Issue #41 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

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SUMMER issue

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2014 | ottawa • Gatineau • Ontario • Quebec • US & Beyond

adventure | travel | family | home | HEALTH

cycling the capital Survival 101: Bad attitude can kill you p 27

paddle these two lakes far from urban stress Helping children when things go bump in the night

hike, climb and raft the pontiac region Calendar of Events & Outdoor Clubs

10 ontario canoe adventures

IGNORE THE WARNING SIGNS AND THIS COULD BE FOR REAL.

Watch for the warning signs and don’t fish or swim near dams and hydroelectric stations. Water levels rise rapidly and currents can become deadly in seconds.

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outdoors Survival 101: Bad attitude can kill you

SUMMER issue

canoe 14 10adventures, real easy

p 27 4 5 6 8 11 14 16 19 20 23 24 27 28 30 33 37

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Quebec’s nearby Pontiac region beckons

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Publisher’s letter Cycling with an iron twist Help children handle things that go bump in the night Cycling the capital Historical Gatineau Park 10 canoe adventures, real easy Kayaking the Trent-Severn Survival videos How a kayak festival can make your summer Paddle two beautiful lakes far from urban stress Cool Gear Section Survival 101: Bad attitude can kill you When the sun goes down, start shooting in the dark The truth about sleep and weight gain How close is too close for wildlife watching?

Ottawa Outdoors Music Festival Guide Outdoor Clubs Summer Events What you always wanted to know about night vision technology Quebec’s nearby Pontiac region beckons

Cover Photo by JacquelineSouthby

enter the OUTDOOR RACE & CAMP contestS! St. Lawrence Parks, has a great obstacle course race to enter, or win camping for free!

GO TO PAGE 29 to read more about the details.

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PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Ottawa Outdoors Magazine gets its own outdoors consumer show!

Publisher expands outdoors influence purchasing 'The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show'

W

DAVE BROWN PUBLISHER SHOW OWNER Editor-In-Chief

hat exciting news!

After more than 12 years as Ottawa-Gatineau's outdoor adventure magazine we're taking it to the next summit by purchasing, owning and now running the ever-popular annual outdoor and adventure travel show! And it couldn't be a better fit.

This logo is one you've seen the past three years promoting the annual March outdoor show that repeatedly runs at the EY Centre on Uplands Drive near the airport.

At this outdoor show you've seen the top experts and individuals demonstrate paddling skills in the larage demo-pool, or take to the stage for dynamic presentations about expeditions, camping, hiking, cycling and more.

You've also seen locally-known speakers as Becky Mason, Kevin Callan or our own Allen Macartney, to name but a few. But get ready to see and hear more as we pool together many other outdoor experts and exhibitors eager to excite, entice and enhance your outdoor adventure experiences.

Many of you come to this local outdoor and adventure travel show to see the latest outdoor gear, equipment, and adventure travel destination ideas. This will continue and grow. As the show is now owned by Ottawa Outdoors Magazine, we and our entire staff are dedicated to utilizing the skills and expertise of our writers, photographers, outdoor experts and outdoor businesses who've been a part of the magazine these many years.

In keeping with other magazines who own consumer shows, it makes sense that we brand the show after our magazine's outdoor look and feel. So with that said, we may have a new logo in the near future, and when we present it, we hope you like it.

As the publisher of Ottawa Outdoors Magazine, as well as my experience with my weekly outdoors Ottawa Citizen column, radio show and television appearances, I intend to utilize all these channels to continue to make this show a great, enjoyable and educational success. As well, we'll soon have a designated web page attached to our current website so you can follow developments.

From the vast array of talented outdoor enthusiasts in our region, I know this will be a rewarding experience. I look forward to seeing you next March at the show, and of course until then, every month through our monthly eMagazines and every season via our print and digital issues of Ottawa Outdoors.

the team

ottawa

outdoors PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DAVE BROWN EDITOR

ROGER BIRD WRITERS

Allen Macartney, Rick Balson, Katharine Fletcher, Trish Manning, Sheila Ascroft, Dave Brown, Jenna Thompson, Colin Peden, Jack Webb PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

Eric fletcher, Nick Fauset, LJ Photography, Keith Milne, istockphoto, Gord Coulthart ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Dave Brown, Publisher | Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent publication published seasonally every four months and distributed FREE at sports stores and a hundred other locations around the region.

E-mail: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 Fax: 613-482-4997 HOW TO GET PUBLISHED Ottawa Outdoors welcomes story and photo contributions. Publisher may publish any and all communications with Ottawa Outdoors, and may edit for clarity and style.

Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. Š Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

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

Printed in Canada

mail me your comments: editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca

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Old rail lines provide great trails for two wheels

By Allen Macartney

C

yclists who love to hit the road and want more than the same scenery, same road ruts … same old, same old, they can reboot that GPS and head for new trails on the rails.

The Ottawa-Gatineau area has 19th-century steam railroad tracks refurbished for 21stcentury cycling.

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Going north, there’s Veloroute des Draveurs (cycle route of the raftsmen – named after the lumberjacks who guided rafts of logs down the Gatineau River to the Eddy mills in what was then Hull, Que.) runs from Low, Que. for about 80 wonderful kilometres north past Gracefield and Blue Sea Lake to Maniwaki.

I cycled it late last fall with a friend and we found ourselves on a lazy upward climb past towns, campgrounds, pubs and impressive lookouts. The route is nicely served with picnic tables and public toilets. Scenery constantly changes: a cranberry swamp, blueberry and blackberry patches, sand dunes left behind by glaciers, and heavy deciduous forests.

If 80 kilometres seems too much, start or end your adventure at one of seven parking lots along Highway 105 which parallels the trail. As well as being great for summer or fall cycling, this route is an easy introduction to cycle camping. The Draveurs trail begins at Low’s general store and you can park in the lot immediately south of it.

Photo by LJ Photography

Cycling with an iron twist

Cycling along the Prescott-Russell trail network.

Once you’ve tried that northern route, try going east down the Prescott and Russell Recreational trail toward the Quebec border.

It’s 72 kilometres on a converted rail line, long enough for a weekend trip. The surface is stone dust, except for paved sections near Vankleek Hill, Plantagenet, Bourget and St-Eugène. These towns have access points (there’s another in Hammond) with free parking, picnic tables, info and toilets.

It starts behind the Costco store on Innes Road, and crosses Anderson Road a bit south of the junction with Renaud Road and heads east. (Watch for the gliders playing in thermals near Plantagenet.) There many cross-roads for access to pubs and restaurants as you pass through gently undulating pastures amidst fields and forests. It’s an easy ride.

If you want to head south, the Leitrim Trail is picturesque and quiet. It’s a short trek – excellent for a day’s outing in a pictureperfect pastoral world. If rain threatens or if teens start to whine there are easy exit points.

The trail begins on Leitrim Road just west of Albion Road (south of the MacDonald-Cartier Airport) and winds south to Osgoode. There’s a café at the end of the trail, a community centre with washrooms, and a supermarket with all the fixings for a picnic.

As you cycle past farm fields and cross streams over small-scale bridges, turn on your historical imagination to conjure up the steam locomotives that roared along these same routes a mere 65 years ago.  ottawaoutdoors I 05

Help children handle things that go bump in the night So everyone gets a peaceful rest under the stars

By Allen Macartney

D

ark shadows, fear of bears and ominous night noises can take the fun out of camping for kids once they have to crawl into the tent and hit the sack.

It starts when afternoon shadows creep across the forest floor, and children start worrying about the terrors of the forest at night – “dangers” that exist only in their minds.

Real or not, spooked-out kids are something parents have to deal with, or lose their own tranquility after the sun goes

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down. Fortunately, there’s a grab-bag of field-tested, fun activities that helped my kids sleep peacefully through those first

scary nights, so they had the energy for canoeing and hiking.

Try these activities, and you’ll never again have to look into the huge, scared eyes of a child at the first hoot of an owl.

Speaking of which …

A week before a camping adventure listen to owl hoots on YouTube or Cornell University’s ornithology website (for nonscientists) with the family. Do it enough times until the kids can differentiate between a screech owl and a great horned

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owl. This kind of preparation in a familiar indoor setting could prevent a wet sleeping bag when a real owl hoots after dark.

Once your campsite is settled and the tents are up, organize a more general fiveminute listening game. Everyone sits at least 10 metres apart, and has to remain still and silent as a rabbit, listening to all the forest sounds. Ask the kids to list what they hear: chirping crickets, wind in the trees, splashing waves, frogs singing. Then gather together and look for evidence of each heard item – maybe find the tree limb that’s rubbing against in the wind).

The person with the longest list gets to hold the popcorn popper over the campfire.

Make some weird and wonderful sounds yourselves. Like practising loon calls.

Remember, for a child in the dead of night a loon can sound like a hungry zombie lurking outside the tent. So if you hear a loon across the water during the day, stop and listen. Note the two different calls – the fluttery one that sounds like a laugh, or the sad mournful drawn-out call. Get the kids to try imitating them. Takes the terror of out the same sound at night.

Take a pre-emptive, slow hike around the campsite just before dusk, exploring nature’s sights and sounds, like overturned trees, birch bark making a scraping sound in the wind, floating logs along the shore.

This works really well on a canoe trip where you have a large campsite. Can those youthful sleuths find evidence of mice or squirrels? Explain how little critters can scamper across the top of a tent ridgeline, the noise amplified in the night.

Once you’ve handled some of the sounds and their causes, tell a funny story how you were once scared in the night, only to find out later that the “bear” in your imagination was just a racoon looking for a snack. Get them to laugh at you for being so stupid.

And when bedtime approaches, don’t look for trouble – skip those ghost stories around the campfire. Instead, sing silly songs with wild goofy actions to tire them out.

Do anything that reassures them. If a loon does call through the dark, see who can make the most realistic call back. Go looking for fireflies in the grass. Then reinforce comfortable routines like a snack, and a visit to the toilet.

Tricks like these will tame night-time fears, develop comfort with the woods, and open up nature’s beauty for the children. 

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 Preparing children in advance of camping trips can get them used to nights in the woods. Choose any of a plethora of activities to make them feel at ease.

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ottawaoutdoors I 07

Cycling the capital Four great cycling trails in Ottawa’s outback

By Rick Balson

O

ttawa is the national capital in more ways than one — it’s the capital of cycling in Canada. We are blessed with a vast network of bicycle paths and streets with designated lanes for two-wheeled traffic. Ottawa is just a big small town — pedal for an hour in any direction from downtown and the city is in your rearview mirror.

Here are four cycling routes for the average cyclist that are mostly suitable for young children or parents pulling a trailer. So, don the helmet and pack that spare inner tube — time’s a wastin’!

Ride 1: Bells Corners to Carleton Place Difficulty level: Easy Duration: 2 to 4 hours each way, depending on rest stops Distance: About 33 km each way Riding surface: Mostly hard-packed dirt covered with packed stone dust Starting in Bells Corners, you will begin a steady ascent to Carleton Place, passing through suburban housing and old farmland.

The terrain varies from cedar and birch to marsh and wetlands. A pleasant ride for

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families and those seeking some rural quiet and glimpses of bullfrogs, beaver, red-winged blackbirds and other indigenous fauna.

The trail – most of which is in very good condition – is part of the abandoned CPR roadbed, and is a very gentle uphill climb all of the way to Carleton Place. That makes it downhill all the way to Bells Corners! This could be a two-day trip with a stop-over in Carleton Place, or for the more ambitious, it is a long one-day ride (remember the downhill part).

Ride 2: Andrew Hayden Park/ Robertson Road loop Difficulty level: Easy, but some climbing on the outward ride Duration: 30 minutes to 2 hours return Distance: 5 to 22 km round trip Riding surface: Varies from paved roads/ bike paths to hard-packed dirt From Andrew Hayden Park, west to the Nortel campus, and further west and south you’ll find a beautiful network of relatively flat paths through pastures, a cedar forest and a mixed hardwood forest. You’ll even be cycling on parts of the Trans-Canada Trail. Start/finish at Andrew Hayden Park – a great place for a picnic. This ride is fun for riders of almost any age. A trailer might prove a challenge in certain places.

Starting at Andrew Hayden Park, follow the paved path beside Carling Avenue heading west. In 2.3 kilometres you’ll see Nortel’s head office. Cross Carling and cycle through the entrance keeping to the left. From here, you’ll find connecting paths that lead to Robertson Road and many adventure routes just begging exploration.

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Ride 3: Chelsea to Gatineau (Hull) Difficulty level: Medium to difficult Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours on the down ride and almost double that time to ride uphill for the average weekend rider Distance: About 18 km each way, including the 4.7 km circle route to Parking lot 8 Riding surface: All paved roads but variable quality This ride is for more adventurous riders, especially if you want to do it as a return ride.

The Gatineau Park section is largely on public roads that tend to be narrow with (sometimes) broken surfaces. Be sure your brakes are in good shape. There is a bike shop (Greg Christy’s) in Old Chelsea. There are also a number of excellent places to eat in Chelsea, which tend to be very busy.

Although you can use a road bike throughout this ride, a hybrid (touring bike) or mountain bike might provide more comfort as the road surface is sometimes rough.

Casual riders will enjoy a short circle route portion that goes downhill all of the way into Gatineau. That requires leaving a car at the bottom of the ride so you can run a shuttle back up to retrieve the other vehicles.

Start at Parking lot 8 (P8) and do a short circle route via Lac-Meech Road for about 2.5 km to the intersection with the Gatineau Parkway. Turn right onto the Parkway. The road surface is paved and in good repair.

You’ll see lots of ponds and creeks along the way, so watch for birds and possibly other animals.

Now you are ready for the 9.5 km run down to Centre Asticou – P1. Starting at the intersection of Kingsmere Road and Notch Road, turn left onto Notch Road. It has a speed limit of 70 km/h with significant weekend traffic, but it is in good condition. About two kilometres from the start, turn left onto Chemin de la Mine. This is a narrow paved road in poor condition. Soon after starting down the Mine Road, there is a very sharp turn with a steep down grade that is particularly rough. About the 4.2 kilometre point this

becomes Cite des Jeaune and is wider and will take you straight to Centre Asticou.

Ride 4 – Champlain Bridge to Aylmer QC round trip Difficulty level: Easy Duration: 2 to 4 hours each way, depending on the number of stops Distance: About 12 km each way Riding surface: Entirely paved, divided bike paths and city roads This is an easy and very pleasant ride for the whole family that can be made three seasons of the year. You can picnic beside the Champlain Bridge before or after your ride, in Aylmer at the marina, or eat in any number of interesting restaurants in Aylmer. You’ll see a number of attractive lookouts along the Ottawa River.

Birds, waterfowl and wild flowers abound throughout the ride according to season.

Look for yellow dogtooth, purple and blue violets, trillium, crabapple, dogwood, honey suckle, lilac, Queen Anne’s lace, daisy, and others.

As the Ottawa River is a migratory route for many birds, there are many non-resident birds in the spring and fall. Beware of poison ivy along the main biking route, and designated walking paths near the river.

This route makes you want to stop often enjoy the scenery. Most of it follows the old voyageur route up the Ottawa, and passes by many of their portage sites.

If you want to make this a longer ride, park and start at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau. This will add about 18.5 km to the round trip for a total of 42.5 km.

Starting at Jacques Cartier Park, follow De L’Ile Pathway for about 1.5 km and turn left (west) onto Ruisseau-de-la-Brasserie Pathway for about 3 km. Turn left onto Voyageurs Pathway and stay on it to the Champlain Bridge. Then follow the instructions above. You can also shorten the route by starting at any of several parking lots along the Lower Aylmer Road. 

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ottawaoutdoors I 09

Historical Gatineau Park A hike to Carbide Ruins reveals pioneer and industrial history

By Katharine Fletcher | Photos Eric Fletcher

T

his hike from O’Brien Beach to the Carbide Willson Ruins was formerly known as Discovery Trail. Today it’s just No. 36.

Pity.

That’s because of all hikes in Gatineau Park, this one offers what’s perhaps the most tangible kind of human history.

Even the approach to the trailhead at O’Brien Beach parking lot (P11) is historical. From Old Chelsea, we travel west on the Meech Lake Road, named after Asa Meech, a Congregationalist minister who came to Hull (today’s Gatineau) from New England in 1815.

Although the National Capital Commission, the agency which manages Gatineau Park, owns Meech’s farmhouse, it remains unidentified, a sad and baffling neglect. Watch for a simple, gabled white farmhouse on your left as you approach O’Brien Beach. Meech built it on 80 hectares of land deeded to him in November 1823.

Incidentally, O’Brien is a famous Canadian. Renfrew-born, he became a major industrialist who, among other things, planned

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the Crow’s Nest Pass section of railway which still connects Alberta to British Columbia.

And he founded the National Hockey Association in 1909.

Your footsteps along No. 36 traverse a pioneer trail connecting the earliest European settlers in the Old Chelsea and Meech Lake area to Wakefield. While walking, imagine them felling trees to create a bumpy pathway first for human feet, later horse and wagon.

This is the route Thomas Leopold “Carbide” Willson’s contractors would use to haul cement, windows and other supplies to build the dam, generating plant, and superphosphate fertilizer plant (called “The Mill” by locals) in the early 1900s.

Willson was an inventor nicknamed “Carbide” because he inadvertently discovered calcium carbide, used the the production of acetylene gas. After coming to Ottawa in 1901, he searched for a Gatineau Hills watershed that had a reliable waterfall for power

ottawaoutdoors I 11

generation. There he could test production of super-phosphate fertilizer, a product he believed would revolutionize agriculture.

We can imagine his satisfaction when discovering the Meech Lake watershed. By 1904 he owned 185 hectares and a few years later had completed a summer home, generating plant and the world’s first superphosphate fertilizer plant. Pleasure at his success was all too brief: in 1915 he died of a heart attack and the site was abandoned.

His grand summer “cottage” still overlooks Meech Lake, serving as a conference centre.

TRAILFACTS! Trail 36 is a hilly, broad, easy-intermediate hike, starting at P11 that has changing rooms and outhouses. Dogs on leash please. From P11 to Carbide Willson Ruins is 3.25 kilometres return. Allow two hours if you like to dawdle, take photographs or contemplate history. Pack a swimsuit and swim at Meech Lake after your hike (despite NCC signage, this remains a popular nudist site. If this bothers you, go early, go in bug season; go in winter …).

Look for beaver, deer, hooded and common mergansers, loons, great blue herons and kingfisher.

The hike, step by step

The 36 trailhead is at the northwest corner of P11.

After hiking roughly 10 minutes, there’s a steep descent to the convergence of Meech and Little Meech lakes, spanned by a footbridge. Continuing to the right, circle the western end of Little Meech and, if you look with binoculars along its northeast shore, you might spy the small gap denoting the headwaters of Meech Creek.

What a perfect watercourse Willson had discovered!

Now ascend the broad trail. Several metres beyond its summit, there’s a path veering right. Follow it through the cathedral-like forest and listen for the sound of falling water. A narrow descent and voilà:

Willson’s ruins and the impressive Meech Creek waterfall.

In all seasons, the ruins are picturesque, the heritage poignant. Imagine the power station glowing its blue light in the woods.

What would deer have thought of it? Look for remnants of the penstock tubing, which once funnelled water from Little Meech to the turbines.

Cross the arched footbridge to the far side of Meech Creek to examine the octagonal structure that formed the base of the acid condensation tower, where the fertilizer was made. A fire destroyed the wooden tower years ago, so we can only speculate how the process worked.

Precambrian rocks provide a welcome

Mackenzie king Estate

picnic spot and view of the waterfall to help mentally reconstruct how the scene once looked. Nowadays, lake water cascades through openings in the dam, past the generating station, down Meech Creek Valley to eventually join the Lapeche River.

Retrace your steps. As you near P11, you pass alongside a gravel road leading uphill to O’Brien’s and Willson’s summer residences.

Willson’s shy wife, Mary, spent happy times here. She was a piano teacher, so as we stroll by perhaps we can conjure up music floating over Meech Lake and through the woods.

That wasn’t the only music at Meech Lake in the early 1900s. Capucin friars used to chant their evensongs while paddling their canoes at twilight … 

There’s so much to discover.

The Mackenzie King Estate is a special place where you can spend the whole day enjoying nature. The Estate has recently undergone a makeover, and features new exhibits as well as activities for the whole family. Now is the perfect time to come and see what’s new at the Estate.

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THE GASPÉSIE TOUR

© photos: M. Loiselle, P. Delisle.

Live the

Fall under the magical spell of the Gaspésie Tour and discover the charms of Percé and Gaspé. www.quebecmaritime.ca/GaspePerce

10 canoe

adventures,

real easy

Hassle-free route to a real wow

By Trish Manning

Y

ears ago friends and I would spend days researching wilderness canoe trips – planning routes, taking courses, making menus, shopping and packing gear. We’d buy new stuff – barrel packs, tarps, thicker sleeping mats and the little things that make a trip more comfortable.

But as jobs, family and responsibilities grew, life changed and that kind of time disappeared. So I gave up doing something I loved.

But there’s an all-inclusive equivalent – the guided canoe trip. It’s a no-hassle and safe way to paddle the wilderness.

Decide where you want to paddle, check out adventure companies offering trips, make a phone call and you’re on your way.

Everything is supplied and it’s great value for money. When I consider the time saved from doing the preparation, the cost of equipment I’d have to buy on my own, and the care and lessons the guides provide, an all-inclusive canoeing adventure seems the way to go. You spend a little more per night than the cost of a hotel room for an adventure that pushes your boundaries, but remains comfortable and secure.

It’s that well-worn, on-thewater medicine for the soul, Canadian style.

Here’s 10 of these adventures to get you out there, even if you’ve never been in a canoe before.

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screened-in porch and paddling lessons to launch you into a halfday guided canoe trip.

The Lodge at Pine Cove is the place | www.frenchriver.com Algonquin Provincial Park, canoe and log cabin adventure

Agawa River, train in paddle out

The most spectacular of Lake Superior’s rivers, the Agawa flows 30 kilometres through a dramatic canyon landscape. You get there by Algoma Central Railway, and get off with the canoes at the Agawa Canyon station. A perfect learning river for new whitewater canoeists, it has nearly continuous easy-to-intermediate whitewater. You’ll learn to safely paddle a tandem canoe in fast water and enjoy some of the most scenic river settings in Ontario. Check out Naturally Superior Outfitters | www.naturallysuperior.com

This three-day guided canoe trip with two nights at the Voyageur Quest log cabin at Round Lake provides time to paddle, search for moose, swim and roast smores around a campfire amidst Algonquin’s wilderness. The cabin offers comfortable beds, a wood-fired floating sauna and home-style meals. It’s at Voyageur Quest | www.voyageurquest.com French River, a Canadian heritage

If you have ever dreamed of the quintessentially Canadian canoe trip, you can combine it with a stay at the luxurious lodge at Pine Cove at Noelville. It offers fine dining, a soft bed in a cottage, deluxe hamper breakfasts in a

Haliburton Highlands, path of the paddle

Carve a paddle through the still waters on Margaret, Dan, Horse and McEwen Lakes. On this full-day guided trip, you’ll learn paddle strokes and portaging and visit a builder who crafts birchbark canoes. It’s all at Yours Outdoors | www.yoursoutdoors.ca www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Madawaska River, weekend whitewater canoe clinic

Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, interpretive learning in the land of the caribou

Enter the exciting world of whitewater, learn the basic skills or reboot what you remember if you are preparing a multi-day river trip. Operated by Claudia Van Wijk (a whitewater kayak slalom champion) and husband Dirk, Madawaska Kanu Centre is the place | www.owl-mkc.ca Quetico Provincial Park, nor’wester sunset paddle

Mattawa River, paddle back in time for a day

After orientation and instruction, you will paddle down the scenic Mattawa River, once an important route for voyageurs, trappers and loggers. The guide will share stories about the rich heritage of the area. A great family trip from Algonquin North Outfitters | www.algonquinnorth.com Missinaibi River, to the northern sky for adventurous women

After a flying over Thunderhouse Falls, you land on the Missinaibi River, 60 kilometres north of the last road and the last portage. From here, it’s an easy women’s-only downstream paddle to Mooseonee and the historic Cree settlement of Moose Factory on the James Bay coast.

Missinaibi Outfitters are at | www.missinaibi.com

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Go on a 14-day exploration of one of the most remote paddling destinations in Ontario.

You paddle and portage through the home of woodland caribou, wolves, moose, beaver, marten, bald eagles and more. Red Lake Outfitters can set you up at | www.redlakeoutfitters.com

Quetico is a world-renowned destination for backcountry canoeing and angling. Explore its towering cliffs, waterfalls and virgin pine and spruce forests.

Enjoy magnificent sunsets and stargazing. The trip starts with dinner and an overnight stay at an eco-friendly lodge for orientation and outfitting for a self-guided canoe trip. Check out the Voyageur Wilderness Programme | www.vwp.com

~ Trish Manning writes for Ontario Outdoor Adventures which showcases Ontario's Adventure Companies. | www.ontariooutdoor.com 

Temagami, a backcountry canoe paradise

Leave worries behind as guides help you get the most out of a canoe adventure, and do it safely.

This Northern Ontario wilderness is home to the world’s largest old-growth red and white pines.

Treks in the Wild is what it’s called. Explore with Smoothwater | www.smoothwater.com

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Kayaking the Trent-Severn Father and son paddle to beat prostate cancer

BY SHEILA ASCROFT

Photos by Nick Fauset

Running or biking in charity events is a feel-good summer activity to start with, but one family in the Kawarthas found that paddling for a good cause could be a great outdoor adventure too. Andy Fauset and son Nick kayaked the whole Trent-Severn Waterway in support of prostate cancer research and education.

The waterway “begins” at its southeastern point on the Bay of Quinte at the eastern end of Lake Ontario and extends northwesterly to Port Severn where the Severn River flows into Georgian Bay. It has taken the pair two September trips (to coincide with Prostate Cancer Awareness Week) to complete the whole 386-kilometre route.

Along the way they have raised awareness, they hope, and $13,564 for sure.

Nick Fauset said the fundraiser was “an opportunity to spend time together doing something we love,” while raising awareness of a preventable health threat to men.

“Some sons don’t have the opportunity to do this with their fathers because of diseases like prostate cancer.”

Although the Fauset family has been canoeing tripping for years, it was only recently that the father-son duo took up kayak tripping. In 2011, Nick Fauset, 29, and Andy, 65, paddled half the Rideau Canal in four days. That

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experience made them realize how lucky they were to have their health” Nick said.

In 2012, Paddle for a Cause (www.paddleforacause.ca) was born and the pair paddled from Port Severn to Peterborough’s Silver Bean Café in 14 days. Last year, they kayaked 250 kilometres in the opposite direction, from Trenton’s Lock No. 1 to Silver Bean in seven days. The café was both a sponsor of the campaign and a convenient finish line.

Since it is not easy to portage around some of the locks on the waterway, the duo bought transit passes that allowed them to lock through each one. “Using the lock system is part of the experience on the Trent-Severn Waterway,” Nick Fauset said, adding that they were happy to promote it alongside their prostate cancer mission.

Nick said they didn’t set out to break any paddling records, but did keep to a continuous schedule, averaging about 30 kilometres day. “Our days in good weather would often end in the early afternoon, though we were also fundraising each day. Between that and setting up camp, we usually ran the daylight out.”

They used 18-foot kayaks with internal storage compartments large enough for all their gear. With a camp stove to boil water and plenty of dehydrated foods they could camp

out anywhere, but preferred the lock stations.

Andy said camping at the locks is cheap and they normally have potable water (some didn’t in 2013). He admitted though that climbing out of a kayak after a day’s paddle was a challenge.

“There are few suitable locations to exit your kayak at the lock stations so be prepared to climb-up a rung ladder and pull your boat after you.” He had advice too: “Bring a small piece of carpet to protect your boat from concrete scrapes.”

Nick was onside with that. “It sounds silly, but Andy’s piece of carpet really saved the day, as the concrete walls at some locks of the Trent-Severn are very, very high. Without something like a small mat, you end up wrecking your kayak on the edge of the concrete walls that surround each lock.”

Weather is always unpredictable on any outdoor trip. For the Fausets, strong headwinds sometimes made for a long day. As well, Andy’s homemade kayak lacked a rudder, which spelled trouble on Balsam Lake, so he installed one before their second trip.

Andy said for those thinking of paddling on Lake Simcoe, (part of the whole Trent-Severn system) to be prepared for headwinds and be cautious. “I am sure we only received an innocuous sample of the fare that’s out there.”

Nick said Rice Lake had more of the same during their latest trip, “all part of the game that makes a trip memorable,” according to Andy. “The lower Trent was bland compared with the northern route.”

Both were wary of motorboats. A cruiser On the Otonabee River came by on full throttle through a narrow section, knowingly creating a heavy wake. Andy’s kayak skirt was up and his open cockpit was swamped. Nick said that boaters on the Trent-Severn are “very respectwww.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ful for the most part, but there are exceptions, of course.”

The Fausets paddled both trips in late September with cold weather and rain, and recommend early September instead. “But this is a balancing act; too early in the season and it can be far too hot for sustained paddling,” Andy said.

“Also, if you go early or mid-season, there will be tons of motorboats using the system. We intentionally went during the “off” season to avoid motor boats and because it was Prostate Cancer Awareness Week,” said Nick.

For details on their route, see the website www.paddleforacause.ca/. 

Pedal and Paddle in Peterborough If you want a shorter version of the Fauset kayaking trip, try a day-long tour offered by the Peterborough Pedal and Paddle shop.

Co-owners Janet Kennedy and Lloyd Graham run a seven-hour leisurely tour in and around the city. Both are long-time residents and have solid knowledge of the area’s history, flora and fauna; and they’re cycling and paddling enthusiasts as well.

Graham said the bike ride goes from Lakefield on the Rotary Green Way Trail, stops for lunch at Trent University and then riders paddle kayaks down the Trent Canal through the lift lock and back to the start. “Lunch, treats (ice cream) and many extras included.”

You can also rent kayaks, canoes and bicycles by the hour or day to explore the Kawartha region on your own.

The shop is in the Lower Boathouse in Peterborough’s Millennium Park. Nearby Upper Boathouse is home to Silver Bean Café, overlooking the Otonabee River. So, you can have your java jolt before tripping and then enjoy some food and bragging rights after your adventure.

Contact: 1-705-875-5806, tours@ pedalnpaddle.ca,or Facebook www.facebook.com/ PedalnPaddlePeterborough. 

Photo : Celine Guimond Fafard

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Survivalvideos: A (dangerous) potpourri of choices?

By Allen Macartney

A few years back there was only a narrow range of survival videos to choose from. Most portrayed hard-core mountain men living off the land.

But now survival is big entertainment business, and attracts huge audiences.

Not only is Les Stroud (Survivorman) making 10-day survival documentaries, but even the National Geographic and Discovery Channels have launched similar – and successful – multi-year series with a devoted following.

Most videos are intended for entertainment only. Unfortunately some people have watched a handful of shows, thought they were now experts, set off into the wilderness, and died.

Survival isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t fun. It’s cold, hungry, lonely, scary.

A look at four different survival video series could be instructive. All are on YouTube or available on loan from the Ottawa Public Library.

Survivorman

Stroud has been serving up a delicious feast of survival shows for years. He presents an interesting scenario (e.g. plane crash in winter, lost hunter in fall, wilderness solo kayaker dumps in a remote river) then demonstrates how to survive a full week alone. Each show teaches the viewer how to seek or build a shelter, light a fire (sometimes without matches), stay warm, signal for help, and much more along the way.

Out of the Wild

This Discovery Channel series portrays nine people (a mixed bag, from tattoo artist to personal trainer) dropped off in the Alaskan wilderness to survive for 30 days while finding their way to a rescue point. Before their ordeal begins, they’re given three days of survival and first aid training.

Each carries only a sleeping bag, a knife, a tarp, good clothing and boots. They’re given a map and a few other items, and have to travel between shelters through mountainous and swampy terrain as the weather goes straight downhill. Watch this fascinating series and you’ll learn everything from how to skin a rabbit and squirrel, to how to make a backpack and improvised clothing.

Alone in the Wild

BBC wilderness filmmaker Ed Wardle has climbed Everest and trekked to the North Pole.

But he’d always wanted to test himself against the Canadian north for three months – all alone.

Several years ago a bush plane dropped him into the Yukon wilderness to film the entire odyssey for British television. You’ll cycle through identical feelings of shock, amazement and raw fear that Ed experienced during his time in this breathtaking wilderness. Don’t miss this disturbing documentary.

Ultimate Survival: the Alaskan Experience

National Geographic gathered eight Alaskan outdoor experts to took part in 10 extreme survival adventure races through wilderness. They had to live off the land for more than a month while racing between checkpoints over mountains, icy bogs and tundra. Carrying only the clothes on their backs, a sleeping bag, ropes and a few other items, they deal with unexpected disasters while you watch. This series brims over with survival tips and shows that even experts make bad mistakes.

These are quality productions and you can take in just the raw entertainment and survival tips – or go further to strengthen your own mental equipment.

Critique every action and survival choice taken by the trekkers. Watch how quickly bad decisions snowball into disaster, even for experts. Listen for clichéd assumptions that can prove deadly, and learn from them. Just because someone eats a frog in the wild doesn’t mean you can eat one and live. You’ll likely burn more calories looking for that bony frog or rabbit than you’ll ever get from its flesh – even if you find one.  www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawaoutdoors I 19

how a kayak festival can make your summer Mark your calendar for an exciting August 22-24 getaway

By Dave Brown

E

very summer is different for couples and families. Maybe they stay close to home or perhaps they take a flight to some far away exotic destination. But for this summer you can actually get a bit of both. Welcome to the City of Timmins and the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival.

The location

Taking place this August 22-24 your destination is the Mountjoy Historical Conservation Area Park in Timmins, Ont. The City of Timmins is a sophisticated and thriving municipality surrounded by pristine forests and over five hundred lakes, rivers and streams. The community has a rich and vibrant history, and is strategically located in the heart of Northern Ontario.

THE EVENT

Now in its 6th year, the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival continues to grow with the addition of many events, competitions and other attractions. With both paddling and festival events you'll enjoy double happiness during your visit.

It's such a unique event with a plethora of activities that it is now considered by many visitors as a best-in-class paddling festival.

The KAYAK CHALLENGE has nine paddling categories no matter your skill or age level. These include: a 35-km Elite, 16-km Recreational Elite, a Recreational Run, Runs for Seniors, Youth, Novice and Celebrities (yes, even Ottawa Outdoors Magazine will be represented at this great festival).

In addition, and through the efforts of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, paddlers can participate in the Sunday afternoon Kayak for the Heart of it!, a three-person sprint, or enjoy a leisurely-guided paddle complete with shore lunch on the everwinding Mountjoy river.

The FESTIVAL EVENTS are many. Look to enjoy any of the following: PaddleSmart clinics, cruises on the Mighty Mattagami, Fireworks, live entertainment day and night, a fun rubber duck race, the Aboriginal Village, and even a Highland Dance competition. And if you're of the right vintage to appreciate the headliner band THE STAMPEDERS, then you're definitely going to enjoy yourself.

THE ACTIVITIES

Whether you fly or drive, Timmins is closer than you think. And with the recent introduction of Porter Service, it's ever so affordable. You can book hotels with Cedar Meadows, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Timmins Inn & Suites, Microtel Inn and WildExodus.

And all have terrific Kayak Challenge weekend rates.

In addition to the many festival activities you can also get up close and personal with a magestic Canadian moose at the Cedar Meadows Wilderness Park or enjoy many other species such as deer, elk, bison and mountain goats, all in a natural outdoor setting.

And finally, emerse yourself in Aboriginal culture by visiting the Aboriginal Village and sample fire-cooked bannock, a spiritual healing tent, sacred fire and more.

End your day with a stroll through the extensive marketplace exhibits featuring locally-made arts and return home with great photos, memories, friends and momentos from an amazing trip!

CONTACT

All this to say it'll be a great trip this summer getting you on the water paddling in a vibrant festival environment. What could be better?

To register contact Guy Lamarche at 705.360.2640 or email him your questions at guy.lamarche@timmins.ca

www.TheGreatCanadianKayakChallenge.com 20 I ottawaoutdoors

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

TIMMINS

the great outdoors and more!

The 6th Annual

Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival

Up to $15 ,000 in cash priz es!

August 22-24, 2014 Timmins, Ontario

Join us for the 6th Annual Great Canadian Kayak Challenge & Festival, August 22-24, 2014, at the Mountjoy Historical Conservation Park, in Timmins, Ontario.

Paddling categories for all ages, from novice to expert, youth to seniors, and a chance to win fantastic prizes and cash.

9 Paddling Divisions Kayak Clinics “Kayak for the Heart of it” 3-person Sprint Race Children’s Activities Art & Culture Routes... Performing Arts, Music, Exhibits, Aboriginal Village and...

• Highland Dance Competition • Rubber Duck Race • Free Multi Band Country/Bluegrass Concert Friday Night • Free Multi Band Rock Concert featuring Stampeders Saturday Night • Saturday Evening Fireworks To register or for additional information, please contact Guy Lamarche at 705.360.2640 or email guy.lamarche@timmins.ca

thegreatcanadiankayakchallenge.com

photo credits: Drew Gauley, Tim Trevenna and Gilles Portelance

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Paddle two beautiful lakes far from urban stress Only two hours from Ottawa-Gatineau

By Allen Macartney

I

f you’re looking for new paddling destinations – with beautifully prepared sites and good swimming – just two hours from Ottawa, you could do worse than head for Big Gull or Crotch lakes. They’re part of North Frontenac Park Lands, a collection of 184 townshipmanaged campsites in backcountry lake shores atop the Madawaska highlands and Mississippi Valley watershed.

Joined by a narrow river and a doable portage trail, you can choose between a weekend in your hammock at one of them, or a more ambitious two-lake loop that will require that extra day on a long weekend. Getting there is easy, along Highway 7 just past Silver Lake.

Big Gull Lake is a longtime favourite. It has 24 prepared campsites, almost half of them

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

on pine-covered islands. Here you’ll find secluded solitude and breathtaking sunsets. Expect to hear coyotes howling across the water in autumn, an evening chorus to enjoy while you sip hot chocolate in front of the campfire.

Big Gull Lake is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with a nesting area for many species of birds including ospreys and hawks.

Portions of the east and west bays of this roughly 18-kilometrelong lake are lightly populated by seasonal cottages.

If you like combining canoeing with hiking, check out the North Frontenac Park Lands website (see sidebar) for hiking maps. Many kilometres of forest trails wind their way over old logging roads and utility right-of-ways – some directly to canoe-in campsites. One, called the Crotch Lake Trail, covers about 12 kilometres through

wetlands and forests along the shoreline. This is diverse Canadian Shield country, so you’ll be climbing over rocks and swampy land.

These lakes offer canoeing, camping and hiking. If you bring a fishing rod, you could

enjoy a fresh-caught pike dinner.

These are popular destinations, so reserve your site early at www. northfrontenacparklands.com.

Canoe and kayak rentals are available at North Frontenac Outfitters, 613-743-2331, www.northfrontenacoutfitters.com.

Getting there To Crotch Lake To reach the north end of the lake use county road 509. It goes north from Highway 7 just west of Silver Lake. Near the village of Ompah, turn south onto South Bush Road and follow it all the way to the lake access point. The south end access is from Highway 7 to Ardoch Road. Follow the “Crotch Lake Access” sign for the entrance.

To Big Gull Lake Various roads provide easy access to the lake’s south shore. The east access is just off Ardoch Road near Coxvale (Ardoch goes west from county road 509).

Reach the west bay access from Highway 41 (from the south) or county road 506 (from the north or Plevna). From Highway 41 turn onto Harlowe Road and follow it past Kashawakamak Lake Road. Once across Kashawakamak Lake Road, Harlowe Road becomes Gull Lake Road. Take the first left off Gull Lake Road to the access point. 

ottawaoutdoors I 23

CoolGear FOR THE SUMMER SEASON

Platypus Platypreserve Wine Preservation System – $8 Keep the merlot fresh and your chardonnay crisp while you're out on adventures. This wine preservation system protects the flavour and extends drinkability by eliminating exposure to oxygen. Look for it at mec.ca.

Zegul Arrow Nuka GT 16/7 – $3749 New for 2014, We choose to add the Zegul Arrow Nuka GT to our British style sea kayak offerings largely due to its relatively short 16/7 length. Despite its slightly shorter kayak length it retains an effortless glide and offers very quick acceleration. Designed to best satisfy performance oriented paddlers in the 125 to 185 lb paddling weight range we feel the Nuka GT perfectly complements the longer Zegul series kayaks we carry. Hatches: Zegul Arrow Nuka GT 16/7 has a whopping 4 VCP style Kayak Sport rubber hatch covers that are easy to use & are extremely watertight.

Bow: round 10 / 24 cm, Stern: oval 17 x 10.25 / 44 x 26 cm, Day: round 8” / 20 cm , Mini-bow pod: 6” / 15 cm and 4 composite bulkheads with fibreglass seams. Look for it at www.frontenacoutfitters.ca

MEC Cabin 4 Tent – $389 Roughing it is overrated. Add some serious luxury to your next family outing, car trip or canoe voyage. The Cabin 4 Tent lets you build a real home in the woods.

It has plenty of headroom so you don’t have to crouch to get in or out, and you can stand up to change your clothes. Double doors with mesh let cool air circulate freely, but keep out all flying insects. Look for it at mec.ca.

24 I ottawaoutdoors

Pedal Easy Light-weight Electric Bikes – fm $1500 Pedal Easy is an integrated design, combining an ultra-light-weight power system with a light-weight touring frame and high-end bicycle components. Motor speed, size, power and battery capacity have all been optimized to encourage riding. It is first and foremost a bicycle. Most e-bikes are much heavier and have not been designed to encourage pedalling and power-free riding, but rather they have been primarily designed for the free ride. The 21 and 3 speed models are $1500. The Ultralightweight model is $1800, and the 8 speed internally geared model is $1650. All bikes have full fenders, kickstand, bell and ergonomic handlebar grips. Look for it at www.pedaleasy.ca

MEC Happytrails Child Carrier Backpack – $119 This MEC kid carrier features a real backpack suspension system – with a lushly padded hipbelt, and a shoulder strap attachment point that is infinitely adjustable for any user up to 183cm in height – making your child easier to carry in the backcountry.

The five-point child-restraint harness is the safest we know of, and its straps are fleece covered for comfort. The diaper bag clips off to become a daypack. A sun hood is included at no additional charge. Carries children up to 23kg. Happy trails! Look for it at mec.ca.

MEC Helinox Table One – $97 Super lightweight and the perfect companion for your Helinox chairs.

Technology transferred from highend tents makes this table packable for bike touring, paddling, or luxury backpacking. Twin cup holders keep your bevies upright through a fast-paced game of Go Fish. Look for it at mec.ca.

Cascade Designs MSR® XGK™ EX Stove – $155 For over 35 years, the MSR® XGK(TM) stove has been the world's most reliable extreme-condition stove; trusted by mountaineers everywhere. The XGK EX stove continues that legacy with unrivaled performance, dependability and better multi-fuel burning capabilities than any other stove on the market.It features a flexible fuel line that allows it to pack smaller than ever, as well as stable, retractable legs and pot supports, and a powerful flame that melts snow and boils water incredibly fast. Look for it at vpo.ca.

Speed Concept 7 Series Women Specific Design shown with Aeolus 9 D3 Wheels MSRP – $6,999 Tuck in and make things happen. Speed Concept 7 Series pairs its best-in-class tech with the industry’s best fit window, so your position and power output never falter.

Fastest full-carbon clincher wheel on the market.

Period. The Aeolus 9 D3 clincher road wheel combines a 90mm depth OCLV rim with silky smooth hubs with DT Swiss internals. The optimal wheels for time trials, triathlons or any ride where the clock is the only thing that matters.

Look for it at Bushtukah's retail store.

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Bad attitude can kill you “The enemy is anybody who’s going to get you killed, no matter which Allen Macartney side he is on.”

Joseph Heller wrote that in his 1960s novel Catch-2w2.

His theme was war, not wilderness survival, but when someone gets lost in the wilds, similar forces are at work. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy.

Several years ago Richard Planicos (not his real name), a middle-aged man with lots of camping and canoeing experience, headed off on a three-month solo wilderness One in five people who die at the Grand of over-confidence when applied to the raw canoe trip. It was a long-cherished dream: to Canyon are taking or posing for photographs. wilderness. test himself in Alberta’s northern backcountry.

They read the warning signs near the edge and Local first nations people were astonished Planning to live off the land and water, he took hear the cautionary words of park rangers, but when they heard about his rescue. “Even we little food beyond several handfuls of rice and a die. They’ve turned off the danger alarm in their don’t go alone into that area,” one elder said. few other essentials. A fishing rod was his chief minds. Psychologists call it “normalcy bias”: “It’s too remote. Too dangerous!” companion. He told no one exactly where he Bad things happen to others but not us. So I know someone who makes it a point on a was headed, and set off with a flippant, “Start when danger signs are present we ignore them. wilderness canoe trip to say – out loud every worrying if I’m not back by late September.”

When Mount St. Helens blew up in 1980, day – “Nature doesn’t care if I live or die out Two weeks later he “dumped” in a fairly scores of people ignored the warnings and here. Nature is totally unconcerned about my mild set of rapids, and lost much of his gear. roadblocks to get a closer view of the mountain. survival.” It’s a bit of a reality check. It keeps him Then a bear visited his site, holed his already In a real shadow of death, they shut off the alarm alert and his mind keen. It prevents arrogance. battered canoe, and ate the last To help stay safe, anticipate the of his food. worst scenario and prepare for it.

“Nature doesn’t care if I live or die out Months later a search Most survivors share this practice. here. Nature is totally unconcerned and rescue team pulled his You’re not a wimp if you make a list emaciated body out of the bush. about my survival.” of everything that could go wrong on He was barely alive. a backpacking or kayaking adventure.

What went wrong? The list is long but it bells, rolled out blankets on the ground, opened It won’t ruin your trip – it will make it better. started with a dangerous attitude that almost the cooler, grabbed a beer and had a picnic.

The Boy Scout motto “Be prepared” bears killed him.

They anticipated a great show, not knowing they repeating. So bring extra clothes and food. Bring Our contemporary world trains us from the were no longer in a controlled environment. a SPOT transmitter and tell people exactly where cradle to know that in most cases and places Richard Planicos thought he was prepared you’re going. Plan an exit strategy if conditions we’re totally secure. We don’t have to be too when he pushed off into the wilds. He had sour or the weather goes into the tank. alert, particularly on vacation, because life is watched survival videos and amassed a much Never test yourself against nature. Nature safe. And our psychological default settings outdoor experience over the years. But watching never loses, and never cares.  reflect this. But in nature, we can quickly find videos in the living-room does not make you a ourselves in over our head and not realize it – survival expert. Instead, they made him blasé believing we’re safe when we’re about to walk about the risks. And his experience in controlled Allen Macartney is an experienced wilderness off a cliff. provincial parks laid a dangerous foundation camper and canoeist. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawaoutdoors I 27

When the sun goes down, start shooting in the dark

By Jenna Thompson

When the sun sets over your campsite, skip the sleeping bag and grab your camera instead – the images can be magical.

The basics go a bit beyond point and shoot. You need a camera with some manual controls so you can adjust shutter and aperture settings.

The shutter controls how long the image is exposed to the sensor, and the aperture controls how much light hits it. ISO settings control how sensitive the sensor is to light.

And for everything to work beyond that, the camera needs a steady surface – a tripod is usually a must, but sometimes a sturdy flat rock or log could work instead. Turn off vibration reduction technologies when your camera is mounted on a tripod, and use a remote if you have one to reduce camera shake. A headlamp is handy, to do light painting – and also to see your equipment in the dark!

These suggestions are just starting points: Every lighting situation is different, so you may need to tweak the settings suggested here.

Reach for the sky

Take advantage of being in the great outdoors to get a crisp, clear view of the night sky.

In this shot, the Milky Way is clearly visible. To do something like this, focus on the stars, and try to expose no longer than 30 seconds for a landscape shot; otherwise as the Earth rotates, the stars will appear to move and create short lines instead of dots. Include foreground interest, like a silhouetted tree or horizon line. This shot was at ISO 2500, f5.6 for 46 seconds.

Paint like Picasso

Stand facing a tripod-mounted camera and shine a headlamp toward the lens to “paint” shapes of anything you like – you can make abstract designs, spell out words or draw pictures. This is a fun type of shot to get family and friends to help with – everyone can draw anything they like. Or use the strobe function on your headlamp for an interesting effect. Set your ISO to 400, f-stop to f8, and use the bulb function, found through the shutter speed dial, to keep the shutter open as long as it takes to complete your design. In this picture, I stood behind a campfire guitar with a headlamp in front of me to trace the edges of the guitar and draw musical notes.

Star trails

Light your fire

It’s always magical to watch fire, but capturing its image is even better. Flames create patterns that let abstract art unfold before you.

Set your camera on something stable and aim it at the sparks. Use ISO 200, f/8 for five seconds as a starting point.

Capture the magic hour

Time some shots just as the sun has set in what some call the “blue” or “magic” hour. This allows some sky-blue light to silhouette shapes in the scene. You can also light up picture elements with a headlamp. Here, I just put my headlamp in the tent to make it 28 I ottawaoutdoors

glow. Or point a headlamp at objects to “paint” or illuminate them.

Start at ISO 400, f/11 for 15 seconds and see what happens.

A night sky far from light pollution is one of nature’s wonders. But a camera can capture the sky in a way the human eye cannot, by tracking the movement of the stars over time across the sky. Take this type of shot far from urban lights on a clear, moonless night.

Set the manual focus at infinity, since your camera may have a hard time finding a focus point. The North Star should be in the frame, so the other stars will appear to revolve around it.

There are two ways to create star trails: open the camera shutter at ISO 200, f4 for 15 minutes to three hours, or take images spaced a few seconds apart and “stack” them in specialized software. Both ways have their challenges. A shutter open a long time may overheat the camera’s sensor; and stacking images takes up a lot of space on the memory card and requires software know-how.

But either way, the results are stunning.

So the next time you’re under a night sky, unpack that camera and take some shots the dark side.  www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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ottawaoutdoors I 29

The Truth about Sleep and Weight Gain

By Colin Peden

Everyone has heard how important it is to get a good night’s sleep, but the combo of work, life and family often means sleep is sacrificed.

Does it matter? Yes. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation (sleeping less than six hours a night) is linked to potential weight gain and energy imbalance. People who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to taking in more calories in a day than people who slumber happily and long.

There are theories to explain why we eat more when we sleep less. Reduced sleep disrupts two appetite hormones – they’re called ghrelin and leptin – in our body. Ghrelin stimulates our appetite and leptin sends the signals to our brain that we are full. When we are sleep-deprived, ghrelin levels increase and leptin levels decrease.

Beyond that bad news, a hormone called cortisol encourages our bodies to store abdominal fat and it may also be boosted by sleep deprivation.

Weight gain is not the only worry when it comes to sleep deprivation. Insulin levels may be affected, which can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure. So the bottom line is that even if you are eating healthy, exercising, and managing daily stress, poor sleep may limit your results, concentration, and energy. Your best bet is to take sleep seriously and start tracking your bedtimes and wake times to ensure you are getting enough.

Here are four ways to ease into a good night’s sleep:

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Good sleep habits yield good options. By not staying up all night eating and staring at television or computers screens you'll be on the road to a healthier, happier life.

Relax before bedtime

About half an hour before bedtime get into a routine of shutting things down. Try reading, meditating, taking a bath, or drinking a cup of herbal or non-caffeinated tea. Using electronic devices before bed can disrupt your patterns. So turn down the lights, turn off the TV, and put away the cellphone and tablet.

Exercise

Making exercise part of your daily routine helps the body rest and recover. But don’t exercise too close to bedtime, because that can make you feel energized rather than relaxed.

No bedtime booze

Alcohol interferes with normal sleep. A drink or two close to bedtime can mean a rapid entry into deep sleep missing out on the usual first stage of “rapid eye movement” (REM) sleep. Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it won’t be good, restful sleep. Give your body time to process alcohol before you try to sleep. It takes an average person more than one hour to process one drink, but this can vary widely from person to person.

Limit caffeine

Caffeine’s stimulant effects are famously disruptive. With the popularity of energy drinks and other caffeine-laden beverages and snacks, it’s easy to wind up consuming lots of caffeine throughout the day, even if you’ve set that coffee cup aside. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to eight hours. So cut off by early afternoon. 

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Ottawa’s natural environment

How close is too close for wildlife watching?

H katharine fletcher

ow close is too close for wildlife watching?

“Look at that bear! I’m going to get a great photo!” Off the photographer ran, straight for the animal.

Another Darwin-award moment …

Normally sensible people can be transformed into fools when nature’s serendipity presents a golden opportunity for a stellar photograph.

Although you’d think people would know better than to run towards a black bear, Homo sapiens frequently exhibits thoughtless behaviour towards wild animals instead of being sensible … and acting respectfully.

But what’s respectful?

Remember the commotion at Mud Lake – that popular wildlife watching spot near Ottawa’s Britannia water filtration plant – during the last two winters? The Ottawa Field Naturalist Club’s Facebook page exploded with comments because some photographers had positioned tripods semi-permanently to shoot photos of great gray and snowy owls.

Come spring, others created a similar zoo-like atmosphere when great horned owls were nesting.

Some birders brought live mice from a pet shop, and threw them to these birds of prey.

The owls swooped down, wings beating the air and talons bared to grab the rodents, then to carry them aloft to devour them. The adult owls fed some mice to their young.

So what?

Habituation is one issue – the owls came to associate people with easy food. This matters because learning to hunt for wild food is important for the continued survival of wild owls.

Such scenarios as above illustrate how people can unwittingly place pressure on wildlife. Running towards a bear not only puts a person at risk of maiming or death, it simultaneously teaches the animal to associate human beings with erratic and threatening (predatory) behaviour.

At Mud Lake, several issues were at play: crowding wildlife; throwing pet mice at owls knowing they’ll be eaten (“baiting”); and habituating wildlife to food sources provided by people.

Codes of ethics

Best wildlife-watching practices can be pieced together from already existing codes of ethics drawn up by longtime field naturalists ranging like guides who take clients to view marine mammals, or grizzly bears, or migrating warblers, among others.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation emphasizes Leave no Trace principles. These include not feeding wildlife, disposing of waste www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Photo by Eric Fletcher

Mud Lake madness

properly, and leaving what we discover in its place – including animals.

Vancouver Whale Watch is based in Richmond, B.C. On a trip with them where we discovered a superpod of 88 orcas, the outfitter had already explained guidelines established by the Pacific Whale Watch Association, where boats must stay a minimum of 100 metres from whales.

Find Nahanni River Adventures’ guidelines on its website. One of this organization’s crucial tips is, “observe animals from the distance they consider safe.” This is particularly instructive because we’re encouraged to think like a wild animal, to consider what is acceptable from the animal’s viewpoint (not our own).

The Nahanni organization continues, “Learn wild animal signals that tell you that you are too close. This is your signal to sit or stand quietly or move slowly away.”

A polar bear rests in the distance as onlookers keep theirs.

A guide with a rifle stands at the ready.

off, perhaps missing the opportunity to catch an insect which could have fed them or their nestlings. This is stressful for wildlife.

If you own a pet, you know animal-speak.

You understand your pet’s anxieties, and can read its body language when. Extend this compassion to wild animals. Teach children, friends, colleagues to appreciate wildlife by keeping a respectful, safe distance so you all become wildlife stewards.

Long-time birder Moira Farr explains, “I think birders and photographers who genuinely care about wildlife understand that ‘it’s not all about you.’ With so many pressures on birds as it is, adding the element of constant human presence and intervention (i.e. baiting) simply does not seem right.” 

Interpreting animal-speak

In the absence of actual words, what animal behaviour is important? Bears may rise on their hind legs to snuff our scent – before charging.

Birds may get disturbed and fly away – or even fly towards us in an attempt to frighten us

Katharine Fletcher’s environmental column appears here every issue. She is author of Historical Walks: The Gatineau Park Story | www.katharinefletcher.com ottawaoutdoors I 33

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Ottawa Outdoors Music Festival Guide Jack Webb

Ottawa-Gatineau has fast become one of the world’s summer music festival capitals, and this summer is no different. If you’re a music aficionado or just want to get out amongst your musical tribe, come unlock your body and move yourself to dance.

Here’s a look at nine music festivals this summer with something for everyone’s tastes, be it eclectic or mainstream.

Westfest When? June 13–15 Where? Westboro Village – Richmond Road (between McRae and Berkley Ave.) Bike friendly? Yes (plenty of bike parking) Beer? Yes Tip: Bring a stroller to fit in. www.westfest.ca

Carivibe Beach Festival When? Beach Festival, June 21 Where? Beach Festival, Petrie Island 727 Trim Road / Parade & Block Party, St. Josephs Blvd. to Centrum, Orleans Bike friendly? Yes (Bike Park) Beer? Yes Tip: Drink lots of water, bring your dancing shoes and a hearty appetite for jerk chicken. www.carivibe.com

Festival franco-ontarien When? June 12-14 Where? Marian Dewar Plaza, formerly Festival Plaza (Elgin Street and Laurier Ave.) Bike friendly? Yes Beer? Yes Tip: Ride the Ferris wheel. Practice your French. www.ffo.ca

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Ottawa Jazz Festival When? June 20–July 1 Where? Confederation Park (Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue) Bike friendly? Yes (Bike Park) Beer? Yes Tip: Try not to talk. Careful where you stand. www.ottawajazzfestival.com

Bluesfest Ottawa When? July 3–13 Where? Lebreton Flats Park (War Museum) Bike friendly? Yes (Bike park) Beer? Yes Tip: Leave your lawn chairs at home.

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

Music and Beyond When? July 5–17 Where? Various venues in the city Bike friendly? Yes (no bike park) Beer? No Tip: Arrive early www.musicandbeyond.ca

Ottawa Chamber Music Festival When? July 24 to August 7 Where? Various venues in the city Bike friendly? Yes (no bike park) Beer? No Tip: Arrive early, try not to talk, no cell phones please. www.chamberfest.com

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Fest When? August 28 to September 1 Where? Parc de La Baie, 988, rue St-Louis, Gatineau Bike friendly? Yes Beer? Yes and SAQ Tents Tip: Enjoy the Midway and the poutine! www.montgolfieresgatineau.com

Ottawa Folk Festival When? September 10-14 Where? Hog’s Back Park, Corner of Riverside Drive and Heron Road Bike friendly? Yes Beer? Yes Tip: Take your bike! Don’t smoke. www.ottawafolk.com

ottawaoutdoors I 37

outdoor clubs ACC Ottawa Section Adventure Sports Access Group Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists Black Sheep Cycling Camp Fortune Ski Club Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society Chelsea Nordiq Club Creative Wheel Cross Country Ontario Durham Outdoors Club Esprit Rafting Hike Ontario Kanata XCSki Club Liquid Skills Paddling Centre Madawaska Kanu Centre Nakkertok XCSki Club Natural Fitness Lab Ottawa Alpine Club Ottawa Bicycle Club Ottawa Inline Skating Club Ottawa Mountain Biking Association Ottawa New Edinburgh Club Ottawa Orienteering Club Ottawa Outdoor Club Ottawa Rambling Club Ottawa Rowing Club Ottawa Sailing School Ottawa Sport and Social Club Ottawa Triathlon Club OttawaCarleton Ultimate Association Oxygene RA Ski and Snowboard Club Rideau Trial Association River Run Rafting Ski Extreme Snowhawks Ski School Somersault Events TriRudy West Carleton Nordic Ski Club XC Ottawa

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SUMMER Events Run/Walk

26 July

Rockstar Adventure Race

07 June

6th Annual Redemption Run

27 July

Mitsubishi City Chase

07 June

Barrhaven Run for Roger’s House

Duathlon/Triathlon

14 June

Britannia Beach 1, 3 or 5 km runs

14 June

Ottawa River Triathlon, Duathlon & Relays

09 June

Wylie Ryan Quick Kids 1 km Run

21 June

Baxter All Terrain Kids Triathlon

08 June

Walmart Walk for Miracles

22 June

Smiths Falls Classic Triathlon, Duathlon & Relays

08 June

Walk to Fight Arthritis

05 July

Gatineau Triathlon

21 June

Emilie’s Run (5 km women only)

13 July

Sydenham Triathlon, Duathlon

21 June

Wylie Ryan Aviation Museum Kids 1 km Run

13 July

Graham Beasley Triathlon, Duathlon & Relays

28 June

Smiths Falls Figure eight 2 or 5 km Run

BIKING

13 July

Sydenham 2, 5 or 10 km runs

01 June

Cycle for Sight

13 July

Wylie Ryan Sydenham Lakeside Kids 2 km run

07-08 June

Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour

6 Sept

Mississippi Mills River Run (Almonte)

07-08 June

MEC Bikefest

27 Sept

Moonlight River Run (Wakefield)

19-20 July

Granfondo Ottawa

Adventure Racing

PADDLING

Moraine for Life Adventure Relay run

19-22 June

10 June

ESAR – Emergency Services Adventure Race

OPEN WATER SWIM

15 June

Ottawa Spartan Race

12 July

14 June

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Tim Horton’s Dragon Boat Races and festival Bring On the Bay

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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ottawaoutdoors I 39

Seeing in the dark

What you always wanted to know about night vision technology

By Allen Macartney

Ever wanted to know what made that frightening “CRACK!” behind your tent in the night forest? Now you can see it (just another raccoon!) with a some nifty technology for the 21st-century camper.

Good night vision equipment now costs around $175 and up. It’s perfect gear for everything from night hikes to nocturnal animal watching, caving, 24-hour adventures and geo-caching races. It’s a great late evening activity for older teens too. Maybe young sleuths can find an owl hunting from the shadowy darkness of a tree.

Ottawa Outdoors Magazine tried out two different Bushnell models: Night Watch 2x24 (first generation device), and Equinox Z 3x30 (a second generation device).

40 I ottawaoutdoors

Both are lightweight monoculars, easy to use and operate on AA batteries.

(The 2 stands for magnification; the 24 is lens diameter in millimetres.)

A night vision lens gathers every bit of available light (from the sky, stars, moon) and amplifies it thousands of times. That gives you about the same ability to see in the dark as some nocturnal animals. If you find a dark pool that’s impenetrable for the lightamplifier side of your device, most night vision equipment has a built-in infrared illuminator.

It’s like a tiny flashlight that is only visible when viewed through the monocular, so you can see in absolute total darkness like a deep cave. Just look through the night vision lens and flick on the IR illuminator and

ZAP! That sneaky raccoon stands out like a rhinoceros on Sparks Street.

The main differences between firstand second-generation models are price, image clarity and three-dimensional image capability. Second-generation models provide up to three times better light gathering abilities but can cost twice as much as first gen models. If you’ve got the cash, expect much crisper images, especially around the lens edges. Some second generation models also illuminate the dark in colour, rather than the green illumination of first generation models.

So will these things turn nighttime into day? Not really. But they do allow you to see A LOT more than you would normally see at night.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Like a fine camera, these are not for children or clumsy adults. Read the directions before using. A night vision device is a finely tuned optical instrument with sensitive light-gathering electronics. You can damage the lens if you point it towards a bright light. Or if you drop it on a rock … you get the point. But today’s models are pretty rugged when handled properly.

Most of these gadgets work best for seeing objects within 100 to 150 metres, the closer the better. Don’t expect to watch deer roaming half a kilometre away even if you turn on the IR illuminator. Fog, mist and rain can seriously degrade the image. But who wants to be out in rain or fog doing this?

Unless you’re constantly using the IR illuminator, night vision gear works best with at least a little ambient light and it’s perfect for isolated campsites away from city lights.

Bright points of light (from windows, cars, traffic lights) can for and blur the image.

A word of caution. Soldiers may be able to run confidently through a field in search of the enemy, but if you try it and fall onto a rock, you’re the one paying for a replacement. Instead, stand still when you use your device, and scan an area of forest for hiding forest critters.

Now you can get into the dark forest and find out what’s stalking your campsite. Just walk slowly and beware of skunks. 

Protect what matters.

Be smart and prepare a Legal Will before your trips and adventures.

Call for a quote today!

because anything can happen in the outdoors.

www.georgebrownlaw.com For your WILLs, POWER of ATTORNEY and assistance with other LEGAL MATTERS. Tel: 613-731-2453 Fax: 613-249-7060 George@georgebrownlaw.com | www.georgebrownlaw.com

www.gettrained.ca www.itlsottawa.com For First Aid, CPR/AED: Info@gettrained.ca For Wilderness First Aid: francois@gettrained.ca For ITLS training: eric@gettrained.ca

Course

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Quebec’s nearby Pontiac region beckons

Canoeing on the Ottawa River.

Little-known, but full of hefty outdoor fun

By Katharine Fletcher | Photos Eric Fletcher

W

ant to raft down frothing whitewater under a full moon? Hike woodland paths and canoe the Ottawa River? Race dog teams along sandy trails in summer?

For full-on adventure against a backdrop of spectacular nature, grab your gear, bring the family (lots of stuff for kids), and discover the Pontiac.

It’s a lesser-known part of West Quebec, and a fine outdoorsy “staycation” destination for Ottawa-Gatineau residents. Pontiac’s gateway lies immediately west of Aylmer, and includes towns along Highway 148 Ouest such as Luskville, Quyon, Bristol, Fort Coulonge and beyond. Even the “orphaned” island known as Rapides-des-Joachims – Pontiac residents call it Swisha or Da Swisha – is officially in Pontiac, though you can get to it only from Ontario!

Although it’s easy to drive along Highway 148, another scenic route is via the Quyon www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ferry Fitzroy Harbour (Mohr’s Landing) on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River to Quyon.

Here are some don’t-miss attractions, starting really close to home.

Gatineau Park’s Luskville Falls is a heart-healthy 4.5-kilometre (return) hike up – and down – the 290-metre Eardley Escarpment north of Luskville. Clamber up beside the falls (by mid-summer not quite as spectacular as in spring’s meltwater) then ascend the ridge. Pause on sculpted Canadian Shield gneiss and granite for expansive views of the Ottawa River Valley.

Binoculars are a boost to track the turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks soaring below you as you climb, as well as to spot forest songbirds such as scarlet tanagers, blackthroated blue warblers and rose-breasted grosbeaks among others.

Woof! Timberland Tours’ proprietor Denis Rozon loves racing his cherished dogs at his year-round Pontiac location north of Bristol. You’d normally expect to mush sled dogs in winter, but you can spend half a day with the dogs in summertime too. Learn how to harness a team of sleek greyhound-, huskyand pointer-mix pooches to Rozon’s “dryland rig,” then dash along sandy trails through a pine forest.

Rozon’s annual Bristol Dryland Canadian Championship Dog Race attracts contestants from all over the world in October. No need to bring a picnic lunch: This event includes a cold drink and hot dogs cooked over a fire.

Then you can shift out of the woods onto the water with HorixonX, a rafting and ottawaoutdoors I 43

kayaking outfit on the Ottawa River’s Île du Grand Calumet. Come for the rush of whitewater rafting during a full moon with the only outfitter in Canada to run night rafting.

I’ve been part of this full-on sensory experience: silvery moon outlining white pine silhouettes against a starry sky, then the wow factor when tranquility gives way to the sound of roaring rapids. You spy the black tongue of the rapids up ahead, and then you’re scooting through the whitewater surge, heart racing as guide-owner Martin Bertrand yells “Paddle! Paddle harder!”

That isn’t all. You can come here for kayak school, daytime rafting, or river boarding. Accommodations on-site. Take your tripod for a shore-shot of the rapids in the background with your rafting team in front.

Fort Coulonge’s bygone lumber industry springs to life at Parc des Chutes Coulonge northwest of the village. Watch a logging video, stroll the interpreted trail to the waterfall and catch a thrill on the Giant Canyon zip lines. Swoosh from 260 down to 100 metres above churning gorge waters, then up cliffs on the 600-metre Via Ferrata, the rock-climbing course, negotiating two swinging bridges en route.

Tip: Take your camera

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Jim Coffey’s Esprit Rafting Adventures in Davidson welcomes

adrenaline junkies as well as paddlers who prefer gentler canoeing or standup riverboarding. New this year is overnight riverboarding where you can camp out befoe returning to headquarters. On-site lodgings and a great deck overlooking the Ottawa River inspired us to linger and soak up the sunset while quaffing a brew and enjoying woodfired pizza.

Tip: If you want certification in wilderness first aid and other skills, ask about Esprit’s whitewater-intensive leadership development school.

Rapides-des-Joachim (Swisha) is home to That Canadian Lodge, a rustic inn overlooking the Ottawa River near Deep River (60 kilometres northwest of Pembroke). Go for hiking trails criss-crossing the island, or for wildlife: osprey, loons, bald eagles, deer, beaver and more may be spotted. You can take a canoe or kayak to paddle the river and bays. If you want to indulge your creativity, an art workshop is

available from Pontiac artist Tina Michaud at her on-site gallery, Gallerie-Gallera.

Tip: Swisha is renowned for its fishing.

Lodge owner Jim Gibson – also the mayor of Swisha – can tell you where to catch pickerel, walleye, catfish and bass. 

Katharine and photographer-husband Eric Fletcher are unabashedly keen about their home region of Pontiac. She is author of several books including Capital Rambles: Exploring the National Capital Region.

Live Local Jazz every Sunday-Tuesday-Wednesday evening.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawaoutdoors I 45

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River Boarding

GET AWAY THIS SUMMER! ACTIVITIES • Boat Rentals • Docking • Golf • Fishing • Diving • 1000 Islands Boat Cruise

ACCOMMODATIONS • Cabins & Pools • Two Bedroom Suites • Jacuzzi Suites • River Front Rooms RESTAURANTS • Upper & Lower • Deck Restaurants

On the St. Lawrence River in the 1000 Islands!

853 1000 Islands Parkway |Mallorytown, ON K0E 1R0

T. 613.659.2266 | www.Caigers.com