Ontario, Canada • August 21-28, 2010
(Book your spot through non-refundable $500 deposit by July 15)

TRIP DESCRIPTION:
This trip is a classic canoe tour featuring outstanding examples of Ontario’s famous freshwater lakes and wild old growth forests.  We will paddle the rocky granite shorelines of the Canadian Shield, swim on sandy beaches, and learn about the unique ecology of Old Growth Red and White Pine and the Boreal forest ecosystem.  Our route is rich with Indigenous First Nations history from the ancient portage trails, to rock painting pictographs and sacred sites.  While camped in his family’s traditional territory, Anishinaabe elder Alex Mathias will tell us stories from the great eco-battles that protected the four hundred year old pine stands we will hike through.

COST & LIMITATIONS:
$3,500/group + $350/person
• e.g. 6 participants: 625 + 350 = $975/participant
• e.g. 8 participants: 470 + 350 = $820/participant

The Minimum number of participants is 6. The maximum is 10.

Includes ground transportation, canoes, food, permits, and group gear.

ITINERARY:
DAY 1
Pick up at Toronto (YYZ) or North Bay airport.  Drive 12 passenger van to Temagami [5hrs from YYZ, 1 hr. from North Bay].  Pick up rentals, cull and leave excess gear in van.   Shuttle to Red Squirrel Road with canoes [1 hr].  Portage 500 meters from the parking lot to Sandy Inlet.
DISTANCE:  0 km paddling, 500 m portaging.  ~1hr.
NIGHT 1:  Camp on the beach at Sandy Inlet of Ferguson Bay

DAY 2
Canoe West across Ferguson Bay.  825m Portage to Sharp Rock Inlet.  Carry over into Diamond Lake (75m). 
DISTANCE:  8 km paddling, 2 portages totaling 900m. ~6 hrs.
NIGHT 2:  Camp on an island, East end of Diamond Lake,.

DAY 3
Layover day.  Brunch, swimming around the island.  Side trip option:  Explore Diamond Lake ancient Indigenous pictographs, Diamond outlet secret bass fishing spot.  Discussion option:  Sharp Rock blockade story/ the story of why so many of these trees are still standing.  Expansive sunset over Diamond Lake.  Fish fry?
DISTANCE:  0km paddling, 0 portages.  Side trip: 7 km paddling ,fishing ~ 4 hrs.
NIGHT 3:  Camp on an island, East end of Diamond Lake,.

DAY 4
Paddle West to far side of Diamond Lake. 
DISTANCE:  11 km paddling, 0 portages.  ~ 5 hrs. 
NIGHT 4:  Camp West side of Diamond Lake. 
                                                                                          
DAY 5
Portage 430 and 435 meters into Wakimika Lake.  Observe the glacier carved granite of the Canadian Shield.   Paddle South through Wakimika L. and Wakimiki R. to Obabika L.  Keep an eye out for moose, beaver, otter, great blue herons and other wildlife in this productive wetland.
DISTANCE:  13 km paddling, 2 portages totaling 865 meters.  ~8 hrs.
NIGHT 5:  Camp North Side of Obabika Lake.  Campsite is in old growth red pine with great beach, interesting rock formations, and long view south across Obabika.
 
DAY 6
Layover day.  Swimming on the beach.  Optional side trip: Hike Old Growth Trails and see Chee Skon (rock monolith sacred to First Nations).  Learn about Old Growth ecology. Possibility of story telling and guiding by Alex Mathias, local First Nations activist and traditional knowledge holder.  Possible solo at Chee Skon Lake.
DISTANCE:  0 paddling, 0 portaging.  Optional side trips: hiking trails 1 km – 7 km.
NIGHT 6:  Camp North Side of Diamond L.  

DAY 7
Paddle South across Obabika L.  Portage 940 meters into Obabika Inlet of Lake Temagami.  Witness area recovering from fire.
DISTANCE:  15 km paddling, 1 portage 940 meters. ~8hrs.
NIGHT 7:  Camp Obabika Inlet.

DAY 8
Barge water shuttle from Obabika Inlet to town of Temagami  [1hr.].  Return rentals, sort gear, and drive to airports.

Note: The trip may be done in the reverse direction depending on wind conditions.

TRIP LEADERS:

David Sone, Wild Gift Class of 2010 

View David's Wild Gift profile »

David lives in Toronto, in Southern Ontario.  Not far north of his home are the largest remaining stands of ancient red and white pine forest, and the edge of the vast Boreal Forest – North America’s largest unlogged forest ecosystem.  David has campaigned for 8 years to support Indigenous communities who are defending the forest on which they depend.  On this trip he joins you on an adventure through the deep freshwater lakes of Temagami and shares stories from the front-lines of the struggle for ecological and social justice.  These waters are familiar to David who spends two weeks of bliss paddling and swimming here each fall.  David is trained as a Wilderness First Responder, and has  over 200 days of canoe trip leading experience in this bio-region.  He also is well versed in local flora and fauna, having worked for three summers on a Boreal Black Bear population field study. 

Bob Jonas, Wild Gift Founder and Executive Director.

Bob is a resident and native of the Wood River Valley in central Idaho.  He has degrees in wildlife biology and education.  He has worked as a fishery biologist in Alaska and Greenland; as a wilderness ranger and middle school teacher in Idaho.  At 68, Bob has explored a lot of wild Idaho and Alaska, his favorite country.  He’s shared many trails with new and old friends as an outfitter and guide who founded Sun Valley Trekking Company and Wild Gift.   His trip leader qualifications include alpine, nordic and backcountry ski and avalanche certifications plus Wilderness First Responder.  To explore remote, off-trail wild country in all seasons he has become a competent trekker comfortable on all land terrains, snow/glaciers, river systems and oceans as a backcountry skier, backpacker, rafter and kayaker.   Bob has explored, by inflatable kayak or raft, the length of the South and East forks of the Owyhee River, its main stem to the Owyhee Reservoir and the Deep Creek drainage.   Hiked its side canyons and rims.  Hunted in the high country.  Has done over a dozen spring and autumn trips from a week to three weeks duration in all weather conditions from snow to heat.  Wild Gift Board President Ted Angle, wilderness explorer and cross-country track skier extraordinaire, assists bob on the trip.