Embracing the Great “White North”
The students had geared up for this trip for months, sawing branches for tinder and kindling, gathering pine bows for extra cushioning under sleeping bags, practicing pulling their gear on toboggans wearing snow shoes, rehearsing first aid and survival scenarios, and pitching their eight-person winter tents complete with wood burning stoves. However, none of them knew quite what to expect.
Back
The drive north was uneventful, the weather clear, and aside from it being the coldest day of their trip, the mood festive. The group arrived in Espanola around lunchtime, and Dave and Adam, their Lure of the North guides for their four-day trek, met them to carry their gear by Ski-Doo to basecamp so that our students could acclimate to their snowshoes during their 7km hike through the woods.
The first night was spent at basecamp where they got to know Dave, his wife and partner Kielyn, their dog Hank, and Adam, a Bushcraft Specialist from England. Prototype Snowtrekker tents were pitched, wood burning stoves stoked, and a rice fusion dish prepared for dinner. The night sky was incredibly clear and the illuminated tents shone bright for those who ventured outside to stargaze. Most everyone was surprised at how toasty warm the tents got, and only those who slept by the edge of the tent awoke to ice on their cheeks the next morning.
“Hank the Tank” took to the group so well the first night, he was invited to join them on his first multi-day trip as a welcome distraction. The group set off right after breakfast, their destination West Quartzite Lake. Probably the second coldest day, temperatures were about -17C, but the blue sky and effort of pulling a toboggan while snowshoeing across frozen lakes and portaging through dense woods kept them warm.
The first night was spent at basecamp where they got to know Dave, his wife and partner Kielyn, their dog Hank, and Adam, a Bushcraft Specialist from England. Prototype Snowtrekker tents were pitched, wood burning stoves stoked, and a rice fusion dish prepared for dinner. The night sky was incredibly clear and the illuminated tents shone bright for those who ventured outside to stargaze. Most everyone was surprised at how toasty warm the tents got, and only those who slept by the edge of the tent awoke to ice on their cheeks the next morning.
“Hank the Tank” took to the group so well the first night, he was invited to join them on his first multi-day trip as a welcome distraction. The group set off right after breakfast, their destination West Quartzite Lake. Probably the second coldest day, temperatures were about -17C, but the blue sky and effort of pulling a toboggan while snowshoeing across frozen lakes and portaging through dense woods kept them warm.
The team arrived at its second campsite close to dark and had to hurry to get the tents up with what little daylight was left. A burrito dinner was devoured and after a few more stories from their leader Dave – who is passionate about all aspects of traditional winter camping, wilderness travel, and northern culture – these exhausted explorers crawled into their sleeping bags for the night.
The next day they summited Mount Ararat. It was a steep climb, which they did in snowshoes, and offered a spectacular view of the North Channel of Georgian Bay and the La Cloche Mountain range. This was the warmest day so far, just a few degrees below zero, and it was a great feeling of freedom to travel light, not be pulling all their gear. The descent was a bit easier and they arrived back at camp for a well-earned pasta dinner and evening together by the fire.
On the final day, the group woke up early to dismantle the campsite and head back to Lure of the North’s basecamp. Temperatures rose above zero that day, which made for a slightly slower trek navigating a layer of slush, requiring frequent stops to knock frozen slush off the bottom of their toboggans and snowshoes.
Some of the student’s takeaways included, “This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding,” “I was shocked and amazed at how our group really came together as one,” and “For three days, we really didn’t see any other sign of life, except maybe one small village way in the distance.” Others expressed an overall contentment of being outdoors, detached from their devices and the busyness of life.
All in all, this intrepid group trekked 40km – forging their own path through dense woods and across snow-covered lakes – while solidifying friendships, building confidence and honing survival skills along the way.
The next day they summited Mount Ararat. It was a steep climb, which they did in snowshoes, and offered a spectacular view of the North Channel of Georgian Bay and the La Cloche Mountain range. This was the warmest day so far, just a few degrees below zero, and it was a great feeling of freedom to travel light, not be pulling all their gear. The descent was a bit easier and they arrived back at camp for a well-earned pasta dinner and evening together by the fire.
On the final day, the group woke up early to dismantle the campsite and head back to Lure of the North’s basecamp. Temperatures rose above zero that day, which made for a slightly slower trek navigating a layer of slush, requiring frequent stops to knock frozen slush off the bottom of their toboggans and snowshoes.
Some of the student’s takeaways included, “This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding,” “I was shocked and amazed at how our group really came together as one,” and “For three days, we really didn’t see any other sign of life, except maybe one small village way in the distance.” Others expressed an overall contentment of being outdoors, detached from their devices and the busyness of life.
All in all, this intrepid group trekked 40km – forging their own path through dense woods and across snow-covered lakes – while solidifying friendships, building confidence and honing survival skills along the way.
