August 1st, 2001 marked a major milestone in my life. It was 6 pm. My sister and I were waiting for my dad to return from work so we could strap the Canoe and kayak to the top of the car, pack the rest of the gear and hit the road. This was not our first…
Growing up as a tomboy, I’ve always appreciated the great outdoors. My parents nurtured that love for nature by taking me and my two younger brothers camping every year – and it was always Algonquin Park. Over the years, my list of camping staples has changed significantly, and I truly thought I had the entire…
Back in Fall 2019, Karam, Truffle (the canoe) and I, set out on a 17-day canoe trip through Algonquin Park, Canada. The beauty of this place is tenfold during Fall. Although we knew there would be the added challenge of colder weather, we wanted to avoid the crowds of summer and the mosquitoes, have our…
My fascination with nature began during Outdoor Education in high school. As a class, we took a trip to Big Trout Lake which, for most of us, was our first experience with the great outdoors. We had an incredible teacher who thoroughly prepared us for a four-day excursion into Algonquin’s backcountry. I loved every minute…
Part 1 of 2 – Day 1 Although it was a late start this year, I was super thrilled to be in the backcountry of Algonquin Park last weekend! I made this trip into an extended weekend (Thursday – Sunday). The trip was planned to start at Rock Lake; we complete a 375-metre portage to…
This 10-part series brings Mark’s trip-logs to life, and aims to exhibit the breathtaking sights and sounds of the Algonquin backcountry. It strives to inspire people to get out and experience backcountry canoe camping for themselves, and for seasoned paddlers, acts as an informational vehicle for trip planning, or as a simple way of quenching spring paddling fever as we await ice out!
Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned… Every year as we schedule our summer and fall camping and travel plans, we always include either a completely new-to-us destination, or an activity we’ve never tried. One of our most memorable “new activities” in 2017 was my first-ever, mother-daughter canoe trip. With the help of Algonquin Outfitters,…