WILDERNESS CANOEING

We surprise grizzly who was napping on shoreline.

Grizzly bear: Thelon River, Nunavut, Canada, June 28th, 2004

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Then he stood ~up~ Tall Bear ,

and walked ~away~ Bye Bye Bear .

WILDERNESS CANOEING

Wilderness canoeing came naturally to me. I always had a love or a need for the outdoors. As an 8 year old I'd wander off by myself into the woods at the edge of town. There I would seek refuge from the stresses of school and my parent's divorce. I was never afraid or worried. I pretended I was a Native American and found my way without compass or the sun to guide me. Later in life when the pressures of my job got to be too much I'd take my vacation time and go off for a week or more either wilderness canoeing or winter camping. Most of the solo summer trips would be from 10 to 15 days in length. Later I accumulated time at work and trips of over 3 weeks were possible. When the children where old enough, the wife and young ones would sometimes come along. My best family memories are those moments we had together discovering road less backcountry from the canoe. I can still remember Kelley and Shawn's first fish caught.

Robin Lauer: Kondiaronk Creek, Quebec, Canada

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A DISAPPEARING WILDERNESS

As time went by, from the late 60's to now, commercial woodcutting opened roads into our once beautiful and inviting wilderness. Nothing is ever the same once man consumes nature that way. After the loggers have wrecked the countryside, the hunters maintain the logging roads, which are accessed with ATV's. This pushes us further back to seek our needed space. Unfortunately my type of wilderness is diminishing and there seems only to be the very far north of Canada, which can provide the peace and space required to satisfy me as a wilderness traveller. Everyone should have the chance, or should I say, the privilege of spending some time by themselves in the wilderness without any other human contact for many days. It makes us appreciate what are the true important things in life.

"ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS ~ GOING SOLO"

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