Paddler's Guide to Happy Camping
This is Kevin Callan's blog about his trips, his (mis-)adventures, and his favourite gear.
Not fitting the mold at the Wilderness Canoe Symposium
Island Lake - three hours north of Toronto. One of the "lost canoe routes" I presented at this year's Wilderness Canoe Symposium.
“Why don’t I paddle in the Barrens? I have no money and I like trees.” That’s how I started my talk at Saturday’s Wilderness Canoe Symposium in Toronto. Probably not the best opener, and it definitely wasn’t a rehearsed one. I just felt like saying it to the audience of just under 800. Why? Because I had sat through talks all day that focused on the far north. They were amazing presentations and they truly inspired me to paddle to places like the Vachon River or portage such historic routes like Pike’s Portage out of Great Slave Lake. Problem was, during the break my canoe buddy, Andy Baxter, and I looked into the pricing of such trips. What a let down. Unless we had a minimum of $5000 sitting in the bank, we didn’t have a prayer. The closer it came for me to present on my “lost canoe routes” of Ontario’s near north, the more apprehensive I came to standing up on the podium. I was even feeling a tad embarrassed that I wasn’t at the show to tell of my great far northern paddle venture. As luck had it though, a computer/audio issue mixed up my prepared show and I was forced to “wing it” rather then give my prepared talk. When that happens I tend to just jump into whatever is in my head at the time. That act of spontaneity has got me into trouble at times but I think it saved my presentation at the Wilderness Symposium. The morning after, pondering over how the audience reviewed my show, I found this statement on Mike Ormsby's blog reflectionsoutdoors
“I appreciated all of the talk about journeys to remote places….but I really liked Kevin Callan’s view that we don’t need to go as far as the Arctic barren lands to find wilderness; that wild places can be found much closer to home, often just around the corner or a few hours away….that all we need to do is jump into a canoe even just for a couple of days….in his words “more than anything, just get out there and do it”. Kevin may have spoken about “lost” canoe routes but what he also spoke to was about how we “lose out” so much not taking any type of a canoe trip into any place wild….to me, perhaps we are even a little “lost” without such experience.”
Fantastic! Finding that comment made my day and I can’t wait to plan this coming paddling season to more affordable semi-wilderness areas in Ontario’s near north…and maybe be asked back to present them at next year’s Wilderness Canoe Symposium.
Kevin, I'm glad you liked the quote....guess I don't exactly fit the mold either....like you I don't paddle the Barrens primarily due to lack of funds and also because I love trees...and rocks....and trees....and water....and more trees (give me the Shield country any time)....guess I'm getting a bit too old for that kind of adventure too....OK maybe not old just more mature LOL LOL....besides my "new" old Peterborough wood canvas canoe is not really meant for that kind of trip (owning an old wood canoe and planning on adding more might explain lack of funds for an Arctic expedition too)....so I was glad to hear you talk about "lost" canoe routes here in Ontario....and to find out I'm not alone (though you can be alone canoe tripping...there are plenty of places close to home where you can trip solo and not see anybody else)....but then I think that most folks at the Wilderness Canoe Symposium just love getting out in a canoe into wild places, wherever they can find them....part of being here in Ontario (and Canada) is that much of that type of canoe tripping can still be found almost on our doorstep....like you said (and I quoted before): “more than anything, just get out there and do it”. Keep up the great work letting others know of the possibitities out there to see this great country from a canoe. You make so many want to seek out their own piece of "wildness" through your books, your talks and blogs such as this.
Paddles up then!!!
Hope to see you out on the trail,
Mike Ormsby
Well, I was the lone guy standing in the corner. This was my first visit and I knew almost no one at the Symposium. Money, age, and deteriorating physical condition will probably keep me from going to the Barrenlands but wanted to experience the Far North as an armchair traveler anyway. I started reading Kevin Callan's books back in 1997 while recuperating from a kidney transplant. He gave me inspiration to get back outdoors. Kevin's presentations are always a delight, even though he doesn't go where there are no trees...
BTW, I met Mike Olmsby at dinner and I'm still mulling over his Ojibwe quote, "You can't stand in two canoes at the same time."
Great quote.
Hoz, it was great to meet you at dinner....and glad you liked the quote....the quote was actually a reference to a Native (not necessarily Ojibwe) saying "one foot in two canoes" that describes how a First Nations person has a hard time living both a Traditional or Native way of life while living in a mainstream (or if you'll excuse the label "white") world....like so many things in life it is about finding balance....some of us can balance between those two canoes for a while....but it's easier to just be in one canoe to find absolute balance....lot easier to get somewhere too LOL LOL
Should have added the quote is not just about First Nations people....but anyone who is faced with finding balance in their lives....and without getting too "preachy" here (sorry if I've got on a soapbox here), I believe that a canoe can be a vehicle to such balance....when things get really crazy in my life, it is great to just get out for a paddle to clear off the clutter and cobwebs; to find that balance in my life....part of the "magic" that Jon Turk spke about in his presentation at the WCS
Kevin - I was confused by this show. The title of the show is the Wilderness Canoe Symposium and yet by my count there were only 4 CANOE related presentations. On Friday we learned about a 52 day women - only trip, and on Saturday we were entertained by Eric from Quebec, facinated by the tale of two trips on the Romaine River (David Lee did a GREAT job) and tickled by your honest tales of the beauty of trips that are close to home. THANK-you!
well, fitting the mould. Would be boring if ... I thought about that during the talks; would be unfortunate, if there is any friction due to the stuff you mentioned. As Mike says, most just look for their wild places. In the nineties while living in Ottawa I started to canoe in earnest, dragging canoes heavy as a ton though the woods of southern Ontario - I still like it. Meanwhile, I also do this here, in the old arms of the Rhine, confusing people what the heck that red, walking canoe is all about. Solitude is, as I mentioned at our talk, a bit of problem here at home (not comparable to the near wilderness at your places), but we do our best.. For all of us, there are more than one way or place, and all of them are fine, with or without trees; I like the multitude, and the fact, that there was lots besides "bare" paddeling on the symposium.
Kevin - I like your books (have some on the bookshelf here) and especially the attitude, good to see people having really fun on their trips (referring to your videoclips)..
Claudia
I love camping out in the wild and over the years I have found that the best thing is always to take a good <a href="http://www.dozentravel.com">travel guide</a> with you wherever you go. Sometimes, the best thing to do before a camping trip is to check out an online travel ort camping site listed on www.dozentravel.com or another travel index. Check out this blog post on an online <a href="http://matadortravel.com/travel-blog/australia/marta-atravelaroundtheworld/the-backpacker-s-secrets-for-travelling-australia-#comment-25190">travel guide</a> I found while surfing last night, it has some great advice on camping.
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