September 2016

Portaging a kayak-3×2 to Scorch Lake – Algonquin Park PART 1

By |2016-09-21T18:04:04-04:00September 21st, 2016|Categories: Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, cooking, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, homemade, kayak, kayak carrier, kayak portaging, kayak rack, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, scorch, scorch lake, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, women|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When my friend and fellow blogger  Joyce asked me if I wanted to do a trip to Scorch Lake with her, I said yeah! When she told me there were 3 portages totaling over 3 km's, I said ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!  I mean, I paddle a kayak, not a canoe, and I have portaged my small kayak,  but never that far. I suggested we rent a canoe, then I thought about it for the night.  Then [...]

Huckleberry Rock Trail – a gem in Muskoka

By |2016-09-07T06:57:04-04:00September 7th, 2016|Categories: Canada, Exploring, garbage, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, huckleberry rock, Lake Joseph, lake muskoka, lake rousseau, litter, Lookout, Muskoka, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, Port carling, sightseeing, solo trip, tourism, tourists, Trails, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, walks, water|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since moving to Muskoka and making the drive to Bracebridge for groceries and supplies, etc, I have noticed a sign along highway 118 that says Huckleberry Rock Trail, but until today, I had not investigated it.  I was really glad I did because it's a pretty nice place! It was the day of the Tragically Hip concert, their farewell show in Kingston. I had originally had plans to go camping with some friends but things [...]

July 2016

Hardy Lake – The 8km loop

By |2016-07-19T06:48:47-04:00July 19th, 2016|Categories: Canada, day trip, Fun, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, inspiration, Muskoka, muskoka trails, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, ontario sea kayak centre, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, swimming, Uncategorized, Up north, walkling, walks, women|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I woke up to a gorgeous day Saturday and headed out to Mactier to do an address change on my drivers License.  When I got back to my place in Port Carling, I asked my roomates what they had planned for the day?  I had decided to do the bigger loop at Hardy Lake as I'd done the smaller one when I'd first arrived and loved it there.  Both Molly and Debra were in, so we [...]

June 2016

Paddle Canada Level 1 Sea Kayaking Skills Course with Ontario Sea Kayak Centre

By |2020-05-19T14:47:02-04:00June 14th, 2016|Categories: #sup, alone, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Exploring, glamping, harmony, harmony inn, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hot tent, instructors, kayak, Kayaking, learning, level 1, mapping, Muskoka, Nature, Ontario, ontario sea kayak centre, Ontario Trails, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, parry sound, River, solo trip, summer tent, sunset, swimming, tarps, tent, tentcamping, Up north, walkling, walks, water, yoga|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I've wanted to retake my kayaking course for some time now. I guess I should say 'retake' lightly as the first course I took in 2004 was not a certificate program through Paddle Canada and was only an 8 hour course, but, I did learn quite a few of the items that were on the list for the Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Level 1 course. A few weeks ago I began researching a few places [...]

Wilderness Navigation – Getting Lost on purpose Frontenac PP

By |2026-04-05T13:19:07-04:00June 6th, 2016|Categories: #lost, #map, Adventure, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, bruce trail, camping, Canada, compass, day trip, declination, Exploring, frontenac, grid, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, learning, legend, mapping, Muskoka, muskoka trails, Nature, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, rose, solo trip, true north, walkling, walks, wildernessnavigation|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Since my very first backcountry trip in 2002 I have been carrying a compass in my backpack on every single trip I go on.  You would think that would make me smart, but the reality is, I have never learned how to use a compass. I was never in girl guides or scouts or brownies or participated in any type of class or course to show me how to use this amazing instrument. I have [...]

May 2016

Killbear – I would never!

By |2016-05-31T19:42:19-04:00May 31st, 2016|Categories: #killbear, animals, beach, camp, Campers, camping, camping tips, Canada, carcamping, Exploring, fish & chips, Fun, georgian bay, glamping, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, kayak, Kayaking, Lookout, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, Provincial Park, summer tent, tent, tentcamping, Trails, Up north|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I have always wanted to go to Killbear Provincial Park.  Last year I tried out 7 new Ontario Parks and loved almost every one of them.  This year, the first on my list to try was Killbear! I went to the Ontario Parks Website  and checked out the campground and found some sites that looked great!  I contacted my friend Steph to see if she was in for doing a May 2-4 trip and she was [...]

Hardy Lake PP- no gas, got lost… but it was so amazing there!

By |2016-05-24T19:59:30-04:00May 24th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, creek, creeks, Exploring, Hardy Lake, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, Muskoka, muskoka trails, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, Parks, Provincial Park, solo trip, swimming, Trails, Up north, walkling, walks, water|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I got off work right at 5 with the intention of heading to Hardy Lake for a hike.  I packed my backpack the night before and when I finished for the day at the office, I walked over to my bedroom (lol), grabbed my backpack and off I went! Hardy Lake Provincial Park is about 20 minutes from my new home. I actually came to visit it the day of my job interview, but knowing [...]

Restoule PP – Spring has sprung!

By |2016-05-02T20:04:50-04:00May 2nd, 2016|Categories: #Restoule, Adventure, animals, beach, bearproof, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, carcamping, cold, Exploring, Fun, glamping, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, kayak, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, Parks, Pottery, Provincial Park, summer tent, tent, tentcamping, Trails, Up north|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Last year at this time, I had not winter camped all season. I had not winter camped at all. By April I was dying to get outdoors and into my tent. With May long weekend coming up, I had a chat with mom to see if she'd want to go on a little trip, and then went onto the Ontario Parks site to find somewhere to go! We had never been to Restoule, but I have [...]

March 2016

Decew Falls – Historic Hiking in Niagara!

By |2016-03-28T17:42:31-04:00March 28th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, alone, Brock, bruce trail, brucetrail, Canada, day trip, Decew, Decew Falls, Decew House, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, icefalls, Lake Gibson, Morningstar Mill, Nature, Niagara, Niagara Bruce Trail, Ontario, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, Parks, solo trip, St. Catharines, Trails, walking, walks, water, waterfalls, waterways, wind, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

Decew Falls is named after John DeCou, who purchased the land in about 1788, buying 100 acres with an axe and an indian blanket. In 1812 he purchased the land along the top of the escarpment from his newly built stone house to Decew Falls.  During the war of 1812, DeCou served in the Lincoln Militia and his home served as headquarters by the British where Laura Secord brought news to in June of 1813, of a potential [...]

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