For more than forty years, I have had the privilege to use a rustic family cabin in the heart of Ontario’s Algoma District for outdoor adventure, fishing, hunting and hiding.   The “camp” is located far from civilization.  It doesn’t have electricity, plumbing or telephones.  But it does offer wilderness, wildlife, beauty and serenity.

It’s an annual event to journey north at least once each winter to “play in the snow.”  This year was no exception.   We had our fingers crossed that the snow and ice we found would still be there the second week in March.  We weren’t disappointed.

Winter visits to camp have additional challenges.  The access roads aren’t plowed, so all gear must be “packed in” from the main road a half mile away.  This usually involves strapping on snow shoes to “blaze a trail” through several feet of the white stuff to provide a path for the snowmobiles.  Experience has proven this to be a necessary step.  Have you ever gotten a snowmobile stuck in waist deep snow?  I have.  With the snow shoes still on, we tramp walking paths to the woodshed, outhouse and propane tanks.  By the next morning they firm up enough to navigate in your moccasins.

The first order of business inside the camp is heat.  A Dutch West airtight wood stove does a great job (especially when “Pyrone” is stoking it).  Within the hour, coats and gloves come off and within three hours you’re in shirtsleeves.  Once the gas is on and the kitchen stove, refrigerator and propane lights are on it’s time to focus on water.  Summertime is easy, we pump lake water up to a holding tank that feeds the kitchen and bathroom sinks.  In winter, we have to cut a hole in the ice and carry seven gallon jugs of water back for cooking, drinking and cleaning.  It certainly helps you appreciate the challenges faced by our ancestors!

Why do we do it, you ask?  Adventure!  Too, there is a satisfaction that comes with besting the elements and still finding comfort.  Besides, the fishing is great!