Paddling through Paradise
Allison Forsythe, Guest Blogger
This blog was written by guest blogger, Allison Forsythe.
My husband is the paddler. He started doing “hike in/hike out” camping when he was a kid. I, on the other hand, started doing “drive to the campsite and enjoy a cool beverage” camping in my early twenties—and that remained my camping style for years. It was perfectly wonderful and was a great way to sleep under the stars. My friends and I always cleaned up after ourselves, and even if we didn’t take a canoe or kayak out on the water, we went on hikes and listened for birds.
That said, it’s not that I wasn’t interested in…let’s call it “more remote” camping, but it can be a bit intimidating, can’t it? With all the gear? And training? It can be hard to know where to start.
But then you see other people’s photos.
Paddling in the Rain by Terri Rilling
Take, for example, this month’s Nature Canada calendar photo. It is gorgeous. Doesn’t it make you want to be in that canoe, coasting across the water, chasing that rainbow?
It was my husband’s photos of his trips through the Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit in British Columbia that got me. I had seen other breathtaking photos from across the country before, but they were always taken by professionals—professional photographers and, as far as I was concerned, professional paddlers/hikers/outdoor enthusiasts. (Do I sounds like a city girl yet?) It was my husband who assured me that I could learn the skills I needed to do our own canoe trips (and that you don’t need super advanced wilderness skills for every type of trip).
If, like me, you aren’t sure where to start, check out some reputable guides online. Provincial parks provide a lot of information about what you’ll need (and what’s allowed in the park), and a number of Canadian magazines and blogs will give you an honest breakdown of the skill levels needed for different canoe trips, hikes, or climbs. If you’re looking to increase your wilderness knowledge or learn some paddling skills (and you don’t happen to live with an experienced paddler), then look for a club in your area or find a certified instructor near you.
Plus, while you’re at it, check out the organizations in Nature Canada’s NatureNetwork—since another side effect of looking at other people’s photos (and, subsequently, getting out into nature to take your own) is the growing desire to protect everything you see.
Being in nature is good for the mind, body and soul—and sharing your photos is a great way to inspire others to do the same. Have you got a great photo from your last camping trip? A funny memory from your first experience in a canoe? A story about the hike that sparked your interest in natural history? Share it with us by tweeting to @NatureCanada or you can submit to our Nature Photo Contest!
