March 2018

Hardy Lake Hike – Signs of Spring

By |2018-03-20T18:42:29-04:00March 20th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, alone, Canada, creek, creeks, enthusiasm, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, ice, inspiration, Muskoka, muskoka trails, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, scenery, scenic, solo trip, Up north, walking, walks, water, winter, winter Wonderland|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I woke up to a gorgeous winter day and decided I would take advantage. I was so tired of sitting at home and waiting for my concussion to be over with, so off I went! I packed my backpack, some water, a few snacks and headed over to Hardy Lake Provincial Park which is about a 20 minute drive from where I live. Hardy Lake is a lovely provincial park with a few different trail [...]

January 2018

Killarney Solo Winter Backcountry Trip – Ice Ice Baby -44

By |2020-04-22T15:19:28-04:00January 6th, 2018|Categories: Adventure, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, camping, Canada, crack, creek, creeks, Exploring, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, homemade, hot tent, killarney, Killarney Provincial Park, Nature, Ontario, Outdoor Adventure Show, outdoor products, Outdoors, Parks, pulk, pull in, scenery, scenic, sledding, snowshoe trails, snowshoeing, Solitaire, solo trip, tent, tentcamping, walking, winter, winter camping, winter Wonderland|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have always wanted to do a winter backcountry trip in Killarney, but due to the tipi being so heavy and not having a clue where to go, I hadn't made it there as of yet. Over the summer, I had stopped in to visit the lovely staff at the office at George Lake.  I was doing a 5 day, 4 night solo trip and I had a few questions.  I got all the answers [...]

November 2017

Go Home Lake – Time to say goodbye to another paddling season

By |2017-11-22T10:55:19-05:00November 22nd, 2017|Categories: #lake, Adventure, alone, animals, birding, birds, Canada, creek, creeks, day trip, Exploring, go home lake, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, lakes, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, sightseeing, Uncategorized, water, waterways|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I woke up on a Sunday to a beautiful day with a great forecast and for the first time in a long time, I had nothing to do! I thought about what to do and settled on a nice relaxing paddle in my kayak. The weekend before this one, I was at  Ontario Sea Kayak Center to take my Instructor Course and I needed a stress free fun paddle today. I thought about all the [...]

October 2017

Killarney Solo Canoe Trip – Racing the Wind – Part 2/2

By |2017-10-24T18:30:27-04:00October 24th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, alone, backcountry, camping, campsite, Canada, canoe, canoe camping, canoeing, creek, creeks, Exploring, fall, fallcolours, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, Provincial Park, scenery, scenic|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Here is where I left off in Part 1, on a non site on Great Mountain Lake in 39 km wind gusts....... As I sat listening to the wind howling, I looked up and once again noticed the brightly lit up globe in the sky in front of me.  I didn't make the effort to go to the waterfront to take a photo but just snapped one from where I was sitting inside my tent. [...]

September 2017

Algonquin Kiosk Loop – 5 Day Solo Canoe Trip – Part 1

By |2022-03-31T10:08:43-04:00September 13th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, bearproof, camping, campsite, Canada, canoe, canoe camping, canoeing, creek, creeks, Exploring, inspiration, Kioshkokwi, kioshkokwi lake, kiosk, lakes, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, scenery, scenic, solo trip, sunrise, sunset|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In 2002, I went on my very first backcountry trip. Five days, four nights and for someone who'd barely canoed, a huge challenge.  It was a loop full of portages and lots of tests and I had thought about doing it solo for quite some time now.  After a great deal of thought, I came to the conclusion that doing that loop solo, just wasn't realistic or feasible, and so I put it out of [...]

August 2017

The French – 4 day solo kayak trip – Bye Bye Go Pro Hello Fish! 2 of 2

By |2017-08-14T10:45:09-04:00August 14th, 2017|Categories: #adventure, #badweather, #blacksky, #camping, Adventure, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, camp, camping, campsite, Canada, compass, creek, creeks, enthusiasm, Exploring, fish, fishing, food, French River, georgian bay, inspiration, kayak, kayak camping, Kayaking, mapping, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, scenery, scenic, solo trip, storm, sunset, swimming, tangii, waterfalls, waterways, women|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

In my last post, part 1 of 2, Worst Site, Best Site, I had just said goodnight on a beautiful campsite on Georgian Bay.  The weather had been gloomy the last 2 days and I was hoping to rise early to some sunshine.  Let's see if my wish came true? It was Sunday morning, day 3 of my 4 day, 3 night solo kayak trip on the French River and I woke to a very [...]

July 2017

The All Canada Weekend – On Smokey Lake With The Happy Camper

By |2020-05-18T14:00:08-04:00July 5th, 2017|Categories: #fish, Adventure, animals, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, canada day, canoe camping, canoeing, Conservation areas, conservationarea, cooking, creek, creeks, day trip, education, enthusiasm, Exploring, fishing, Fun, Nature, Ontario, outdoor products, outdoorproducts, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, sunset, swimming, tourism, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When I camped with The Happy Camper last month, I had no idea we would be heading out on another trip so soon.  We had discussed the big 150th birthday this year and I had mentioned I wanted to do something awesome, but hadn't made plans yet. Kevin had originally had something booked, but it was cancelled, so,  it left us both open for the long weekend and  it being such a big deal, we [...]

May 2017

Torrance Barrens Hike – Spring Sensory Overload

By |2017-05-16T19:28:05-04:00May 16th, 2017|Categories: #marsh, #rain, #spring, Adventure, alone, bog, bugs, Canada, conservatationarea, Conservation areas, conservationarea, creek, creeks, day trip, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, Muskoka, Nature, navigating, navigation, new beginning, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, pond, puddles, River, rivers, sagan, senses, sensory overload, swamp, torrance, Trails, Uncategorized, Up north, water filter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Have you ever been to Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve in Torrance? I headed there on Saturday to check out the trails and go for a short hike. I had been there in the fall with some friends, and another time in the summer,  and really enjoyed the area. I stopped to take a photo of rose petals strewn out over some rocks near a campsite.  I hoped it was a good experience someone [...]

April 2017

Mizzy Lake Trail – Mushy, Melting & Magical

By |2017-04-18T20:57:33-04:00April 18th, 2017|Categories: #frozen, #snow, Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, alone, animals, Canada, creek, creeks, day trip, Exploring, grouse, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, ice, Mizzy, Mizzy Lake, Mizzy Lake Trail, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, Outdoors, Parks, River, rivers, ruffed grouse, rushing water, solo trip, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, walks, water, waterfalls, waterways, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017, was forecast as a beautiful spring day with high temperatures in Algonquin Park of 9 degrees.  I had been cooped up for a few weekends working on my Canoe Symposium presentation and I needed to get outside! So I got up at 7am, got myself ready, jumped in the car, and headed to Algonquin Park! When I arrived at the trailhead... it was snowing.  Not very warm at all, about -1 [...]

Rugged Trail – Parry Sound – Rugged but Gorgeous

By |2017-04-04T19:51:21-04:00April 4th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, alone, Canada, creek, creeks, frozen waterfalls, georgian bay, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, ice, icefalls, inspiration, Nature, Ontario, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, parry sound, rivers, solo trip, tourism, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, walks, water, waterfalls, waterways, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

At this time of year, I have been heading out on day trips on the weekends so that I can spend more time at home at the computer.  Yes, it sucks a bit, and YES I am dying to go camping... but sometimes you have to take what you can get.  With an upcoming presentation at the KW Canoe Symposium that I am thrilled about, gear reviews due for the brand I ambassador for, Ultimate [...]

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