Issue #5 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

Your Guide to the Local Outdoor Adventure Scene

HIKING

Discover Mill Pond

MT. BIKING

How to ride downhill

CANOEING

Paddle the Mattawa & French Rivers

KAYAKING Safety tips

CAMPING

Explore La Verendrye Park

ADVENTURE RACING Banish the Blisters: Part II

FALL 2003

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THE BAJA

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GETTING YOU TO YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE

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what’s

inside outdoors CAMPING Gently roughing it in La Verendrye 3 Tarps for every occasion 6 Tips for the novice and expert 10 HIKING Exploring Mill Pond 12

canoe routes Paddle the Mattawa and French Rivers: two great heritage routes.

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KAYAKING Tips to paddle safely 14 CANOEING Paddle the Mattawa & French Rivers 15 Hook your kids on canoe camping 18 Buying the right canoe: technical details 21 MT. BIKING Go there: Calabogie and Camp Fortune Hills 30 Technique: How to ride downhill 31 ADVENTURE RACING Banish your blisters: Part II 34

mt. biking Take to the hills this fall and learn the key steps to downhill mountain biking.

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ULTIMATE Cutting Tips 37 Zone Offense Play 37 2 – Publisher’s Letter 11 – Weekend Getaway 20 – Survival Kids 32 – Product Review 36 – Health: First Aid 38 – Health: Tips 40 – The Bark

42 – Profile 44 – Urban Spice 46 – K-9 Common Scents 48 – The Green Pages 49 – Essential Gear Review 50 – Calendar of Events 52 – Bug Juice

Cover photo by Ray Pilon.

Adventure racers, Eric Martinat and Robyn Dicesare were two of a team of four who competed in the Eco-Challenge North American Championships in Sault Ste. Marie.

They are part of Capital Cops adventure racing team out of Ottawa.

adventure racing Read how to banish those blisters allowing you to finish the race.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

a great summer

but fall adventure awaits Hereʼs hoping youʼre having as much fun as we are exploring all that our great region has to offer. We at Ottawa Outdoors Magazine have been answering your questions, reviewing the next piece of gear youʼll need, and providing you with directions and details to find those hidden outdoor adventures nearby.

And so, the fall of 2003 has arrived, right after the Summer of You. In the past several months I stepped “outside the box” and explored some new interests. My spring “to do” list included... whitewater kayak lessons; check. Lived to tell about it; check. Cottage relaxing time; check.

Star-gazing at the bazillion stars overhead; check. Campfire conversations with friends; check.

I predict a mild autumn, so make your outdoor agenda plans now for more adventure. That means kayaking and canoeing some of the many fantastic lakes nearby, and mountain biking on challenging trails. Add in some great weekend hiking trips, both inside the city and outside. Canʼt wait to get out there!

Enjoy our fall issue. Thanks for this first full year of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine, and be sure to head out and enjoy our incredible fall weather.

Happy trails.

Dave Brown Publisher, Editor-in-Chief

CONTRIBUTORS

Geoff Green

Max Finkelstein

Chantal Macartney

Peter McKinnon

Geoff is a freelance expedition leader and founder/director of the program, Students on Ice. In this issue he takes a break from his home in Chelsea, and leads us on a journey into the Antarctic, one of the last untouched and pristine places on earth.

The focus of our profile this issue, Max is one of the most well-known canoeists in Ottawa.

Heʼs travelled all over the country and written popular books about the adventure. In this issue he takes us down the French and Mattawa Rivers.

At the wily young age of 17, Chantal is a regular writer of Ottawa Outdoors. Sheʼs been camping since before she could walk and in this issue, brings you a bunch of camping tips to make your fall camping go that much smoother.

An avid outdoor enthusiast and married father of two boys, Peter gives us some insight into the how-tos of canoe camping with your children.

Heʼs been writing for years and is a longtime resident of Ottawa.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Dave Brown Managing Editor Allen Macartney Editor Denise Allen Assistant Editor Lesley Cornish Contributing Editors Ken Parker Jim Hargreaves Design and Layout Dave Brown Graphic Designer Robert Brazeau Graphic Illustrators William Jessup, Wah Phung-Lu, Keith Milne, FrikOutdoors.com, Contributing Writers Juda Strawczynski, Chantal Macartney, Bev Wigney, Ken Whiting, Max Finkelstein, Peter McKinnon, Angie Brown, Ryan Brown, Brian Cooke, Geoff Green, Dave Stibbe, Eric Martinat, Bob Washer, Dr. Todd Norton, Allen Macartney, Julie St. Jean, Cathy Brown, Wanda Purton Contributing Photographers Ray Pilon, La Verende Park, Nancy Lee, Bev Wigney, Paul Chivers, National Capital Commission, Langford Canoe, Peter McKinnon, Jean Lemire, Geoff Green, Robert Faubert, Jason Elder, Allen Macartney, SiriusMed, Julie St. Jean, Martin Paquette, Luis Moreira ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Please contact: Dave Brown Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent publication published quarterly.

Email: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8688 / 888-228-2918 SUBSCRIPTIONS See attached sub.cards in this issue or visit www.OttawaOutdoors.ca Ottawa Outdoors Magazine 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Suite #107 Ottawa, ON K1V 7T4 Tel: 613-860-8688.

Internet: www.OttawaOutdoors.ca CONTRIBUTIONS Ottawa Outdoors Magazine welcomes story and photo contributions. All photos should ideally be shot with colour slides or high resolution digital camera, but otherwise scanned at 300dpi resolution and burned onto a CD-ROM or emailed. No unsolicited contributions will be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork.

CANADIAN / U.S. POSTMASTER: Return undeliverable covers to 2706 Alta Vista Drive, Suite #107, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1V 7T4. Return postage guaranteed.

Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. © Copyright 2003.

All rights reserved. Reproduction of any materials published in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is expressly forbidden without consent of the publisher unless otherwise agreed between partners. Printed in Canada.

ARE YOU AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE? If you would like to submit photos or articles to Ottawa Outdoors magazine, please email us: Editor@OttawaOutdoors.ca

CAMPING

Gently roughing it in La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve

By Juda Strawczynski

M

y adolescent canoeing companion had just developed a new stroke.

Bored with sending furious, aquatic cyclones spinning in the water with the plunge of his paddle, he now rested the oak paddle on the canoe’s gunnel, allowing just its tip to graze the water.

A barely perceptible swishing sound from the surface carried on the wind. My little Moses-in-training had perfected this paddle-partingthe-sea technique, sending ripples along the placid surface of Lac JeanPéré. Watching his powerless stroke intently, he seemed mesmerized by the water movement. Once a minute

Think of La Vérendrye as an Algonquin Park with smaller crowds and a shorter drive. he pulled himself out of the trance to call out, “Are we there yet?”

Of course, the answer was yes. We had arrived. Our group had made it to Québec’s La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, and for the next two days we would enjoy pleasures of the great outdoors. But for this teenaged, American city-slicker and his dozen friends bent on experiencing the Canadian wilderness, such poetic waxing just didn’t cut it. So, instead I answered what any summer camp counsellor would say: “Yup! We’re there yet.”

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Photo by La Verendrye Park

“No we’re not!” he shot back quickly.

“If you know we’re not ‘there’ yet, why don’t you start paddling?” I urged.

With that, his paddle stabbed back into the water like an Olympic racer coming up on the finish line. He executed five, highly impressive, cyclone-generating strokes before collapsing in a bored heap and taking another 15-minute break.

Even if I were missing a paddling partner, it posed no great problem.

The route our little band of canoeists had picked to explore along the “Jean-Péré loop” is no more than a one-paddle effort – the easiest level identified by the Quebec Canoe and Kayak Federation. It’s a 24-kilometre circuit that allowed us to navigate lazily around the largest island on Lac Jean-Péré.

We departed from Le Domaine (La Vérendrye’s canoe camping home base) for a group camping site. Our route was rapid-free, and our one hop-skip-and-a-jump of a portage traversed over a flat, wellmaintained trail. Better still, hardly a breath of wind impeded our progress.

Overhead, puffy clouds protected us from the sun’s fury, and we had enough snack food on board to keep our dozen teenaged campers well fed and generally content. This canoe trip was about as simple as one can be; given the experience of our youth members, the challenge was as much as they could handle.

Although our group was new to canoe camping, canoe camping is not new to La Vérendrye. The Park opened in 1939, but centuries earlier

La Vérendrye Park’s tranquillity is a great place to escape the crowds. the area played an important role in the fur trade. Back then, canoes were the only vehicle for navigating through the Park’s 4,000 lakes. To this day, canoes are still the best way to see wilderness sights.

Think of La Vérendrye as an Algonquin Park with smaller

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Photo by La Verendrye Park

Fish species (among others) include yellow walleye, northern pike, lake trout and speckled trout.

Although several challenging excursions depart from Le Domaine, other trips offer put-in points accessible by either car or the shuttle service. With 800 kilometres of marked routes and dozens of trips to choose from, your excursion can range from a simple fun-for-a-few-days trip, to an extended lost-in-the-wilderness adventure, complete with rapids of varying levels (Class 1 to Class 5). Portages too, range from mild, flat and short trails to bushwhacking marathons.

Fast-Forward Paddling

crowds and a shorter drive. While an Algonquin outing may involve fending off Group of Seven groupies following the last J-strokes of Tom Thomson, La Vérendrye’s only major recent claim to fame is a passing reference in a Bill Bryson book. Although La Vérendrye hasn’t yet been elevated to the level of Canadian cliché, it has all the ingredients for a fun Canuckin-a-canoe experience.

Getting there involves hopping in a car and heading north. Let the wheels on your personal bus go round and round up Highway 105 past Maniwaki. Then take Highway 117 right to the Park. It’s 190 kilometres from Ottawa to La Vérendrye’s south gate. Another 50 kilometres will get you to Le Domaine – the gateway for La Vérendrye’s canoe camping adventures.

Doorway to Paddlers’ Heaven

Le Domaine is a typical, park service centre with a gas station as its life blood, and cabins for those who need to escape back indoors from their escape to the outdoors. For those who are heading out on a canoe trip, Le Domaine has a store for last-minute supplies, a restaurant where you can enjoy a last-civilised supper, and a pay phone for your famous last words. It is also home to Canoe Camping La

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Vérendrye – a one-stop source for canoes, gear, maps, water bottles, clothing, snacks, and bear bells and whistles (literally). Canoe Camping La Vérendrye offers fully-planned package itineraries, as well as shuttle services to put-in and exit points in other areas of the park.

For beginners, families, and those seeking weekend solitude, there’s no need to take the shuttle into the wild.

The Park offers many routes that make a 360-degree loop through the wilderness starting at Le Domaine. These provide good times, yet require only minimal canoe skills. If the winds are skidding at high speed across the watery surface of Lac Jean Péré, the initial paddle-dipping exercise may require a little more oomph. Canoeists can solve some of the challenge by simply hugging the shoreline.

What about campsites? Those along the accessible, easy routes are clean; most of these routes include pit toilets.

For die-hard Mr. Canoeheads, La Vérendrye represents a 13,615 square kilometre playground. Let’s translate those kilometres into more understandable words…. La Vérendrye has a greater geographic area than Cyprus, Andorra and Luxembourg combined.

It’s about half the size of Belgium!

Over 150 bird species and 40 land mammals find shelter in the Park.

Where did the name La Vérendrye come from?

The most avid modern-day voyageur will rank as a mere novice compared to Pierre Gonthier de Varennes Sieur de La Vérendrye – the Park’s namesake. In the 1730s, this explorer managed to paddle all the way to the Missouri River and the cruelly-named Portage la Prairie.

Two of his sons (believed to be the first Europeans to see the Rocky Mountains) helped him in his remarkable trailblazing efforts.

Photo by Nancy Lee

GO THERE Itʼs easy to get to La Vérendrye Park. Hereʼs how Cross the MacDonald-Cartier Bridge driving north from Ottawa. Follow Highway 5 north, then head up Highway 105 past Maniwaki. At Highway 117, follow the signs to the Park.

Total distance from Ottawa to La Vérendrye is about 190 kilometres.

In recognition of his never-give-up efforts, Quebec named this huge wilderness park after him.

The La Vérendrye family outings remind us that sometimes travelling by canoe can be hard work. Probably that’s why the word “travel” comes from the French word “travail” (meaning to work or labour).

Our own group’s lazy approach to re-discovering La Vérendrye Park’s natural wonders would probably leave Sieur de La Vérendrye shaking his 18th Century head in disbelief. But even several hundred years ago, teenagers were known for their relaxed attitudes about life and physical effort.

Clearly, our group members looked on their paddling travel as leisure, not “travail.” Slowly, without putting much effort into the experience, we slipped across the water – hardly consulting a map to find direction.

After a beautiful day paddling on the lake, we arrived at our prepared group site. Although some members were a little disappointed that our moose-meter was still sitting at zero (no one had seen one of these majestic beasts yet), all seemed happy to have found solid ground again.

Generally, the Park’s group sites fit 20 people, so our 15 trekkers were comfortably accommodated. The site offered some privacy between each tent pad, but not enough to make anyone feel separated or isolated.

After preparing a snack (these are teenagers after all), pitching tents, and setting up a cooking area overlooking the lake, our chefs prepared a nutritious dinner that replaced any calories used during the day. Second and third helpings followed in quick succession, before a contented tranquility descended over camp. It’s amazing what a hot meal can do after a day of paddling in the sun, fresh air and beautiful surroundings. At least for the moment, everyone seemed pleased to just park their behinds on the beach and watch the sun’s slow descent behind the hills.

Within minutes loons came out to play. We were thankful the bugs didn’t join the party. Not long afterwards, stars began twinkling in the sky overhead. Suppressing contented yawns, our teenaged campers stared blissfully at gathering pastel colours painted on the horizon of this Québecois canvas.

“May I go in your canoe tomorrow,” my paddling partner asked hopefully.

“Sure. I’d like that,” I nodded, smiling at the sunset.

Silence reigned over our group. We all felt a little reticent about having to head back towards Le Domaine in the morning. Now that we were finally here, nobody really wanted to leave.

— Juda Strawczynski is avid outdoor enthusiast with extensive camping experience.

Camping/Canoeing Tips • Buy or rent a 60-litre canoe barrel for your trip. (You can rent one from the outfitter at Le Domaine.) A barrel is an excellent place to keep all your food safe and dry. Donʼt put clothes in the same barrel as your food; animals may be attracted by the food smells. Use a separate barrel or waterproof canoe pack to hold sleeping bags and other essentials.

• Make sure you have good quality packs and excellent rain gear. A cold camper is a miserable one.

• At night, hang your food up in a tree at least 100 metres from tents.

• Donʼt take any food into your tent.

Animals, big and small, will be attracted by the aroma of chocolate bars, nuts, chips or even toothpaste.

• Attach a whistle to each PFD for signalling.

Contact Information and Web Sites www.canot.laverendrye@citenet.net Canoe Camping La Vérendrye is open from midMay to mid-September. Contact Le Domaine at (819) 435-2331, or (514) 252-3001 during the off-season. Maps are available at Le Domaine. www.canot-kayak.qc.ca Follow the links to La Vérendrye, then click on “Canoe camping La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve Guide to Canoe Routes.” Youʼll be able to download itineraries and maps. www.laverendryeoutaouais@sepaq.com This is the web site for Sépaq: La Société des établissements de plein air du Québec. Their telephone number is (819) 438-2017.

Photo by Nancy Lee

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Tarp of the morning

By Chantal Macartney Illustrations Billy Jessup

“We’ll never make it! The storm’s coming too fast!”

Lightning flashed through the unnatural, afternoon gloom as we paddled hard for the sandy beach.

Thunder echoed over the hills, like the booms of cannons signaling the start of a battle. Scrambling out of our canoes by our wilderness campsite, we struggled to locate our tarpaulin quickly before the rain caught us in the open.

“Found it!” I yelled. “Let’s go!”

Within minutes our tarpaulin was set up – time enough for our other friends to drag all the gear up under its protective canopy. It never did rain that day, but a tarp always offers a sense of security.

“A tarpaulin?” some new camper might say, “Why do I need a tarp?”

If you’re going to enjoy all varieties of weather that present themselves on a two-week camping trip, a tarpaulin is essential. There’s no better place to relax in a hammock with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate, when the rain streams down so hard that even ducks shake their feathered heads in showers of disapproval. A tarp provides not only cover from rain, but also shade on a blistering hot day.

A kitchen shelter, a campfire cover, and an improvised tent. Those are three main things for which most campers use tarps.

Two types of tarps are readily available: rectangular and parabolic models. Rectangular, flat tarpaulins are generally less expensive than parabolic ones. You’ll pay $10 and up for a heavy, blue, hardware store model, to $200 for a lightweight, ripstop model. Parabolic-shaped tarps

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O T TAWA O U T D O O R S FA L L

are much more expensive and are made from rip-stop nylon. Looking aerodynamic, they have factory-made drawn-out corners and cut-away sides.

They tend to pitch more stiffly than rectangular tarps, and are sleeker.

Prices range from $80 for a small one, to well over $300 for larger, customfitting models. Generally, parabolic tarps hang in only a single way.

Flat tarpaulins come in all sizes – from 2 metre by 3 metre rectangles to larger (and heavier) sizes 6 metres by 8 metres. If you’re planning to use your tarp as a simple tent shelter for late summer and fall backpacking trips, get a small tarp. For car camping or long canoe trips, I prefer a larger tarp I can suspend from trees – one that guarantees me a dry, comfortable cooking spot if the weather turns sour.

Setting up a tarp is not difficult; all you need is some experience. As a black storm cloud starts to dump its watery load on your campsite, the last thing you want to be thinking about is how to hang your tarp. The more times you set up a tarp, the faster you’ll get.

If you’ve never used a tarpaulin before, practice putting it up in your

backyard several times before heading out on a trip. Start by setting up a tarpaulin using a simple flat design, like the Kitchen Shelter setup (see above). When you’re confident making it, experiment with more elaborate setups, or devise your own.

Have you ever thought about substituting a tarp for your tent during mild weather camping? If you’re going on a backpacking trip, this is a great way to lighten your load by one and a half, or two kilograms.

By sleeping under a tarp instead of a tent, you’ll be more likely to hear the howling of a coyote, deer walking near your camp, or owls hooting. An improvised tarp-tent offers great ventilation and plenty of room in which to move around. You’ll also get a deeper sense of being close to nature.

When tying down a tarp, you’ll need several types of rope. I like about 20 metres of polypropylene rope (1 cm thick) for my centre, tarpaulin-supporting rope that stretches between two trees. Parachute cord is excellent for tying down the corners; plan on five metres for each corner.

You can never have too much rope.

Now let’s look at a variety of methods for pitching a rectangular tarp.

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Kitchen Shelter Setup

Kitchen Shelter Setup

In years of camping, this tarp setup has become my favourite. It offers lots of head room for cooking or reading in bad weather. But you’ll need a large tarp – at least three metres by five metres.

Find two trees slightly wider apart than the width of your tarp. Tie a rope between these trees, at least two and a half metres above the ground. Make the rope as taut as possible; the weight of your tarp is sure to cause some sagging.

Toss your tarpaulin over the rope and drape it down equally on both sides. Attach parachute cord to each of the four corners, and tie them to nearby trees or branches. Try to keep the corners up at least one and a half metres above the ground.

(See diagram)

Wind/Rain Protection Model

If a stiff breeze is whipping in off the lake, driving pelting rain before it, adapt the Kitchen Shelter setup to make a wind and rain shield. Start by

Wind/Rain Protection Model

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of your tarp. Then tie a rope tightly between them. Next, drape your tarp over the rope. Stake down the tarp ends directly to the ground, using long pegs, ground-level roots or nearby trees.

“A” Frame Tent

Improvised “A” Frame Tent

hanging your tarp over a centre rope strung about two and a half metres above the ground between two trees.

Then, stake one side down almost vertically to the ground. Keep the other side almost horizontal so it forms a roof over your head. (See Diagram) Be sure the lower end of your tarp faces the prevailing wind or rain, so you can sit behind your tarp in perfect, dry comfort, protected from wind-blown rain. With this setup, campfire smoke can escape easily.

“A” Frame Tent

This simple tent, sometimes called an “A” frame setup, is for campers or hikers who choose to leave their tent at home. An “A” frame setup is the easiest and usually most practical tent to make with a small tarpaulin. It provides great protection from rain, and offers plenty of fresh air.

Start by finding two trees at least one metre further apart than the width

The improvised tent is like an “A” frame setup, with a slight modification. One end is higher to encourage water run-off. It makes a great tent if you’re trying to save some weight during a backpacking trip. But beware: never use it during the height of mosquito or black-fly season. This make-shift tent has no bug net; you’ll get eaten alive.

Tie a rope around a tree about one and a half meters off the ground.

Run your rope to the ground at about a 30 degree angle, and peg it down securely. After draping your tarp over the rope, secure one end of your tarp to the upper part of the taut rope, and the other end to where you’ve staked your rope into the ground. Pull the two tarp corners on the high side

Slant SlantRoof RoofShelter Tent Shelter

High-flying tarps: not difficult The higher you position your tarp, the more room youʼll have to live under it. How do you get the centre rope up as high as possible, but also low enough that you can retrieve it at the end of your camping adventure?

Hereʼs my secret.

Tie a 15-metre length of rope or parachute cord to the end of a metal, rock-climbing carabiner (available at all outdoor stores). Toss the carabiner over a three to three-and-a-half-metre high branch. Let the weight of the carabiner pull your cord down to your level, then loop the cord tightly around the tree several times before tying it off at chest-height. Repeat this process for the other end of the rope, tossing it around another high branch.

Now you have a rope that is high above your head, but its ends remain within easy access of your fingers. The remaining challenge is to toss your tarp over the rope so it hangs down on both sides.

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Improvised “A” Frame Tent

tightly outwards, staking them down to make the shelter opening. At the low end, fold each corner under the tarp, and stake a point on each side to hold it taut. (See diagram)

Slant Roof Shelter

If you’re not looking for a tent-like structure, but something to keep the rain away from your campfire or

picnic table, then a Slant Roof shelter is excellent. It’s simple to erect.

Merely find four trees growing in a square pattern and tie each corner of your tarpaulin to a trunk. Tie the two highest corners approximately two and a half metres above the ground, and the two lower corners about two metres above the ground. The slanting angle provides excellent drainage.

(See diagram)

Backpacking Front Porch Cover

Sometimes a front porch on your tent makes a convenient addition, especially in soggy weather. A porch offers a camper a great place to shed wet rain clothes, or sort out your pack before heading down the trail.

To make a porch, use a small, lightweight tarp (2 m x 3 m). Drape about one third of it over the front of your tent, staking it down to pegs on the side. At the front of your tent, pull the tarp out straight and tie straight branches or hiking poles at the corners to lift the tarp up. Finish by staking the poles down with parachute cord.

If you’re camping with a group, have everyone set up their tents wagon-train-style facing inwards, with doors each about two metres away. Hang a larger tarp overhead so it covers the openings of everyone’s tents. Caution! Make sure the overhead tarp doesn’t direct water to drain into someone’s tent.

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Parting Shots

Whether you need a dry canopy over your picnic table or an improvised tent, a tarpaulin will add to your enjoyment of any outdoor adventure.

Spend time learning the many ways a tarpaulin can make life better.

— Chantal Macartney is a regular staff writer.

On rainy camping days, youʼll find her under a tarpaulin, sipping tea while reading a book.

Tarp Hanging Tips •Hang a kitchen tarp at least three metres above the ground. This distance will allow lots of room for your kitchen crew to work.

•Before retiring for the night, make sure your tarp is angled down steeply at the edges so water can run off and not collect. If it rains a lot, a giant puddle may form in your tarpaulin. The weight of the collecting water may tear your tarp or break any supporting poles.

•Make sure the water run-off point of your tarp does not lead directly to your tent. Iʼve seen more than one tent flooded in the middle of the night by novice campers who erected a tarp that directed all the run-off through their tent door.

•If your kitchen tarp setup has a centre rope, hang your wet towels and gear from this during the night to aid drying.

•You canʼt have too much rope when hanging a tarp. I prefer parachute cord for tying down tarp corners. Itʼs light, strong, durable and readily available at camping stores.

•When hanging an “A” frame tarp setup, make sure the open sides do not face the wind.

If they do, youʼll have made an aerodynamic wind tunnel that will soak you with rain.

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Camping Tips for Novices and Experts

By Chantal Macartney

N

o matter how experienced you are in wilderness travel, it’s always helpful to find out how others thrive in the bush. Here are some of my favourites. They deal with hiking, starting a campfire quickly, and using film canisters. Enjoy.

from the film will get into your spices, condiments, or medicines. Alternatively, you could ask your pharmacist for clean, unused, screw-top pill containers as they come in different sizes as well.

Disappearing Ice Packs

When packing for a hiking or canoe trip, freeze factorypacked and sealed foods (such as sausages or hotdogs) several days before leaving. These make great ice packs and they’ll stay frozen for a few Jumpstart Your Campfire hiking trips. You can make an days. Placed next to perishHikers must find ultra-light emergency fishing kit by twist- able foods, they keep the foods solutions to everything. Here’s ing fishing line around a small cold. Better yet, your ice pack how to make effective firepopsicle stick, then sliding it is edible! starters that weigh into a film canister. almost nothing.

Be sure to leave extra Pack Baking Soda Wipe Vaseline™ space so you can add Never head out on the trail petroleum jelly several small hooks without a small container of on 30 to 40 and weights. What can baking soda. Mix your baking cotton balls, you use for lures? Find soda with then put them a worm or slug under a cinnamon to into a plastic film canister. rock, or skewer a horse fly and make toothTo start a fire, place one feed it to the fish. paste. Or, jellied cotton ball under your A film canister makes an add 10 mL kindling. The petroleum-jelly- excellent waterproof match baking soda saturated cotton ball will ignite container. Simply glue a small to a cup of immediately and burn for at piece of sandpaper inside the water to ease least 10 minutes. To light damp lid of the film canister. Strike back-country kindling, use two or three of your match against the sandheartburn. Or, gargle with a these fire-starters. paper – perfect in wet weather solution of 10mL baking Car or canoe campers can when rocks are damp. Make soda and 125 mL of water to make easy and inexpensive sure to place your matches freshen your breath. Garlic fire-starters by filling small head-down inside the container, odours from last night’s dinner paper cups with sawdust and pointing away from the sandpa- will disappear. standing a wick up through per. Otherwise, the heads might Are mosquito and black the middle. Finish by carefully rub against it and ignite. fly bites bothering you? Try pouring paraffin wax over the To make a camp sewing adding a little water to baking sawdust. Be sure to let the hot kit, wrap a two-metre length soda, making a watery paste. wax cool before touching the of thread around a small strip Rub the paste over the bite; the container. of cereal box cardboard, then baking soda will ease the itch.

Another great fire-starter slide it inside a film canister.

This method also works with for car or canoe campers Add an assortment of minor burns and poison ivy. is a charcoal briquette sewing needles and Is odour from your hiking soaked in paraffin. safety pins. boots scaring away your hikIt’s easy to make Popular wisdom ing mates? Here’s a solution. and use. says you shouldn’t Pour a small amount of baking store food in plastic soda into your boots, shake it Film Canisters film canisters. But around, and leave the boots to Waterproof film Kodak and other film sit overnight. In the morning canisters are great for companies maintain your shoes should be odourcamping, canoeing or that no trace chemicals free, ready for the trail again.

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When collecting wood or stringing a clothesline or tarp for your camping adventure, have you ever covered your fingers with sticky sap? Soap won’t help you here. Instead, wash your hands with water and baking soda. It works every time.

Hiking Tips When hiking, plan to walk at the speed of your slowest hiker. This benefits everyone. Fast walkers will have extra time to explore the area, and slower hikers will not feel pressed by others.

Take rests during a long hike; you’ll enjoy your excursion more and everyone will maintain a higher, steadier pace. But don’t stop for more than five minutes.

Longer stops will give your legs time to stiffen up.

When backpacking, never carry more than 25-30 percent of your body weight.

Any more weight can damage your back (this warning applies especially to children carrying packs.) Over-burdened hikers are also prone to falls and injuries.

Cool-Headed Hikers The temperature along the trail has soared to 35 degrees C and sweat rolls off your body. If you’re not carrying a heavy pack, soak a T-shirt in a lake or stream, wring it out, then put it on. Until the heat dries your shirt, you’ll be considerably cooler. A wet bandana or hat will cool you even further. To keep cool longer, soak a second T-shirt in the lake, then pack the shirt into a re-sealable bag.

When your first shirt dries, put on the second wet one.

— Chantal Macartney is a staff writer for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine, and an avid camper and hiker.

www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

W CALABOGIE PEAKS RESORT

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This huge new development in the west part of Ottawa is going to be fantastic for the city. With everything from climbing walls and mountain biking trails, this resort is another close venue where outdoor enthusiasts can get out with the family for the weekend.

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Here are the top 10 reasons why you want book your Weekend Getaway: 1.It’s less than 1 hour from Ottawa.

2.There is a scenic drive along the Madawaska River (especially this fall).

3.As you drive into the resort you are in awe of the size of the resort as it stretches from the top of Ontario’s highest vertical ski hill, down through the “Adventure Centre”, across the golf course and finally to the beachfront.

4. Beautiful landscaping covers the resort with floral colour explosions tastefully and generously spashed throughout the resort.

5. Although well known for winter recreation, Calabogie Peaks Resort is fast becoming a hot spot for biking, summer kids’ camps, golf, and whole family getaways.

6. Great diversity of things to do - biking (hardcore or softcore), climbing wall, golf, paddle, swim, hike, relax... all on-site.

7. Great place for a family holiday. The family can have a chance to participate in lots of activities together. Mom and Dad can also have a “night off” by enrolling the kids in the “Taste of the Outback” two day (and overnight) Adventure Camp.

8. Terrific rental fleet availability — bikes, watercraft (canoes, kayaks, paddleboats).

9. Great location – surrounded by lots of cultural and historical points of interest.

10.NOW OPEN — the “Inn at the Peaks”. Beautiful, family friendly complex. Large rooms and suites, indoor pool, games room, fitness room, restaurant and Spa. Stay & Play packages are available throughout each season. It’s already proven itself to be a popular spot for both weddings and corporate conferences.

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11

HIKING

Exploring Nature’s

Photo by Bev Wigney

Mill Pond Conservation Area:

tranquil moods

By Bev Wigney

Tok-tok-tok.

The hollow sound of knocking echoes through the woods. You scan the trees for its source. Clinging to a tree trunk, a Pileated Woodpecker in search of insects works intently, excavating a hardwood snag. Bark and shredded wood chips hurtle down into a rapidly growing heap at the base of the tree.

The woodpecker pauses, cocks his head on one side to regard you momentarily, then continues probing and tearing with his great beak at the decayed wood. Leaving him to his work, you continue your hike across a woodland ridge. From this vantage point, a break in the forest canopy provides a clear view of the silvery waters of Mill Pond. A pair of loons cruise by between the shoreline and one of several rocky islets dotting the shallow lake.

Little more than an hour’s drive from Ottawa, Mill Pond Conservation Area offers over six kilometres of soul-soothing hiking trails through habitats ranging from mixed hardwood forest to wetlands. It offers a perfect escape from the mad city pace, and puts you in touch with the gentle face GO THERE of nature. The main hiking trail forms a From Ottawa, drive to Smiths long loop, roughly Falls, then head 15 kilometres following the irregusouth on Highway 15. When you reach Briton-Houghton Bay lar shoreline of a Road, turn west (right). Travel shallow lake known approximately five kilometres on as Mill Pond. this road, then watch for the Mill From the parking Pond Conservation Area sign and area, the Lime Kiln entrance on the west (right) side Trail bypasses a log of road. house and seasonal sugar bush operaWant more information? tion before winding For more information, contact the over gently rolling Rideau Valley Conservation ridges and through Authority at (613) 692-3571 or hardwood forest. The 1-800-267-3504. Their web site 12 O T TAWA address is: www.rideauvalley.on.ca.

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trail descends to a pond where neatly severed trunks of saplings reveal the presence of an active beaver population. If you watch quietly for a few moments, you may spy a muskrat paddling about as it feeds on aquatic vegetation, or see a beaver hauling a branch across the surface to its lodge.

Search carefully for leopard and green frogs hiding among the tangle of jewelweed, nodding bur marigold, and swamp milkweed at the path’s boggy border.

From the pond, the trail leads upland into a mixed deciduous forest interspersed with small stands of plantation and naturally occurring conifers.

A short footpath leads off to the right to the lime kiln. Here and there, remnants of split rail fences serve as a reminder of the early settlers who worked this land.

Among the rolling ridges with their stony outcrops, you’ll see many great old trees rising head and shoulders above the surrounding forest. Watch for the smooth, silvery bark of the American Beech, and the feathery, flat-needled fronds of the Eastern Hemlock. Along the trail, a wonderful stand of large Eastern White Cedar clings to the steep hillside overlooking the lake below. Much of the forest has been left to mature.

Along the pathway you’ll notice standing tree snags have been excavated by industrious Pileated Woodpeckers in search of ants and other insects. Other birds and small mammals have made their homes in these convenient hollows, or built nests in the treetops. Watch for them skittering about the woods.

On the forest floor, fallen trees are left to decay and act as nurse trees for the next generation of seedlings.

If you inspect these fallen giants, you’ll discover that they are hosts to a fantastic array of mosses, lichens and fungi.

As you hike through the forest at Mill Pond, watch for tracks, scat and other signs of larger mammals.

Occasionally in springtime you’ll spy porcupines manoeuvring ponderously through the treetops, gnawing on tender twigs and budding leaves.

Along the shoreline, opened shells of fresh water mussels lie in caches on the stones, abandoned by feeding muskrat. Look for them. They tell an interesting story.

At the top of a rocky ridge, the trail splits. If you take the left fork, you’ll be on the more direct trail back to the parking area. However, straight ahead lies the more scenic path along the shoreline – a meandering loop.

It soon rejoins the “short cut.” Take this longer route to see the marshy edge of the lake from several vantage points. You might see Great Blue Herons wading in search of frogs, or perhaps a few Painted Turtles basking on bits of driftwood among the cattails.

The final leg of the hike leads along a roadway back to the parking area at the entrance gates. On your right, you’ll see a small meadow that serves as an access point for paddlers bringing canoes and kayaks to Mill Pond. While the surface area of Mill Pond is not great, its shallow waters and rocky, irregular shoreline offer an interesting location for a couple of hours of aquatic exploration.

With its woodland trails and quiet waters, Mill Pond Conservation Area offers a great outing for naturalist hikers or paddlers. Explore its changing beauty in all the seasons.

—Bev Wigney lives in Ottawa and works as a freelance writer when sheʼs not out on the trails.

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KAYAKING

stay safe while kayaking

By Ken Whiting

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houlder dislocation. These words send fearful shivers through most kayakers.

Why is a shoulder dislocation so dreaded by kayakers? The pain factor doesn’t seem to drive fear into our hearts. It’s the thought of having to go through surgery, the thought of sitting idle through months of therapy, and the thought that the shoulder will never be as strong as it had been.

These are substantial concerns.

A shoulder dislocation is often accompanied by damage in the joint that requires real care, and sometimes surgery, to heal. So let’s look at ways to keep your shoulders safe.

Having well-conditioned muscles around the shoulder will go a long way to keeping your joints in place.

Paddlers often have much stronger back shoulder muscles than front shoulder muscle. That’s because you use primarily back muscles for forward paddling. Because most shoulders dislocate forwards, your front muscles should be equally as strong as your back ones. This is where back paddling practice comes in.

Even with Superman’s shoulders, a dislocation can happen easily. Here are two simple rules to protect you: • Don’t overextend your arms.

• Maintain a “power position” with your arms.

Rule number one is easier said than done. When you’re tossed around in whitewater, a desire to keep your head above the water can easily override safe paddling practices. Stay as relaxed as possible, and fight the urge to use massive “Geronimo” braces.

What’s the “power position” in rule number two? Imagine looking at your body from above. Now draw an invisible line that passes through 14

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both shoulders. This is the “shoulder line.” Now draw another line that divides your body into two halves – the “mid line,” parallel to your waist. The power position simply involves keeping your hands in front of your shoulder line and preventing your hands from crossing your mid line. In so doing, you will maintain a rectangle with your arms, paddle and chest. Within this rectangle you’ll get the most power from your paddle and keep your shoulders in the safest position to avoid injuries.

When your hands move behind your shoulder line, your arm is in a very vulnerable position. Does this mean that you can’t safely reach to the back of your kayak? Not at all.

But what it does mean is that in order to reach to the back of your kayak you’ll need to rotate your whole torso so your arms stay in the power position. Torso rotation keeps your shoulders safe, and it’s a key concept for getting the most power from your strokes.

Now that you know the theory, get out on some water and practice it.

Play is healthy.

— Ken Whiting was the 1997/98 World Freestyle Champion and has produced an award-winning series of instructional kayaking books and videos. As well, he leads kayaking trips to Chile, for more info check out www.playboat.com.

Safe shoulder draw: A powerful open face bow draw (duffek), with the head and torso rotated aggressively to keep the arms in the power position.

Bad shoulder line: Poor Torso Rotation: the rear hand falls behind the shoulder line, and the front hand crosses the mid-line.

Good shoulder line: The Power Position: The whole upper body turns so the hands stay in front of the shoulder line; neither cross the midline, and the arms, paddle and chest form a rectangle. www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

CANOEING

A Tale of Two Rivers:

By Max Finkelstein Photos Paul Chivers

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WO RIVERS in the Ottawa area (the French and the Mattawa) especially conjure up images of French Canadian voyageurs racing back to (Lachine) Montreal through the wilderness with their precious cargoes of beaver pelts and fox skins.

Can you hear the soft murmurings of their ghosts?

As I dip my paddle into the waters of the French and Mattawa Rivers (both designated Canadian Heritage Rivers), my imagination takes flight.

I hear cursing voyageurs toiling over slippery portages, and see them hauling their birchbark “canots de maitre” past foaming rapids and waterfalls, swatting clouds of hungry mosquitoes, while they hurriedly slide their delicate crafts back into the water over glacier-polished Canadian Shield granite.

The French and Mattawa Rivers formed a vital link in the fur trade route from Montreal to Lake Superior and the Northwest. They helped open the heart of Canada first to economic exploitation and exploration, then to settling pioneers.

Today, recreational paddlers follow portages unchanged for over 300 years.

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Following the Path of Ancient Paddles The French River flows between Lake Nipissing and Georgian Bay. In 1986, the French’s entire 110-kilometre length was designated part of the Canadian Heritage Rivers Systems – the first river in the program. Its rich fur trade history and unaffected appearance earned it this honour.

Glacier-carved rock and windswept pines characterize the route.

In many ways, the French River today looks the same as when Alexander Mackenzie paddled on it over 200 years ago – the first person to reach the Pacific coast of North America travelling overland. (Mackenzie accomplished this amazing feat 13 years before the much-vaunted, transcontinental expedition of Lewis and Clark through the United States.)

“There is hardly a foot of soil to be seen from one end of the river to the other; its banks consisting of hills of entire rock,” wrote Mackenzie.

Several years ago, paddling down this river on my own crosscontinental trek, I wandered in the rain on a small island in the river’s path. There, several rough wooden crosses stood as quiet sentinels

commemorating the martyrdom of Recollet missionaries four centuries before. History abounds on this river. Although the French is one of Canada’s most popular canoe routes in summer, on that cold, wet spring day, with the water black and icy, I was the river’s only paddler.

Where’s the most beautiful part of the French River?

You’ll find it downriver from the steel bridge at Highway 69.

Downstream from this bridge, the river is framed by vertical cliffs of smooth pink granite. The patterns formed by gray, green and orange lichens are mesmerizing. My only portage came at beautiful Recollet Falls. You’ll find a wooden ramp built around the falls along the route of the old portage; this permits motorboats to use the river. For the voyageurs, running downstream on the French proved an easy one-day paddle.

The water coming over the falls flows smack-dab into a vertical rock wall just below the put-in, forming a huge eddy. Voyageurs in their heavily loaded craft experienced some anxious moments here. I had a tense moment in this location too, as the eddy tried to sweep me over the falls. It’s easy to understand why many canoes have been lost here over the years.

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In the words of this great explorer: “…In several parts are ‘guts’…where the water flows with great velocity, which are not more than twice the breadth of a canoe.” This is near the end of the river.

I slid over “La Petite Faucille” (the only portage noted by Mackenzie), and was flushed down “La Dalles” (loosely translated as the eaves trough – an apt description) to Georgian Bay. It’s an amazing ride, as the river is squeezed between smooth rock walls.

Whenever and wherever you paddle the French, it is a magical river, steeped in history and some of the most amazing scenery in Canada. Try it this fall.

Mattawa Paddling Bliss

The mouth of the French River is like no other landscape on the planet.

The river splits into four main channels with cross channels, so it looks like a city street map. It’s a landscape reduced to simple elements: rock, water and pine trees. But there’s a lot more here than the most beautiful scenery imaginable. You’ll find relics of the logging era along the river: rusting hulks of “alligators” (amphibious, steam-driven mobile winches used to move logs), and stone walls of a mill at the old town of French River – now long deserted.

Mackenzie followed the standard fur trade route, still identified on topographic maps as the “Old Voyageur Channel.” In this maze of rock and water, the correct channel is hard to find, especially since the critical split lies almost exactly on the edge of the two topographic map sheets that all paddlers use today. I almost always get lost going from one map sheet to the next.

The channel I followed on that trip seemed like the one Mackenzie took.

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Another favourite river of mine is the Mattawa. It rises in Trout Lake, and drops 50 metres over its 60kilometre course to the Ottawa River.

The entire Mattawa River, including the 11-km La Vase Portages – one of Canada’s most important portages – is designated a Canadian Heritage River.

It is also a provincial waterway park.

All the portages are maintained and identified with interpretive signs.

Those paddlers lucky enough to sit in a rocking canoe on the Mattawa today see the river much as the voyageurs did long ago. The river has only two small dams. The largest is near the town of Mattawa, and has drowned out the first two rapids.

Otherwise, the rapids and, most important, the original 14 portages, are still there. This river makes a great little canoe trip, especially when you’re going downstream.

Each summer, a marathon canoe race is held on the Mattawa. The top racers paddle the entire route from the end of Trout Lake to the dam above the town of Mattawa (a distance of almost 80 kilometres) in less than six hours!

You wouldn’t guess that the little Mattawa River was once part of the trans-continental fur trade route.

Compared to the mighty Ottawa River, the Mattawa appears but a minor stream. Alexander Mackenzie considered “la petite riviere” one of

the most dangerous in Canada. Here’s how he described the Mattawa’s Talon Portage: “275 paces… for its length… is the worst on the communication; Portage Mauvais de Musique… where many men have been crushed to death by canoes.…”

On my own transcontinental journey up the Mattawa in spring, I identified with Mackenzie’s view, and that of thousands of voyageurs who toiled up this little river. When I paddled along it, a cold, slimy, pouring rain slithered off the brim of my beat-up, oiled-cotton hat, where I stopped to read a bronze plaque identifying this as one of Canada’s most significant waterways.

Later, I slipped on the same rocks the voyageurs had, waded through equally cold icy water – just as they had – sweated and froze at the same time on the portage around Talon Falls. I climbed the steep ice and rock slope to a cave, the “Port de l’Enfer” (loosely translated as the “Door to Hell”), where ancient native peoples mined red ochre, a pigment rich in iron oxides, to draw pictographs that I saw much farther on in my journey.

Later, I stopped for a hot lunch at Paresseux Falls – a spectacular curtain of white fed by spring floodwaters. Here, I reminisced about how it got its name. I don’t know whether to believe it or not, but according to historical lore a brigade of voyageurs lost a canoe at this set of falls early one spring, so they left behind two men with the salvaged gear. The rest of the crew returned to Montreal to get a new canoe. The two voyageurs left at the falls were instructed to portage all the salvaged gear to the top of the precipice. When the crew returned two weeks later with a brand-new “canot de maitre,” they found their companions and all the gear still at the bottom of the falls – hence the name “Paresseux,” which means “lazy ones” in French.

I felt lazy myself at this place, as I sipped hot chocolate with the music of falling water playing around me.

But cold and dampness drove me onwards up the river after the warmth of the hot chocolate had dissipated.

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“Later, I slipped on the same rocks the voyageurs had, waded through equally cold icy water – just as they had...”

Pushing my canoe back into the water, I continued my journey around rapids, falls, and wet canyons where snow and icicles hung from black rock walls. Not long afterwards I noticed a cedar tree standing on a steep bank, partly covered with ice.

It looked like some ice-age relic.

At Talon Falls I carried my canoe over the steep, slippery rocks around the falls, and the much easier carry called Anse des Perches – the last section of fast water on the trip to Grand Portage. Here, the voyageurs threw away the three-metre long setting poles that they used to nudge their big canoes up the rapids. I finally pitched camp at the foot of Turtle Portage, and watched the rain turn to snow.

A small, inconspicuous divide separates waters flowing into the Ottawa River watershed and waters flowing into the Great Lakes. The divide lies between Trout Lake – the head of the Mattawa River – and Lake Nipissing.

Eleven kilometres separates Trout Lake from Lake Nipissing.

As this was the main fur trade route, it must have been a well-trodden trail when Mackenzie passed through the area. In his dry, matterof-fact tone, he described the portage: “(O)ne thousand, five hundred and thirteen paces to a small canal in a plain that is just sufficient to carry the loaded canoe to the next vase… a narrow creek dammed in beaver fashion… (A) swamp of two miles to the last vase…. (C) are is necessary to avoid the rocks and stumps and trees.”

(It sounds as if Mackenzie uses the word “vase” to mean “portage,” but I think he meant a slimy, muddy trail.

In French, “vase” means “muddy.”)

This portage route is one of the oldest known trade routes in Ontario, if not all of Canada. But today, not a trace of the old portage remains. It’s hard to imagine that this was the TransCanada highway used by aboriginal peoples for thousands of years.

For a real “voyageur” experience, paddle both the Mattawa and the French. These rivers carry you into Canada’s colourful, fur trading history. Sometime during your own journey on this historic water, take time to listen closely. Can you hear the songs of the voyageurs?

—Max Finkelstein paddled his canoe across Canada several years ago. He works for Parks Canadaʼs Canadian Heritage Rivers System.

Last summer he paddled across northern Quebec re-tracing the routes of geologist and explorer, A.P. Low – the subject of Maxʼs next book.

HISTORY

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is a national program for rivers managed cooperatively by the Federal Government, through Parks Canada, and all ten provinces and three territories. Its objective is to give national recognition, and provide long-term wise management, to rivers that have played a significant role in Canadian history, and those that have outstanding natural features and value.

The CHRS has a video entitled “Community Reflection on Canadaʼs Heritage Rivers” that is available for the public. To get a copy, call the Secretariat at 819-997-4930; e-mail: max.finkel stein@pc.gc.ca; or write to the CHRS Secretariat at Parks Canada, 4th Floor, 25 Eddy Street, Hull, Quebec, K1A 0M5.

For general information about the Canadian Heritage Rivers System, surf to their web site at:

www.chrs.ca.

ACTION Help wanted with portage restoration Are you interested in helping to restore some of Canadaʼs ancient portage trails?

Some paddlers living in North Bay have formed a group called, “Restore the Link Committee.”

It is dedicated to re-establishing the 11-km portage route that separates Trout Lake from Lake Nipissing. The goal: restore it to its original (200 years ago) state, and clearly mark it so that once more paddlers can use the trail as a portage route.

For more information on the La Vase Portages and the Restore the Link Committee, contact Paul Chivers (pchivers@neilnet.co).

REQUIRED READING Canoeing a Continent Max Finkelsteinʼs outstanding book describes his transcontinental canoe trip following the route of wilderness explorer Alexander Mackenzie. More than just a travelogue of an amazing canoe trip across Canada, this book digs in to the heart and mind of one of historyʼs greatest explorers.

For a copy ($25.95), call 1-800-725-9982 or send an e-mail to info@naturalheritage books.com. www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

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Photo by Peter McKinnon

Hook your kids on Canoe camping

By Peter McKinnon

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hen my wife was six months pregnant with our first child, we paddled into Algonquin Park for three glorious nights at a remote campsite. While both of us loved canoe camping, we recognized that this might be our last trip for a few years.

Photo by Peter McKinnon

While in the park, though, we met a canoe-tripping family with two children under the age of seven. We resolved to ensure that our children came to share our passion for paddling. Today, thanks to advice from trippers and outfitters, our two boys (Kieran, 11 and Grady, 8) have grown into avid canoe-campers.

The principle pleasure of a canoe trip, particularly for a child, is swimming. A summer frolic in pristine waters is a primordial celebration of Canada. And while experience can teach us to savour the scent of a forest, the feel of a canoe slicing through the waves and the splendour of the night sky, a refreshing swim is the surest way to capture a child’s heart.

Here are a few tips, tricks and itineraries that will help you inspire your children to follow in the path of the paddle.

learned early-on that a tent is an ideal place for play. They were also used to falling asleep by 8 p.m. in darkened rooms – tough to recreate in a campground.

Mixing sleep-deprived children with sun-baked adults is a recipe for family crankiness. Do whatever it takes to ensure that everyone gets enough rest. That might mean taking afternoon naps or foregoing evening campfires. Often I have buckled our youngest into his car seat for an evening drive around the campground to induce sleep. While it may have been environmentally unfriendly, it was vitally important to my continued sanity.

Basic Strokes

Charting a Safe and Happy Course

If raising children is a test of patience, taking them canoe camping tests endurance. Don’t expect every outing to be a success; cut a trip short if the weather fails to cooperate. Start gradually by tenting in the backyard and work up to car camping and brief outings in a canoe.

Recognize that Junior may need time to appreciate the subtle charms of bugs and box toilets, so focus on playful swims and simple adventures.

Swallow the purist pride you developed as a carefree, ardent naturalist, and hone improvisation skills.

On our first car-camping trip, for instance, we found it a struggle to put our kids to sleep; they had

Safety, of course, is always the overriding concern. Take a course in basic lifesaving and first-aid techniques, and insist your children learn to swim. Establish rules, then enforce them strictly: young children should never handle a hatchet, and must always wear lifejackets while in the canoe.

There is no minimum age for a child’s first bona fide canoe trip; it’s up to mom and dad.

Someone once said that a child is old enough when he or she has enough sense to avoid walking into a campfire or plunging into untested waters. Many adults wouldn’t meet that standard.

www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

Successful canoe trips rely on a unique mixture of deliberate planning and uninhibited spontaneity. A sudden storm or an unsuitable campsite, for instance, is enough to throw an itinerary out of whack; a leaking package of food can disrupt a meal plan. Here’s the secret… prepare for the unexpected, then surrender to the whims of nature. Arrange every last detail in advance, then, once underway, relax, go with the flow and be ready to throw away the plan.

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Food: Always pack more than you’ll need; a hungry child is a whiny child.

Be sure to include lots of travel treats (e.g. fruit leathers, candies, gum). If you’re forced to set up camp in a hurry, these can buy you enough time to erect a tent, light a stove or filter water.

When it comes to cooking, simplicity is bliss. Gourmet meals may be tasty, but often require lots of preparation time. Plan nutritious, filling meals that can be prepared quickly, easily and flexibly. You should be able to prepare every hot meal on a simple camp stove. During the first night of a trip into Bon Echo Park, a fire ban came into force, and we had to pan-fry rather than grill our chicken breasts. A few extra spices made all the difference.

Equipment: Local outdoor stores offer a wide selection of equipment at very reasonable prices. While the essentials will keep you warm, dry and well fed, it is the few carefully chosen extras that make a trip memorable. Here are some examples…

I always pack binoculars, a camera, tasty campfire snacks, and (space permitting) my guitar. My kids love to

wear goggles when they cavort in the water, so they can feel like one of the fish. Your “essential” options are limited only by fragility and weight.

Where to Dip Your Paddle

Canoe routes are like real estate: location is everything. And few locations in the world offer the abundance of routes available near Ottawa. From calm, scenic lakes for beginners, to spectacular roiling rapids for experts, Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec feature a smorgasbord of sumptuous options. Arranged in order of difficulty, following are a few locations that I’ve had the pleasure of sampling.

Gatineau Park is an ideal spot for beginners. Lac La Pêche’s 35 campsites are only a 10 to 20 minute paddle from the parking lot and boat rental hut. Should the weather (or bugs) turn nasty, you can beat a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, La Pêche’s most popular sites are booked months in advance.

A two-hour drive from Ottawa, Bon Echo Provincial Park can be a wonderful introduction to canoe camping. Joeperry Lake features 25 campsites within an hour’s paddle

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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-

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.

Photo by National Capital Commission

Survival Kids

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.

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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!

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Buying the Right Canoe: Technical Considerations

By Brian Cooke Ilustrations Billy Jessup

B

Photo by Langford Canoe

uying 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 all canoes looked the same. They were green. Today, things have changed.

Very few canoes are green, but that’s not the only difference. Technically, canoes have evolved, taking on shapes that would have caused traditional paddlers to roll their eyes in disgust or stare in amazed wonder.

Someone looking for a new canoe today needs to ask two important technical questions: what shape, and what construction material?

Let’s learn a little bit about canoes and how they move through the water.

Hull shape is the first area to consider.

Canoe Design and Construction: A Crash Course “Do I want to paddle the canoe solo or tandem?” and “Do I want to take it on canoe trips?” Once you’ve answered these two questions, it’ll be easier tracking down the right craft for you.

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A canoe has three basic shapes.

To distinguish them and understand how they affect the performance of a water craft, you’ll need to look at the canoe from the side, top and front.

These three views will reveal many secrets about a canoe’s performance, turning ability and speed.

Taking a Top View

There’s a profound difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical canoes. When you look down at a canoe, a symmetrical canoe will appear almost as if both halves are mirror images. In some cases, you might need a measuring tape to be sure, but if a canoe is 16 feet long and has its portaging yoke at the half-way point (i.e. dead center), it is symmetrical. But if the yoke is 9 feet or more from the bow, then the canoe is considered asymmetrical.

Why two designs? The wider a canoe is, the slower it will move 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

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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

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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.

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Fiberglass

Fiberglass is one of the most popular hull materials available because it is strong and inexpensive.

The most attractive engineering property 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 during 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 chosen 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 combines 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 tripper on a budget who requires a hull lighter than fibreglass without surrendering 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

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flat water expedition design.

Cedar/canvas 65-70 Nylon weighs a lot less than Fibreglass 65 (VB) –75 (HL) fibreglass, and is remarkably durable. Also, it is relatively Fibreglass Composite 55 - 60 cheap and bonds well with Kevlar Composite 42 - 50 the kevlar. A nylon kevlar canoe resists compression, Kevlar 50 - 55 and staves off the inevitable 65 - 70 “separation” of the fibre-resin Plastic (not outfitted) 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.

Kevlar

Kevlar is one of the most misunderstood materials. Light weight is the most obvious attraction of kevlar.

A canoe built solely out of kevlar will be easy to portage – even a joy.

For those of us looking for a lighter

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Plastic

Several good, plastic hull materials can absorb hard impacts on rocks.

When paddling in whitewater, you’re more likely to hit a rock harder than you would on a lake. Royalex, and its thinner cousin R-lite, are strong enough to absorb glancing blows.

7

$1600 - $2500

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.

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Win a Digital Camera!

Announcing our Ottawa Outdoors Magazine Photo Contest Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is delighted to announce our first 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 campfire: 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 files 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 final.

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.

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

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.

Contest held in

conjunction with

Ginn Photographic.

Kodak camera prize

contributed by Ginn.

Email photos to: Photocontest@OttawaOutdoors.ca

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 first time I went waterskiing in Antarctica.

Photo by Jean Lemire

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 flotation 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 fit 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.

By Geoff Green Photos (28-29) Geoff Green

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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 fifth-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

” Spread Photo by Jean Lemire.

Cat Stevens

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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 flat, 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 floe 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 floes. We switched off the outboard engines, waiting in anticipation. But we were totally unprepared for what happened.

For several minutes all five 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 floes. The wave’s force flipped the ice floe, 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 flukes, Orcas generate the wave. We witnessed four or five 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

“firsts,” 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 first 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, confirmed by the appearance of massive, tabular icebergs. We proceeded slowly and quietly. The islands appeared first 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 filled 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 inflatable 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 www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

Adelie penguins! We estimated the population at close to one million. They were so plentiful we had trouble finding 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 five 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, film 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 first 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.

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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 define 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.

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MT. BIKING

Roots, rocks, drops and daring deeds done dirt cheap

Photo by ©Robert Faubert www.holeriders.com

By Dave Stibbe What a cruisy day.

Those were my first misguided thoughts about lift-serviced, downhill mountain biking. Most of my so-called mountain bike experience ranged over cross-country trails.

Bursting lungs and screaming muscles were painful facets of a dayʼs ride. “Technical” meant controlling speed on a rather fast and bouncy descent.

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

Not quite.

Downhill mountain biking is as different from cross-country biking as downhill skiing is from cross-country skiing. My first day of downhill riding took place in Quebecʼs Eastern Townships, at Bromont Ski Resort. It provided the most fun Iʼve had on a mountain bike.

Ever. It also proved the most tiring, adrenaline charged, 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

my speed (slowed down), I was hooked. And frustrated. Fun as it 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 a world-class, cross-country mountain biking area, now has an excellent downhill facility. Along its Skyline trail system youʼll find beginner-toadvanced downhill trails. In addition to 35 kilometres of good cross-country trails, Calabogie now boasts fantastic downhill runs ranging from beginner to intermediate. So, do you think we could create a cross-town rivalry: the westʼs Calabogie Crew versus the Fortune Riders of the north?

Interesting possibilities.

Reviews at both hills this season are fantastic. Each hill offers slab

rock with a mix of open steeps and challenging, downhill single track.

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, rocks, drops and daring deeds can still be done dirt cheap.

—Dave Stibbe is a local outdoor enthusiast and regular staff writer.

Hockey is always in season at both Kunstadt Sports locations. You will find the best prices on new equipment and unheard-of bargains on High quality used equipment.

Kunstadt Sports is the only independent retailer in the Ottawa area offering trade-ins on your sports equipment.

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Photo by ©Robert Faubert www.holeriders.com

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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31

GEAR PROFILE Look ahead If you turn your head and look in the direction you want to go, you’ll instinctively head in that direction.

In a similar vein, stopping distances are magnified. So if you don’t spot trouble early, you need to always be one step ahead of the action.

Photo by ©Robert Faubert www.holeriders.com

Stay off your seat and keep your pedals level If you’re off your seat, you can shift weight quickly. As well, keep your pedals level. This prevents them from bottoming out on turns or on rocks and roots.

It also lets you bounce and absorb when necessary.

Hold on Grip your handlebars securely and use your brakes lightly. It sounds like a contradiction, I know, but when the ride gets bumpy you don’t want to lose control of the bike.

But you still need to apply only the correct amount of force on your brakes. This is truly a physically demanding, often overlooked, aspect of riding. Train those forearms.

Use the seat and your legs On steeper descents, control the movement of your bike by applying pressure with your inner thighs to bring the rear end of the bike around to one side or the other.

This technique is especially useful when you apply the rear brakes, and slide through a steep turn.

Following these tips and techniques for getting down steep hills should make your cycling trips more invigorating and less intimidating.

In fact, with practice, you should be able to ride with the speed, and not reckless abandon, that makes downhill riding so much fun in the first place.

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Rack ‘em Up Get the right rack for the occasion

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o you’ve got the bike or kayak or canoe, but it just won’t fit in the trunk.

What to do?

Before purchasing a vehicle rack, you’ve got several things to consider.

First, the rack needs to be relatively easy to use. You don’t want to return from a long day of skiing or snowboarding, with your hands stiff from the cold, and try to load a rack that is difficult to use.

Next, make sure the rack you’re purchasing is durable, and will last a long time.

Lastly, and most important, make sure the rack will be secure on your roof. Ideally, components should be made from metal – not plastic – so you can lock it up and feel safe leaving your equipment unattended.

Also, consider these questions: • How many items do you want to transport (now AND in the future)?

Most racks carry at least two bikes or kayaks. Some carry even more.

• How frequently do you plan to use the rack?

The more use your rack gets, the more rugged, durable, and easily installable it needs to be. Quality racks are stronger and last longer.

• For how long a time or over what distances will you be transporting the equipment?

Bikes and bike racks left on cars for long periods of time are more likely to get stolen (especially when unlocked), scratched or covered in abrasions.

Now let’s take a close look at some sport-specific racks. Ottawa’s local suppliers will help you make the right decision when you’re ready.

Bike Rack

Swagman Twister Fold-Down Rack, Approx. $180 This unique three-bike carrier (which slides into a 2 inch, class three receiver) allows you to add an optional fourth bike cradle. Each cradle adjusts independently, allowing maximum ground clearance by rotating cradles. It comes with integrated cable locks for bikes, and a fold-down foot. As well, it has quick-release, micro-adjustable ratchet straps.

Roof Box Rack Thule 676 - Cascade 1100, Approx. $500 This is the perfect size of box; it provides tons of storage room, and still leaves space on your roof rack when you need to carry other gear, like bikes or boats.

Special features include: • Smooth aerodynamic design for minimal wind resistance.

• Universal mounting design; it attaches to all types of after-market and factory installed roof racks.

• Mounts quickly with time-saving, new Variable Quick Mount™ system. No need to adjust load bars when mounting the box.

• Easy, single-side opening and closing.

• Rugged construction with impact resistant ABS material.

• 11 cubic foot capacity.

• Carries five to six pairs of skis.

Head over to any of these local outdoor gear stores.

Their friendly staff will be able to set you up!

Touring Kayak Rack

Yakima Hully Kayak Rollers, Approx. $135 The Yakima Hully Kayak Rollers make loading your boat smooth and simple. They’re sold in pairs so one set can carry one boat. They connect to both Thule™ square and Yakima™ round bars on a multi-purpose base rack system.

• Fits any hull shape thanks to U-joint rollers.

• Makes loading and unloading a breeze using pivoting rollers.

• Long-lasting stainless steel hardware.

• One five-metre-long, heavy duty tie-down strap included.

• Protects both vehicle and boat from scratches with padded buckle.

• Complete safety with bow/stern tie-down.

Canoe Rack

Foam blocks, straps, Approx. $15 Good things come in small packages. Here’s a simple, easy way to transport a canoe on almost any vehicle. It features a low cost and extreme versatility; the foam blocks fit over canoe gunnels and sit directly on your roof. Using Cam Buckle straps that pass through the foam, you can secure a canoe to your vehicle quickly and safely. You should also secure the canoe using bow and stern lines.

Whitewater Kayak Rack Thule 520 Stacker, Approx. $150

The Thule 520 Whitewater Kayak Stacker can carry two whitewater kayaks, and includes front and rear stacker bars. (Note: It attaches to Thule square load bars only, and carries whitewater kayaks only.)

• Two four-and-a-half-metre-long load straps are included for carrying one kayak.

• Front and rear stacker bars come with the package.

• Folds down when not in use.

• Includes convenient “buckle bumpers.”

You’re on the go; there’s no question about it!

It’s our job to make sure that your gear can keep up.

bikes

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cargo

AutoRacks – 378 Richmond Road, Ottawa Tel. 613-722-5759 Fax. 613-722-0321

boats

II

B

listers are injuries. You can tell which runners theyʼve affected as athletes arrive at the transition area during a long adventure race. In only a few hours their movements have morphed from gliding, confident strides to a hobble. These runners no longer use an efficient, heel-toe movement, but place each foot gingerly, flat on the ground to mitigate the pain with each step. Their faces, once sporting self-assured smiles, now grimace and wince. Welcome to the trek section of an adventure race!

Hours in wet running shoes over uneven terrain take their toll on even the greatest adventure racers. The extent of the injury and your ability to continue will depend on how you mitigate the blisterʼs effects.

Last issue we discussed techniques to avoid blisters. But what happens when runners or hikers forget to prevent them, or when their prevention doesnʼt work? When the happy hike turns into a “torture-fest” youʼve got to deal with your foot issues! Your team is counting on you.

Whatʼs the solution?

Scott Marshall, Emergency Medical Technician for the Raid the North Extreme race says, “Blister handling is much like blister prevention: what works well for one person

might have minimal or no effect on another. The longer one can go without lancing a blister while keeping the area intact, the better, if only to prevent infection. However, pain, location and content can mean a blister that should be dealt with.”

Blisters happen when your outer layer of skin receives friction, causing it to separate from your inner layer of skin. The space between the two layers fills with a clear liquid called lymph fluid. The outer layer is cut off from its source of oxygen and nutrition, and soon dies. If you remove the dead skin, the red layer underneath becomes susceptible to infection (and hurts like hell!). The goal of every blister treatment is to avoid infection, minimize discomfort and stop the blister from getting bigger.

To drain or not to drain

One of the more memorable sights in medical tents at adventure races is the barbaric ritual of lancing blisters.

As if to placate the sore foot gods, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) don latex gloves and buzz from racer to racer, stabbing fluid-filled sacks on the bottoms of racersʼ feet, while weary victims watch in terror.

Remember Scott Marshallʼs advice. If you can tape a hot spot or a small blister before it worsens, or if

a clear blister emerges at the end of your race when you can rest and keep your foot dry, itʼs best to leave the site intact. But if youʼre hit with blisters in the middle of a race, youʼll need to take action.

Blisters containing clear lymph fluid should be lanced and drained with the outer skin layer left intact. If you happen to have an EMT with sterilized needles, great! If not, do it yourself.

Sterilize a pin/needle by holding it in the flame of a lighter. After the pin cools, make a couple of holes, usually on the side of the blister. Gently push out the fluid. Dry the area completely before applying a dressing. Itʼs important that the site not refill with fluid, so check it occasionally.

Do not drain blood-filled blisters.

Why? Youʼll increase your risk of infection, as bacteria will be able to

Photo by Jason Elder

By Eric Martinat

Photo by Martin Paquette / Luis Moreira (2003 Eco-Challenge North American Championships, Sault Ste. Marie)

ADVENTURE RACING

Banish your blisters: part

Blister Buster Kit enter more vulnerable, inner layers of skin more readily.

Cloudy fluid in blisters often indicates that infection has begun. Drain the blister as above, apply antibiotic ointment and cover it ASAP. This will help prevent the infection from worsening.

If youʼve arrived at camp and plan to stay for a bit, cut some Moleskin with a hole in the center for the blister (like a donut hole… mmmm donuts).

Apply antibiotic ointment over the blister and cover it with gauze. Secure the dressing with adhesive tape.

Extreme taping

One of the great inventions of our time: duct tape! Sure, you can use bandages, gauzes and moleskin if timeʼs on your side and you can keep your feet dry. But, in the middle of an adventure race, when the going is wet and tough, duct tape is perfect. Someone once told me that the adhesive in duct tape has antiseptic properties. Whatever it is, the thick, strong and adhesive tape covers your foot and stays there in adverse conditions.

Place Moleskin over the blister as above. Then stick the duct tape over the blistered area in long strips so it adheres to a dry area of your foot.

Iʼve sometimes seen tape applied right over the blistered area, with nothing between the tape and blister. This extreme measure sometimes causes grief when you need to remove the tape. Remember, this is emergency first aid to stop the injuryʼs progression and allow you to continue the race.

Make the taping as smooth as possible, and try not to overlap strips of tape. Remember to flex your foot as you apply the tape. Make sure the tape doesnʼt cut off your circulation. (Toes that turn black and fall off usually indicate that your tape is too tight!)

Finally, duct tape is the great equalizer. Women wax and men pull out their hair with duct tape. Be careful removing the tape: donʼt leave part of you body stuck to the adhesive!

adventure race, the director allocates resources to rescue unfortunate racers experiencing a medical emergency.

While your destroyed feet may seem like a medical emergency to you, they may not appear as important to the director who approves medical evacuations. Once, in a long race, I succumbed to serious foot issues. The EMT advised that Iʼd risk permanent nerve damage if I continued the race; yet the race director wanted to stick me with the cost of the helicopter evac. He didnʼt view foot problems as a medical emergency. The moral is to clarify, before the race, the directorʼs definition of a medical emergency.

At least youʼll know where you stand (or sit) when your foundation has crumbled and you canʼt go on.

A well stocked medical kit can help you treat blisters en route. Add these to your kit: • Lighter • Sewing needle • Moleskin • Gauze dressing and adhesive tape • Scissors • Duct tape • Antibacterial lotion and/or antibiotic cream.

Preventing blisters is your best strategy (see our Spring 2003 issue for details). But when your feet feel like hamburger, and you have miles to go before you sleep, a sterile needle, Moleskin, gauze and duct tape may save your race.

Note: Information found in this article is not provided by a physician, and is not intended as medical advice. It is based solely (excuse the pun) on the athletic experiences of the author and other racers. For expert tips on foot care, read Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes, Second Edition, by John Vonhof (Footwork Publications).

— Eric Martinat is a regular staff writer, and an avid racer.

What’s a medical emergency?

“Emergency” is defined in the eye of the race director. Before any www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

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35

Photos by SiriusMed

HEALTH – FIRST AID

dress for success Transparent film – moisture-retentive dressings

By Bob Washer

M

ANAGING MINOR soft tissue injuries such as cuts, open blisters, burns and abrasions can be a challenge at the best of times. In outdoor environments associated with activities such as canoeing and kayaking, the constant contact with water increases the risk of wound infection.

Providing a physical barrier to external sources of contamination is an important step in the wound management process. Dry dressings such as sterile gauze are easy to apply and inexpensive, but they may actually retard healing by allowing the wound surface to dry out. A dry crust or scab inhibits wound resurfacing by impeding the free migration of skin cells across the edges of the wound.

Optimal wound healing requires moisture

Think of the wound environment and the external environment as two separate universes. The body produces all the moisture a wound needs as long as it can remain covered and protected.

Transparent film

Transparent film is a category of moisture-retentive or occlusive dressing. Transparent films are actually sterile semi-permeable membranes that function very much like Gore-texTM. Fluids cannot pass through the clear film, but sufficient quantities of oxygen get through to keep the wound healthy and prevent the growth of anaerobic bacteria.

Transparent film dressings are extremely useful for outdoor applications because they: • Protect against contamination • Lower infection risks • Reduce pain in partial-thickness wounds (because dressing changes 36

Tincture of benzoin will protect the skin and provide a sticky surface.

aren’t traumatic and films insulate and protect sensitive nerve endings) • When properly applied, stay stuck (even when wet) • May be left in place for several days, reducing the overall cost and bulk to be carried on extended trips; • Are completely transparent, allowing visual assessment of the wound so that early signs of infection will be obvious.

Apply film carefully to avoid wrinkle channels allowing entry of bacteria.

Bloody wounds could best be managed with an application of gauze first, which will adsorb blood and excess fluid. Once the bleeding is arrested, the original dressing can be replaced with a transparent film.

Tips for applying film dressings • Ensure that the skin around the wound is clean and dry. Alcohol applied to the surrounding skin will dissipate moisture and remove any Waterproof barrier allows for visual remaining oils. assessment of the wound.

• Application of tincture of benzoin to adjacent healthy skin will provide a sticky surface to keep things in place • Monitor the wound for signs and for days. symptoms of infection such as: • Apply the film dressings carefully o Local pain, tenderness and throbbing so there are no wrinkle channels to o Redness and swelling allow leakage of fluids or entry of o Induration (abnormal firmness of the bacteria. tissue around the wound) • Keep in mind, like Saran Wrap, o Fever and flu symptoms, which will – once it sticks to itself it’s done. indicate a more serious systemic infection.

Follow the basic principles of Most pharmacies and medical supply wound management when dressing stores carry transparent film. Ask the a wound: store manager or pharmacist. There are • Ensure that wounds are as clean as many manufacturers but the brands listed humanly possible before applying a below are widely available in Canada.

FILM DRESSINGS dressing. Clean the wound with disOpsite (Smith & Nephew), Ployskin II (Kendall), infected or treated water to remove Tagaderm (3M) all foreign material and debris that —Bob Washer is an avid outdoorsman and direcpredispose the wound to infection. A tor of Sirius Wilderness Medicine. He has written small amount of topical antibiotic will numerous articles on wilderness medicine and can be reached at 1-877-982-0066. Excerpt of article reduce bacterial growth.

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that appeared in Rapid Magazine vol 1 issue 2 (spring 1999) www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

ULTIMATE

Ultimate Play:

Skills – Cutting Tips

Zone Offense – In Theory

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Mocking what’s “supposed” to happen but rarely does in zone defence. This play will capitalize on the common defense zone mistakes. Follow carefully.

Zone O cup: has the disc on one side, dumps and hits the easy swing across the field up yards — swing has to be wide, wide.

Right Popper (5): cuts in and the defence hammer-stopper on that side will probably easily cover you (6) Deep: as soon as the deep sees the disc swing, he moves on a shallow angel to the far side -- odds are really, really strong that the (6) Deep defender will stay with you ‘cause you’re still the deep threat (4) Middle Popper: the key is that as soon as you go deep, the middle-middle will think you belong to the deep, and will let you go. (4) busts deep for a huck from the swing (2), and with the deep defender on the other side of the field, you should be wide open. That’s the theory at least, and you’ll probably find most often it works! :)

HEN YOU CUT, you run to an open space on the field in an attempt to receive a pass.

This is done by some combination of running as fast as you can and faking to make the defender think youʼre running to a different area. Therefore, cuts should accomplish one of three things: 1. Gain yardage 2. Move the disc to a better position on the field 3. Maintain possession Most passes should be type 1, where the receiver is relatively far downfield. Type 2 passes will get the frisbee away from the sideline or else go to an unmarked thrower. Type 3 passes should be for high stall count dumps or else for weaker throwers. Usually you want a handler making the type 3 cuts.

Know Your Thrower One of the first things to remember when cutting is who are you cutting for. It is not much use being ten metres free on the break side if the thrower is a beginner who is not even going to try to break the force. If you have a thrower who likes to throw the break throw, sometimes an effective cut consists of heading straight for

the break side, assuming your defender will be a few steps behind. This is more effective the more your defender marks on the open side. Try and know what throws the thrower likes and make your cuts accordingly.

Defender Proximity The closer you get to the defender the more difficult it is for them to react to your movement.

If you make your cut out in front of them, the defender can see which way you are going and take a step to the side to be right with you. If you run right up close to the defender and break to one side or the other, then by the time the defender can start moving you will be past them.

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37

HEALTH

13 Steps to Better Health

By Dr. Todd Norton, B.Sc., D.C., C.A.F.C.I.

T

HE WEEKEND has arrived. You want to go for a hike,

bike or paddle, but the voice in your head keeps telling you that you’re tired. Relaxing would feel much better.

You might have the energy to put on hiking shoes or pick up your bike, but you just can’t seem to pick up the pace Is something wrong?

Perhaps you just aren’t taking proper care of yourself. Here are some signs: fatigue, lack of energy during training or in races, sore and achy muscles and joints for prolonged periods, weight gain, slow recovery after exercise, poor performance, headaches, recurrent colds and indigestion.

Those who compete in outdoor activities tend to focus on what they eat on or around race day. Whether you’re racing, or just recreating, the most important nutritional and lifestyle habits you follow must begin weeks, months, even years before the event.

Many people follow nutritional bits and pieces they glean from magazines and newspapers. But it’s hard to get a full picture from information fragments. So, before you jump into a diet plan, buy expensive supplements, or follow the latest exercise or nutritional fad, consider the following top nutritional and lifestyle pointers. They’re sure to boost performance and allow you to enjoy rugged outdoor experiences for years. You may be surprised at how good you feel.

1. Get more sleep Since the advent of the light bulb, North Americans sleep about 1.5 fewer hours than our great-grandparents did. Contrary to popular belief, most people do not function well

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O T TAWA O U T D O O R S FA L L

on six to seven hours of sleep. The average person requires about eight hours every night to perform at peak levels during the day. For children and teenagers this number becomes 10+ hours of sleep. Sleep is a basic drive, like appetite and thirst. If your sleep drive isn’t fulfilled, others take over to compensate, such as a craving for carbohydrates. Sleep is a place to reenergize yourself. If you aren’t getting enough sleep to obtain energy, your body may hold on to more body fat as a way of getting the energy it needs.

2. Get rid of sugar and refined Carbohydrates The average North American consumes close to 60 kg of sugar each year. Estimates suggest that North Americans consume 15-25 percent of their daily calories as fructose sweeteners – the kind of refined sugar found in candy, cereal and off-the-shelf snack food. A sugar fix will send your blood sugar soaring fast, but will bring it down faster. The result: a daily roller coaster ride of energy ups and downs. Chronic consumption of these refined sugars can lead to Type 2 Diabetes, the form usually associated with grandparents. Unfortunately, today kids and teens make up the largest and fastest sub-population developing Type 2 Diabetes.

3. Eat slow-release carbohydrates Pasta isn’t the only type of slowrelease carbohydrate. This group also includes beans, peas, lentils, rice, brown rice, millet, rye, oats, and any other whole grain, as well as squash and sweet potatoes.

These carbohydrates will slowly raise and maintain your blood sugar level, helping you maintain energy over a longer period of time. Take this test…. Tomorrow get up and have a bowl of your favorite sugar-enriched cereal with white toast and jam. The next day have a bowl of hot oats (not instant), hot brown rice or millet cereal with yogurt, and a few raisins as well as some favorite seeds or nuts.

Now compare how you feel over the course of the morning on both days.

The slow-release carbohydrates will make you feel better and give more energy.

4. Eat a nourishing breakfast A nourishing breakfast should include a slow-release carbohydrate, high-quality protein, and a vegetable.

If steamed fish with brown rice and steamed broccoli is not for you, then try whole grain toast (the kind that would bruise your toe if you dropped it), with soft-boiled eggs, and sliced tomatoes. Homemade soups and stews prepared in a slow-cooker work well.

Does this suggestion push your gag response? Then start with hot cereal or make your own musli-cereal. If you need to sweeten it, use dried fruit, maple syrup or honey. The key is controlling the sugar. Other sources of protein include seed and nut-butters (e.g. organic peanut or almond butter). People who consistently choose a nourishing breakfast make better quality food choices later in the day,

and generally feel they have more energy. They also tend to be less obese.

5. Time your meals consistently People who eat at consistent times tend to have more energy and maintain a better weight. Skipping meals often leads to poorer food choices and poorer health over the long term. If you skip breakfast and lunch, by 3 p.m. your brain will not be thinking of hummus and veggies. This is where the highcalorie, nutrient-poor, food choices tend to take over. If you avoid late evening snacks, but eat at consistent times, you’ll sleep better and help your body get rid of excess fat.

6. Eat high quality, lean protein with most meals Some examples include free-range or organic meats and eggs, fish, nuts\seeds, tofu, yogurt and low-fat cheeses. Protein with meals helps to maintain consistent blood sugar levels and allows access to you body fat stores more easily. The easiest way to obtain adequate levels of protein is to include one serving (about the size of the palm of your hand) of a proteinrich food at most meals or snacks.

7. Eat high quality fats and oils Quality not quantity is the rule.

If you chose to buy organic at all, then this is the most important area. Toxins and chemical residues accumulate in fat in both plants and animals. Eat foods that contain fats and oils in their natural unaltered state (e.g. avocado, nuts, seeds, fish, olives, and organic dairy products).

Use extra virgin, first pressed olive oil as your main bottled vegetable oil for salad dressings. For variety and added fat-soluble nutrients and essential fatty acids, combine it with cold-pressed flax oil. These fresh, unadulterated oils are critical for healthy immune function and healthy skin, nails and hair. They also help protect against cardiovascular disease and inflammation.

8. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables Especially, eat fruits and vegetables with lots of color. Fruit and veggies with vivid or darker colours are packed with nourishing minerals, nutrients, fibre, and lots of other critical elements that boost performance. So choose olive-green, extra virgin olive oil instead of vegetable oil; choose brown rice instead of white rice; choose red wine instead of white. You can even choose dark chocolate instead of white. The rule here is moderation, so live a little.

9. Eat a variety of foods from all food groups Open yourself up to a variety of vegetables. Try different grains like brown rice, millet, or quinoa.

Sample a multitude of beans, peas and lentils. Eat fish, seafood, free-range meat and fowl. Eating a broader variety of foods ensures you will receive a broader range of nourishment.

Did you know that the average North American eats less than 1.2 servings of green vegetables per week and that the most commonly consumed vegetable is the potato (as French fries)?

10. Drink pure water Many people walk around in a semi-dehydrated state. This leads to faster fatigue and poorer overall performance. Proper hydration increases metabolic efficiency, which increases fat burning, making it easier to lose weight. You should drink six to eight glasses (1.5-2 liters) of water daily. If you tend to consume lots of fresh homemade soups and salads then you obviously do not need as much water. Try this out. The next time you’re having a mid-morning or mid-afternoon “low,” instead of reaching for a cup of coffee or a donut, treat yourself to water. You may just be thirsty.

11. Minimize caffeinated beverages If coffee were invented today, probably governments would make it

illegal because of its addictive qualities. While some evidence indicates that caffeine in small amounts may improve athletic performance, my clinical experience suggests that it usually impairs performance. Most caffeine consumers require more and more to provide the same effect; usually they end up on a daily blood sugar rollercoaster. Side effects include irritability, fatigue, muscle tightness, a slow morning metabolism, headache, and more.

12. Take a good quality multi-vitamin Most researchers agree that current agricultural practices often leave our soils lacking trace minerals and other nutrients that are critical for a healthy immune system and all body functions. Take a multivitamin to insure that you’re covering all bases while you’re eating a healthy diet. Eating junk food and popping a daily vitamin will not protect you against the ill effects of a poor diet.

13. Choose food, not fortification Fortification is an attempt by the food industry to replace some vital substances that they have removed in the processing and packaging. The food value of a fortified cereal pales in comparison to a bowl of hot oats, rice, or millet. As a general rule, if something has been fortified, it can be removed from the category of food.

If you follow the advice above, have a clean bill medically, but continue experiencing difficulties, consult a nutritionally-oriented health care practitioner.

Remember… changes don’t happen in a day. Healthy habits take a lifetime to form and maintain. In other words, don’t expect weight loss or sudden energy boost. It may take a month or more before you begin feeling much better.

But persevere. Energy and better health are waiting for you.

––Dr. Todd Norton is a chiropractor with a special interest in clinical nutrition and has been practicing in Ottawa for 11 years. You can contact him at 521-5355.

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THE BARK

Marathons: Race or “Metres for Millions” Fundraiser?

By Ken Parker

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Many less competitive people think that racers are taking both the event and themselves too seriously. To them the “race” is really a social event, and they run/walk it no faster than their training runs.

Jim Hage, who won the Marine Corps Marathon in 1988 and 1989, makes it clear which side of the argument he favours. “Why don’t charity runners start with more manageable goals, like walking at the mall, jogging at a local high school track or even competing in five kilometre races?” he says. “They could work their way up to running the entire 26.2, just like the rest of us have done – and maybe even decide to do it for the run, not to raise money for some other cause.”

On the other hand, Hage seems resigned to the changing face of running when he says, “When charity runners first descended upon the marathon en masse, they were immediately blamed for everything from ‘dumbing down the most prestigious of athletic events’ to corrupting the competitive spirit with an ‘everyone’s a winner’ attitude.

efore Ottawa had a marathon race, the city held a 50-km fundraising walk called Miles for Millions in the 1970s. (After “metrification,” it became Metres for Millions.) One year a local marathoner ran the entire distance. Soon Ottawa boasted a world-renowned marathon race that attracted runners from virtually every continent. The Metres for Millions walk disappeared.

Thirty years later, have we come full circle? Are charities now taking over marathons? For several years many established marathons (and other races) have focussed on raising funds for charities, filling events with thousands of non-competitive runners. This has led to conflict between serious runners and the joggers/walkers who block their path.

The Washington Post recently published a story entitled “A Running Feud: Marathon Groups Split.” The newspaper said “marathons are attracting two types of runners: “We needed to develop some guidelines and establish race serious athletes, and newcomers manners and proper road etiquette.” who think the elite runners are smug and narrow-minded.”

According to the Post, the focus of marathons changed Ten years later, while U.S. marathoners remain as slow as from an emphasis on performance to one on compleever, internationally the health of the marathon has never tion or survival, popularized by Ironman triathlon and been stronger.”

Adventure races. Naturally, this creates a diverse (and Recognizing the tension between newer and older rundivided) field. ners, the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is trying “The Marine Corps is the local marathon (in to educate novice charity runners through RRCA Vice Washington), but now I feel it’s not worth the effort to try President, Freddi Carlip’s, Miss Road Manners. “We’re to get in,” says Paul Goldenberg of Columbia, a veteran just trying to spread the gospel of good race manners,” of 42 marathons. “It’s unfortunate. I don’t have anything says Carlip. “We needed to develop some guidelines and against raising money or training programs that help establish race manners and proper road etiquette.” people. But if it’s meant to be a race, I just want to sign Locally, Ottawa’s National Capital Race Weekend is up and run.” experiencing overcrowding. This necessitates a route Sometimes longtime, serious runners resent races change next year that will help alleviate the problem, but that turn into fundraisers because the quality of the will not eliminate it. Has Ottawa’s marathon weekend run deteriorates. Many serious runners are annoyed by become a “Metres for Millions” type of event or is its runners/walkers who take the Jeff Galloway approach that goal still to be an Olympic trials calibre race? advocates walking breaks at regular intervals. “(These The National Capital marathon was originally adverparticipants) walk three or four abreast. They don’t tised as “The Runner’s Race.” It had one of the highest even know how to behave at water stops,” says Henley percentages of sub-three-hour finishers of any marathon in Gabeau, of the Road Runner’s Club of America. the world. Today, despite increasing numbers, the perforThe problem stems from a lack of understanding by mance standard has dropped dramatically, as it has across newer, less serious runners. Competitive runners are very North America. social animals on most long training runs. However, What are your thoughts on this subject? Can a race when it comes to racing they are goal-oriented and focus cater both to serious runners and charity joggers? Should on achieving a specific time. They feel that a “race” it try? Or should there be separate events? should be managed as such. Overcrowding the course Take the survey at the Runner’s Web....and/or post your with thousands of people who do not share this philosocomments in our forum at: www.RunnersWeb.com. phy only creates conflict.

—Ken Parker is a long-time runner, coach and race-organizer.

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Photo by National Capital Commission

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PROFILE

Max Finkelstein: Ottawa’s Paddling Guru

By Allen Macartney

F

ROM SPRING break-up until the day winter ice clogs the Ottawa River, you can’t keep Max Finkelstein out of his canoe. He’s paddled across Canada following voyageur riverine trails; he’s canoed across the Arctic, among icebergs, and up the Fraser and Mackenzie Rivers.

When he’s not paddling, he’s either talking about rivers to large groups across Canada, or writing canoeing books. His first book, Canoeing a Continent: On the Trail of Alexander Mackenzie, has registered strong sales. His second canoeing book is forthcoming, while a third is in the works. Max is a communications officer for the Canadian Heritage Rivers System.

After following in Max’s wake for some months, Ottawa Outdoors OOM: How did you first get interMagazine finally caught up to him esting in canoeing? just long enough to ask about his padMax: I bought my first canoe dling experiences. when I was 18, and then bought Bill OOM: Canoeing is a magical Mason’s book, Path of the Paddle as experience for you. Can you describe soon as it was published. Together, the passion? they taught me how to paddle. I also Max: To a large extent, canoelearned about paddling from canoe ing and camping have defined who racing. If you can paddle a racing I am, and what I want from life. canoe (18 1⁄2 feet long and 27” wide Those realizations have come through with very little freeboard) down rapids long canoe trips – life-defining trips. and keep the open side up, it makes They’ve helped me get to know paddling a normal canoe feel easy. myself better, and learn what makes Racing also taught me how to paddle me happy. I do a lot of camping, but efficiently. That’s important when you it’s never enough. I feel most comgo on a three or four month wilderness fortable and at home on the water, trek. and sleeping under the stars.

OOM: You’ve gone on several long canoe trips – ones that take many months. What draws you to that type of solitary experience?

Max: A long canoe trip gives you time to focus on what’s really important in your life and what isn’t. During some canoe trips I start to notice the common things that I miss when I’m not on canoe trips, like a night sky full of stars, the smell of spruce, and the call of a loon. But mostly, I go because it’s really pretty out there.

OOM: Did your cross-Canada canoe trip take lots of planning?

Max: Actually it happened suddenly. I was doing an exhibit on the fur trade for my job. I wondered, “What would it be like to follow the voyageur route?” It was a dream that evolved quickly — no life-long passion. I just wanted to do something really different. It just started with me wanting to go on a long canoe trip. I also love the voyageurs. They were such colourful, self-reliant and dramatic people. They’d wreck a big birch bark canoe in a rapid, then go into the forest and, several days later, have a new canoe to continue their voyage. Incredible! They did it without mosquito repellants, Gore-tex , fleece and rip-stop tents. Every day they made Olympic-level achievements and thought nothing of it. I wanted to have a taste of that excitement.

OOM: Can you describe the trip?

Max: It began at Britannia in the Ottawa River on a windy, blustery day.

I was bouncing around on the choppy water doing a television interview, but I just wanted to leave. Finally, I was able to start dipping my paddle and begin the trip. The first year I was on the water for three months. From Ottawa, I paddled to the Mattawa and ™

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French Rivers, then into Georgian Bay and Lake Superior to Grand Portage, which connects to the Boundary Waters. That takes you to Rainy Lake, Lake of the Woods, Winnipeg River and Lake Winnipeg. From there I took the North Saskatchewan River, which leads to Cumberland House. That’s what I paddled during the first year – the standard trans-Canada fur trade route.

OOM: How did you train for the trip?

Max: Actually, I didn’t do too much training. I just got in my canoe and paddled away. However, I do a lot of paddling, and am pretty fit.

After the first few weeks I was in even better shape, but very, very tired. I probably pushed too hard that year. Ottawa to Saskatchewan is a long way!

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OOM: What was your most ambitious canoe trip before retracing the voyageur route?

Max: I canoed with a friend (David Kippen) on a 75-day trip across the Western Arctic, ending in Inuvik. We were trying to follow the route of a Hudson Bay Company fur trader. Also, we followed traditional Inuit and Gwich’in routes. It was a great experience packed full of adventure.

OOM: What are your favourite paddling spots in our area?

Max: I love the Deschênes Rapids around Britannia. In August, during low water, I sometimes paddle into them, and have a picnic right in the middle of the rapid rock garden on the flat rocks. It’s beautiful with water splashing, fish jumping, and blue herons wading nearby. Very peaceful. But you have to be careful going there. It can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Another favourite place is Constance Creek right where the bay meets the Ottawa River. The creek is a big hardwood swamp that is alive with ospreys, horned owls, mink and beavers.

OOM: During long canoe trips you’ve developed a philosophy of life.

Max: Yes. During my months of paddling – often alone – I’ve come to understand life in more simple terms than I do when surrounded by city deadlines and schedules. The pulse of the city can make you think less important issues are vital, when they aren’t. All the peace and quiet on a river or lake helps identify the really important things in life. One of the lessons I cherish most is this….

Don’t waste your time looking for happiness where you know you won’t find it. Look for it where it might be found. In practical terms it could mean not staying with a job that provides lots of money, but little or no satisfaction. Is money worth years or decades of ho-hum existence? Perhaps there’s another job you could get that would provide less

money, but lots more satisfaction. If you made the change, your quality of life would go way up. But why are we so reluctant to make changes? When I’m in doubt, I take a long canoe trip.

Find out more about Max Finkelstein’s cross-Canada paddling adventure. Check out his book, Canoeing a Continent: On the Trail of Alexander Mackenzie.

— Allen Macartney is Managing Editor of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine.

Wilderness Paddling Following are some ideas Max refined from many wilderness canoe trips: • Don’t be afraid to quit your job and go paddling every now and then.

• Listen to the burbling of running water; it’s a sure cure for sadness.

• Paddle alone whenever you can; paddle a long ways alone sometimes.

• Long canoe trips make ordinary things seem miraculous.

• Anything that keeps you away from your canoe and water should be used in moderation.

• Whether you paddle a rapid successfully or dump, learn why.

• “Conquer” rapids with humility; dump graciously.

• Long canoe trips are completed one paddle stroke at a time.

• Beware of obsessions about possessions. Having too much stuff can keep you from paddling.

• If you’re lost, wet, and the rain is turning to snow, sit down and make a cup of tea.

• No canoe trip is perfect. There are cracks in everything; that’s what makes life so rich.

• Be polite to the rivers, lakes, land, people and critters you meet, and always say, “Thank you.”

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Thai Food: Simply Mouth-Watering

By Julie St. Jean

Thai cooking is for anyone who loves layered flavours of fresh ingredients without the fuss of complicated preparations. Due to the growing popularity of Thai cuisine, many ingredients once found only in Asian markets are now readily available in our supermarkets. There has never been a better time to experiment with this quick and healthy style of cooking. Here’s an Asia n-spirational menu that will inspire you to prepare more Thai dishes. This meal serves four.

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Photo by Julie St. Jean

People in Thailand prepare beautiful food with pleasure, and pay great attention to detail. Their dishes tease our palates with exciting elements of hot, sour, salty and sweet. This balancing act shapes a meal into an interesting mosaic of tastes; it has also reshaped the traditional Canadian fear of exotic foods.

Cucumber Pickle

The balance of sour and sweet makes this a refreshing starter to any spicy meal. Or, try it as a condiment on a seafood sandwich.

1 English cucumber 1/2 bunch (3 or 4) green onions 1/2 cup (125 mL) rice vinegar 2 tsp. (10 mL) sugar 1 tsp. (5 mL) kosher salt 2 tbsp. (30 mL) vegetable oil 2 tsp. (10 mL) fresh ginger, minced or grated 1 tsp. (5 mL) hot, red pepper flakes

Thinly slice unpeeled cucumber crosswise into paper-thin rounds. Thinly slice green onions on a diagonal. Toss together in a large bowl.

Pour rice vinegar into a measuring cup, then stir in sugar and kosher salt until they dissolve.

In a skillet, gently heat the vegetable oil until it is hot (but not smoking) over medium heat. Add ginger, and cook for about 30 seconds. Don’t let it brown. Remove from heat and whisk it into your vinegar mixture.

Refrigerate until you serve it.

Pour the mixture over cucumbers, and toss. Garnish each serving with a sprinkle of hot red chili flakes.

Thai Beef Salad

This recipe uses sake – a Japanese alcohol distilled from fermented rice. Often used to make sauces and marinades, it also tastes great chilled over ice. In a pinch you can substitute dry sherry.

Beef: 1/2 lb. (250g) flank steak 1/4 cup (50 mL) soy sauce 1/4 cup (50 mL) sake 1 tbsp. (15 mL) brown sugar 1 tsp. (5 mL) garlic, minced (about two cloves) 1 tbsp. (15 mL) hot chili sauce or sambal olek

Trim excess fat from the steak, and poke holes into the meat with a fork. In a large shallow bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients.

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Toss the steak into the marinade, then cover it loosely with paper or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for between two and 12 hours.

Preheat grill, and remove the steak from your marinade. Over high heat, sear the steak for three to four minutes per side for medium/rare. Cover, and put it aside for five minutes. Thinly slice on the bias.

Pour the marinade into a small saucepan, and bring it to a boil.

Lower heat, and simmer for five to 10 minutes or until the ingredients are reduced to 1/4 cup of fluid. Save this for the dressing.

Dressing: 1/4 cup (50 mL) reduced marinade (see details below) 2 tbsp. (30 mL) rice vinegar 2 tbsp. (30 mL) vegetable oil

Bring eight cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Cook rice noodles for one minute. Drain into a colander.

Rinse quickly with cold water for 15 seconds. Drain well. Drizzle with vegetable and sesame oil. Toss lightly and, with your hands, spread noodles onto a cooking sheet to cool.

Shred daikon and roughly chop fresh mint and basil. Whisk together the dressing ingredients.

Salad: 1/2 lb. (250g) rice noodles 1 tbsp. (15 mL) vegetable oil 1 tbsp. (15 mL) toasted sesame oil 1 head Boston lettuce 2 cups (500 mL) bean sprouts (about 200g) 1 cup (250 mL) daikon radish or Lo Bok 1/2 bunch each fresh mint and basil

To serve, divide the Boston lettuce equally onto four plates, then top with noodles, daikon, bean sprouts, mint and basil. Arrange the sliced beef decoratively on top, and drizzle with dressing. Yum!

Simple syrup: (makes 1 1/2 cups/375 mL) 1 cup (250 mL) sugar 1 cup (250 mL) water 1 lime zested Sorbet: 1 large ripe mango (about 1 1/2 to 2 cups) 3/4 cup (175 mL) simple syrup 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut milk

Coconut Mango Sorbet

Coconut milk paired with juicy mango makes this sorbet a tropical treat. Garnish with toasted almonds and fresh mint for a gourmet finish.

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Cook for one to two minutes, or until sugar is dissolved. Meanwhile, zest lime (green part only) with a vegetable peeler, then add it to the syrup. Remove from heat and cool.

Using a sharp knife, slice mango along both sides of pit. Score the flesh lengthwise with a paring knife, then crosswise.

Invert the mango so the flesh side pops out.

Carefully remove the diced flesh with a knife. Clean as much flesh as possible from the other sides of the pit with paring knife.

Purée in a food processor until smooth.

Blend in the syrup and coconut milk. Place your processor bowl with the blade into your freezer. After one hour, return the bowl to the base and process. Scrape down sides, then repeat the process, returning the bowl and blade to the freezer, every hour for four to six hours or until frozen.

— Julie St. Jean is a chef and regular staff writer for Ottawa Outdoors Magazine.

Delicious Mint Tea

Stay cool with a refreshing glass of Iced Mint Green Tea. It adds the perfect contrast of bitter to balance our Asian-spired meal.

To brew the tea, simply pour six cups of boiled water over two bags of mint tea and four bags of green. Let it steep for five minutes. Remove the bags, and let the tea cool.

Add lime infused simple syrup (see Coconut Mango Sorbet recipe), and the juice of one lime (about 3 tbsp.). Pour over ice and enjoy.

Makes four to six glasses.

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By Cathy Brown & Wanda Purton

P

ICTURE YOURSELF gliding silently across a lake, your favourite canine poised nobly at the bow of your canoe, enjoying the scenery with you. Sunshine warms your faces; you smell the fresh, clean air, and lose your thoughts in quiet sounds of your paddle’s rhythmic strokes. You are one with nature and your dog.

You watch in awe as Canada’s national animal, the beaver, swims towards your canoe. Unfortunately, Rover sees the beaver too and now thinks he’s at the drive-through. Before you know it, he’s in the water and the same serene lake now sounds like the Grand Canyon, echoing with your screams. You stare in disbelief as your obedience champion ignores your calls and follows the beaver into swampy marshland.

As you paddle frantically after him, you realize you are going to have a hard time holding onto his nowslimy, soaking wet coat to lift him back into the canoe.

Minutes later, trying to heave him into the

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canoe without tipping, you remember the vet’s advice: “You know, Rover could lose a pound or two.” Just then, Rover indulges an endearing habit and, with a vigorous shake, sends green slimy stuff all over you and your gear. Now everyone in the canoe smells the same.

Ah, the ever-romantic notion of canoe camping with your dog. But the notion doesn’t have to die this way. A little common sense, mixed with planning, training and the right gear can make your trip everything you hoped for. We’ve compiled hints to help you and Rover remain safe, enjoying nature rather than interfering with it.

Canine Canoe Camping Pointers • If you plan to use a lifejacket for Rover, buy one that fits properly and has a handle. (Excellent for grabbing Rover and lifting him back into the canoe.)

• Remember: dogs feel the heat far more than you do. On hot days, try to schedule your paddling time in the early morning or early evening.

• If you must travel during the heat of the day, stop periodically to let your dog cool off in the water. Remember that Rover needs clean drinking water too.

If you use a pump to purify your water, we suggest you pump his as well, to avoid canine intestinal problems.

—Cathy Brown and Wanda Purton are professional dog trainers and the owners of K-9 Common Scents, a division of S.L.R. (Search, Locate, Recover).

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Photo by Langford Canoe

K-9 COMMON SCENTS

Canoe Camping and your dog

• If black flies and mosquitoes can drive moose out of the woods, your city pooch is likely “bugged” as well. Avon’s Skin so Soft has mild insect repellent properties; it won’t harm your dog’s coat or skin. Try rubbing some under his belly, around his snout and on his ears.

• Toilet your dog before you leave. Absolutely nothing will settle a dog in need. Your trip will be miserable as he looks for the right spot.

• Remember to bring a leash as well as a tie-out (a longer rope to secure your dog).

If Rover is prone to running after wildlife, a stout rope securing him to a tree can save his life. Also, if an emergency occurs, you can keep him out of harm while you deal with the situation.

• Never tie your dog in the boat! By doing so you’d endanger the lives of dog and human passengers if the canoe tipped or if Rover jumped ship.

• Keep in mind how sore your knees or bottom can be after a first day in the canoe. Consider letting Rover use your ThermaRest™ as a mat.

• If the dog does jump and you cannot safely catch him, let him go and follow him into shore. Don’t stay in one place talking to him, or he may not want to leave and will remain by the boat doing circles. If necessary, paddle the canoe ahead, leading him to shore.

• If your dog likes playing fetch, he may think the fishing lure you are casting is for him to retrieve.

• As you plan your trip, consider Rover’s age, size, fitness level and breed. A St. Bernard will not likely enjoy a day in a canoe. Sometimes, no matter how romantic something sounds, the practicalities are simply not fun for dog or owner. Consider these factors honestly, and plan a trip you can both enjoy.

Now, picture yourself sitting on a point overlooking a beautiful lake, gazing at a sky filled with more stars than you have ever seen. Imagine listening to the chorus of frogs, interrupted by an occasional howl from a distant wolf pack. Smell the night air and feel its misty dampness on your cheeks.

Warmth emanates from your dog, curled up next to you, exhausted from the day’s adventure. It doesn’t get better than this.

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SEP 27 Ottawa Walk – Victoria Island – Bytown Locks – The Mill (8–10km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 12 Mystery Hike Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

Western Adirondacks Cat Mountain (16km, 1000 ft climb) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 13 Carman Trails former Hostel to Wakefield and back (14km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

SEP 28 Slide Lake Loop (16km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Fringe of Ottawa – (7km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Trail TBA Wendy L 829-2429 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Luskville Falls.

Danuta Z 728-7244 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

Hey! Every week there are tons of outdoor activities planned that you probably didn’t know about! Take a look below and plan your fall outdoors!

SEP 14 Gatineau Park Ben Lake – Lac La Pêche.

Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

HIKING SEP 6 Rideau Trail Westport to Bedford Mills (17km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 SEP 6–7 Cycling PPJ North trail.

Chris C 254-7002 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca SEP 7 Mont Bleu to Pink Lake.

Gloria Fu 742-6788 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Around Lac Fortune, Gatineau.

David W 722-3752 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Luskville Falls.

Bushwhacking involved.

Sergei U 724-2511 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Gatineau Park Via Kidder Lake creek to Lac Monette, (10–12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 SEP 9 Rockcliffe Park Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 SEP 13 Greenbelt (8–10km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Gatineau Park Pilon Road to the fire tower and Luskville Falls (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

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Lac Philippe to Lusk Lake. Swimsuit.

Meg C 722-3482 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Pilon Road to Hay Lake.

Teresa B 236-9307 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

SEP 30 Hull Loop Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 5 Gatineau Park – P10 via 32 to Fortune Lodge – (8km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Western Gatineau Park Lakes Tour Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 7 Sandy Hill/Lower Town Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 10–13 White Mountain Outin’ Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Thanksgiving in Stowe, Vermont.

Round Hearth hostel. Max 22 Jessica T 237-0870 Robert A 744-7985 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

SEP 16 Experimental Farm Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 10–14 Thanksgiving in Killarney. Bushwhacking.

Max 6 Richard T (819) 459-1179 (Visit: http://www.opuspocus.ca/sky/trips/ outdoors.htm) Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

SEP 20 Rideau Trail – Narrow’s Lock to Miner’s Point Road (11km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 11 Greenbelt – Eastern part of Western Greenbelt (15km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

Greenbelt – Lime Kiln (8km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

Ragged Chutes (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

Frontenac Park – North Frontenac Park, South Moulton Gorge (20km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 12 Mont Ste. Marie – Five hour hike including Mont Blanc Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

Wakefield Mill to Herridge.

Manuela S 769-4052 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

OCT 14 Hog’s Back/Vincent Massey Park / Ottawa South Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 18 Gatineau Park – Starting from around the Visitor Centre (10km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Shirley’s Bay area (14km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 19 Huron Lookout area – Exploring ledges on the escarpment near Huron Lookout (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Murphy’s Point Provincial Park (6km) Nature hike, led by Park Naturalist Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Spruce – Bluff – Twin – Twinger Lakes – Aswan Loop Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca OCT 21 Western Parkway Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 24–26 Doctor’s Inn B&B, Saranac Lake, NY. Reserve by SEP. 12 max.18 Belinda B. 748-0358 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca OCT 25 Frontenac Park, Little Clear Lake Loop (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Baxter Conservation area Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Gatineau Park – Carman – Herridge (20km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 26 Western Gatineau Park Lakes Tour (II) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Mer Bleue (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 OCT 28 Canal Bridge to Bridge Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 1 Murphy’s Point Park (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

SEP 21 Larose Forest Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Trail TBA. Marie-Reine F 749-1469 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Lac La Blanche.

Mark H 733-9295 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca SEP 21 Up Escarpment. Rough trails.

John O 759-4277 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca SEP 23 Eastern Parkway/Rothwell Village Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

O T TAWA O U T D O O R S FA L L

www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

NOV 2 Lac Beauchamp (6km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Meech Creek Valley (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 8 Gatineau Park Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Western Gatineau Park Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Greenbelt – Jack Pine Trail.

Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 9 Stony Swamp (8km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Mica Mines Conservation Area (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Gatineau Park – Ferris Creek Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 11 Gatineau Park – Wolf Trail (11km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 15 Foley Mountain (10km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 Lac Phillippe / Lusk Lake area (17km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 16 Kingsmere area (10–12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

SEP 13–21 Killarney Sampler Camping on George, OSA, Norway and Kakakise Lakes, hiking along the Cloch Silhouette Trail to The Crack and bushwhacking up Gulch Hill.

Richard T 459-1179 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca SEP 27 Norcan Lake Canoe Outing (10km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

CYCLING SEP 13–14 Cycling Oka L2. Sat AM departure.

Robert A 744-7985 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca Cycling on country roads through Burritts Rapids (75km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 SEP 20 Kemptville 60 km.

Jim F 234-4548 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca SEP 21 Bicycle outing Mystery tour Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 4–5, 2003 Outlast Adventure OUTLAST Expedition – 48 Hrs Ottawa, ON – Lower Laurentians, QC www.outlast.ca

NOV 8–9 Equinox Adventure Racing Rig Rescue and Rappel Level III Cost: $235.00 The Niagara Escarpment, Milton, ON www.equinoxadventures.com

OCT 18 ARC Enduro Adventure Race Kawartha’s, ON 5-8 hrs.; 40+km Coed and same sex teams of three www.adventureracingcanada.com

NOV 10–11 Equinox Adventure Racing High Angle Rescue Trainer: Requalification Cost: $350.00 www.equinoxadventures.com NOV 10–14 Equinox Adventure Racing Confined Space Rescue Trainer Course Cost: $1100.00 www.equinoxadventures.com

COURSES / EVENTS

Bluff Lake Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

SEP 27 Newly repaved Experimental Farm Route (24km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

NOV 22 Rideau Trail – Dwyer Hill Road to Roger Stevens Rd. (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

Merrickville.

Alison J 731-5312 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

Bedford Mills to Westport along the Escarpment (17km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

SEP 28 Mystery tour (45km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

Sep. 20–21 Equinox Adventure Racing Rig Rescue and Rappel Level I Cost: $235.00 The Niagara Escarpment, Milton, ON www.equinoxadventures.com

End–of–season potluck dinner and travel slide show Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

OCT 4 Politmore to Val-Des-Bois.

Danielle B 595-9979 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

OCT 4–5 Equinox Adventure Racing Rig Rescue and Rappel Level II Cost: $235.00 The Niagara Escarpment, Milton, ON www.equinoxadventures.com

NOV 23 Gatineau Park – Ascend Ferris Creek on faint trails, (10km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 NOV 30 Architectural walk Level 1.7 km.

Canal area.

Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 DEC 6 Gatineau Park – Skyline–Fortune (14km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 DEC 7 Trillium Trail from Weymss to Maberly Station (12km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225 DEC 13 Greenbelt – Lime Kiln. (8km) Rideau Trail Assoc., Info line #860–2225

CANOEING SEP 10 Full Moon Potluck Paddle Wendy L 829-2429 Nancy L 325-9379 Ottawa Hostel Outdoor Club www.ohoc.ncf.ca

www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

ADVENTURE RACING SEP 13 ARC Enduro Adventure Race Muskoka, ON 5-8 hrs.; 40+km Coed and same sex teams of three www.adventureracingcanada.com SEP 13–14 ARC Overnight Adventure Race Muskoka, ON 24hrs.; 100+km Coed and same sex teams of four www.adventureracingcanada.com SEP 27–28 Sea2Summit Adventure Race Mont Ste. Marie Day 1: 60–65km mountain biking; 15–20km paddling; Zip line (traverse); 6–8km trek Day 2: 25km mountain biking; portage/paddling through approx. eight lakes; 10–15km trek www.Sea2Summit.com

Sep. 13–14 Equinox Adventure Racing River Rescue: Level II Cost: $235.00 www.equinoxadventures.com

OCT 4–19 The Gatineau Park Visitor’s Centre will be abuzz with activities for the whole family! You can admire the winning photographs from last year’s Amateur Fall Photography Contest, or bring out that camera to participate in this year’s contest. Call 778-3468 for more information on how to enter the contest.

Enthusiasts can hike, cycle, or canoe in the park, enjoy orienteering activities, take a guided tour of Meech Lake in a big rabascaw canoe, and much more! There are even hanggliding and paragliding demonstrations at the Champlain Lookout.

Equinox Adventure Racing High Angle Rescue Trainer Certificate Course Cost: $1,100.00 www.equinoxadventures.com NOV 16 Equinox Adventure Racing Fall and Winter / Rope Specialization Cost: $2950.00 www.equinoxadventures.com NOV 17–22 Equinox Adventure Racing Rig Rescue and Rappel Complete Cost: $670.00 Toronto, ON www.equinoxadventures.com

OCT 25, 26 Equinox Adventure Racing Back-Country Navigation Using Map & Compass Cost: $140.00 Stouffville, ON www.equinoxadventures.com NOV 1–2 Equinox Adventure Racing Rig Rescue and Rappel Level I Cost: $235.00 The Niagara Escarpment, Milton, ON www.equinoxadventures.com NOV 8–9 Equinox Adventure Racing Wilderness Search & Rescue Cost: $140.00 Stouffville, ON www.equinoxadventures.com

O T TAWA O U T D O O R S FA L L

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BuG Juice Tall (but true) Tales from the Woods

by Jim Hargreaves

TALKING TRASH I was exceedingly pleased to hear those words.

I had just crossed over the divide between the US and the Yukon after a brief visit to Skagway, Alaska, to scope out the Chilkoot Trail. I was glad to be on home ground again. Very glad.

On my way to Alaska, a megalomaniacal US Customs official had turned my pleasantly laid plan of a picnic in Dyea into an interrogation nightmare. He questioned the lineage of my biological parents; had I, within living memory, been to a rodeo and ridden a mad cow or eaten a steak or had I been in close proximity to a mosquito at any time during the month of July in the bush in northern Canada?

Enough was enough. I decided to turn tail and have my picnic in Canada instead. As I was driving along past the emerald bays and white shores of the southern lake district of the Yukon, I remembered another time when I was exceedingly pleased to hear those words. On that particular occasion I really had to chuckle.

It was the middle of July and a group of eight of us stopped in the small town of Saranac Lake, New York, to pick up some fresh groceries. We were on our way to Middle Saranac Lake where we planned to spend a long weekend camping, hiking and canoeing. An hour later our canoes were loaded up with mountains of food, tents, stoves and personal baggage and we were paddling across the lake to an idyllic island campsite. Conditions were perfect. Our plan for the weekend was to have a barbeque that evening, climb Ampersand Mountain the following day, then paddle up the Saranac River and back before returning to Ottawa on the Sunday evening.

Ampersand Mountain stands five kilometres above sea level.

Although the trail to the summit is almost 1100 metres long, with a steep stony staircase along the way, we reached the top by early afternoon. The panorama from the bald, rocky summit is absolutely superb. The Saranac Lakes and a myriad of ponds lie to the north.

Stretched to the south are all the highest peaks in the area — the Great Range, the MacIntyres, Santanoni, the Sewards and a number of smaller mountains. It was a superb hike enjoyed by all.

The next day we paddled up the Saranac River and then returned to break camp and drive back to Ottawa. Overall, so far, a fantastic weekend. We stopped once again at the same general store in Saranac Lake town to buy a few snacks for the journey home. I parked alongside while the rest of the team shopped.

By the side entrance I noticed a dumpster. In the trailer was all our garbage from the weekend. The dumpster would be perfect.

We wouldn’t have to suffer that putrid smell all the way home.

Dumping our trash here seemed fair enough to me, particularly as most of the goods had been originally purchased from that same establishment.

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I was about to swing the first bag of waste into the dumpster when I heard a gravel throated voice. “Don’t even think about it!’ I looked around. Sitting by the exit to the store was a tough looking old lady having a smoke break. She sounded like Johnny Cash and it looked like I was about to fall into a burning ring of fire. “Take yer trash back to Canada; it’s illegal to leave it here,” she rasped. Terrified, and with my tail between my legs, I returned to the van, garbage bag in hand.

There’s always one person in a group who keeps everyone waiting and in this group it was Bob. Ten minutes later the team was tucking into chips and chocolate bars in the back of the van, but there was no sign of Bob. The team was getting impatient and so was I. Bob had been doing this all weekend. Eventually he sauntered back to the van, in another world, munching away. It was time to give Bob a wake-up call. “Hey Bob,” I said before he got into the van. “Do me a quick favour and toss this garbage bag into that dumpster over there.”

“Sure,” he said naively. He was mid-pitch when the voice crackled again, even louder, “Don’t even think about it!” Too late. Bob had already released the slime dripping black bag and it was executing a perfect parabola into the dumpster. The little old lady was up in a trice with cigarette packet in hand and was writing down the company details and the registration of the van. “Don’t think you can make a break for the border and get away with this...”

The rest of the sentence was lost in the slipstream as we made our getaway. A few uneventful hours of motoring later we reached Canadian Customs at the Québec border. “Anything to declare?” enquired the pleasant agent.

“No, nothing.”

“Are you bringing back the same number of canoes that you left with?”

“Yes.” “Are you bringing back everything you took into the US from Canada?”

“Absolutely.”

“Including all your garbage?”

I was gobsmacked. The little old lady had a longer arm than the law. Who was she, Ma Barker? I thought about it, then looked the customs agent straight in the eye and replied completely truthfully but with a wry grin, “Absolutely.”

“Are you sure?” repeated the agent, with a bigger grin.

“Absolutely certain officer,” I replied confidently.

The friendly official flashed a huge smile as he waved me through.

“In that case, welcome to Canada.”

www.OttawaOutdoors.ca

Photo by Keith Milne

“Welcome to Canada,” smiled the friendly official.