A Few Images:

After reading the story we headed over to the Paddle Georgia home page and discovered their YouTube Channel and some great stories from this years paddle:

Tony Sablan shares his experience on the Coosawattee & Oostanaula Rivers.

Ray & Cindy Mitchell share their experiences on the Coosawattee & Oostanaula Rivers.

The Sewell Family share their experience on Paddle Georgia.

We also found some 2009 Paddle GA Maps

and terrific Paddle Georgia picture coverage

from Jessica at her blog Minivan Chronicles

2009 Paddle Alabama Trip Report from the Georgia Kayaker Richard Grove’s Paddle Log

You can follow Paddle Georgia on twitter here we did!

To find out more visit the Paddle Georgia FAQ here

Stay tuned as we embark on our over canoe adventure this summer!

Because when you’re camping, well, you also have to eat.

Whether by campfire or on charcoal grills brought from home, campers find enjoying the great outdoors also means throwing together simple yet delicious fare.

“Our favorite is packets,” Mandy Sams said, while family members cooked hotdogs and turkey burgers over the campfire for lunch. “It’s smoked sausage, potatoes, green peppers and onion. You just cut it in cubes, throw it in foil and put it in the fire.”

Four generations of the Crown Point family gathered for the campout, which required some advance planning of menus and who would bring what.

Because the sheer number of people is more than a typical campfire can be expected to serve, the family also brought some charcoal grills.

Other family favorites include kabobs, skillet breakfasts of bacon and eggs, and “pudgie pies,” a metal contraption on a stick for toasting sandwiches.

Toasted peanut butter and jelly, as well as sandwiches made with pizza ingredients, also rank high.

Cooking outdoors provides a different flavor than cooking at home.

“It tastes so much better, the wood and the charcoal and the smokiness,” Sams said. “It’s just being outside with everybody.”

At another campsite, Eileen Craige cut up watermelon while her husband, Rick, manned a charcoal grill. The couple, from Montrose, Penn., came to camp at the dunes for a reunion with family from Chicago.

“We enjoy cooking and what’s nice is, when you’re camping, you have a little more time,” Eileen said.

They use the campfire, the grill and a camp stove to satisfy their culinary interests.

One night, the family made homemade salsa together. Rick spent eight hours slow-cooking three racks of ribs on the charcoal grill one day — rather than being with the rest of the family at the beach. Rick also likes making pancakes from scratch in a cast iron skillet on the fire.

“It’s fun to cook when you’re camping,” Eileen said.

Brad Bumgardner, an interpretive naturalist with the state park who leads programs on campfire cooking, offered a few tips and ideas.

Campfires, are less predictable than camp stoves, or the stove at home.

“You have to learn the fire, the conditions, and when the fire’s right,” he said.

Toward that end, campers want to wait for the flames to die down so they can use the remaining coals to cook.

It’s also important to have the right utensils, since campers may find the handles on their home skillets burn off. Cast iron pans get very hot and stay hot, and are heavy as well.

Bumgardner prefers foil for what he calls “hobo dinners.” The foil cools quickly and can double as a plate on the table, making for easy cleanup.

“I use that more than anything, and I’ve had great fish and hamburger dishes out of that,” he said.

To break the s’more rut — Bumgardner admitted he’s not a fan of the ubiquitous campfire treat — he recommended dipping a roasted marshmallow in chocolate syrup and rolling it in either crushed peanuts or flaked coconut.

Foil Breakfast

– Hash brown potatoes

– Eggs

– Sausage

– Spices to taste

– Aluminum foil

Place potatoes, scrambled eggs (uncooked), sausage and spices in aluminum foil. Wrap securely. Place on coals for about 15 minutes. Turn and rotate as needed.

Bacon and Egg

Serving: 1

– 3 thick slices of bacon

– 1 egg

– 1 paper lunch bag

– 1 stick

Place bacon in bottom of bag, covering bottom.

Crack egg and put in bag on top of bacon. Fold top of bag down securely. Poke a hole through top of bag for stick. Hold over hot coals until contents are cooked.

Foil Dinner

– 1⁄4 pound ground beef

– 1 carrot, sliced

– 1 potato, sliced

– Small onion, diced

– Seasonings

– Butter

– Heavy-duty aluminum foil

Layer all ingredients in center of a piece of aluminum foil. Season to taste. Top with butter. Fold foil and secure tightly. Leave room for expansion. Place packet on hot coals for about 20 to 30 minutes. Turn and rotate often.

Camper’s Pizza

– Bread

– Butter

– Mozzarella cheese

– Pizza sauce

– Pepperoni, sliced

Butter one side of two slices of bread. Place one slice of bread on pie iron with buttered side down. Top with 11⁄2 tablespoons pizza sauce, cheese and pepperoni. Place other slice of bread on top with buttered side out. Place pie iron on hot coals. Turn often until bread is toasted.

Kabobs

– 1 pound of sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes

– Marinade seasonings (Italian dressing, barbecue sauce, etc.)

– Assorted vegetables, sliced

– Sealable plastic bag

Place marinade in zippered plastic bag, then add beef.

Mix together well. Refrigerate meat for several hours or overnight to develop maximum flavor.

Alternate beef and vegetables on metal or wooden skewers. (Soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes before using.) Grill over hot coals for 10 to 15 minutes until cooked. Turn and rotate often.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes can happen suddenly and if we are lucky we will know about the wildfires or volcanic eruptions that are about to happen. It is important to learn about the natural hazards that may impact you based on where you live.

Whether it happens suddenly or you have some warning, being prepared for a natural or man made disaster is very important. One of the easiest and most basic things people can do is to create an emergency kit. These allow you to take care of yourself and your family during and after an emergency.

Here is a list of items to include in an emergency kit that will allow you to be self sufficient for about 72 hours:

Essential items for basic survival:

Water – two litres of water per person per day (Include small bottles
that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order) Food – that
won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods
(remember to replace the food and water once a year) Manual can opener
Small fuel–driven stove and fuel – follow manufacturer’s directions
and store properly First aid kit Special needs items – prescription
medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities
Extra keys – for your car and house Cash – include smaller bills, such
as $10 bills (travellers cheques are also useful) and change for
payphones Copies of personal documents – such as passport and birth
certificate A whistle – in case you need to attract attention Garbage
bags – for personal sanitation Toilet paper and other personal care
supplies

Items for comfort:

Flashlight and batteries
Battery–powered or wind–up radio (and extra batteries) Safety gloves
Basic tools – hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, fasteners, work
gloves Candles and matches or lighter Change of clothing and footwear
for each household member Sleeping bag or warm blanket – for each
household member

You probably have most of these items already, it is just a case of being organized and having them packed together in an easy to carry case and placing the items in an easy find location.

We did purchase one specialty item for our emergency disaster kit, the FlashPan Stove. This is a very cleverly designed “stove” as it is compact and uses fuel tablets that can be safely stored. It even has an “add on” picnic bag that we’ve packed up with canned food, water, opener and few of the other essential items so we have an emergency “grab bag” just in case.

Here are the camp sites for Ontario:

LONG POINT PROVINCIAL PARK, ONTARIO

The Globe and Mail

Comment “The beauty of the flames as they curl into the summer night
sky, the sound of the firewood crackling and the frogs serenading each
other as the sun slowly melts into the lake are all priceless.”

– Annabel Lamagnere, Markham, Ont.

Highlight This 40-kilometre-long sand spit on Lake Erie – a UNESCO
biosphere reserve – is legendary among birdwatchers as a refuge and
stopover for migrating waterfowl in the fall and spring.

Ambience The 256 campsites are often booked solid in the summer but
manage to avoid a circus atmosphere by being split into three sections.

Amenities All sites are within a five-minute walk of the beach, and 78
have electricity. A laundromat, showers, flush toilets, three
children’s play areas, a boat launch and a convenience store are all
on site.

Diversions The sandy beach and shallow swimming area are ideal for
families. The boat launch lets you head out in search of perch and
pickerel or to explore the marshes.

Flora and fauna Along the park’s southern shore, low ridges and dunes
are covered by a blanket of sedge, prairie grass and trees. On the
north side, the boundary between land and water is blurred by marshes
and wetlands. A bird checklist includes 321 species. In early June, as
many as seven species of turtle can be seen making their annual trek
from the marshes to the sand dunes to lay their eggs.

Pest factor As usual, raccoons can be a nuisance.

Insider tip Several campsites are within a beach-ball bounce of the
beach, including Nos. 237, 311 and 432.

InformationLong Point is a two-hour drive southwest of Toronto.
Reservations: 1-888-668-7275; ontarioparks.com.
======================================================
KILLARNEY PROVINCIAL PARK, ONTARIO

Comment “Crystal-clear waters backed by the beautiful white quartz of
the La Cloche mountain range; interior campsites with lots of peaceful
canoeing, hiking et cetera. Can’t be beat in all of Ontario.”

– Andrew Slater,

Highlight This rugged wilderness of crystalline lakes and jack-pine
ridges continues to lure paddlers and hikers more than 50 years after
artists such as the Group of Seven’s A.Y. Jackson petitioned the
Ontario government to make it a park.

Amenities Beyond dozens of hike- and paddle-in campsites, Killarney’s
sole organized campground is at George Lake. It offers 126 sites with
no electrical hook-ups and is home to a pair of beaches, an Outpost
shop, hot showers, flush toilets, a laundromat, a boat launch and
canoe rentals.

Diversions Many hiking trails set out from George Lake. The two-
kilometre Granite Ridge Trail, for example, starts off winding through
fields and forest, then leads up to lookouts offering views of
Georgian Bay and the La Cloche Mountains. The 100-kilometre La Cloche
Silhouette Trail takes a week to complete.

Flora and fauna

Moose, deer, wolves, bobcat, marten and beaver live in Killarney along
with more than 20 species of reptiles and amphibians and more than 100
species of birds.

Pest factor With so much water around, mosquitoes and blackflies can
be particularly nasty.

Insider tip Pre-assembled, furnished and heated yurts are available.

Information Killarney is about five hours north of Toronto by car.
Reservations: 1-888-668-7275; www.ontarioparks.com.

=============================================

Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: Temagami in all its glory

======================================

Christine Best from Toronto, Canada writes: Silent Lake
Provincial Park in Ontario (just north of Peterborough).

It is close enough to Toronto that it is convenient, but it is
‘wild’ enough to be relaxing. No boats with motors are allowed on the
lake (Silent Lake), which is a HUGE plus as far as I am concerned.

Tim Wright from Winnipeg, Canada writes: I believe that the
best place to pitch a tent is in Canada. Specificially, a Canada Parks
place called’Rushing River.’ For campers, it is one of the most
relaxing campgrounds that I have ever been to. You have a place for
your tent, and a campfire(if the season is okay).

Carl Weatherell from Osgoode, Canada writes: Awenda Provincial
Park, Penatanguishene, ON…..the park is great for all styles of
camping, family, solo, duel, fully loaded (ie amenities in 1 of the
areas) or the more isolated and rugged sites. The campsites are large
and most surrounded by natural trails for the hiker or biker. There
are a number of beaches as well including 1 for families with their
dog companions. Beaches are not immediately adjacent to the campground
and this leaves the campsites in relative solitude on busy summer
weekends. The neighbouring towns of Penatang and Midland are small-
midsizem have numerous attractions for kids and families without the
business of a big city we are all trying to escape. We have been
enjoying Awenda for 10 years now!!

Stand up for Social Justice The Canadian Way from Canada
writes: Bruce Penisula National Park, up by Tobermory is the best spot
I have been too. It has great hiking trails and the scenery is
beautiful.

John Hinkley from Thornhill, ON, Canada writes: David Lake in
Killarney Provincial Park

M Kwad from Calgary, Canada writes: Anywhere along the middle
to eastern side of Burnt Island Lake within Algonquin Park. A mere one
day of paddling from the easily accessible Canoe Lake access point to
find yourself in the true Canadian wilderness. Always a winner with
expert and novice alike.

Stewart Young from Toronto, Canada writes: We enjoy camping at
The Pinery in Ontario on Lake Huron. Close to Grand Bend with all it’s
summer attractions it offers seclusion for the times you want to just
be alone. The camp sites and facilities are well maintained and clean.

Joshua Nasielski from Toronto, Canada writes: Best Camping
Spot: Big Trout Lake, Algonquin Park.

The real Algonquin Park doesn’t start before Big Trout. The two
day canoe paddle from the Highway 60 access point on Canoe lake can be
completed by mere mortals, but is challenging enough to keep away the
crowds looking for cheap thrills. Just remember that half the fun is
getting there.

The campsites are almost exclusively on small islands, keeping
away unwanted critters and bugs. But wildlife can be seen on the
lake’s swampy southern edges, where moose and waterfowl dine. From the
rocky outcroppings over a bottle of wine, you are afforded a glorious
view of the Algonquin sky at sunset, and then the stars.

It is only two hours away from Toronto, but not even thoughts
of the city enters your mind after the pleasantly warm burn of
physical activity settles over you at the end of a day of paddling.
But the portages are short enough that not all of civilization’s
accoutremonts need to be left behind. Big Trout Lake is the perfect
spot for a modern Canadian to enjoy a natural camping experience.

Keith O’Reilly from Ottawa, Canada writes: Pinery Privincial
Park, Grand Bend. Windy night, walk on the beach, long campfire……
can’t be beat !!

Melanie Cunningham from Canada writes: Quetico Provincial Park,
Ontario. One of the largest provincial parks in Ontario situated west
of Thunder Bay. It offers nature at its best. Wildlife, fishing with
peace and quiet. No motorized vehicles allowed on the water. Canoeing
is the only way to navigate the waters. You can camp at the formalized
camp sites or you can head into the interior of the park where, if you
chose, you can cross over into the U.S. It is truly one of the most
unique provincial parks and because of it’s location, it still offers
a true north experience.

Keven Bender from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada writes: Sleeping
Giant Provincial Park

There is no place in Ontario (probably the world) that you can
go to experience so much beauty and have so many different experiences
in one park. You can pitch your tent at the edge of Lake Marie Louise
and watch the sun set & rise while watching all kinds of wild life &
birds. When hot, you can get up off your lawn chair and go 2 steps
into the lake for a nice refreshing swim or take a nice 5 min. drive
down to Silver Islet to swim in Lake Superior. You can hike some of
the most diversifying beautiful and highest climbs. You can pick fresh
fruit, fresh mushrooms and fish (that can be eaten) in the lake from
your camp site. Too bad, I couldn’t attach photos as they would show
more than my words can describe.

james stewart from Canada writes: The Massasauga Provincial
Park. Site 509. Beautiful

winston freeman from Hamilton, Canada writes: Bon Echo
provincial park .

It’s where I’m from …

before there was a hotel , or a park , there was a farm .

I think it’s the most visited park in Ontario – but I bet there
are not many who have enjoyed making apple jelly from trees that a
grandfather’s grandfather planted .

=====================================================================

Liz Brockest from Toronto, Canada writes: My favourite spot to
camp is at Lake Superior Provincial Park along the coastal trail. Its
simply stunning.

shawn hutcheson from toronto, writes: There are so many great
spots to camp but my favorite are the McCoy Islands that sit in
Georgian Bay about a 12km canoe ride north west out of Dillon. I think
what makes it great is that it isn’t the easiest to access but once
you’r there what a spot!

The Last Varlet from Canada writes: The very nicest camp-site
is on Tupper Lake, next to Maple Mountain, which is the highest point
in Ontario. The lake, in the Lady Evelyn Lake system, is pristine,
full of fish, and affords a great view of Maple Mountain. The camp-
site is set among tall pines, and can accomodate up to 3 canoeing
parties. It’s a 2 day paddle to get there from Mowat’s Landing on the
Montreal river, but the journey, and the destination are equally
beautiful.

Rita Gordon from Manitoulin Island, Canada writes: My favourite
campground is Gordon’s Park Eco Resort on Manitoulin Island. It is an
Attractions Canada award winner offering activities, events and
accommodations including camping, tipi tenting, camping cabins, bed &
breakfast, stargazing cabin, solar heated swimming pool, 18 hole
miniature golf, nature interpretive centre, educational hiking trails,
archery, cycling routes, birding tours, dark sky preserve, astronomy,
horseshoes, children’s playground, orienteering, night hikes, women’s
outdoor weekends, moonlight hike & wolf howls, Thursday nights
astronomy, Sunday afternoon Walk A Fossil Reef, Stargazing Manitoulin,
Manitoulin Star Party, Astronomy Public Observing Sessions & Laser
Guided Sky Tours and more. The wilderness camping sites are situated
in a hardwood forest and are big and private and woodsy. There are no
permanent trailers in the park and the park caters to eco friendly
campers who share a love for nature and the environment. The park has
a dark sky preserve in the interior of the park that offers 7.5
magnitude, no light pollution, 360 degree viewing, and observing from
the darkest skies in the Province of Ontario. The Nature Interpretive
Centre features mounted animal displays of bears & wolves, hawks and
owls, bones & skulls, fossils, oddities in nature and has interpretive
information on wildflowers, edible wilds, astronomy, trees, birds,
fossils, mushrooms, animals, eco systems and more. The educational
hiking trails take you through five different eco systems in the park:
Escarpment, Wetland Bog, Hardwood Forest, Fields & Meadows, and the
Pond area. The 18 hole miniature golf is built into the natural
terrain of a cedar grove and features putts through trees, under the
ground, around rocks and more. There is a prehistoric fossil reef in
the park and guided hikes are offered every Sunday during the months
of July & August. In addition, Thursday Nights in July & August are
astronomy nights. Great Place

Lisa Laflamme from Courtice, Canada writes: HI … I would like
to introduce my favourite place in Canada where pitching a tent is
both a magical and magnificent experience. A long and winding road
leads from the Trans Canada Highway through the Lake Superior
Provincial Park to Gargantua Harbour. The bay there is brilliant blue
in colour and the camp sites encircle the waters where solitude can be
found. Camping neighbours remain at a distance and the terrain is
hospitable and conducive to tent camping. My experience at Gargantua
Bay provided any number of opportunities for swimming, canoeing and
kayaking, for hiking close or far, and for amazing star-gazing. This
magical place feels far away from hectic places and yet is quite
accessible. Gargantua Bay would be the place I would choose to pitch
my tent out of all the places of beauty in Canada.

Jean-Marc Mangin from Chelsea, Canada writes: A myriad of spots
along the Dumoine River.

This treasure located about 100 km from Ottawa will hopefully
become a provincial Park. This river offers everything – foam flecked
rapids, smooth chutes, thundering falls, beautiful lakes, a canyon and
excellent campsites all surrounded by pine and spruce forest.

Jean-Marc

Tara Smith from Holland Landing, Canada writes: After going to
Provincial parks I have Fallen in Love with Haliburton Forest.
The sites are very Large and extremely private.
All of their camp spots are on water and the trails and extras
(such as the Wolf centre) are great ways entertain kids.

Paula Greenwood from Peterborough, Canada writes: According to
my girlfriend, the best spots are on the elephant islands in the
French River in Ontario. They’re referred to as the elephant rumps -
great tenting.

Allan Elliott from Calgary, Canada writes: Lake Superior
Provincial Park in one of the finest campgrounds discovered on a cross-
Canada camping trip in July/August 2007

Up the Creek With my Paddle from Alberta, Canada writes:
Without doubt, my favourite camping spot is at the end
of the portage going into Fred Lake in Quetico Provincial Park,
Ontario. This portage ends in a beautiful sand beach, with
a campspot beneath towering white pines. The lake abounds
with walleye, so catching dinner is a matter of spending
a few minutes trolling behind the canoe. Under a full moon,
loons call back and forth, echoed by the howls of a wolf pack
that frequents the lake shore. Early morning mist moves out
of the small bays, to disappear in the warming sun.
Camping here in solitude…priceless!!

Marshall Bowen from Burlington, Canada writes: One of the most
peaceful and I guess my favourite place to camp is in August on the
hiking trail in Pukawska National Park. You can pitch your tent on the
shore of Lake Superior, sometimes near the mouth of a small river, and
see the beautiful sunset followed later by the aurora borealis making
curtains across the northern sky.

Eefje Willemze-Kool from Brampton, Canada writes: A favourite
camping area is at Kilbear north of Parry Sound, Ont. After locating
the ‘right’ camping spot, which has large rocky outcrops behind it,
between the tent and Gergian Bay, one feels in a world of one’s own.
At night on a blanket to soften the hard stone, one can gaze at the
constellations and be awed by the enormity of our universe, and make a
wish on seeing the inevitable ‘falling star’. In daytime, a 5 minute
stroll brings you to a beautiful sandy beach with sun-warmed water.
There you have a choice of sunbathing, barbecuing lunch, windsurfing,
and time almost stands still. For another day, there are a series of
hiking trails, of varying lengths, just waiting to be explored. As
well, there is an excellent museum and evening programme to keep
little ones entranced. An added bonus for music lovers is the nearby
Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, with musical events of all
types, within an easy 1/2 hour drive! This is certainly the Land of
the Gods!… in summertime, at least.

T J from Canada writes: Sandbaks provincial Park @ Picton On.

Eugene JZ from Toronto, Canada writes: Perhaps the best place
in Ontario, for camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and whatever
other outdoor activities your heart desires, is … Lake Temagami in
the Nipissing District.
Just amazingly clear water, stunning escarpments, fantastic
forests, the lot.
I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the outdoors.

dan donahue from Canada writes: Lake of the Woods in
northwestern Ontario would be my hands down pick.
I’ve canoed many regions but this place is unique simply
because it has yet to be discovered as have so many other areas. 14
thousand islands, a history dripping with riches clear water and blue
skies make an experience
one will never forget. I don’t paddle as much anymore but I’ve
settled in the region and feel blessed to spend my summer nights on
the dock with the images of those who came before to settle this part
of the country, pass before me amongst the diamonds the setting summer
sun casts my way.

Theodore Street from Canada writes: My favorite place is a spot
that is accessible only by water: the Benjamin Islands in the North
Channel of Georgian Bay. What’s nice about this spot? There’s a choice
of camping on the rocks or camping in the woods. There’s a celebratory
quality about camping on an island, especially if you sailed to it in
a small sailboat, say a sixteen foot Wayfarer named Happy Talk; you
get more joy than you would from say chartering a yacht in Little
Current or Gore Bay — not that there’s anything wrong with yachts.
It’s just not camping.

My first trip to the Benjamins was on the Canada Day weekend in
1990, with my friend Brenda. It was truly exhilarating. Our friends
from Westwood Sailing Club had chartered two yachts from the yacht
dispensary in Gore Bay. By late afternoon Saturday they were anchored
in the natural harbor in the bay between North and South Benjamin
Island. Our friends spotted this sailing dinghy tacking upwind in the
distance and wondered oh know: their dignified yachting experience
will soon be eroded. Minutes later we were tied up to a charter boat
named Charisma for drinks and barbecued hors d’oeuvres (peppers),
Nachos and beer.

So in our own way, we enjoyed the company of these charter
yachtsmen, but also the privacy of our own deserted island.

Poopie Pants from Toronto, Canada writes: Grundy Lake
Provincial Park

elissa berry from Marmora, Canada writes: Crowe Lake, Marmora,
Ontario just north of Belleville and east of Peterborough is my
favorite spacious camping spot in Canada. Why? It’s a family location
where you can bring the kids, stretch out and enjoy while the children
play. The winding road through the tall Canadian forest leads to the
lake where we can catch bass, muskie and pickerel and then sink our
toes in the sand at the beach. It is close enough to Toronto, just 98
miles metro and all the necessities are closeby. Camping is about
people, my family and yours as we sit by the campfire and watch the
stars. Some of the very best of these people can be found at Glen
Allan Park in Marmora, Ontario.

S. Richens from Winnipeg, Canada writes: The greatest campsite
I ever stayed at is Hideaway Lake in Pukaskwa National Park, located 4
km north of the starting point of the coastal trail. The North shore
of Lake Superior is breathtakingly beautiful, and this site is no
exception. But not only is it located in a bay between dramatic
granite headlands topped with spruce and aspen, it is set back just
enough to escape the wind without losing the presence of the Lake. The
water is crystal clear, showing the myriad colours of each submerged
boulder. It’s one of the last places left on Earth where a hiker can
just dip a mug into the water and drink it untreated. The only signs
of human existence are the tent pads and the contrails overhead. Not a
trace of litter can be found, as this site is only visited by the kind
of people who are willing to pay a few hundred dollars for a water
taxi into the park, and then to hike and often crawl the 58 km of
unmarked trail back to the parking lot. Not a walk in the park, the
trail’s reputation for ruggedness is well deserved. Best of all, being
only a couple of hours from the start of the trail, one can carry a
gourmet meal with wine and all the trimmings for the first supper
before reverting to the usual hikers’ fare of GORP and ramen noodles
for the rest of the week. My pictures are at: http://www.mts.net/~srichens/pukaskwa.htm

Here are the camp sites for British Columbia:

GARIBALDI PROVINCIAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Comment “Watching the glacier change colours with the setting sun is a
delight at dusk, preferably with a refreshing and well-deserved
beverage in hand.”

– Wendy Royle, Vancouver

Highlight More than 90 kilometres of hiking trails wind past
evocatively named alpine geography such as Black Tusk, Panorama Ridge,
Sphinx Glacier and Castle Towers.

Ambience It’s a nine-kilometre trek from the access-point parking lot
to the reader-recommended Garibaldi Lake Campground, so it’s safe to
assume few campers will have toted boom boxes or beer kegs.

Amenities Garibaldi Lake Campground is a bare-bones, 50-site setup:
four day-use cooking shelters, pit toilets and a sink (the water isn’t
potable). Open fires are prohibited, as are pets.

Diversions In summer, it’s all about hiking around Garibaldi Lake.
Several renowned trails branch out from the access parking lot or the
campsite, including treks to Panorama Ridge and the Black Tusk.
Swimming is refreshing to say the least, as all the park’s lakes are
glacier-fed.

Flora and fauna Many dense Douglas fir, western red cedar and western
hemlock forests cover the park, as do alpine meadows. Grizzly and
black bears, mountain goats and deer roam the area.

Pest factor Visitors should take precautions against bear encounters.

Insider tip Sites 12 to 18 are clustered right next to Garibaldi Lake.

Information The Garibaldi Lake parking lot is a 90-minute drive north
of Vancouver. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served
basis. Visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks.
================================================

RATHTREVOR BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Comment ” A beautiful spot with lots of hiking trails, a fabulous
beach that goes for miles and a great campground that is well-
maintained and monitored.” – Anonymous, Nanaimo, B.C.

Highlight It’s a short stroll from any of Rathtrevor’s many campsites
to the celebrated sandy beach. At low tide, the Strait of Georgia’s
waters recede almost a kilometre; when the ocean rolls back in over
the hot sand, swimming prevails.

Ambience The park is especially popular with families, but the sheer
size of the beach prevents overcrowding.

Amenities The park’s 174 vehicle-accessible campsites include three
hot-shower buildings, flush toilets, an adventure playground and
several freshwater taps. There are 25 more walk-in campsites, with pit
toilets and two picnic shelters nearby, and four group sites.

Diversions Rathtrevor buzzes with activity over the summer. A Nature
House and amphitheatre run interpretive programs seven days a week;
there are 5.5 kilometres of easy walking trails; and swimmers,
fishers, paddlers and windsurfers flock to the beach. The park is
famous among birdwatchers for the Brandt geese migration, from March
15 to April 15, in which these shore birds use the beaches of
Rathtrevor and Craig Bay as staging and feeding areas on their spring
migration to Northern Canada and Alaska.

Flora and fauna Along with Douglas firs, Western red cedar, hemlock,
balsam, spruce, arbutus and maple trees cover the park. Several
species of wildlife can be spotted in the park, including deer,
otters, mink, eagles, osprey, hawks, vultures and owls.

Pest factor During the Brandt geese migration, dogs are not allowed on
certain parts of the beach. Backcountry areas are also not suitable
for dogs, owing to possible bear encounters. Raccoons

can be troublesome in the campsites.

Insider tip Campsites 20 and 21 are among the closest to the beach –
less than 50 metres away – and there’s no road separating them from
the sand.

Information Rathtrevor is a two-hour drive north of Victoria.
Reservations: discovercamping.ca.

================================================
Jack Jones from Clearwater, BC, Canada writes: No question, the
Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia.

My family makes it a yearly trip. It’s such an incredibly
beautiful place up behind Mt Robson in the sub-alpine. The views of
the glaciers and sawtooth peaks are breath-taking. The best part of
the trip is the hike. It’s not for the out of shape or faint-hearted.
It is a 2 night, 3 day excursion of about 50 km round trip. There are
no garbage cans. Everything you pack in you must pack out. There is a
grueling 1000m climb over 3 km. This is the part the separates the
adventurers from the tourists. Everyone that you meet up top has the
same attitude, a reverence for nature. When you camp across Berg Lake
from the glacier, you can hear the glacier ‘calve’ at night, which
means part of the glacier breaks off and falls into the water. There
is this tremendous roar and then crash and then two minutes later you
can hear the waves reaching the shore. It is truly spectacular. Most
importantly is the journey we make as a family. When you spend that
kind of time together and endure the physicality required by the trip
you can’t help but bond and come together as a family unit. I get
choked up just thinking about it. We first did the trip when my son
was 6 and my daughter 8. They were awesome! I think about his little
legs doing the 50 km round trip in three days. Last year, we took
Gramma who turned 60. Robson has always been one of my Mom’s favorite
spots but she had no idea that the best part of it couldn’t be seen
from the road. She had recently recovered from a hysterectomy and this
was truly a life-affirming event for her. Again, the hike is a real
metaphor for life. The struggle, the reward, the beauty and the
journey we make together. You’ve got to be in shape to do it but the
challenge is amply recompensed. The Berg Lake Trail in Mt Robson
Provincial Park is by far the best camping experience I’ve ever had.
We’ll go again this year, see you up there!

===============================================
Edward Ralfe from Fernie, Canada writes: Long Beach, south of
Tofino. Pitch your tent just off the edge of the sand.

==============================================

Kathryn Murray from Toronto, Canada writes: The Tatshenshini
River and the Alsek River meet in the wilds of northern British
Columbia. There is no finer campsite in Canada than at this
confluence. The flat plain at the river’s edge makes for an
unbelievable location for a campsite. Tents are scattered among the
wildflowers. In every direction are snow capped mountains, with
glaciers dotting their sides. The river, glacier fed and fast flowing
is laden with salmon. During the day, grizzly bears wander the banks
and sandbars feeding on the salmon. At night, the stars are forever.
And in the morning, the mist hangs over the land as the sun’s rays
break through. Nature abounds — eagles, ospreys, bears, lynx, owls,
and the list goes on.

I have camped for over 30 years across Canada. There is no
campsite that even comes close to this. you are left with the feeling
of peace and harmony and one with nature. And after all, that is what
camping is all about.

===================================================

Kathleen Snyder from Parksville, Canada writes: My favorite
camping spot is right on the water at 4 All Seasons at Cedar on
Vancouver Island. There are only about four sites right on the water
where you can pitch your tent. Beautiful views of the sunsets. There
is a natural pool built into the rocks.

==================================================

Michael Banfield from Vernon, bc, Canada writes: my favourite
camping spot is the Sandy Beach-3rd cove South of parkig lot at
Sombrio Beach, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Lovely sandy
spot under and immense overhanging spruce tree. A fresh and potable
water creek flows across the beach to the ocean. The Roicky cove (2nd
one south)is full off small bits of dry firewood for the picking.
Following the creek into the cleft you come across a beautiful
waterfall which is carving away the sandstone. the closer to the
falls, the less vegetation on the walls of the cleft. the headland
between the third and fourth cove has been undercut by the ocean,
producing a standing height cave with openings to the sky which can
produce some spectacular ephemeral images. If you go around or over
the headland to the fourth cove, you will see Sombrio Creek waterfall,
which plunges directly into the ocean. At night you can drift of to
sleep to the gentle sussurus of the waves, sometimes accompanied by by
the barks of sea lions or the blowing of whales. A truely magical
place, which I have been tavelling to for almost forty years now. When
we first went there, my kids were in backpacks, and we hiked about 90
minutes through old growth forest. Now, one can drive to within about
100m of the first cove. A twenty minute beach walk takes you to my
special place. ENJOY!

=====================================================

John Mullrooney from Calgary, Canada writes: To me, the best
place to pitch a tent in Canada is Gray Bay, Queen Charlotte Island,
British Columbia. My girlfriend and I have camped from coast to coast
to coast for many, many years and this place is truly magical. What
could be better than watching the sun move horizontally across the sky
for hours deep into the night, sleeping peacefully by the water, and
making up late to the call of orcas mere metres from shore??

It’s truly heaven on earth for us and anyone else that travels
the great distance to be there…

=====================================================

Chris Killey from Canada writes: In a country blessed with so
many scenic spots to camp, one sticks out in my memory from 15 years
ago. My wife and I were on Vancouver Island, heading to the Carmanah
Valley to hike in the majestic old growth forests. Just before we took
our rental car on the (forbidden, according to the rental agreement)
dusty, gritty logging roads, we spent one night camped at Gordon Bay
Provincial Park, by Duncan, on the shore of beautiful Lake Cowichan.
Our stakes were sunk into the soft forest floor, admidst the same
large old trees that we would drive 2 1/2 hours the next day to marvel
at.

I have only been there once, and have camped so many
spectacular places since (rugged Gros Morne, Bon Echo with its awesome
granite rock face, the reedy north shore of St. Lawrence past Quebec
City, wind swept Tofino, also on Vancouver Island, Lionshead on
Georgian Bay surrounded by limestone cliffs), but that one night in
the peaceful forest on the shore of the clean, blue lake) is indelibly
etched in my mind.

I will be back there one day.

Chris Killey

====================================================

M Smith from Canada writes: Tsusiat Falls, West Coast Trail is
my pick for best place to pitch a tent. Giant driftwood logs provide
private little ‘rooms’ in which to set up camp; smaller logs are
perfect for an evening fire, enjoyed against the sun setting over the
Pacific. The ‘never-ending falls’ make a naturally beautiful backdrop
for the pool below where one can enjoy a refreshing dip after the
day’s hike. And there is nothing like drifting off and waking up to
the sound of the surf washing up on the golden sand.

======================================================

Jake Kayak from Canada writes: The Broken Group Islands in
Barkley Sound, part of Pacific Rim National Park is one of my favorite
places to camp. Accessible by paddling, water taxi or the Francis
Barkley out of Port Alberni. We have kayaked here a number of times on
self-guided trips (inexperienced people should consider a reputable
tour operator for safety and comfort). On all of our trips, we have
brought friends or family who have had limited if any previous
kayaking experience. This is a wonderfully beautiful area with pretty
islands and some amazing beaches. It can get busy in the summer, but
we enjoy meeting other fellow voyagers. Last summer, we hired a water
taxi so that our four-year old could experience this with us. We base-
camped and did day trips. Upgrading our gear from ultralight to
ultracomfortable really helped (thicker sleeping pads, bigger tent,
two stoves, etc.). Check out Alberni Marine Transport for more info
(they rent kayaks and have a lodge at Sechart Whaling Station). I hate
to share this with everyone! If you are looking for something more
secluded, take the Uchuck III from Campbell River to get to Kyuquot
(and the Bunsby Islands).

=======================================================

Rebecca Shields from Vancouver, Canada writes: I have never
seem more beauty then Desolation Sound on the north end of the
Sunshine Coast in BC. The water access only protected marine park
boasts the most stunning array of wildlife, where you can pick fresh
oysters right off the bottom of the inlet floor. Take or rent a kayak
and enjoy!

=================================================

fleur beleski from surrey, b.c., Canada writes: The best place
to pitch a tent in British Columbia is in Bowron Lake Provincial Park,
along the shores of a chain of lakes, but you will have to paddle your
canoe to get there. The lakes are located in central B.C. close to the
old historic gold town of Barkerville in the Cariboo Mountains. They
form a 360 degree traverse totaling 116 km, which you canoe and at the
end of each day, pitch your tent, cook your meal, exhausted but
exhilarated. The wilderness experience can be completed at your own
pace, usually 5 – 10 days. You will have to bring all necessities with
you and portage your canoe and grub in several places where the lakes
join. Take care that the black bears don’t steal your food as there
are no stores to replenish your supplies once on the route. In such
cases, campers have been known to share, but only the essentials. Your
camping experience is gratifying because you arrive at a different
location every day under your own power, then appreciate the joys of
cozying up in a two-person tent. There are few places left where you
can experience the beauty of nature—moose, waterfalls, sandy
beaches, rapids, mountains and glaciers—in an entirely uninhabited
part of the planet but still not so remote and yet easily accessible.
It’s not for everyone; only those with a sense of adventure. (details
on the B.C. Parks website bowronlake@gmail.com) Alex & Fleur Beleski

====================================================

Rachel Capon from Kingston ON, Canada writes: In a past life, I
was a Kayak Adventure Guide in British Columbia. I had the honor of
traveling through the waters of BC, and sharing the beauty and wonders
of this place with my clients and fellow guides. On one particular
trip in Nootka Sound, I found the perfect spot for my tent. Our group
had found a gorgeous bay to spend the night. Jetting out from one side
of this bay was a little tiny island. It had about ten trees on it and
just enough room to pitch two small tents. I found a little area with
the softest earth ever (for an avid camper, this is a very important
detail). Positioning my tent perfectly I was perched just above Nootka
Sound looking out into the Pacific Ocean. It was this view from my
tent that inspired me to take a view from my tent door for the next
couple of years. I hope one day that I will get to pitch my tent hear
again. Until then, I will be forever searching for that gorgeously
soft earth that brings the most peaceful of dreams to a tired camper.

Happy Camping
Rachel Capon

========================================================

Ken Schroeder from Golden, B.C., writes: My pick for the best
camping spot in Canada is: Bennett lake in northern BC. This site is
the best since you can only arrive after hiking the 53.1 Km Chilkoot
Trail or by the train the departs from Skagway Alaska. Your away from
all civilization and you camp next to the historical old chruch and
railway station that still remain there. There are some nice beaches
near by if you dare want to test the cold lake water. Along with the
views and the vast expance of northern Canada make this one of the
best spots to pitch a tent.

====================================================

John Hughesman from Victoria, Canada writes: There are so many.
But a spot in Yoho I stayed at last summer is a hard one to beat. Yoho
National Park is next to the more famous Banff National park, just
before you cross into Alberta. Yoho is on British Columbia soil and is
one of the many gem’s BC has to offer the camper I was hiking in Yoho
Valley which is most famous for Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest
falls in Canada at 384m. I hiked through the valley on the iceline
trail with a friend to the top of Twin Falls. Twin falls is, as you’d
guess, two waterfalls side by side. They both flow from the same
river, but right before they fall the water flow is split into two.
The result is spectacular, 2 waterfalls plunging 250m to the valley
below. In a area of dozens of impressive waterfalls, this is the one
most worth the hike. My old hiking book (circa 1994) showed a camp
site near the top of the falls. Of course, somethings change after 13
years and we found no trace of a campground. It was late and we
improvised, there was a large ledge about 10 -15 feet below the top of
the falls that was easy to climb down to and could accommodate dozens
of campers. Of course we were by ourselves, in a spot that I
immediately decided was the finest place I ever put up my tent. We
were a short distance from the falls, so we could watch a breathtaking
volume of water rush past our tent. A short distance the other way was
the edge of the cliff and a 250m vertical drop. We were on top of the
world (or, at least on top of Yoho) with a amazing view all to
ourselves! I wish I could include a picture here, so instead a website
with some Pic’s: http://members.shaw.ca/jcdueck/photo_tfmain.html.
They don’t do it justice, but you’ll get the idea. Just remember, the
view is the best from the top. Happy Trails. – John Hughesman

=====================================================
Courtney McLachlan from Vancouver, Canada writes: My all time
favorite camping spot is Alice Lake campground, which is located just
forth of Squamish, BC. As a kid, I used to go there with girl guides
as well as on family camping trips. Many great childhood memories of
learning how to make fires out of (often wet) kindling, and learning
about the local flora/fauna. It’s a beautiful spot where you can lie
on the beach and swim, avail yourself of the nearby coastal mountains
for hiking, and kick back roasting hot dogs and making s’mores at the
end of the day. A true classic, and one of my all time favorite
places. Can’t wait for this summer!

====================================================

Stephen Ashton from Tofino, Canada writes: There is a beach,
just a 30 minute paddle away from Tofino that is idillyic. The beaches
in Clayoquot Sound are stunning. The sand is fine and the ocean waves
and tides change every few hours. My favourite campsite is located on
Medallion Island, Vargas Island. From the kayak launch in Tofino, you
paddle out past Round Island, and then the channel between
Wickaninnish and Stubbs Island. Due west, you will see the low lying
Vargas Island. After working your way through and around a few reefs,
you will see the sweeping beach. Land, set up your tent and enjoy
beautiful sunrises and sunsets from this spot. There is ample firewood
for a beach fire and a fresh water stream at the southern tip. The
ample driftwood also allow you to set up a comfortable camp. Once
you’ve settle in, you can go out to the Wilf Rocks which is one of the
best salmon fishing spots in Clayoquot Sound. A good catch can be
roasting on a beach fire for the evening feast.
=================================================

Aaron Archibald from Golden, Canada writes: The most impressive
campground I have experienced is Appleby Dome in the Bugaboo
Recreation Area. This campground is pearched on a granite shelf at the
base of Eastpost Spire with intimate views of Bugaboo Spire, Snowpatch
Spire and Crescent Spire. Clean mountain water flows through the
campground and there are beautifully constructed and well maintained
toilets at the site. To get there: Turn off Highway 95 at Brisco BC
and follow the signs. Drive on dirt roads for about an hour. Watch for
wildlife. Its common to see bear and deer. I’ve only driven this road
about a dozen times and wolves have crossed the road in front of my
vehicle on two occasion. At the parking lot, carefully place chicken
wire around your vehicle to keep the porcupines from chewing on your
brake lines. I lost my brake fluid and had to drive out with only low
gear and emergency brake. Hike a sometimes steep trail about 4 hours
from the Bugaboo Recreation Area parking lot. Keep your camara handy
for cascading waterfalls and alpine flowers. Mountain goat kids have
almost no fear of people and can approach quite close. About 3 hours
into the hike you will come upon the Conrad Kane Hut. This large
heated hut is a good option in bad weather as it provides sleeping
mats, cooking appliances and an opportunity to socialize with outdoor
loving folks from all over the world.

================================================
David Wilson from Vancouver, Canada writes: Near Bamfield on
the west coast of Vancouver Island is a campsite called Pachena Bay
which is operated by the local first Nations Band. The best sites are
located adjacent to the beach and are in a forested area. Pachena Bay
itself is crescent shaped beach about 2 km. long, located on the open
Pacific Ocean.

Road access to Bamfield in the camping season is a dusty bumpy
logging road, about two hours from Port Alberni, only the most
committed campers make the trip. Challenging access to the campsite
and surrounding area mean that the beach is uncrowded, sort of like
Tofino 40 years ago.

An added bonus to the camping experience is the local First
Nations delivering to your campsite live fresh dungeness crab. Combine
that with a BC wine and you have entered camper’s nirvana!

=====================================================

Brent Baumgartner from Suzhou, China writes: Soooo many great
spots to choose from and more to discover. Currently, I enjoy camping
around Main Lake on Quadra Island, BC. Quiet, off the grid, clean and
well maintained. No mosquitoes are just part of the charm. There’s a
nasty fly over from Vancouver airport leaving many jet trails in the
sky and something the locals should talk to their officials about.
Otherwise, pure nature but not too hard core for city folk.

================================================

allan petrie from Canada writes: There are many beautiful spots
to camp in the Rockies but Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park is the
best. Its an easy walk-in campground that even provides wagons to move
your equipment the few hundred yards from the parking area to the
campsites. The pay-off is the 360 degree view of mountains from your
tent, turn slowly, as everywhere you look is breathtaking. And every
view benefits from a focal point which in this case is Takakkaw Falls
across the river with a several hundred foot drop of water along a
cliff face to the bottom where the river resumes. Even though there
isn’t much privacy the type of campers to whom this appeals are
considerate and quiet so you are among people that are there for the
same reason as you. From your tent door, many hikes await, from an
hour or two, to half or full day or several days and they are
astounding in their beauty and naturalness. Gorgeous, gorgeous,
gorgeous.
==============================================

Bob Clayton from Blind Bay B.C., Canada writes: Shuswap Lake
Provincial Park

==============================================
Allan Hewitson from Kitimat, B.C., Canada writes: I am glad to
see so many epeople with so many diverse favories for camping. We’ve
been taking an “in-season” and and “out of season” trip each year to
Takysie Lake, south of Burns Lake in north-central B.C. Takysie is
small and there are only a couple of camps there…but the joy of the
lake is the jumping trout…everywhere. Including, on at least half a
dozen occasions for us, right into the boat. One off season (the week
after closing) we went fishing. It snowed in the night and a black
bear came by, scattered our portable BBQ and sucked the sauce off each
and every briquette. Spectacular rising mountain sides are snow
covered by October. There are trail walks because a number of people
live on the Lake. The peacefulness is only broken by the lonesome
sounds of loons and the ferquent splash of leaping trout. They don’t
do the same thing in many lakes around. Osprey and eagles can be
persuaded to dive and pick up a discarded trout… There’s a beaver
“clearcut” where you will be surprised by the size of the whittled
trees. There’s virtually no traffic and your co-campers are all
friendly and helpful. Wood is plentiful and free and rates are
attractive enough to make the five hour drive well worth while. It’s
our favorite spot of many similar out of the mainstream sites. As
retirees our weekend is any time, so it’s never too busy.

Richard Hawrelak from Sarnia, Canada writes: The East/West
Kootenays in B.C. Along the old Transcanada HWY 1, the most southern
route in B.C. (Michel, Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, Nelson, Grand
Forks). The B.C. Forestry does an excellent job maintaining camp
sites. Chopped firewood, clean sites, near rivers with trout jumping.
Not too far off the beaten path. Good highways, lots of supply stores.
Near Hot Springs. Can’t beat it. I’m from Fernie, and worked for the
B.C. Forestry. I’ve camped Washington, Montana, Idaho. You can’t beat
the Koots. Enjoy it.

Don Wells from Calgary, Canada writes: Goldstream Provincial
Park B.C. without a doubt———huge trees lots of sunnature! WOW

ben gelfant from vancouver, Canada writes: Anywhere you can’t
get to by road. But…

Fairy Slipper island. Myrtle lake. Wells Gray Park. It is
inaccessible except by a well maintained portage which allows carts so
easy for families. White sandy beaches everywhere on the west arm of
the lake. The best water I have drunk anywhere (after filtering for
potential parasites). Stunning beauty.

Here are the camp sites for Alberta:

DINOSAUR PROVINCIAL PARK, ALBERTA

Comment “Spectacular badlands scenery, great hiking through the
hoodoos, a small dinosaur museum on site with the Royal Tyrell Museum
an easy drive from this park.”

– I. Ignatius, Toronto

Highlight With a rich legacy of fossil hunting and with hoodoos,
pinnacles, coulees and buttes rising up on all sides, this UNESCO
World Heritage Site makes visitors feel like time travellers.

Ambience At twilight, with the hoodoos resembling all manner of
monsters, this 81-square-kilometre park can be downright spooky – in a
cool way. But you’ll have plenty of company in the summer. Overnight
crowds are kept in check, however, as there are just 126 sites split
over the north and south campgrounds.

Amenities The two campgrounds include 59 powered sites. There is also
a 10-unit group camp that has its own shelter, outdoor toilets, fire
ring and water tap. There is also an indoor theatre, outdoor
amphitheatre, bookstore, showers, a concession stand and a laundromat.

Diversions There is a brontosaurus-sized selection of guided hikes,
tours and lectures. For sedentary visitors, the Badlands Bus Tour
provides a two-hour overview of the park’s geography, wildlife and
history. For more active types, the 31/2-hour Great Badlands Hike
rambles through rugged terrain. And for the studious, a Fossil Lab
Talk explores the preparation of excavated fossils.

Flora and fauna Along the riverbanks, cottonwood and willow trees
mingle with saskatoon, rose and buffalo-berry bushes. Cacti,
greasewood and sage mottle the badlands. Coyotes may be spotted but
are more often heard – again with the spookiness. Warblers,
woodpeckers and waterfowl live among the cottonwoods, while golden
eagles and prairie falcons soaring above.

Pest factor Watch your step: Rattlesnakes, black widow spiders and
scorpions call this park home.

Insider tip Plan to spend at least two days in the park – there’s too
much to do and see in one day.

Information The park is a three-hour drive east of Calgary. Visit www.tpr.alberta.ca
; reservations: 403-378-3700.

Vern Wallace from Canada writes: Banff National Park

David Bird from Fernie, Canada writes: For the past 18 years I
have been organizing and annual May long weekend canoe trip to start
off the canoeing season. For many of these we have paddled the Bow
from Lake Louise to Canmore. Usually we camp at the Castle Mountain
Campsite midway between L. Louise and Banff. This spot may have the
distinction of having the most predictable weather in Canada over this
particular weekend. I will not say it always rains, sometimes it
snows. The weather does not matter, we have a great group of
individuals who gather to share the paddling experience, paddling
stories, memories, way too much food, and camaraderie. the essence of
a great camping spot is the individuals you share it with. I carry
great memories of this spot.

Kitchener de Regina from Canada writes: Cypress Hills
Interprovincial Park, the most beautiful park I have ever seen, truly
amazing.
==================================================

Here are the camp sites for Quebec:

MER ET MOND, QUEBEC

Comment “The views of the river and the whales are remarkable – both
transporting and mesmerizing.”

– Birthe Jorgensen, Toronto

Highlight Leave your alarm clock at home – you’ll likely wake up to
the sound of surfacing whales. This stretch of the St. Lawrence River
is a vast feeding ground for several species.

Ambience Strung along a rocky stretch of shoreline, campsites are
nicely set apart. And the only noise you may hear at night is whale
music.

Amenities What Mer et Monde lacks in modern conveniences – there are
no electrical hook-ups, potable water taps or showers – it makes up
for in personality. The 25 walk-in sites are either set on nifty
wooden platforms affixed to the rocky shore or on more conventional
sandy lots. Each has a fire pit and picnic table, with two chemical
toilets and an information booth serving the facility.

Diversions Beyond whale-watching from shore, there are sea-kayaking
packages out of the towns of Tadoussac and Bergeronnes.

Flora and fauna It’s all about the baleines here – minke, fin,
humpback, beluga and blue.

Pest factor Because the shoreline rocks can be slippery and the waters
unpredictable, children aged 10 and under are not permitted on the
campsites closest to the shore.

Insider tip Mer et Monde has added bivvys – one-person waterproof
shelters – to its camping options this year, allowing visitors to
sleep just a few metres from the water and get even closer to the
whales.

Information Mer et Monde is a 31/2-hour drive east of Quebec City.
Reservations: 1-866-637-6663; www.mer-et-monde.qc.ca.

===================================================================

Piere-Giorgio Fontana from Sutton,Qc, Canada writes: My
favourite campsite is located in the beautifully wild valley of the
Missisquoi river in Glen Sutton (Quebec,Eastern Townships). The name
of the campgrounds is ‘Au Diable Vert’ a French vernacular expression
which could be translated as ‘in the middle of nowhere’. Their website
is www.audiablevert.qc.ca. This ecotourism and wilderness centre
enjoys sweeping 360 degrees views of the Mount Sutton valley . The 35
campsites are widely scattered around a pristine forest on the south
side of Mount Sutton and positioned in such a way as to enjoy both
maximum privacy and commanding views of the Missisquoi valley and
several Vermont peaks such as Jay Peak. . The 200 acres property is
crisscrossed by 17 Km of hiking trails and direct access to the 55-Km
trail network of the Sentiers de l’Estrie. Kayaking is also available
along the Missisquoi river. When admiring the valley’s pristine
wilderness from the large deck of the small Auberge on site one would
never imagine to be only 90 minutes drive from Montreal. This kind of
4-seasons wilderness camping close to a large city is becoming an
increasingly rare find and am almost nervous to disclose such a ‘well-
kept’ secret . But at the same time its pristine beauty should be
enjoyed by many other nature loving, happy campers.

Lynda Graham from writes: My pick is site number 5 at Parc
d’environnement naturel de Sutton in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. Its
pretty much nothing other than a wood platform that costs $10 with a
view from the Sutton mountains over the plain below thats worth
$1,000,000. You could be a million miles away from civilization but
its only 90 minutes by car or bus from Montreal and a 1 hour hike.
Apparently you can also rent a tent making it ideal if you just want
to try camping out for size. It can get busy during summer and fall
weekends so try and come during the week when you can often have the
view, and the mountain, pretty much to yourself.

Antoine Goulet from Montreal, Canada writes: Au diable vert in
the Quebec eastern townships is absolutely spectacular. Unbelieveable
views, amazing hiking trails and the owners are extremely welcoming.

farron blanc from Brampton On, Canada writes: Parc Aiguebelle
in Quebec.
Where else can you rent private rustic cabins that feature
their own private lakes, for $20 a person.
Only 7 hours from Toronto.
Beautiful views.
Aiguebelle which means beautiful water is definitely great!

Non-hyphenated Canadian from Burlington, Canada writes: Kipiwa
Provincial Park in Quebec. It’s simply amazing. Clean waters, great
fishing, well-maintained trails for portages.

Here are the camp sites for Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon:

Anders Robichaud from Iqaluit, Canada writes: The cofluence of
the Soper and Livingston rivers in Katanalik Territoral Park.

Privacy abounds in the steep walled valley hiding the most
verdant landscape Nunavut has to offer. Further up river, rapids
challenge your boat mastery, further down river, the water grows
relaxed and lazy leading to the only copse of what can be considered
trees to be found on Baffin Island.

At Soper and Livingston hiking is easy and rewarding; a nearby
waterfall charms, caribou poke curiously amongst the rocks and small
flowers bloom every colour of the rainbow.

It is a little-known and seldom-visited gem. A truly wonderful
place to shed ones concerns and simply marvel at the diverse miracle
of life on our planet.

Patricia McKenna from Whitehorse, Canada writes: One of the
most beautiful places to pitch a tent straddles the Yukon Territory
and Alaska. The Chilkoot Trail is both pristine and protected. After
leaving the Alaskan rain forest and crossing the summit one hikes onto
the snow fields and eventually down along flower-filled tundra. A
panoramic vista of snow-topped mountains and clear, cold glacier-blue
water awaits your tent. Your 360 view may be shared with a few other
intrepid souls who hike in the footsteps of the Klondike gold rush
seekers of 1898 or, maybe shared with just a marmot or two.

John McLean from Aurora, Canada writes: The south-western
plateau of Glacier Pass in Northern Ellesmere National Park provides a
number of undeveloped and frequently uneven tenting sites. The climb
to the site requires a day of steady hiking of 15 kms. from the base
camp on Lake Hazen. Included in this hike is a vertical rise of over
3000 feet in elevation and the numbing experience of crossing the Snow
Goose River and its tributaries.

The views from the campsite over the pass toward Roundel
Glacier to the north or Blister Ice Cap to the west are spectacular.
You are situated just shy of the 82nd parallel on land frequented by
less than a handful of hikers in any year. Views of a small herd of
Musk Oxen and foraging Arctic Hare, whose numbers are measured in the
dozens, are common. It is possible as well to see the occasional
Arctic Fox and Arctic Wolf. A further half day hike to the eastern end
of Glacier Pass provides more exhilarating views of the Abbe River,
Varsity Mountain and the Abbe Glacier.

The north face of Everest it isn’t, but it is Canadian,
affordable and achievable and I highly recommend the experience.

don morrison from yellowknife, Canada writes: Re- favourite
camping spot…
I consider myself an expert when it comes to camping in Canada
but then camping experts probably rank second only to hockey experts
in this country.
I’ve been a camper for more than 50 years. I’ve camped on the
east coast, west coast, arctic coast and just about everywhere in
between, including the bald prairie. I’ve been a car camper, a canoe
camper, a hiking camper and even a fly-in camper. I’ve camped with
family, with friends, with just my dogs, even once with my cats and of
course by myself.
Initially I scoffed at the idea of a favourite spot but on
reflection, there is one place that stands out for me as the best.
About half way up the east coast of Baffin Island you take a left turn
down Clyde Inlet and at the very bottom of the inlet where the Clyde
River charges into the sea, that is my favourite camping spot.
Why… there are so many reasons … the scenery is a
combination of mountain, glacier, rushing water, or sparkling ice …
amazing wildlife, fox, wolf, caribou, geese, falcons and more, great
fishing for arctic char, if you are lucky there will be families
camped by willing to share tea, bannock and smilea, there is also the
challenge of the weather, it can change from spring blizzard to dead
calm serenity and then back to blizzard in a day… but collectively
its the feeling of wow… this world is so special that makes this my
favourite spot to pitch a tent.

Dave Boone from Calgary, Canada writes: Jane and my memories of
great camping locations focus quickly on a remote Arctic site, nestled
beside the Ad Astra ice cap at the northern end of Ellesmere Island in
a National Park called Quttinirpaaq, that is the size of Switzerland.
Still, it only sees a handful of visitors each year in the glory weeks
of summer when flowers tougher than us bloom with a vengence born of
the knowledge that it is now or never. Our bright yellow tent is
pinned against a fresh wind, onto a bright rust-orange rock ledge high
above a lake by our packs and a few large cobbles positioned in the
corners. It is July and there is still ice on the lake that looks
surreally white against a cloudless blue sky. There is no vegetation
taller than our ankles as far as we can see in any direction and the
view seems endless and without scale. Our tent looks out over the lake
from a 100m cliff at Airforce Glacier, a sea of white ice sprinked
with debris and split into two by a massive flat-topped ‘mesa’ of dark
grey rock that has thus far resisted being ground into grit. We have
front row seats for geography in action, watching slabs of blue ice
crack off the leading edge of the glacier and plunge into the lake
waters below with the sound of a million glasses shattering. We are
basking in the midnight sun with our trekking companions, drying out
overworked socks on the tent peg lines, and hoping that the polar bear
that passed through our last stunning campsite two nights before, will
find the smell of those socks even more repulsive than we do! We move
upwind with good reason because the air blowing off the glacier is so
incredibly fresh that it tingles in our nostrils. We are completely in
the moment. Dave Boone & Jane Poole

Joanna Tiemessen from Yellowknife, Canada writes: The best
place to pitch a tent is on an island in the middle of Hidden Lake (or
any lake for that matter!) in the Northwest Territories. After a
beautiful paddle and a few portages (just to ensure you have to do a
little work for this glory) you are in majestic and solitaire
surroundings. Pick an island, any island, and stake your ground for
the weekend or however long you can stand to be away from
civilization. The water is a breathtaking aqua colour due to the
shallow sand bottom of the lake and it is warm enough to spend the
entire day swimming in. Fish jump out of the water and beg to be
caught for dinner. The sun shines 24 hours a day in the summer months
and the sky never seems to touch the horizon. And even when the days
begin to shorten in August, the sunsets into the lake are amazing. And
best of all, the local bears usually don’t make the effort to swim
over to your island for a visit. So, this is the best place for my
family and I to set up a tent – and we are so blessed that it is close
enough to our backyard, we can do it as often as possible.