Outdoor Writer & Consultant – Wilderness Guide – Custom Canoe Expeditions into the far north
Outdoor Writer & Consultant – Wilderness Guide – Custom Canoe Expeditions into the far north
Third and final pitch of Wedding Cake Falls* Just west of Armstrong, Ontario, in the rocky shield country of Canada, lies a spectacular river called the “Kopka”. Along its length is one of the most magnificant falls within the tree line. Here, at what was once called “Mink Bridge Portage,” the entire contents of the […]
Cr. Chris Baker Photography (With addendum that tells the fate of the two paddlers and the wrapped red kayak) Some people don’t like to do the same river twice—attitude being “been there, done that, seen it all.” Maybe not. I’ve done many of my favorite rivers several times. And each time they have provided new […]
This guest blog, by, Tony Heck, is a great read. It’s long, but worth your time. About Tony: Tony is a jack-of-all trades outdoorsman, paddler and master sausage maker. He travels with his little Beagle dog, Tu. Tu has grown quite comfortable sitting atop Tony’s specially outfitted Old Town Tripper canoe. Tu never complains. Tony’s […]
Updated: Aug 22, 2024 By Eric Watt: From my book, Campsite Memories. This true, heartwarming story will make you smile. Forward: Erik Watt is a politically incorrect misfit who fled North after thirty years as a fourth-generation newsman to avoid becoming a journalist. He’s known Canada’s Northwest Territories since he was a teenage Mackenzie River deckhand […]
This is from Caitlin Looney, a wilderness therapist in Colorado. Caitlin was guiding a group of teenagers and turned a “lost experience” into a confidence-building, inspirational event. Caitlin did everything exactly right. Follow along on the map as you read her story. Note that her choices reflect an in-depth understanding of backcountry navigation. Cliff —————————————————— […]
Noatak River, Alaska: Seconds before the williwaw. The canoeing literature universally recommends that landed canoes be turned belly up when stored for a few hours or days on land. The idea is that if it rains while the canoe is unattended, the water will simply drain off rather than flood the hull. Wind is also […]
The Castle: White Otter Lake, Ontario My friend, Chic Sheridan and I discovered “White Otter Castle” by accident in 1984 while canoeing the Turtle River, near Ignace, Ontario. We’d been pinned for hours in a rocky cove of White Otter Lake by a fierce east wind which kicked up man sized rollers. We knew our […]
Mariscal Canyon, Rio Grande River, Texas Rio Grande River (“The Great Unknown”) I was born in Chicago and spent the first 14 years of my life there. We lived on the third floor of an apartment building in the heart of the city. There were no wild places nearby, not even a city park. The […]
I turned 80 in September. No matter, I continue to think—and largely feel—like I’m 29…well, maybe 39. The heart attack I had in 2013 hasn’t slowed me down. Early in life I became a fan of Calvin Rutstrum’s books. I read them all, over and over again. In one of his titles (I believe it […]
DeHaviland Twin Otter on floats With a payload of 3,000 pounds, full instrumentation and extended range capability, the deHaviland Twin Otter rightly earns the title, “workhorse of the north.” This mid-fifties freight hauler can carry up to 21 passengers–or half that number and all their gear–to the most remote regions of the world without need […]