MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Summer 2020

18 3 Catfish Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario My grandmother left us a list of five places she wanted her ashes to be left. As a family, including Gran, we tripped in Algonquin Park every summer until the draw of whitewater shifted our summer trips to the Madawaska and Ottawa Rivers (still including Gran). After almost 25 years I returned to Algonquin Park with a small amount of Gran’s ashes. Close to 250 km of paddling and portaging took me to her favourite campsite on Catfish Lake, then into the Madawaska River where I relived my earliest water memories in the rapids where I learned to kayak. My dad later confirmed that I landed on the very island Gran loved. The sunset, the tribute whiskey Manhattan (her drink of choice ) and the quiet time spent in the cool fall evening was a different kind of peak experience. I was there for her by her request. It’s a beautiful memory for me, and a very cool way to feel close to someone who has passed. 2 Wolf Tracks camp, Stikine River, British Columbia Though increasing in annual descents, the Stikine River remains a Class V testing ground for expert whitewater kayakers. The Grand Canyon of the Stikine is within the 80-km section that challenges kayakers over a two- day effort. Midway is a beach where the first group of the year will find only animal tracks while the last group will see evidence of every trip’s footprints that season. A nearby creek for water and a beautiful angled boulder for protection from rain puts this campsite—accessible only by Class V kayaking—high on my list. 1 Dream Wave, Cross Lake, Manitoba My all-time number one site. Provisioned for a two-week raft support expedition, we came across the biggest, best, standing river wave of our lives in northern Manitoba and set up camp. We flew over the section first and saw the wave; I kept my optimism at bay but it seemed that we were onto a winner. Upon arrival, we knew. Rarely do waves stand up so tall and consistently when that much water is creating them. We dubbed it "Dream Wave" and it was a nearly perfect feature. I could hear it at night and see it through my tent window every morning of the seven we spent camped on shore, scattered into different sub-camps. I claimed my spot pretty quickly. –Benny Marr ABOVE Hawaii Rapid, Mistassibi River, Quebec. BELOW Cross Lake, Manitoba. BENNY MARR