Tag / Canadian Shield

Spring is officially here but there is still lots of snow covering the ground.   In the Whiteshell where sun has melted snow from forest edges and rocks the deer can be found munching on last year’s grasses which are now uncovered.  The deer were everywhere last weekend enjoying the warmth of the sun and laying on the patches of grass that edge the rocks.  The doe (above) looks like she has a few years under her belt and we saw plenty of younger smaller deer as we drove through the park areas.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

Today a different kind of post for those visitors to the site who do not experience winter or have the opportunity to visit parts of Canada that we refer to as Canadian Shield.  On a recent road trip to Kenora I decided to take some photos from the car as we were driving down the trans Canada highway to give you an idea what it looks like in the winter. Obviously I was not the driver this day.   Winnipeg to Kenora is about a 2 hour drive with the first hour being flat prairie farm land but then you get the beautiful boreal forest, Whiteshell Provincial Park and bedrock, mossy landscape and an abundance of wildlife. This area of N.W. Ontario is referred to as “Sunset Country” in the vacation guides.  It is truly beautiful both winter and summer with activities for all seasons.  In addition this area is a terrific fishery with many different species in hundreds of lakes.  So – part of the winter road trip is below.

Below a view of the winding two lane Trans Canada highway which always has a lot of transport truck traffic passing through. This is a highway where one needs to be alert at all times.  The Ontario highways department keeps this road really well in the winter, plowing quickly in addition to sanding and salting the roads when they are icy.

Below – The Trans Canada highway cuts through the Canadian Shield bedrock in N.W. Ontario.

Enjoy!

Sharon

** New photos gallery has been updated. . .

It started with a plane ride arranged through Shaun Jackson of Adventure Air over the boreal forrests of north eastern Manitoba and into the Atikaki Wilderness Provincial Park to Wapeskapek Lake on the Gammon River.  Our own private island cabin (Jackson’s Lodge Wapeskapek Outpost) was home for the next three days. Everything about this trip was awesome! Hot weather, an evening thunderstorm, great pickerel (walleye) fishing, wildlife sightings and terrific accomodations with everything we required and more.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well-equipped the “outpost” was – hot/cold running water, indoor shower, a great variety of cooking utensils and dishes, propane fridge, stove with oven and a freezer.  My son and fiance sighted a moose and calf swimming in the river, we had river otters hanging out at our boat dock, a clear view of nesting bald eagles with one chick right at the water’s edge, a variety of beautiful forrest song birds and even garter snakes basking on the heated bedrock.  The rasperries and blueberries were just beginning to ripen and they were abundant so the next groups in will have plenty to pick and enjoy.

Bald Eagle with Pickerel ( Walleye )

Fishing was excellent and as much as I enjoyed the fishing I have to say I equally enjoyed taking photos of the Bald Eagles, Otters , songbirds and scenery.  It truly is wilderness and it was a most exciting trip. Warning! Warning!  Bring lots of bug spray – that was the only drawback of being in the back country and the black flies are relentless.

River Otter enjoying fish remains

Gammon River Rapids enterting Wapeskapek Lake

We saw a few groups of wilderness canoe enthusiasts camped on the mossy bedrock and paddling downstream on the Gammon River.   We weren’t sure where they started off from but that would be a really exciting canoe trip for the more experienced paddlers.  Adventure Air may fly groups in and drop them off – not sure but one could enquire about this.

Canadian Shield rock cliffs lined the river in many places. The scenery all along the river was truly beautiful.

Canadian Shield Bedrock on Gammon River

Below:  The view from our cabin – now that’s a view one could use more often!

Room with a view! Wapeskapek Lake Outpost.

From the air we could see this group of wilderness canoe enthusiasts.

Heavy rains have made the rivers creep up onto the land.

High waters on Gammon River

Lastly – our island getaway.  Thanks Shaun Jackson for a very memorable wilderness experience!

Wapeskapek Lake Outpost

Enjoy!

Sharon