Spring itineraries: To paddle or to cycle? That is the question.

I usually transition from winter into spring on the bike before I head out in the kayak.

Why? Because spring waters are so cold in Canada. After a long, long, long, winter of wearing lots of cold weather gear, the last thing I want to do in spring, when the air warms up and the sun is hot, is put on cold water kayaking gear!

Maybe you feel the same way.

So lots of us will be hitting the pedals, before the paddles.

Regardless of what seasons you like to cycle, it's nice to take a look at cycling itineraries, what they have to offer you, and plan some tripping with the bike.

I particularly like cycling along waterways and prefer easy to moderately graded routes. I like to visit and discover new places each year. It's in our restless kayaking blood.

I'm looking forward to doing a little cyclo-touring and that feeling of freedom that comes with getting away on the bike. We need to stretch out those hips and legs a bit! They get a little crammed up in a kayak.

I'll be heading out again this year to check out some more of southeastern Ontario's cycling itineraries and waterfront trails for The Great Waterway. 

I'm finding there's a lot more time to review and plan trips this year. It keeps on snowing or raining in Canada! I'm ready to get out as soon as all the snow melts and the grit and gravel is off the roads!

We're all anxious to see the blue skies and summer flowers along the pathways again.

If you're looking for cycling itineraries too, my next post is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website, where I'm a regular blogger, if you'd like to check it out. 

Cycling The Great Waterway, spring, summer, and fall.

A modern day Shakespeare might say . . . "To paddle or to cycle, that is the question!"

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Today's paddle report from the Mont Tremblant region, Quebec, Canada

Today, I checked out a few creeks, lakes, and rivers in the Mont Tremblant, Quebec region.

How's spring thaw?

A little deeper than usual I'd say for April. We won't be paddling around here anytime soon.

There is still lots of snow in Tremblant, blue skies, and sunshine. It's been a great year for downhill skiers here, and it's not over yet. Spring skiing is awesome. There's only one more weekend left from April 12 to 14.

But, if you do head off to Tremblant to ski, you can check the ski report for information about conditions, and the days that they are open at: Tremblant Snow Reports - Daily Updates

Enjoy spring one way or another. It still feels like winter to me! I thought I didn't need snowshoes any more.

Happy trails. 

The BaffinPaddler

Paddle and hike to Blue Mountain, Charleston Lake, Ontario, Canada

It's great to paddle to a trail head and hike up to a look out for a lunch break. It lets us get out of of the kayak and really move and work the legs! And I love the scenic, panoramic views of the lake I just paddled across to get there.

If you're looking for a beautiful day paddle and hike that is not too difficult or too easy - it's just right, here's one of my favourites.

Thanks to kayaking and hiking buddies for sharing their favourite spots with me.

I'll be writing about a few more good paddle and hike spots later this year.

My next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism Website where I'm a regular blogger if you'd like more details and photos.

A great paddle and hike to Blue Mountain on Charleston Lake, Ontario

The snow will eventually melt! In the meantime, we're still skiing, snowshoeing, and shovelling around here.

Happy trip planning!
The BaffinPaddler

Snowmobile to Yoga . . . or, do yoga on the snowmobile

Why not. Both work. Snowmobile to yoga. Do yoga on the snowmobile.

Just look at the face on this little bug-eyed gal. She's a 7-year-old Ski-Doo and weighs over 400 lbs.

She's got a nice metal deck on the back for hauling stuff, or for striking a few standing yoga poses.

Enjoy winter yoga in the outdoors while you can. Find your spot. Strike your pose.

Spring mud, rain, and bugs are on the way and it's back to the indoor yoga studio until late summer and fall!

Thanks to friends for taking me snowmobiling on awesome Laurentian mountain trails, across frozen lakes, and through big open fields in Quebec, Canada.

Now, if only they would make them . . . cough, choke . . . carbon friendly, that would be great. Same for cars and motor boats!

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Outhouses . . . friend or foe?

It's crooked.

The door is padlocked, or

there's a stick in front to keep the door shut and the skunks out.

It's close to a big bee farm in a field of clover and dandelions.

The door won't stay shut. There's no lock.

It's buried in snow. The door won't open.

There's no light inside.

You have to bring your own supplies.

It's a beautiful thing?

It's an ugly beast?

When you were a girl scout (or a boy scout), and had latrine cleaning duty, the skunk stick was always on the ground and the door was cracked open . . .

Outhouses. Friend or foe?

You never know, no matter what the season, how to navigate their folly.

They are things of curiosity. Sometimes necessity.

Bring friends. Let them go first!

Happy trails wherever you go. Spring is on the way.
The BaffinPaddler

Someone said, "I really like Charleston Lake." And, I asked, "Why?"

Sometimes, (or should I say, oftentimes), we paddlers sit around at BBQ's or in pubs to chat about places we'd like to paddle, or to plan a trip. We bounce around ideas and swirl the ice cubes in our glass. 

There are so many places to paddle. Some good, some bad, some extraordinary, and then there are kayaking destinations that are beyond belief!

You can get lost just wondering where to go. It's a fun way to get lost! And a great way to empty your wallet if you get carried away and travel far-and-wide.

At one such BBQ, sitting on a deck, overlooking a river with warm summer breezes blowing, someone said, "I really like Charleston Lake." 

I asked, "Why?"

The answer motivated me and a few other kayakers to go experience it too, as we'd never been to Charleston Lake before. So, I've written a couple of posts to share with you what I like about it. 

Charleston Lake is located in southeastern Ontario, Canada, just 30 kilometres north east of Gananoque and the 1000 Islands. It's a good-sized lake at 9 miles long, and 4 miles wide at the widest part, with over 100 islands and 100 miles of diverse shoreline, hidden coves, large and small bays, rocky cliffs, a beautiful provincial park for camping and hiking, a couple of sandy beaches for sunning and swimming, an abundance of fauna and flora, and public boat launches with free parking at the north and sound ends of the lake.

Paddlers tend to like it. So do I.

For more details, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism website, where I'm a regular blogger if you'd like to check it out:

Someone said, "I really like Charleston Lake . . . "

You may also enjoy another one of my stories about Charleston Lake:

A great paddle and hike to Blue Mountain, Charleston Lake, Ontario

Happy paddle trails!

The BaffinPaddler

Snowshoeing Montagne d'Argent in La Conception, Quebec, Canada: It' ain't boring!

There is too much to say and too many pictures to tell the story of this cool snowshoeing and rock-and ice climbing destination.

But here's a hint. I like it. It has made the snowshoeing trails in Quebec's Gatineau Park, and the National Capital Region of Canada seem so boring and tame.

Montagne d'Argent (10 minutes north of Mont Tremblant off Hwy 117) is part of the Laurentians (French: Laurentides), an awesomely beautiful mountain range in southern Quebec, Canada, north of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River. So, it's not really fair to compare flat forest trails and hills to mountains. But your mind will do it anyway!

They say Montagne d'Argent (Silver Mountain) is a jewel, discovered and developed for outdoor recreation by climbers. I'll agree. It's a jewel.

If you're bored to death of those tromped down walk-in-the park snowshoe trails you find in so many urban areas, you may want to give Montagne d'Argent a try for a great mountain snowshoe.

Here are a few highlights . . . 

Get ready to glissade. Dodge trees. Grab onto a few mountaineering ropes tied to trees in steep spots. All at the same time!

Gaze at ice walls along the way – you won't be climbing them in snowshoes!

More rope!

Watch the ice climbers.

More rope!

Look out at the world around you.

Did I mention rope!

Be impressed with how small you are.

Learn how to negotiate this snow-covered obstacle.

And my favourite obstacle of all, figuring out how to get into (and out of) the old hammock at basecamp that never seems to be occupied in winter.

There's lots of fresh snow up here in the Mont Tremblant region, and more on the way! This destination is best with lots of snow! Avoid it in icy and melt conditions.

Enjoy snowshoeing and hiking the hidden trails and enchanted forest of Montagne d'Argent, La Conception, Quebec, Canada.

For more information about Montagne d'Argent

Parc d'Escalade de la Montagne d'Argent (their website is only in French)
Location: Route de la Montagne d'Argent, La Conception, Quebec. It's about 10 minutes north of Mont Tremblant and Ste. Jovite, Quebec off Hwy 117

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler