Survival Kids

of the parking lot. The lake, well separated from the main section of the park, has two beaches and numerous islands to explore.

The main part of Bon Echo attracts more than 100,000 car campers every year, and includes a camp store, boat tours, guided hikes and interpretive programs. On our trip, we stayed an extra day to marvel at the dominant feature of the park: 100-metre cliffs towering above Mazinaw Lake. The cliffs, which inspired the Park’s name, feature petroglyphs painted by Aboriginals hundreds of years ago. A word of advice; rent a canoe outside the park. You’ll get a cleaner, less tippy vessel that way.

Just north of Kingston, Frontenac Provincial Park offers 48 sites for the exclusive use of hikers and canoeists. Unfortunately, many sites are clumped so closely that smoke from one campfire often chokes campers at the next. However, a wonderful variety of hiking trails and canoe routes provides abundant opportuni

Water Safety

By Angie and Ryan Brown

Picture it… Youʼre at your cottage. Itʼs 35 degrees C outside, and youʼre boiling hot. What would you do?

Most people would head for the lake at full throttle, and jump in. But that could be dangerous if you donʼt know the importance of water safety. We, the Survival Kids, will tell you how to stay safe this fall when around water. Letʼs consider five basic rules: 1. Never jump or dive into a lake until you know itʼs safe. And water levels can change...so check it out on each visit. Have an adult snorkel under water to make sure the water is deep enough and there are no rocks or sharp stuff. Otherwise you could injure yourself very badly by jumping into shallow water. 2. Generally try to avoid aggressive swimming after eating. Even though the they say to wait an hour in case cramps and stomach pains develop, we checked with some experts who say itʼs not a hard and fast rule. Eating a big meal also can make you tired — not a good thing when youʼre half way across a lake.

ties to view wildlife. On our first trip to Frontenac a few years ago, we crested a hill during a hike to find two deer munching contentedly on grass not more than three metres away. They looked up casually, and sauntered away. The sight inspired us to schedule a return visit.

The granddaddy park of them all is Algonquin Provincial Park, home to the finest canoeing in eastern North America. There are hundreds of beautiful interior campsites and a seemingly infinite number of potential routes. Within the park you’ll find craggy cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, serene lakes and rare plants and animals, along with rustic cabins and historic logging sites. If Algonquin has one drawback it’s the crowds of people you’ll encounter in July and early August. September is a spectacular time for a more serene visit.

Rivière Noire, located on crown land in Quebec, empties into the Ottawa River near Fort Coulonge. River trips tend to be more complex,

as the start- and end-points are usually dozens of kilometres apart. A three-night trip here in 2002 turned our kids’ infatuation with canoe camping into a full-blown love affair.

The section of the Noire we paddled meanders lazily back and forth, depositing massive quantities of fine sand along the way. For much of its length, the river is less than 15 metres wide and three metres deep, making it ideal for swimming. There are a few rapids along the way, but most are easily run with a little care. We camped on a different beach each night, waking to sultry mists that lingered until late morning. We saw only one other group during the whole trip.

Just because you’re planning a family, doesn’t mean you have to give up the serenity and beauty of canoeing. Camping with children requires more preparation, but the benefits and fun outweigh the drawbacks.

— Peter McKinnon is an avid canoe-camper living in the Ottawa area.

3. Stay in sight of people, and always make sure somebody knows where you are in case you get into trouble and need help.

4. If you get caught in weeds, try not to panic and donʼt kick as you may get more tangled. Start by yelling for help. If no one is near, or if no one notices, take a deep breath, duck underwater, and try to untangle them.

5. Make sure you know how to swim before you enter the water. Or, wear a floatation device. If you learn some vital safety practices before you venture near open water, youʼll enjoy your outdoor experience more. Hey Kids!

Itʼs time to hear from you!

The Survival Kids want to hear from other kids who enjoy Ottawaʼs great outdoors. Send us your stories, photos, survival tips, etc. Weʼll even take recipes. Send it to us c/o of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. We may even be able to get the publisher to “spring” for some prizes!

Buying the Right Canoe: Technical Considerations

By Brian Cooke Ilustrations Billy Jessup

Buying a canoe can be a nightmare, especially if it’s your first one. John Winters’ article in our spring issue entitled, “Buying the Right Canoe: Tips to Consider” introduced some important ideas; now let’s look at some technical details.

As a child growing up, I thought A canoe has three basic shapes. all canoes looked the same. They were To distinguish them and understand green. Today, things have changed. how they affect the performance of a Very few canoes are green, but that’s water craft, you’ll need to look at the not the only difference. Technically, canoe from the side, top and front. canoes have evolved, taking on shapes These three views will reveal many that would have caused traditional secrets about a canoe’s performance, paddlers to roll their eyes in disgust or turning ability and speed. stare in amazed wonder.

Someone looking for a new canoe Taking a Top View today needs to ask two important techThere’s a profound difference nical questions: what shape, and what between symmetrical and asymmetriconstruction material? cal canoes. When you look down at

Let’s learn a little bit about canoes a canoe, a symmetrical canoe will and how they move through the water. appear almost as if both halves are Hull shape is the first area to consider. mirror images. In some cases, you might need a measuring tape to be Canoe Design and Construction: sure, but if a canoe is 16 feet long and A Crash Course has its portaging yoke at the half-way point (i.e. dead center), it is sym

“Do I want to paddle the canoe metrical. But if the yoke is 9 feet or solo or tandem?” and “Do I want to more from the bow, then the canoe is take it on canoe trips?” Once you’ve considered asymmetrical. answered these two questions, it’ll Why two designs? The wider be easier tracking down the right a canoe is, the slower it will move craft for you. through the water. Traditional canoes have their widest point (beam) right in the middle (i.e. they are symmetrical). Such canoes offer a nice cruising speed. When you move the beam farther back from the middle, designers are able to build a faster canoe. However, asymmetrical canoes suffer from one weakness: they’re very difficult to handle when paddled solo. Regardless of where you sit in the canoe (in the center or on the bow seat facing the stern) an asymmetrical canoe’s shape will work against you. You’ll either have too much length behind you or too much boat ahead of you.

If you prefer the speed of tandem paddling, buy an asymmetrical hull shape. But if you love to grab some solo time, choose a symmetrical canoe.

Are You a “Rocker”?

Now take a side look at a canoe. Although you might be a rocker, perhaps you won’t want your canoe to have any rocker. What’s “rocker”? It’s a term that describes the canoe’s curvature along the keel.

When you rest a canoe bottomdown on the ground, if the boat’s ends turn upward several inches, the craft has rocker. Rocker is important because it provides the canoe with

Photo by Langford Canoe

its turning ability. Boats designed for lake paddling have moderate rocker (generally 1 to 2 inches), while whitewater canoes – boats designed for maneuverability in a rapid – will have more (often 3.5 inches).

As rocker increases, it slows the canoe down, and requires more skill to control.

For canoe tripping, I prefer a canoe with 5 cm of rocker, especially when I have to navigate creeks, rock gardens or portages with awkward access. If you’re a beginner, new to the J-stroke, or if you’re looking for flat-out speed on a lake, less rocker will suit your needs.

An End View

When choosing a canoe, many paddlers think hull shape at the ends is the crucial consideration because it affects the canoe’s speed and stability. (If you’ve ever lost your balance in a canoe, you know that canoes are not the most stable of boats.) Naturally, some canoe shapes are more stable than others. You’ll need to choose either speed or stability.

To judge a canoe’s stability and speed, stand at the craft’s end and look down the hull sides at the chine (i.e. cheeks). The three most common hull shapes are tumblehome (or fat cheeks), straight, (squared) or flared.

A rule of thumb says that the wider a canoe is at the waterline, the slower it will be; but, at the same time, the more forgiving the canoe will be when you’re off balance.

Compare one canoe’s chine to that of another. If a canoe is wider at the waterline than at the gunwale, then it has tumblehome. Tumblehome is like a rocking chair; to upend it you have to carry a lot of momentum with you. I’m convinced that tumblehome canoes are the safest hull shape available.

My canoe is 35 inches wide at the gunwale, but it is 36 1⁄2 inches wide at the waterline. It has over an inch of tumblehome, so its cheeks are pretty wide. As a result I’m not going to win any races with my canoe, but I find it almost impossible to capsize without a little extra help.

If a canoe is 35 inches wide at the gunwale as well as at the waterline, then it appears square shaped from the end. If a canoe is 1 1⁄2 inches narrower at the waterline, it will be a little bit faster, but will surrender some stability.

The fastest hull shape has a flared hull – one that is narrower at the waterline than at the gunwale. These canoes are designed for marathon racing, an endurance competition of tandem canoe teams. I don’t recommend anyone buying a flared canoe for the cottage or for tripping; they’re just not stable enough.

Length and Keel Considerations

Standard canoe hulls range in length between 14 and 17 feet.

A 15-footer makes a great solo canoe, but is not good for a beginner who wants to work on paddling skills. A shorter canoe is easier to handle, even in gusty weather. A 15-footer lacks cargo capacity for canoe tripping, making it more suited for the cottage than the wilderness.

A 16-footer is a compromise canoe; it has the capacity for tripping gear as well as room for a third paddler. With skill you’ll even find it a joy to solo. As a result, the most popular canoes are 16 feet long.

Seventeen-footers are expedition canoes. The extra foot adds a little speed – a real ally on long trips. During one trip I took with friends in a 17-footer, we had to stop regularly to allow other friends paddling a 16-footer to catch up. We tried switching paddling teams, even paddling slower, but nothing worked. It was as if the 17-footer had an overdrive gear.

Some canoes have a keel added to their design to help them track better. When deciding whether to get a canoe with a keel, remember the keel (a ridge running down the boat’s length) is less than an inch deep. An inch of keel doesn’t improve the average canoe’s tracking ability by much, particularly if the craft has a lot of rocker.

Hull Materials

Now that you’ve considered all the hull shapes out there and settled on one, your buying decision isn’t quite ready. It’s time to decide what material you want your canoe made from. Think it doesn’t matter much? Think again. Hull materials affect your canoe’s weight.

Some materials are less expensive, because they’re heavy. For instance, fiberglass is a popular choice for paddlers because of its relatively low price and its great strength. But, a canoe made from fibreglass is usually heavy.

Wood/Cedar Canvas

Cedar is beautiful. On a treelined lake, it has a closer bond to its surroundings than any other hull material can boast. But here’s one drawback… canvas doesn’t react well to rocky encounters. Once the outer paint has scraped off (due to banging your canoe into river rocks or shore gravel), a canoe gets heavier to portage. That’s why canoe tripping with cedar/canvas requires a different approach. You’ll have to care for it like nothing else. You will have to think about what you’ll do with your canoe, not what you will do to it.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is one of the most popular hull materials available because it is strong and inexpensive. The most attractive engineering prop- erty of fiberglass is its compression strength. When a canoe hits a rock, its hull compresses from the impact. Compared to other fibres, fibreglass gets the highest marks.

Fibreglass canoes are layed-up (built) in two different ways. When a canoe is layed-up, several sheets of fibreglass are soaked in resin. How much resin is removed before the hull hardens will determine the hull’s weight. If the hull was hand-layed, then the extra resin is removed by hand. A 16-foot fibreglass canoe made this way will weight about 70 lbs. If the hull was vacuum-bagged dur- ing construction, then the whole boat was wrapped in a bag and a vacuum squeezed out more resin, thereby reducing the hull weight by an extra five pounds. Vacuum bagged canoes are generally more expensive, so check the fine print before you choose a fiberglass canoe.

Fibreglass Composite

Fibreglass composite is a lighter weight alternative to fibreglass. A composite canoe represents a lay-up of different fibre materials, each cho- sen for certain strengths. Composites could be a blend of fiberglass, nylon, carbon fiber, kevlar or polyester. By mixing two of these materials, canoe builders can turn out hulls as tough as fibreglass, but lighter weight.

The most common composite is a fiberglass outer hull with internal kevlar reinforcements. This hull com- bines the durability of fiberglass and kevlar’s tensile strength. But it also shaves 10 pounds off the total weight. This hull is perfect for a canoe trip- per on a budget who requires a hull lighter than fibreglass without surren- dering strength.

Kevlar Composite

Kevlar composites combine the lightness of kevlar and either the rigidity of carbon or the durability of nylon. Nylon kevlar is a popular

flat water expedition design. Cedar/canvas 65-70 Nylon weighs a lot less than fibreglass, and is remarkably Fibreglass 65 (VB) –75 (HL) durable. Also, it is relatively Fibreglass Composite 55 - 60 cheap and bonds well with the kevlar. A nylon kevlar Kevlar Composite 42 - 50 canoe resists compression, Kevlar 50 - 55 and staves off the inevitable “separation” of the fibre-resin Plastic (not outfitted) 65 - 70 bond. This is one tough canoe, but it has a price tag to match. weight alternative to fiberglass or

Carbon kevlar is a composite of composite, kevlar is really your only the paper-thin, but stiff, carbon fiber. serious choice. But kevlar has a disThis is the Rolls Royce of the canoeadvantage; its compression strength ing world because a good carbon is relatively weak. As a result, kevlar kevlar lay-up will weigh in at about canoes are more suitable for tamer 40 pounds. You might think that a pursuits such as recreational padboat hull this light would wallow dling. On canoe trips where you might through the waves, changing its shape encounter that “dang rock that just constantly because of the thin sides. It came out of nowhere” you’ll require doesn’t; the structural stiffness of carsomething tougher. bon fibre provides lots of resistance. Plastic Kevlar Several good, plastic hull materi

Kevlar is one of the most misunals can absorb hard impacts on rocks. derstood materials. Light weight is When paddling in whitewater, you’re the most obvious attraction of kevlar. more likely to hit a rock harder than A canoe built solely out of kevlar you would on a lake. Royalex, and will be easy to portage – even a joy. its thinner cousin R-lite, are strong For those of us looking for a lighter enough to absorb glancing blows.

10 $800 – $1200

10 $1400 - $1700

6 $1700 - $2300

5 $1900 - $2200

10 $1600 - $1800

(1-weak 10-strong) Only royalex has the strength to survive a direct hit, and still float afterwards. What is royalex? It’s a sheet of ABS covered in vinyl – a material vulnerable to UV degradation. As a result, canoeists must keep their boat covered with a tarp when it is not being used.

Well, there it is. You have all the knowledge to paddle your way through that amazing maze of canoe designs, shapes and colours. Now that you know what to look for, you might even decide to choose a traditional green model. And why not? It fits well into the surrounding environment, and you’ll be able to paddle up close to interesting birds and waterfowl. — Brian Cooke is a professional canoe guide, and former director of canoe tripping at Camp Nominingue, QC. He has paddled just about everywhere in everything.

Win a Digital Camera! Announcing our Ottawa Outdoors Magazine Photo Contest

Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is is delighted to to announce our our fi rst annual photography contest.

$650 Value

Send us your best outdoor pictures and get a chance to win a Kodak EasyShare LS443 4 MegaPixel camera. Send us as many outdoor pictures as you’d like (35 mm, prints, or digital images – digital images should be high resolution). The more times you enter, the greater your chance of winning.

Canoes plunging through whitewater, rock climbers clinging to the Eardley Escarpment, backpackers trekking along a wilderness pathway, kayaks rocking gently in a quiet eddy, good friends gathered around a campfi re: your photos can feature any activity within a six-hour drive of Ottawa area.

It’s easy to enter.

Just pick out your best shots, label each with your name and address (use a permanent marker) and mail them to Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. Winners will be announced in the Summer 2004 issue.

Even if you don’t win, your photographs might illustrate future Ottawa Outdoors Magazine articles. Help us celebrate outdoor life in the Ottawa area. Send us your outstanding photos now.

Photo Contest Rules

1. You may submit as many photographs as you wish. 2. Ottawa Outdoors Magazine will keep all entries submitted. Some may be added to our photo fi les and appear in future issues. Photographs appearing in the magazine will receive appropriate credit. If you want your photographs returned, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with the submission. 3. Judges will award one prize to the winning photographer. Their decision is fi nal. 4. We accept colour slides, black and white or colour prints, or digital images. E-mail digital images to: Photocontest@OttawaOutdoors.ca. Give your full name, address and phone number in the covering e-mail. 5. Write the photographerʼs name, address and phone number on the back of each print using a permanent marker. For slides, write this information along one edge of the slide. 6. Contest closes on March 15, 2003. Entries must be postmarked by this date. Mail entries to: Ottawa Outdoors Magazine, 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Suite 107, Ottawa, ON, K1V 7T4. Ottawa Outdoors Magazine assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged submissions.

Photo Taking Tips

•Get up close to your subject. Fill the whole frame with the image. •Ensure that everyone appearing in a photo is wearing appropriate safety equipment (e.g. climbing/bike helmets, PFDs). •If using an auto focus camera, make sure it is focusing on your subject and not on a large background object. •If youʼre shooting with a digital camera, make sure your battery is well charged. Delete any photos from your memory card that are not worth keeping so youʼll have lots of room for outstanding shots.

Kodak Web Page

Kodak maintains an excellent web site that offers great tips on taking better pictures. Surf to www.kodak.com, then click your way to “Taking Better Pictures.” Youʼll learn how to improve your photographic technique – summer and winter – regardless of weather conditions.

Mail photos to:

Ottawa Outdoors Magazine 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Ste. #107 Ottawa, ON K1V 7T4

Email photos to:

Photocontest@OttawaOutdoors.ca

Contest held in conjunction with Ginn Photographic. Kodak camera prize contributed by Ginn.

Antarctica: The Planet’s Gatineau Park? O ne rainy morning not long ago I gazed out over the beautiful Gatineau Hills, a water-skier carved turns down a calm Gatineau River. My thoughts drifted north and south to the Polar Regions recalling the fi rst time I went waterskiing in Antarctica.

As an expedition leader I’ve been fortunate to visit Antarctica 61 times and the Arctic 25 times. Some people claim I have a unique “bi-polar disorder” or a love affair with penguins. I prefer to think of it as a Polar Fever, a global perspective and a sense of awe with our planet. Antarctica and the Arctic form the cornerstones of our global ecosystem. They provide vital windows to the rest of our world.

Years of leading expeditions to the South Pole region have yielded many extraordinary adventures but water-skiing ranks up with the crazier ones! After water-skiing in the Canadian High Arctic, it seemed reasonable to give it try at the bottom of the world. It didn’t quite go according to plan. Water temperatures generally hover around one degree above Celsius during Antarctica’s summer, and I had neither a proper dry suit nor a wet suit. My Russian crew managed to retrieve an old emergency fl otation suit from the bowels of our ice-class expedition ship. I resembled a reincarnated version of Gumby, the cartoon character. In the over-sized suit, my feet no longer fi t into the ski boots. More Russian ingenuity and determination produced rolls of duct tape and my companions wrapped my big orange feet onto the skis. In this giant suit I was so buoyant that the Zodiac pulled me up in an instant, and I skied off into an icy wonderland.

Photo by Jean Lemire

By Geoff Green Photos (28-29) Geoff Green

Antarctica is one of the last untouched, pristine places on Earth. Existing as it has for hundreds of thousands of years, it overwhelms the visitor. It is awe-inspiring; hard to comprehend. Glaciers blanket its mountains. Its air is cold and clear, its wildlife fearless. Everything exists on a different scale. Icebergs the size of our Parliament Buildings ride the waters; some attain the size of Ottawa itself. Antarctica’s largest iceberg on record matched the size of Belgium.

The fi fth-largest continent on Earth, Antarctica equals the combined areas of Mexico and the United States. It’s home to only a few thousand people – international scientists and their support crews. Antarctica is owned by no country, and is the only continent never to have experienced war. Consider these staggering facts: • 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice • 90% of the world’s fresh water ice resides in Antarctica • 70% of Earth’s fresh water is trapped in Antarctica’s ice. While the water-skiing was fun, it seemed in retrospect almost sacrilegious in the presence of Antarctica’s indescribable beauty and magic. The Antarctic is full of moods and surprises: almost every day proves intense and profound. It can be the most peaceful, tranquil place on Earth and the most powerful and humbling. Some days you hear the sound of silence; on others the wind lifts you clear off your feet.

Whales, seals and penguins of the Antarctic have virtually no fear of people. The wildlife appears as curious about you as you are about them. Perhaps I’m anthropomorphising, but when a whale swims right up and looks you in eye, you suddenly feel you’re the one being watched.

Miles from nowhere I guess I’ll take my time “ Oh yeah, to reach there Cat Stevens

Catch and Release

One day we spotted a pod of Orca whales in the distance moving through fairly dense pack ice. For the next 30 minutes we tailed the whales as they swam along casually. The sun gleamed on a fl at, calm sea and the air held its breath. On days like this you often hear a whale before you see it. It soon became apparent that the whales were looking for lunch. For Orcas, lunch usually means seals. Every so often they congregated around an ice fl oe and poked their heads out of the water (spy-hopping) to see if a seal basked on top. It wasn’t long before they found their prey. Two Weddell seals and a Leopard seal lay on three separate ice fl oes. We switched off the outboard engines, waiting in anticipation. But we were totally unprepared for what happened.

For several minutes all fi ve or six Orcas circled the seals, spy-hopping and assessing the situation. Then in an instant they disappeared. We waited, we even looked under our boats – but the whales were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly a wave appeared, one-and-a-half-metres high, and aimed directly at one of the ice fl oes. The wave’s force fl ipped the ice fl oe, knocking the seal into the water amid waiting Orcas.

I had heard of this hunting technique, which had been recorded only once previously in a 1976 issue of National Geographic. It is believed that by swimming in unison at high speed and using their tail fl ukes, Orcas generate the wave. We witnessed four or fi ve waves over the next hour or so.

Between waves, the whales passed close by to inspect us; especially one young Orca, two or three years old. It ventured so close that we sometimes looked eye-to-eye. It was an experience that froze me with awe and wonder. We were caught in a moment in time that we would never forget. Emotions ran so high that people cried, laughed and silently stared. We felt like visitors in another world.

The magic wasn’t over. After the whales moved on, we assumed the seals had become Orca lunch. Not so. Each of the three seals jumped unharmed back onto its ice floe. The whales had simply been teaching their young how to hunt. They had released the seals without a scratch! On that day, the term “killer whale” was a misnomer.

Present-Day Exploring Leading expeditions to the Antarctic and Arctic has allowed me to explore places relatively few people have even seen.

Although I’ve been 50 to 100 years too late to claim any true geographic “fi rsts,” my expeditions have yielded many memorable and personal discoveries.

In 1998, while we retraced Shackleton’s Endurance expedition, it was a Clive Cussler novel that led me to a remote landing spot. I confess to being an avid Dirk Pitt fan. He makes even James Bond look wimpy! This adventure places Dirk on an Antarctic Island when a strange shockwave kills everyone, including penguins. Dirk survives in a cave (with a beautiful woman, of course) but he emerges in time to see his ship drifting away. Luckily his helicopter is handy and he sets off in pursuit. Incredible, complex calculations reveal that his ship is on a tragic course for the Danger Islands. I won’t tell you the rest of the story, except that Dirk saved the world again, but my awakened curiosity proved too much to ignore. Did the Danger Islands really exist?

I pulled out the charts and sure enough I found them, described as home to hundreds of thousands of Adelie penguins, one of the largest penguin rookeries in that part of the Antarctic.

“Captain!” I called to our Russian skipper, “I have idea!” It’s my usual opening line when persuading, convincing, begging or bribing captains to attempt some new plan. I pointed to the islands on the chart. Leaning over, the Captain slowly read the name out loud.

“Daane-Gerrrrr Islands. Geoff, you crazy!” he replied, let out a burly laugh and walked away.

“But Captain, we’d be the fi rst ship to land there in years,” I persisted. “Look, it’s even written about in this famous novel.” Had our Captain known more about Dirk Pitt he might not have been so easily swayed, but later that night we set a course for the Danger Islands.

They are aptly named. Lying atop the Weddell Sea, these rocky, windswept islands are usually blocked by ice and shrouded in fog. They lie in almost totally uncharted waters. Our soundings showed deep water, confi rmed by the appearance of massive, tabular icebergs. We proceeded slowly and quietly. The islands appeared fi rst on our radar screen: just a few small blips among many other blips representing icebergs. Light winds stirred the heavy fog as we drew closer. A tense excitement fi lled the air.

Suddenly, a high cliff of Heroine Island (one of the Dangers) emerged in front of us. It loomed dark and, yes, it was dangerous-looking.

“Well Captain, welcome to the Danger Islands. We did it!” His look didn’t exactly exude pleasure, so I quickly changed topics and announced we would try to go ashore. It was too deep to drop the anchor, so the ship drifted while we boarded our infl atable Zodiacs. We navigated through icebergs and bergy bits, emerging along the precipitous shore. Where were all the penguins we’d read about?

We circled the island’s north shore, and suddenly encountered the over-powering and unmistakable odour of a large penguin rookery. The island’s entire west side was covered in

Adelie penguins! We estimated the population at close to one million. They were so plentiful we had trouble fi nding a place to land. We eventually located a small, protected cove and, within moments, stood in the midst of a penguin super bowl.

On all our expeditions we follow strict environmental guidelines to minimize our footprint, keeping Antarctica pristine and undisturbed. Our philosophy is, “take only photographs and leave only footprints,” and sometimes we don’t even want to leave footprints. One of our rules involves never approaching within fi ve metres of a penguin. Well, we’ve been trying to teach this rule to the penguins for years and they just don’t get it.

So, while we all sat quietly on this remote beach in the Danger Islands, penguins curiously and fearlessly walked right up to us. In some cases, they even pecked our boots, perhaps to see what we were made of, or whether we tasted good. It was another truly unforgettable day.

On these expeditions I’ve taken some interesting characters from all walks of life – celebrities, world leaders, scientists, adventurers, fi lm crews and eco-tourists. Many of these people have been everywhere. And I mean everywhere! One night, dinner was served as we made our way south across the infamous Drake Passage separating Antarctica and South America, reputedly one of the roughest seas in the world. Not the best dinner accompaniment! To get people’s minds off the rough seas, I asked if it was their fi rst time to Antarctica.

Predictably, they all said “yes,” except one older gentlemen sitting across from me.

“I haven’t been there before but I’ve seen it,” he replied. Hmmm?

“Do you mean in a documentary?” I inquired politely.

“Nope. I saw it on my way to the moon!” The rest of us stopped eating, forks in limbo. We wondered if this guy was delirious from sea-sickness. But we soon learned his name was Harrison Schmidt and he wasn’t exaggerating. Harrison was the last astronaut to walk on the Moon. Our dinner conversation switched quickly from Antarctica to the Moon. Harrison recalled looking down at our beautiful planet.

One of its most visible features was the great, ice-covered continent. From that moment he had always wanted to visit Antarctica. Days later he told me that being in the Antarctic brought him closest to the feeling he had experienced standing on the Moon.

Something about visiting Antarctica was having a profound impact on people. You could literally watch a transformation take place. I began to imagine how such an experience given to youth might change their perspectives and defi ne their futures. Those musings gave rise to a program called Students on Ice. In it we take high school students, teachers and scientists on educational expeditions to both the Antarctic and the Arctic. It’s been a great success, perhaps best summed up in the words of 15-year-old Manitoba student, Henk Venter, upon his return from Antarctica:

“We must all remember that although this is the end of an amazing adventure, it must also serve as the beginning of a more permanent change in our way of life. We have experienced our planet’s most isolated and uncorrupted continent, and the next step is to share our changed perspective and do all in our power to protect it. As wilderness becomes more and more scarce, Antarctica will be the last bastion of nature in a changed world. And in a time when we so desperately need a symbol of peace and understanding to inspire us, the Antarctic is just that. We have all undergone an awakening and a shift in perspective on the world. Only time will tell if it is to be permanent.”

Back in Ottawa, we’re certainly lucky to have a piece of wilderness – the Gatineau Park – close enough for everyone to enjoy. Maybe we take it for granted. But by spending time in the Park and other natural settings we appreciate the importance of wilderness. Simple things like the call of a loon or the feeling of bare earth under foot, reinforce this crucial fact. Perhaps Antarctica can do that for us on a global scale. It can serve as both a beacon of hope and a reminder that we all need to appreciate and take better care of our wonderful planet.

Maybe if I could get all the world leaders down there on water-skis....?

—Geoff Green is a freelance expedition leader and founder/director of the program, Students on Ice: www.studentsonice.com. He leads expeditions around the world for such groups as World Wildlife Fund, Smithsonian, Discovery Channel and The National Film Board of Canada. Heʼs a soughtafter speaker, presenting to students and international audiences about his adventures. He calls Chelsea, Quebec home.

Roots, my speed (slowed down), I was hooked. And frustrated. Fun as it rock with a mix of open steeps and challenging, downhill single track. MT. BIKING rocks, drops and daring deeds done was, downhill mountain biking remained inaccessible – a seven-hour drive away from Ottawa. Until this past summer.

In one fell swoop, two Ottawa ski areas with challenging terrain upped the local downhill scene from Zero to Hero. Calabogie and Camp Fortune opened for downhill riding on weekends. Gatineau Park, already Each area provides a distinctive style of trail design and technical challenges. And each offers the steeps and technical possibilities you would associate with much bigger areas.

As these venues become recognized for their excellence, theyʼll get more crowded. So beat the rush! Get out there before they grow expensive and popular. Because currently, roots, dirt cheap a world-class, cross-country mountain biking area, now has an excellent rocks, drops and daring deeds can still be done dirt cheap. downhill facility. Along its Skyline —Dave Stibbe is a local outdoor enthusiast By Dave Stibbe trail system youʼll fi nd beginner-toand regular staff writer. advanced downhill trails. In addition What a cruisy day. to 35 kilometres of good cross-country

Those were my fi rst misguided trails, Calabogie now boasts fantastic thoughts about lift-serviced, downdownhill runs ranging from beginhill mountain biking. Most of my ner to intermediate. So, do you think so-called mountain bike experience we could create a cross-town rivalry: ranged over cross-country trails. the westʼs Calabogie Crew versus Bursting lungs and screaming musthe Fortune Riders of the north? cles were painful facets of a dayʼs Interesting possibilities. ride. “Technical” meant controlling Reviews at both hills this season speed on a rather fast and bouncy speed on a rather fast and bouncy are fantastic. Each hill offers slab descent.

If you could just take If you could just take out the climbing, out the climbing, I thought, downhill ridI thought, downhill riding would be one ing would be one fun, relaxing cruise fun, relaxing cruise all day long.all day long.

Not quite. Not quite. Downhill mounDownhill mountain biking is as tain biking is as different from different from Hockey is always in season at both Kunstadt Sports locations. You will cross-country bikcross-country bikfind the best prices on new equipment and unheard-of bargains on ing as downhill ing as downhill High quality used equipment. skiing is from skiing is from Kunstadt Sports is the only independent retailer in the Ottawa area cross-country offering trade-ins on your sports equipment. skiing. My fi rst day skiing. My first day of downhill riding of downhill riding  Junior and Senior took place in Quebecʼs took place in Quebecʼs  Sharpening Equipment Eastern Townships, at Eastern Townships, at Skates Bromont Ski Resort. It Bromont Ski Resort. It  Custom Profiles Sticks, Shafts, Blades provided the most fun Iʼve provided the most fun Iʼve Pads had on a mountain bike. had on a mountain bike.  Repair Guards And MORE! Ever. It also proved the most Ever. It also proved the most tiring, adrenaline charged, tiring, adrenaline charged, Visit us Online at WWW.KUNSTADT.COM Photo by ©Robert Faubert www.holeriders.com technically demanding day.

Early in the afternoon, after I fi nally got the hang of using my brakes properly (as opposed to all the time), learned to shift my weight correctly (backwards, forwards and side-to-side) and adjusted technically demanding day.

Early in the afternoon, after I finally got the hang of using my brakes properly (as opposed to all the time), learned to shift my weight correctly (backwards, forwards and side-to-side) and adjusted 462 HAZELDEAN ROAD 1583 BA NK STREET KANATA 831-2059 OTTAWA 260-0696

Photo by ©Robert Faubert www.holeriders.com

Mountain Bike Technique: Descend Like a Pro

By Dave Stibbe

YOU’RE ON YOUR bike at the top of a mountain. The horizon line seems to drop almost vertically beneath you. Your adrenaline soars. The feeling: it can be more intimidating than invigorating.

Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate rider, here are some common tips that can help make the process of getting from top to bottom a smooth, thrilling, well-controlled ride.

Get bike set up correctly

What’s the simplest, common sense tip to consider? Lower your seat.

On a downhill run, it’s important to have your weight back behind the seat and your weight as low as possible. Lowering your seat makes this all possible. It also avoids the most painful of all injuries – a sore butt. Another useful modification is to put on a shorter stem with more rise, and upright bars. This allows you to incrementally pull back the weight from your front tire, which can make a big difference in your ability to balance for aggressive steeps.

If most of your riding is downhill, get front shocks with at least 10 centimetres of travel. Also, as a general rule set your forks stiffer than you would for cross-country riding. Why? Because you’ll be hitting things faster and harder.

Finally, switch to fat tires and stronger rims. Downhill riding involves some serious speeds. (Gravity tends to encourage this.) Even small bumps have a heavy impact, so if you don’t want to pancake your lightweight cross-country rims, beef them up.

Prepare for the Crash and Burn

A “bail out” on a downhill ride can involve several metres of endover-end, out of control tumbling – at the very least. No matter how good you are, you’ll still crash on occasion. Minimal fully protective gear involves a full face helmet, knee and shin guards, elbow pads and gloves. If you ride regularly, upper body armor and protective hip padding goes a long way to reduce the scar tissue, if not the bruises. As well, consider some common sense: ride with friends, and bring along an appropriate emergency first aid kit.

Techniques

Stay off the front brakes

Using your front brake tends to throw your weight (and you) over the front forks. Not good. When you’re faced with a steep descent, get your butt over the back tire and stay low.