July 15-22, 2006
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Remote, beautiful, quiet. Challenging, but not
overwhelming. Wabakimi Provincial Park, near Lake
Nipigon, encompasses thundering waterfalls, intimate
streams, small sand beaches, quiet expanses of lakes and
rivers, and every possible shade of green! The park
includes three million acres, three times the size of
the Boundary Waters and Quetico combined, with one-tenth
of the people visiting the park.
Following a night at a beautiful bed and breakfast
nestled near the edge of Wabakimi Provincial Park, we
set out early Sunday morning (July 16), loading our gear
and canoes onto the Canadian National Railway. Riding
along past miles of beautiful wilderness, our stop is
simply a mile marker along the tracks. We unload our
gear, the train leaves, and we have the sheer pleasure
of the peaceful northwoods—quiet and alive. We’ll paddle
north, deep into the park, and be picked up by seaplane
a week later.
We’ll take our time along the way, sometimes camping by
waterfalls, other times on sandy beaches or along the
rocky, wooded shore. The pace is not strenuous; there
 is
time for paddling, power-lounging, exploring, and
finding our rhythm in this wild country. We’re likely to
see far more beaver and eagle and other furred and
finned local residents than the two-legged human
variety. This route is so rarely traveled that the
portages are sometimes hard to follow. Hash marks on the
trees from old Indian routes are visible on several of
the trails.
There are, of course, a few memorably long portages (for
bragging rights), but we’ll take our time and pace
ourselves. The route allows for a layover day along the
way—a good day to fish, read a book, explore the byways,
or simply enjoy the water sounds in the undisturbed
beauty of the far north.
Chris Heeter, founding director of The WILD Institute,
will be your guide. With 20 years of experience guiding
trips for women in the Canadian wilderness, she shares
her love of this area with great pleasure and
enthusiasm. Chris brings her training in wilderness
medicine and her gentle and inclusive leadership style
to create an environment that is safe, playful, and
welcoming.
The details…
What to bring: When
you register, you’ll receive a detailed packing list.
You bring only your personal gear, sleeping bag, and
sleeping pad. You are welcome to bring your own tent
either as a solo or to share. Otherwise, tents are
provided at double or triple occupancy.
How much experience, how in
shape do I need to be: You should be in
pretty good shape for this trip, and definitely have an
adventurous spirit, but we’ve traveled here before with
women of no canoe experience who did just fine. You can
expect some strenuous days and some relaxing ones—all in
a very remote setting.
Weather: July is a spectacular time to be in Northern
Ontario. Many of the bugs have left, days are in the
80’s (and sometimes 90’s), nights can get down to the
high 50’s.
Meals: Food matters!
We bring hearty and delicious primarily vegetarian fare.
Many women are surprised by the amount of fresh
vegetables and mouth-watering menus prepared outdoors.
What does my trip fee cover:
Your trip fee of $1495 includes lodging at Wildwaters
Bed and Breakfast on Saturday night (July 16); shuttle
to the train and train fare; seaplane; all group gear;
Ontario camping permits; food from breakfast on Sunday,
July 17 through lunch on Saturday, July 23; a safe place
to store cars and gear while on the water; and a guide
with decades of experience. It does not include fishing
licenses.
Schedule: Arrive at
Wildwaters Bed and Breakfast in Armstrong, Ontario the
evening of Saturday, July 16 (directions to follow when
you register). We’ll transfer gear into packs, and get a
good night’s sleep in preparation for our early morning
departure the train leaves at 6AM! Then, we’re on wild
time, paddling, portaging, relaxing, getting to know
this powerful place. On Saturday, July 23, if weather
conditions cooperate, we’ll be picked up by seaplane in
the morning and flown back to the bed and breakfast for
a shower before heading home.
Group size: Minimum
3, maximum 5; we tread very lightly in Wabakimi,
following minimum impact practices and limiting group
size in order to preserve the rugged and delicate
ecosystem.
Transportation:
Armstrong is 150 miles north of Thunder Bay, Ontario—one
long day’s drive from the Minneapolis area. The nearest
airport is Thunder Bay, others fly into Minneapolis or
Duluth if they are able to arrange carpooling with women
driving from the Twin Cities area. Wildwaters also
offers a (rather pricey) shuttle service from the
Thunder Bay airport. Before the trip, you’ll receive a
list of other women going on the trip in order to
coordinate carpooling or other logistics. If you fly,
plan on flying out on Sunday, July 24 at the earliest.
**A NOTE ABOUT REMOTE
WILDERNESS TRAVEL: SEAPLANES ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON
WEATHER. MANY TIMES WE’VE BEEN PICKED UP ON TIME, OTHER
TIMES WE’VE BEEN PICKED UP SEVERAL HOURS LATE, AND ONCE
WE STAYED OUT AN EXTRA NIGHT WAITING FOR THE WEATHER TO
CLEAR**
Payment information:
Your deposit is not refundable. If you must cancel,
please do so in writing. If you cancel 90 days prior to
the trip or more, the balance of your trip fee is
refundable; 60 to 89 days, the balance of your trip fee
is transferable to any other WILD Institute trip through
the end of the following year; 0-59 days, the trip fee
is not refundable or transferable. We strongly recommend
that you purchase travel insurance so that you can
recover your losses should you need to cancel or be
evacuated from a trip. The WILD Institute reserves the
right to alter trip plans due to severe weather, water
conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
How do I sign up: A
deposit of $350 holds your spot, and payment in full is
due by May 21, 2005z Mail deposit and registration form
to:
The WILD Institute
P.O. Box 353
Loretto, MN 55357
Click Here to view
and print registration form
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