Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Participants are encouraged to question every aspect of the planning and execution of their trips. Answers to some of the most frequently-asked questions posed in previous years are posted here.
Q - What is the typical daily schedule?
Q - What work is involved on these trips?
Q - How is food kept fresh during the trip?
Q - What are the bugs like in Wabakimi?
Q - Do I need to buy a fishing licence?
Q - Why do I need to carry photo ID on the trip?
Q - Do I need to purchase travel or medical insurance?
Q - What out-of-pocket expenses should I expect once I get to Thunder Bay?
Q - How long should my straight-shaft paddle be?
Q - What kind of footwear should I bring?
Q - What is the typical daily schedule?
Newcomers to Wabakimi are dismayed at the number of hours of daylight. On a clear night in late June, there's still enough light to read a map after 11:00pm EDST and dawn comes only a few hours later. Mornings are invariably damp and foggy so rising early before the sun is well up is not practical. Late evenings are cool, dry and bug-free--the ideal opportunity to star gaze and to watch for the aurora borealis while enjoying a campfire. As a result, the daily schedule runs later than most first-timer's expect.
Meals are a most important facet of daily life in the wilderness. Preparation and clean-up time must be factored into the daily schedule along with the time required to make and break camp. These two aspects of a canoe trip can take up to six hours especially if a campsite must be cleaned before it can be occupied.
The nature of our trips is two-fold. They involve reconnaissance of new routes as well as patrols of routes previously explored to ensure they are well maintained and even improved where necessary. It goes without saying that the total distance travelled on any given day is dependent on what obstacles encountered. Routes are chosen to accommodate the collective age, physical condition and experience of those involved.
Rendezvous days (viz., Saturdays) do not count as full travel days but depending on the float plane schedule, the first day may involve a half-day reconnaissance trip to circumnavigate a lake in search of campsites or to investigate the link to another canoe route. The remaining days are planned as travel days, thus, each 7-night trip will involve 5-6 different campsites. This schedule is not rigid--while the weather holds and there are no other delays, we keep going. As Barry so often says, "It's all about forward progression!".
Some of each travel day will be spent checking out campsites and making side trips to explore possible links to other routes. Side trips are not included in the overall trip distance nor are any portages that link to other routes.
The daily routine still allows time for the pursuit of leisure activities of personal interest (i.e., fishing, photography, writing trip journals, reading, swimming, etc.). While participants are expected to assist with camp chores, there's still plenty of free time for rest and relaxation.
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Q - What work is involved on these trips?
The objective of our trips is to explore, find and explore the lost and/or abandoned canoe routes within Wabakimi Provincial Park as well as those that lie on adjacent Crown lands. The "work" involves exploring and measuring the length of each trail. Campsites are visited, cleaned where necessary, and their location, size and condition noted.
Besides recording the lengths of portages and the locations of their landings and that of campsites, other data collected includes the locations of sites of cultural, historical and natural value as well as encounters with other park visitors, evidence of recent human activities, and sightings of large or fur-bearing mammals and birds of prey. We promptly report forest fires, extreme water levels, damage created by high winds and any other condition which may threaten the welfare of the park or the safety of its visitors. Data collected will be used to assist Ontario Parks in the development of the park's first management plan.
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Q - How is food kept fresh during the trip?
Most of our food is either dehydrated or freeze-dried--very little perishable food is carried. We carry some canned meats but burn the containers and carry out the remnants retrieved from the fireplace the next morning. Perishable food supplies include deli meats, margarine, jam, cheese and pre-sliced loaves of cocktail breads.
Vacuum-packed, pre-sliced "dry" deli meats will last 3 weeks without refrigeration even in very hot weather. Pre-cooked bacon strips do not require refrigeration. The deli or cocktail breads used for lunches have a 6-week shelf life and last very well.
I've never had a problem with the blocks of cheese that we take either. I plan the "old" cheddar towards the end of the weekly food cycle as it keeps better than others such as the "mild" or "marble" cheddar.
The deli meats, cheese, jam and margarine are carried in a soft-sided, insulated lunch bag. At night, it's placed under the thick sphagnam moss so prevalent in the boreal forest. In the morning, the margarine is often so hard, it's difficult to spread.
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Q - What are the bugs like in Wabakimi?
There are several 'critters' that bite in the boreal forest including blackflies, mosquitoes and no-seeum's. The season varies for each but usually reaches its peak from mid-June to mid-July.
Each participant is issued a bottle of Ben's 95% DEET and an After Bite stick. Mosquito coils are burned in the tents each evening (during dinner when they're not occupied) and the campsite is smogged as required. Scent-free lip balm, sunscreen, hand lotions, etc. also help to avoid attracting bugs and even bigger critters.
The best defence against bugs lies in the choice of proper clothing. Participants are encouraged to wear light-coloured long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants with two pairs of socks--one pair inside the pant leg, the other pulled up over the pants. Some people prefer to wear head nets or even two-piece bug suits; others find them too hot and cumbersome when clearing trail. A bandana or neckerchief helps to protect the back of the neck. Of course, a hat should be worn at all times.
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Q - Do I need to buy a fishing licence?
Many paddlers do not consider a wilderness canoe trip complete unless they get to enjoy a few good servings of fresh-caught fish. A fishing licence is not needed to share in the consumption of sport fish legally caught by a licensed angler.
For each fish meal, we need 2-3 fillets per person which means we must catch 4-6 fish depending on their size. With a limit of 2 fish per Conservation Licence, 2-3 licences are needed to legally catch and possess that number of fish.
Almost all angling in the boreal forest is done from a canoe as against from shore. The best fishing is invariably found near moving water. For safety reasons, there must be 2 paddlers in each canoe. In other words, even if you do not wish to fish yourself, it may be necessary for you to accompany your paddling partner if s/he chooses to engage in this activity.
It is illegal to enter a provincial park with a view to living off the land. In other words, you must pack in all the food you'll need and not plan to rely on catching fish, hunting game or picking berries. Our menus are quite complete even without the addition of fish. But every dinner menu is planned so that half need not be opened if we wish to substitute fresh-caught fish.
If your decision not to participate in catching fish is based on a personal preference not to engage in harming or killing wildlife, I can respect that. But during any foray into the wilderness, one should be well versed in a variety of survival techniques not the least of which is the ability to catch, capture and gather food. You must ask yourself, if push came to shove, do I have the skills necessary to provide for myself and the other members of my party?
The philosophy that governs how I plan and manage guided, wilderness canoe trips can be summarized as: Safety, Education, Enjoyment. If you lack the experience or skill to competently catch fish, fear not! I'd love to help you learn. Hopefully, I won't drop your catch over the side as I did with Barry's trophy walleye in Winn Lake. He didn't even get a photo! Ouch!
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Q - Why do I need to carry photo ID on the trip?
If you plan to purchase an Ontario fishing licence at the air base, the issuer will ask you to produce proof of identity. Acceptable photo ID includes a driver's licence, passport, OHIP card, military ID or age of majority card. Ontario residents must possess an Outdoor Card in order to purchase a fishing licence.
Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Conservation Officers (CO's), provincial park wardens and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have the legal authority to demand proof of identity to verify your right to fish or to occupy a campsite.
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Q - Do I need to purchase travel or medical insurance?
The Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers health costs for Ontario residents anywhere within the province.
Some participants choose to purchase the extra benefits offered in the travel insurance plans sold by most banks and major credit card companies. The per day premiums are not that expensive. Be sure your coverage includes all of the days you'll be away from home.
Zip-lock bags will be issued at the pre-trip briefing to store your photo ID, fishing licence, Ontario Outdoor Card and health/travel insurance card.
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Q - What out-of-pocket expenses should I expect once I get to Thunder Bay?
Quanto dinero? Several participants have asked what out-of-pocket expenses to anticipate while away from home. Aside from any outstanding balance owed, here are some other expenses to consider.
If you're flying to/from Thunder Bay, you should have enough change to tip the driver for each of your airport taxi shuttles. Since you're expected at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure, you may wish to have enough cash to purchase food at the Tim Horton's on the mezzanine.
Most participants are not interested in a big breakfast on the morning of the trip starting date when they must travel 3 hours by road and then fly in a float plane. A stop will be made on the way out of town to purchase coffee, sandwiches, etc. Have enough cash in hand to buy lunch in Armstrong in case inclement weather delays either your insertion or extraction flight.
Fishing licences may be purchased at the air base. Cash payment in either U.S. or Canadian currency simplifies the transaction but credit cards are accepted.
I'm recommend you bring a credit card to purchase your dinners in Thunder Bay on the pre- and post-trip evenings. Last year, many "teams" of participants went out for dinner on the eve of the trip departure. It a great getting-to-know-you opportunity; ditto as a post-trip wind-up.
To minimize the cash you must carry, you can pay what you owe me by cheque. If you need confirmation of your balance owed, let me know.
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Q - How long should my straight-shaft paddle be?
The vertical distance from the top of the bow seat to the floor of the boat is 10"; 9" from the stern seat. Keep in mind that the Souris River 18' 'Wilderness' model is a cruising canoe and the seats are meant to be sat on. Kneeling with one's feet under the seat is not a practical option. This affects the length of a paddle required for this paddling position.
Most people tend to focus on the overall length of a paddle and, to a lesser degree, the length of the blade. They fail to consider the shaft length and its proportion to the the other two measurements. The Grey Owl 'Voyageur' model we supply has a shaft-to-blade ratio that suits most paddlers despite their torso size or arm length.
For straight-shaft paddles, most paddlers use the traditional technique of standing erect with the paddle positioned on the toe of their shoe. They choose a paddle whose overall length brings the top end (viz., the grip) up to a point somewhere near the nose. This measurement invariably exceeds that needed for the Souris River canoe and paddlers find themselves overreaching awkwardly with a paddle that is too long. A better measure of the length required using this method would be somewhere nearer the chin, viz., at least 3-4" less.
The web-strapped seats of the 'Wilderness' model are slightly bowed or curved, that is they 'dip' towards the centre. The measurements quoted above were taken at the centre of each seat. The bow seat is about 4.5" below the gunnwales at the side of the boat; the stern seat is about 6" below the gunwales at the side. This latter figure reflects the fact that the stern seat is closer to the stem of the boat which is higher than at midships.
Using these fixed measurements belies the one, all-important variable that needs to be taken into account, viz., the draft of the boat when fully laden. It is not the fixed distance from the top of the seat to the floor of the canoe that should dictate one's choice of paddle length but rather, the vertical (and variable) distance from the top of the seat to the waterline.
Fully laden on our Wabakimi expeditions, the 18' Souris River 'Wilderness' canoe will draw almost 3". To that end and assuming the boat is properly trimmed stem to stern, the vertical distance one should take into account is more like 7" for the bow seat and 6" for the stern.
With regard to paddles whose shaft length is inordinately too short or too long, there is another measuring technique to confirm that it fits the paddler's arm length. Holding the paddle horizontal before you at shoulder height, grasp the shaft just above the blade and at the neck with palms down. Lift the paddle (still horizontal) over your head and drop it onto the back of your neck level with your shoulders. Now, compare the position of your forearms. If they are vertical, the paddle shaft is the correct length; if they lean outwards (i.e., away from the shoulders), it's too long; if they pull inwards (i.e., towards the shoulders), it's too short.
I am exactly 6' tall and most comfortable with a 58" in the bow and a 56" in the stern but I have used a 54" for an entire trip in both paddling positions without any discomfort.
There is one other measurement to consider and that is the depth the paddle dips into the water at its deepest point. The lakes and rivers of Wabakimi are very shallow. A paddle that penetrates too deeply will constantly be hitting bottom.
A cruising canoe is meant to be paddled using the Canadian stroke which is executed most efficiently by keeping the elbow of the lower arm (i.e., the arm closest to the water) locked straight throughout the entire stroke. A paddle that is too long will invariable cause the paddler to bend his/her lower elbow of this lower arm and even to 'hitch' the shoulder during the recovery stage of the stroke--a terrible waste of energy, very tiring and extremely debilitating.
Using the voyageur timetable of paddling 50-55 minutes of every hour with a 5-10 minute 'pipe' break at a cadence of 45-60 strokes per minute, in an 8-hour day, that amounts to about 18,000 strokes per day. The voyageurs often paddled up to 18 hours a day on long, open-water hauls such as Lake Superior, Lake Nipigon and Lake Winnipeg. You can imagine that they strived to realize the the greatest efficiency out of every stroke.
Don't fret too much about sizing paddles and PFD's. During the pre-trip briefing, Sarah will assist you to make the correct choices.
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Q - What kind of footwear should I bring?
Participants are encouraged to bring two pair of lace-up shoes: one pair to wear during the day; the other pair to be worn in the evening around the campsite. It is important to pack at least four pairs of heavy-duty socks. Some paddlers prefer to wear seal skin or neoprene socks but they do not 'breathe'; two pair of wool work socks work just as well.
Footwear worn during the day on any canoe trip will invariably be wet most of the time. Canoe shoes such as the Salomon 'Amphibian' dry quickly even while being worn. They have a good tread and provide excellent support and grip while hiking over rough portage trails or wading in rocky streams and rivers. For safety reasons, shoes worn during the day must be laced and not slip-on. Open-toed sandals and heavy hiking boots are totally inappropriate--the former expose feet to injury; the latter make good anchors.
The other pair of shoes are referred to as the 'dry' pair. They are packed at the top of the personal pack along with dry socks where they are readily accessible. Sandals are not recommended as they provide little protection. Here again, two pair of socks are better than one. The outer pair can be pulled up over the pant leg to protect ankles from pesky biting critters.
The "dry feet" ceremony is a daily ritual that all serious wilderness canoeists look forward to with keen anticipation as soon as the evening campsite is reached. We carry Johnson's Baby Powder to apply to our feet before donning our 'dry' shoes and socks. Ah! Sweet bliss!
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