding around it only damages and widens the trail further. Although blasting straight through isn’t ideal, it will contain the damage and prevent the mud bath from getting wider. Sure, riding mud is fun but try a spa mud bath instead. Not only will soaking at a mud spa save the cycling trail, but it will protect your bike from grinding abuse. However, if you’re racing you may not have the luxury of choice, as Rocky Mountain pro-riders show on these pictures. What follows are tips from Ned Overend’s book, Mountain Bike Like a Champion, as well as from Mountain Bike, and Bicycling magazines. 1. Keep your weight centred between the wheels, keeping your bike as perpendicular as possible to whatever muddy slippery goop you are riding over. The same principle applies when going around a muddy off-camber turn. Keep your weight changes subtle, and have the self-discipline to stay off the brakes. 2. “Ride light.” Be balanced, centred and gentle, especially when braking, descending, turning, and accelerating.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Riding in mud is like driving a car on an icy road. Be gradual when steering. Don’t exaggerate anything. Be aware that once a wheel breaks loose, the bike can get away from you really fast. Stop slips before they start by riding one gear higher than you would in dry conditions. This reduces torque to the back wheel, reducing the slip. 3. When climbing a muddy trail, stay seated so you can keep pedal pressure as even as possible. This means “pedal in circles,” creating a circular motion with your downstroke, as well as your bottom, upstroke, top. The rounder and smoother the pedal stroke, the more efficient it is. Use a slightly higher gear. Fight for traction and momentum. 4. If descending a very gooey trail (even with gravity’s help), pedal hard to keep your speed. 5. Stay cool. As mud coats your drive train, you’ll get poor (or no) shifting. Often this will cause you to lose the use of the small chain ring and the smaller cogs. Your chain can skip because the rear derailleur is too fouled up to provide enough tension. At that point, just use the middle or large chain ring, and hope for sufficient gears with the available cogs. 6. Lube liberally. Wet lube will serve you better in mud since it goes on wet and stays wet. The most basic wet lube, with excellent results, is motor oil. The more high-tech versions of wet lubes are synthetic oils and Teflon. 7. Get a rear tire (1.8- or 2.2-inch) that won’t plug up and become a de facto slick. Some tires are designed to provide top self-cleaning and traction (see the Barro Mud tire by Geax at www.geax. com/prodgeax/mtboffroad/barro.htm). 8. For the front tire, plugging is less of a concern. Use low pressure; not so low that you get a pinch flat, but almost that low.
9. Maintain brakes and cables and wash your bike with a low-pressure hose or soapy brush, and keep the water stream well away from seals and bearings. Next time you absolutely must go through mud you’ll know how to do it safely and quickly. ~ Dominique Larocque is owner and director of LaRocca XC Mountain Bike School and Creative Wheel Consulting.
PHOTO BY ROCKY MOUNTAIN BICYCLES (RIGHT) PAVEL1964/FOTOLIA (TOP)
By Dominique Larocque
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 39
How to hang patio lights THE INSTALLATION process can vary depending on where and how you decide to hang your patio lights, however we have provided a list of the basic steps, supplies you might need and methods to use below. As mentioned previously, you may want to consider the use of a guy wire or galvanized steel cable to hang your patio light strings. Using a guy wire can prolong the life of your light strings by removing the tension that is created on the string as your patio lights hang over time.
SUPPLIES YOU MIGHT NEED
• Hooks- these could be screw-in hooks or another variety. • Zip ties • Carabiners • Extension cords • Staple gun
HANGING PATIO STRING LIGHTS BASIC STEPS
1. Draw a rough sketch with measurements 2. Assemble your poles if applicable 3. If using guy wire, hang this first Note: In some situations, the light strings may need to be threaded through the guy wire prior to being hung. 4. Start by hanging your first patio light string with the male plug end closest to your outlet. 5. Use staples or hooks between each bulb as needed on deck railings or other structures. If applicable, attach the strings to your guy wire as you go. 6. If working with multiple light strings, finish hanging your first run and then connect the male end of the second
string to the female end of the first and continue going in this way until all strings are in place! If your light string does not have end to end connectors, run an extension cord to your second light string and continue hanging your patio lights. If
hanging incandescent patio lights, keep maximum wattage in mind and switch to a different outlet if necessary to avoid power disruptions! 7. Plug your patio lights in and enjoy the ambiance!
Your Best Storage Value in South East Ottawa!
Call 613-706-7728
hawthorne@a1mini.com 3105 Hawthorne Rd.,Ottawa K1G 3V8 40 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Bring your cell phone, smart phone, iPad and tablet to us, the repair experts!
WIRELESS REVOLUTION RUSSKEENAN.CA 613.822.4733
1800 Bank Street Unit 4 613-723-6363 info@wirelessrev.ca
www.WirelessRev.ca
ABOUT US • Specializing in both Interior and Exterior renovations • Serving the Ottawa and surrounding area since 2005 • Insured efficient service delivery • We take pride in our reputation of providing quality projects at competitive prices which typically exceed our client’s expectations
Creative Renovation Solutions
OUTSIDE • • • •
decks and fences lawncare landscaping patios and interlock
INSIDE • • • •
kitchens and bathrooms basements and garages framing and drywall painting and demolition
Call Jamie for a Quote
(613) 282-4353
yardworksndesigns@gmail.com
www.YardworksnDesigns.com www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 41
By Allen Macartney YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING about easing into canoe-camping but just don’t know where to go, listen up. You want to start slowly. Find a site offering potential for hikes and swimming but still fairly isolated and quiet. Luckily, just beyond the Ottawa region many great canoe-in sites are made for a young family or teenagers looking for a first adventure sans adults (reservations are necessary for all these spots).
LAC LA PÊCHE (GATINEAU PARK)
This large, sprawling lake is about an hour’s drive from Ottawa depending where you start. Cross the Macdonald-Cartier bridge north on Highway 5 in Quebec to the Wakefield turnoff. Take Highway 366, passing the sign to Lac Philippe, and keep going to Chemin Eardley. Follow the sign on the left for Lac la Pêche. This road takes you directly to the lake’s parking lot. The lake has about 12 separate canoe-in sites, all with camping spots for multiple
42 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
groups or families. Paddling in can take anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes. All sites have picnic tables, covered toilet boxes, and a metal pole for hanging food well away from raccoons and other forest critters. The swimming is fabulous. Explore the lake and you’ll find hiking trails (most unmarked), large rocks to swim from, and islands for picnics. Most sites offer lots of trees for hanging a tarpaulin in case of rainy weather. FRONTENAC PROVINCIAL PARK This park is near Sydenham, a small town north of Kingston. Usually, I get there in about two hours via Highway 15. From the park office you can either hike or canoe to the sites. Canoeing to a site takes from one to three hours depending on its location. You can either paddle directly to your campsite, or take one or more portages to find “home.” Classified as a “natural environment park,” you’ll find everything from great camping and swimming to excellent hiking and birdwatching. Like Lac la Pêche, two, three or four paddle-in sites are grouped together. Each has a raised tent mat that keeps your tent about 20 centimetres off the ground on a bed of sand. It’s comfortable and virtually guarantees a dry tent bottom even on the wettest day. Each tent cluster has at least one privy, and each campsite has a fire pit, a picnic table and some sort of a bench. These campsites are open year-round, perfect for fall or winter adventures.
If you want to portage to other lakes in the park, all trails are wide, clear and easy to find. CANISBAY (ALGONQUIN PARK) You’ll find Canisbay Campground at kilometre 23.1 on the Highway 60 corridor through Algonquin Park. Mostly, Canisbay is for car camping but also has 16 paddle-in sites at the top end of the lake. Just pre-register for one of them, and you’re set. Do this early because they’re grabbed up fast! Each site offers a fire pit and a privy box. Because it’s a short paddle to the main campground, hiking trails, a beach, flush toilets and showers are easy to get to. You’ll also have easy paddle-out access to the full range of Algonquin Park activities, including nature programs, guided hikes, wolf howls and much more. ROCK LAKE (ALGONQUIN PARK) Rock Lake offers a slightly different adventure. You start at the main Rock Lake car camping area and paddle south down the lake to one of its pine-covered islands. These are beautiful sites, with three or four on each island. Laze in the shade, swim in clear water, paddle over to a vertical rock face, portage into nearby Penn Lake, or head out on a hike along a well-marked trail. Test paddle one or all of these destinations. Start slowly, build confidence, and expand from there. These sites will whet your appetite for more canoe-camping solitude. Guaranteed! Φ
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
PHOTO BY NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION
Easy paddle-in sites for firsttime canoe trippers
Craft your own wooden paddles and canoes
LOTS OF COURSES TO TEACH A HISTORIC CRAFT By Jenna Thompson
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 SUP-building 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 one-of-a-kind piece that’s guaranteed to get attention on the water. Φ
Country Luxury Locally Inspired Menus Recreation on the Mountain, Lake & Land
calabogie.com
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 43
Getting to know some summertime critters By Katharine Fletcher ONE OF MY FAVOURITE pastimes is canoeing, especially paddling old ox-bows, swamps and other quiet backwaters. They encourage contemplative exploration and have easy-tosee creatures. For instance, at Kenauk Nature, a parkland north of Montebello, Que. Eric and I discovered a loon’s nest complete with dusky eggs, and nearby the sapphire blue carcasses of an insect you’ve likely seen called “familiar bluet” damselflies. We concluded these jewel-like creatures had been devoured by innocentlooking but lethal, carnivorous sundew plants growing on partially submerged logs? Even in death, the jewel-like damselflies vividly contrasted against the sundews’ scarlet and emerald-green backdrop. The Ottawa Valley and the Outaouais are home territories of many intriguing animals. Some are confusingly similar species that coexist, like damselflies and dragonflies, toads and frogs. Some are nature’s wonders at our doorstep – tadpoles which overwinter before metamorphosing into frogs, and fireflies, those fairy-like flashes of light winking about on a summer’s eve. For curious observers in the National Capital Region, nature is matched by a wealth of accessible knowledge. From field naturalist organizations (Arnprior’s Macnamara club and the Ottawa Field Naturalists spring to mind) through to botanists and biologists who offer talks at Gatineau Park, the Canadian Museum of Nature and other venues, our region is home to specialists eager to share their lore. I met one of them, ecological consultant David Seburn, at a Friends of Gatineau Park talk about the spring frog chorus. He specializes in amphibians and reptiles at risk, so he was the expert to ask about frogs and toads, particularly how to tell them apart. “Toads generally are more terrestrial, but many frogs wander away from wetlands, especially after rains,” he said. “We only have one species of
American toad
44 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
toad in our area, the American toad, and it has a very warty body compared with frogs. Toads also don’t hop as well as frogs.” Great, we’ve got toads figured out. Distinguishing among frog species though is challenging: northern leopards and pickerel frogs resemble one another, as do bull and green frogs. And, just as Seburn suggests, we can find some frogs a fair distance from open water. Best tip for ID purposes? Browse websites such as naturewatch.ca with its helpful photos, or the Canadian Herpetological Society at carcnet.ca. Speaking of differences between frogs – and between frogs and toads – it’s not only the splotches on their skin or the size of their tympanum (eardrum) that distinguishes them. It’s voices too: the western chorus frog sounds like running a thumbnail along a comb; the leopard frog makes a lower, growly sound reminiscent to me of its namesake. Want to hear the calls? Check out trentu.ca and search “frog calls.” Other differences are in the eggs. Seburn said, “All our local frogs and toads lay eggs in the water. Toads’ eggs are laid in long strands; frogs’ eggs are often in clumps, with larger frogs laying more eggs, hence larger clumps.” These amphibians emerge from egg as tadpoles, then metamorphose into adults – and if frogs are challenging, those tadpoles are impossible for me. Damselflies and dragonflies are a bit easier. Seburn made it simple: “Dragonflies are larger and more robust looking that damsels. In addition, dragons usually sit with their wings open, while damsel perch with wings closed.” As always, there are exceptions, but that’s a start. The familiar bluet damselfly we started with is one of our most common, with a brilliant, metallic sky-blue body and wings that tidily fold up above its body when at rest. Another beauty is the ebony jewelwing – turquoise body, jet-black wings (a white dot at the upper tip on females). Others break the “rules” and spread their wings at rest. They’re called “sweetflag” and “slender spreadwings,” and their photos are at onnaturemagazine.com. Whereas damselflies are more delicatelooking than the “helicopter-like” dragonflies, there are other differences you can see. Damsel eyes are on either side of the head, clearly separated, while dragonfly eyes almost touch atop their heads. Damsels have slender folded wings whereas the dragons’ wings are held open either horizontally or downwards, at rest (insects.about.com).
Both species serve us well, devouring insects including mosquitoes and blackflies. Check them out at the Ottawa Field Naturalist Club’s website: ofnc.ca/tandl/Dragonflies-damselflies.php) Much smaller than those two families of insects, fireflies still captivate just about everybody. Tiny “fairy” lights dancing above a meadow or low wetland is a magical, unforgettable sight, and their source is a family of nocturnal beetles called Lampyridae. Their Latin scientific name gives us a hint: they light up the night like tiny lamps when they flash. Light is produced in an organ called a lantern, located in a segment of their abdomen, and is created when oxygen combines with luciferin, a chemical within the lantern. This capability of some animals and plants to create light is called bioluminescence. Fireflies, like other animals, may use light to tell predators they don’t taste good. Males blink to attract females. Other living things such as some fungi use bioluminescence, and honey mushroom roots called mycelia emit light called “foxfire.” Children can gather fireflies in a jar to see the creatures flash and create a “lantern.” Punch breathing holes in the lid, place a damp cloth in the bottom, and when the kids tire of the game, release the fireflies where you caught them after a few hours. Look for fireflies in low, damp areas like the meadows at the base of Gatineau Park’s Eardley Escarpment, or along country backroads. In Ottawa, try the Bruce Pit, South March Conservation Forest (Klondike and Second Line), Carp Ridge (along Thomas Dolan Parkway), Britannia filtration plant, and Sir John A. Macdonald parkway/bike path. Or drive out to Oxford-on-Rideau, Kanata, Gloucester, and Rideau Township. Wherever you are – in canoe, on horseback, hiking or exploring your camp or cottage site – keep your eyes peeled. There’s much to discover in our natural world – and it’s fun to do the “big reveal” with kids. ~ Katharine Fletcher is author of Capital Rambles: Exploring the National Capital Region, an introduction to our local human and natural history.) Φ
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
PHOTO BY MARIA MOROZ/FOTOLIA
DAMSELFLIES, DRAGONFLIES, TADPOLES, FIREFLIES - MEET THE NEIGHBOURS
Staycation Adventures for all types!
* Parks of St. Lawrence (p.7) * Canot-Camping La Vérendrye (p.13) * St. Lawrence County (p.15) * PoissonBlanc (p.17) * Ottawa Valley (p.20) * Calabogie Peaks Resort (p.41) * Adventure Lodge (Algonquin) (p.43) * Stuart Log Cottage (OttawaValley) (p.43) * Chateau Montebello (Quebec) (p.43) * Saint-Antoine Auberge (p.43)
STUART LOG COTTAGE Rent a traditional log cabin in the Ottawa Valley FOR MORE INFO CALL
(613) 628-3311
• 4 piece bath w/ tub+shower • full kitchen w/ fridge+stove • spacious living room w/ large stone fireplace • great for family or romantic getaway • loft bedroom suitable for family • private dock on Mink Lake
CULINARY BLISS HISTORIC CHARM
facebook.com/StuartLogCottage w w w. s t u a r t l o g c o t t a g e . c o m
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
8 SAINT-ANTOINE STREET QUÉBEC CITY (QUÉBEC) G1K 4C9 418 692-2211
SAINT-ANTOINE.COM
CAFÉ-BAR ARTEFACT
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 45
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Todd Morin FINANCIAL CONSULTANT, ATHLETE AND COMMUNITY EVENT VOLUNTEER YOU MAY NOT recognize his face or his name but if you have entered running events or triathlons in the Ottawa area over the last few years you will certainly recognize his voice. Todd Morin has been involved in the running and triathlon scene since 2011 in a big way. Not only does he race in many of the events every year, but he also announces at quite a few others. Whether he is helping guide participants at the Somersault Series of events or during Lap the Gats it’s always nice to show up on event day and hear his familiar voice. Like many others, Todd began participating in triathlon events to get in better shape. "I was 47 years old and wondered where my energy had gone and where did my college physique disappear to.” Once he started, he was hooked by both his personal results and the vibrant community, and he hasn’t looked back since. He is now the voice of the Somersault Series of events as well as a coach with the Ottawa Triathlon Club where he shares his accumulated wisdom and experience on both training and event day itself. Since 2011, he has completed an Ironman, participated in numerous 70.3 events and run six marathons, including two Boston marathons. As a Senior Financial Consultant with Investors Group, Todd recognizes the numerous similarities between both the events he participates in and his profession of financial planning. “Like during the events where getting to the finish line successfully requires a goal, a plan and a good coach, a healthy financial future is built on the same principles and dedication. Too many people try to manage their finances without these three key concepts and then wonder why things aren’t working out.” Todd’s latest project is his Community Event Trailer. As a participant in and supporter of many non-profit and charitable events, he realized there is a way he could do more to help. “Many events have to scramble to find the right equipment they need to host their events, and in many cases have to rent equipment. This eats up valuable volunteer or staff time and often takes away from dollars that could go into fundraising. This trailer takes a lot of the work out of that by providing an all-in-one event kit that can be booked with a simple phone call.” Todd’s Community Event Trailer comes equipped with a professional sound system, tables, pop up tents, a generator and much more, including potential prizing and other incentives. “The best thing about the trailer is that it’s free for charities, non-profits, and most local events, so the organizations can save money out of their tight budgets, allowing them to give even more back to the community.” For more information about Todd and the Community Event Trailer, or to inquire about a possible booking go to www.toddmorin.com or contact his team at 613-723-7200.
46 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
OUTDOOR BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Ottawa's new Adventure Coach
EXPLORE YOUR LIFE WITH A LITTLE DIRECTION FROM DAVE URICHUCK WITH A DIVERSE background, Dave has combined all his talents and knowledge to create customized packages for any individual looking for life-changing adventures and experiences. Through a wide array of strategies, he guides his clients to deepen their level of understanding of themselves while creating opportunities for positive growth. A published author and qualified in everything from life coaching to meditation and first-aid, he uses numerous techniques to steer individuals through the process of defining their purpose and passions. Dave has travelled to over 30 countries and has coached diverse audiences in six of those countries. See his ad on p18 of this issue to learn more about the various outdoor packages he has to offer. You can find out more about Dave at the following contact information: T. 613.852.2283 TheAdventureCoarch.com
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
Protect what matters. Be smart and prepare a Legal Will before your trips and adventures.
CALL FOR A QUOTE TODAY!
BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE OUTDOORS.
www.georgebrownlaw.com For your WILLs, POWER of ATTORNEY and assistance with other LEGAL MATTERS. Tel: 613-731-2453 Fax: 613-249-7060 George@georgebrownlaw.com | www.georgebrownlaw.com
OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 47
Camping challenges add spark and variety to life in the woods By Allen Macartney
E
XPANDING OUTDOOR SKILLS fast and adding variety to your outings is an appealing idea, and here’s one way to do it: Every time you go camping or canoeing, focus on one new advanced skill. Taking on this kind of challenge will boost your outdoor enjoyment by preventing staleness settling over what should be an adventure. And it could expand your comfort level in the woods. A word of caution though: Don’t try expansion without a foundation. If you’re new to camping, take short trips by canoe or on foot to ground yourself in fire-building, hanging tarps, handling gear, before tackling these ideas. Don’t head off with a weak grip on how to light fires, handle heavy rain, or fix a blister – these are the basics. And have a Plan B, so if the challenge is too much, or something goes wrong, the trip won’t be ruined.
CHALLENGE #1 | USING FIRE-STEEL
Don’t light your camp stove or campfire with a lighter or matches. Instead, learn to use fire-steel. Fire-steel is a special, short metal rod that, when scraped against a knife or other piece of steel, will produce sparks with a temperature of 1,650 degrees C. When a spark drops into the camp stove burner, it will instantly ignite. And when it drops into dry kindling, you can coax it into a flame. But it takes practice. And more practice. You may never need matches or a lighter again. Even if you’ve dumped out of your canoe in a lake, just reach into your soggy pocket and haul out that fire-steel when you’re ashore. Wipe it dry and it’ll send a shower of screaming hot sparks into your tinder bundle.
CHALLENGE #2 | CARVE A CAMP SPOON
by taking dry pieces of cedar (Home Depot sells them) with you. Then sketch out a rough outline of a spoon, sharpen your knife, and carefully carve a spoon. While you’re at it, you could whittle several spoons, forks and even camping chopsticks.
CHALLENGE #3 | CONVERT A TARPAULIN INTO A TENT
Try this in fall when most of the bugs have left. Tie a cord about one metre above the ground between two trees, and hang your tarp (it should be at least eight by 10 feet) over it. Stake down the corners and sides firmly. The finished product should look like a traditional pup tent. Its low profile will limit wind blowing underneath and billowing your tarp upwards. Finish by laying down a smaller tarp as the tent flour, followed by your regular camping mattress, and sleeping bag. Then … sweet dreams.
CHALLENGE #4 | IDENTIFY AND EAT TWO TYPES OF WILDERNESS FOODS
Late summer and early fall is ideal for berries and acorns. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries make an excellent addition to pancakes or French toast. Acorns? Yes, food for the first North Americans for millennia. Extract the nuts from the shells, and soak overnight in several changes of water. (Native people put them – sometimes cut in half – in a stream for water wash over them for a couple of days.) Then chop or crush them and add to pancakes, etc. Don’t be tempted by mushrooms. Too much expertise is required to identify the nonpoisonous varieties. Φ
Several years ago I arrived at my campsite on an isolated late without a spoon. What an opportunity to log some whittling experience! Plan for this challenge
48 | OTTAWAOUTDOORS
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
NOW OPEN GREENBANK AT HUNT CLUB
TIME TO DECLUTTER!
FREE Truck and Driver at MOVE-IN CALL NOW FOR GRAND OPENING SPECIALS
613-238-9900
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
