;Features 7
SOUTHWORDS • OCTOBER 4, 2001
A Breath of Fresh Air by Emily Haak As you relax comfortably in the stem of your canoe, you see a moose cross over a shallow river. The eagle that has been hovering for several minutes relinquishes a mighty screech. At dusk, loon calls serenade you over a drone of frog croaks and crickets chirping, as the sky lights on fire over a jagged, evergreen tree line. After the dark encroaches upon your small campsite, the sky and water become one colossal sphere of light; satellites and shooting stars whizzing by overhead. These are merely common occurrences in Quetico Provincial Park in Atikokan, Ontario. The park is one of the most restricted areas of wilderness in the world. It is a completely mechanical-free park, meaning that no airplanes or vehicles can be taken into the park, and even watches are frowned upon. The park has a remarkably clean environment, with a water purity rating in the high nineties. That is cleaner than the processed and filtered water of most municipal water systems. Each year, about 700-800 high school students camp in Quetico through the Voyageur Wilderness Programme. The program was started in the spirit of teaching youths the beauty of nature and the conservation of the environment and fashioned after the French fur traders who exchanged pelts for other goods along Lake Superior and surrounding areas. Although the Vogageur Wilderness Programme is not affiliated with the administration of Maine South in any way, this school is just one of the many high schools that annually sends a group of students to the park, via a testing 16-hour bus ride. Once the students get to the headquarters of the Voyageur Programme, which consists of cabins on an island in a lake, they realize
that the bus ride was well worth it. Before heading into the park, campers learn camping essentials. Necessary skills include how to paddle and steer a canoe, how to light the trusty Coleman stoves, how to pitch a tent, and how to balance a canoe on one's shoulders. Perhaps most importantly, though, is how to scare away a bear.
From there, campers spend one week in the park. This is a week of no toilets, showers, phones, or any modern day conveniences. At the same time, however, this is a week filled with the most beautiful sights. It is a land virtually untouched by humans. It is the epitome of northern wilderness, with a plethora of stalwart old pines and deep, clear lakes, carved out by glaciers. In addition, fellow campers develop deep bonds. Sometimes it becomes difficult to sight wildlife when animals are scared off by all of the laughter from the group. The days are trying, but the trip is rewarding work. Paddling up to eight hours a day, you are always hungry. Even in the summer, it can be chillingly cool with rain. At times, the wind picks up and you spend all
of your strength in an effort to paddle two feet. The infamous portages are the most trying, however. You must cairy a 62-pound canoe, a 30-pound pack, all while wading through waist-high mud to get to the next lake. Despite all the work, the trip definitely has its leisure points. Some groups choose to take a night paddle, during which they canoe on a placid night, gazing at the northern lights and all of the celestial wonder that the park has to offer. Swimming is always entertaining, although snapping turtles are a problem at times. Canoe wars are popular as well: one canoe tries to capsize the other. Trying to light the rickety camping stoves and cook the controversial freeze-dried food is inevitably good for a few laughs. Most importantly, however, the park is a quiet refuge for those who just need time to think and escape the frenzied, crowded ways of everyday city life. For those who are up to the challenge, the trip is one of the most rewarding and stirring experiences that they will ever encounter. They are constantly surrounded by tasks that are mentally, physically, and emotionally trying, and by the rugged beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Quetico Provincial Park serves as a reminder to all of us how precious the envirormient is and how stunningly breath taking it is when taken care of properly. It is a sanctuary for those who just need a breath of fresh air.