MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2019

214 Main St, Sauble Beach 519-422-9997 jacknjillssurfshop.com surf - kite wake - skim sup - wetsuits The real deal. Wildlife Mitch Mihan: We saw countless bald and golden eagles on the trip, I spotted an owl, although I couldn’t identify it. I caught many fish, mostly largemouth bass, and saw two massive sturgeon. I watched as a bear cub came down to the river for a bath and a drink. Julian and Jess spotted a wolf. And we found out the crayfish are great dishwashers. Challenges Mitch Mihan: One miserably cold day with continual rain led to near hypothermic conditions for all members. Arriving at our site that evening, we all assumed different tasks, and within an hour enjoyed soup and hot chocolate while sitting under our rain shelter. It was a few hours before we could consider ourselves recovered from the cold. Fortunately our next day was the first rest day we had of the trip, over three-quarters of the way along. We seemed to function well during the difficult times we encountered. Julian Baker: The greatest challenge for this trip was being out of the structured environment where the camp provides all gear and logistics. Figuring out how to get four people, two canoes and several hundred pounds of food and gear to the put-in point almost 1000km north and then 1000km back south wasn’t easy. Then factor in a resupply halfway through the trip on the only road that crosses the river add the tight time constraints of pre-booked train tickets and you’ve got a logistics puzzle to solve. (Not to mention a shoestring budget of less than $400 a person.) Jessica Basta: It’s hard to think of a bad moment from the trip; most of my memories are extremely positive. For me one of the hardest challenges was dealing with the mosquitoes. Next time I would bring a bug jacket and be more prepared because I remember some days I was extremely uncomfortable and some nights I would go in the tent just to avoid being bitten. Parting Thoughts Mitch Mihan: The waterway we paddled, and many more like it, allow us to share an experience with past generations. Indigenous people have paddled these rivers for thousands of years, and the river has changed little in that time. My grandfather, who lives in Sault Ste. Marie, tells me of long fishing trips he did as a young man, paddling down the Montreal River. The river has since been dammed in multiple locations and has changed drastically. I hope in my lifetime, we can preserve more rivers from pollution, damming, and the like, allowing my kids and grandkids to experience the rivers in the same way that I did, well after I am gone. “Human figures and spirit creatures scrawled onto the cliffs with red ochre long before nylon tents and plastic canoes came along reminds me that others have paddled here before and will paddle here after.” —Julian Baker