Friday, October 16, 2015

Agawa Canyon Canoe Trip Sept. 26 to Oct 2, 2015

Agawa Canyon Canoe Trip Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 2015

Trip report of PJ McColl's and my fall trip to the Agawa is now up for your enjoyment.
And it is long and Pic heavy.

Yeah this is sort of cheating but it is as long as the river was low.
So this is just way easier than fixing all the links and pics to work here.



http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=44451

Jeff

Monday, August 17, 2015

The bucket list paddle.


The bucket list, most know the movie, and most people have such a list of things to do or places to go.

I have been paddling for almost 50 years now and have done and seen some amazing things on the water.  I have won National titles in both whitewater and sprint canoeing.  I have trained, competed against, paddled with and have been friends with the best in the world both racing and recreational paddlers.

I have paddled many great rivers and waters around the world.  I have paddled some great first descents and rapids that are on many peoples list such as the Skookumchuck  Narrows in BC. And have paddled among huge icebergs in Newfoundland/Labrador.

There are many places I would like to go, but there is one that has been on the “list” for a long time and this will shock a lot of people that know “paddling” me.

We take you back to 1976, fastest in the Country in Downriver racing and most of my paddling is leaning to the “big” side of the scale.
We were traveling to the Nationals in Alberta when just to the west of Marathon Ontario, Highway 17, the Trans Canada makes a fairly sharp turn to the west around a small Boreal lake, nestled into a beautiful mountain setting.  The threatening clouds and darkening skies added to the depth and beauty of this lake.
 
Right then and there, I said I had to paddle this lake!
I have been to Northern Ontario many times since then but had not been able to stop and paddle here for a variety of reasons.
So this year I knew we where going up to Northern Ontario for two weeks at the end of July so the plan was to definitely go and paddle this pretty little Boreal lake named “Wolf Camp Lake” on the maps.
Not much has changed on this lake from when I first saw it except there is now a microwave tower on top of the big hill at the north end.  There is a little dirt road that follows the east shore but you don’t really see it from the lake.

Access is really easy as there is a turn off and parking area right beside the lake when you get off the highway and there is little sign that it gets used very much and there are no camps or cottages on the lake.

So for 39 years this lake has been in the back of my mind, that I should paddle it, why? I don’t know, but I will Share with you what I found.

Once we were ready to paddle and the boat was off and on the edge of the lake we gave a gift of tobacco to Mother Earth and the Lake. 



My paddling roots run very deep in Northern Ontario, my Father worked on the Algoma Central railway after WWII and was partnered with a First Nations member who taught him paddle and bush skills, which has led to my life long love affair with paddling, so this gesture was more than appropriate.

As we move through the reeds to open water an Eagle circled overhead and cried out….  Very cool indeed.



My wife Anne joined me for this pilgrimage, since I have been talking about this lake since we took the kids up for the Sault – Thunderbay loop 20 years ago.



We paddled along the east shore heading north, there was a small little island and the shoreline rises gently for a short distance then raised very steeply helping give that lake in the mountains effect.



There was a nice wind blowing, not too strong, but enough to keep the bugs at bay as we slowly made our way along the shore.  When we got to the north shore there was a tiny lagoon with a small stream flowing in and we were given this terrific view looking towards Hwy. 17



This end of the lake was definitely the “high end” beach strip.



This end of the lake has a little turn in it and you only hear the sounds of the wind as we paddled in some more reeds.



As you paddle south, along the west shore, the cliffs rise right out of the lake.



It is beautifully rugged and it feels you are being watched from the hills.



Looking at the eastern hills and shore.



Another small stream enters the lake towards the south end.



Looking north from the southwest shore.



I hope you enjoyed paddling around this pretty little lake with us.

So what did I find?
A beautiful peaceful place to paddle on one of Northern Ontario’s Boreal lakes.
What did I expect to happen?
That I don’t know, in the beginning there was just whisper in the back of my head that I should paddle there, but there where no visions or secret messages.
There was though a great sense of peace and relaxation, but that I have felt whenever I paddle and camp. 
So maybe that is the message to share what I have found so others and also find these wonderful places.
Wolf Camp Lake, if you go here or any other special place to you, make sure you leave it for others as you found it.

Jeff McColl

Link to my Northern Album 2015.


Saturday, January 17, 2015

The Canyon in Winter.


Special Note: since I wrote this the ACR passenger train no longer runs, which makes accessing the area more than tough.  The tour train still runs but there is a group working on restoring the passenger service to the area.  (updated Feb 2020)

The Canyon in winter.
Agawa Canyon may not be in the top 10 of winter camping destinations in Ontario but it is far more exotic and beautiful place than those on the list.
Getting there is far more challenging but the rewards for doing so are much more gratifying!
This first image is of the Goudge Gateway and the second is of me holding the water colour copy of a painting done approx. 1907 by train surveyor Sidney Johnson before they put the ACR tracks through.






But before we discuss how to get in you must be aware just how harsh the weather and landscape can be.  In the heart of winter you must be ready for conditions where the temperatures can range down in to the -40’s and that is cold in any system, plus very strong winds and being in a snow belt very deep snows.  Last year over 2metres and with really deep snow river travel is very hazardous because you cannot see where the open water sections are.
Pic last years snow



I usually base camp and use a canvas tent with wood stove (hot tent) but then even then I pull a small sled with survival and backup gear on day trips should things go amiss.
You can snowshoe or cross country ski in from the highway or the easiest way in/out is by the ACR passenger train.



Winter Trekking .com site.  This is the premier community for winter camping and trekking and the members are both polite and very helpful.  They will critique your choices and give you suggestions where to go for equipment or on how to improvise with what you have.
When I took up winter camping 5 years ago at the age of 54 their knowledge and advice made my first week ever of winter camping enjoyable and safe and six of those seven days where below -30 c

If you are not quite up to the experience of camping on your own you can contact Superior Exploration and climbing Co. 
They have a hot tent set up right in the middle of the canyon and Shaun can guide you in the area and take you to the top of one of the ice climbs in the area.



Facebook page

There are some others in the area that may be able to hook you up with people that are knowledgeable about the conditions or some local guides.
Niijkiwenhag – friends of Lake Superior Park

If you are looking for warm accommodations there are several but the Stokely Creek Lodge will put you into the heart of King Mountain conservation area.

Finally if you do are not the kind of person that likes to trek through the snow and hills you can take the Algoma Central Railway Passenger service on a two-day trip. You pick up the train in Sault Ste. Marie spend the night at a hotel in Hearst and back down to the Sault the next day.  You will have to take your own lunch on board  for it is a full 2 days of train travel but you will see just how awesome Algoma is.

Lower Agawa Canyon terrain.  This will give you some idea of the size of the hills in Algoma.



If you do take the train in on an unguided winter camping trip and doing a base camp it is a good idea to bring in some firewood with you. It is worth the cost of extra weight on the train because with the very wet fall we had, good dry firewood will be a major effort to find and collect.
With the Ash borer problem it is best you by local wood or take some of those fire logs.  It will make the trip much more enjoyable.
Meakin Forest Ent. sells certified ash borer free fire wood and they can tell you which outlets carry their pre-packaged firewood in the Sault area.

Just a friendly reminder/heads up abut winter camping in the area.  Cell phones do not work and satellite technology, either phones or other services do not work well in the canyons.  Make sure you have a good plan and someone knows your trip itinerary.
Plan for the worse possible weather conditions and have the gear that can keep you warm and comfortable, the forecast can change very quickly and snow squalls off the lake can dump a lot of snow in a hurry making travel very difficult.
I bailed for that very reason after one night last year.  I had all the cold weather gear and was quite comfy but travel was extremely hazardous and hard.
It is always better to come out and try again another day.

Jeff



Past trip reports.



Link to winter albums.