Weekend camping trip - E. Ontario

kgd

kgd

Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
9,786
I had a meeting in Picton, Ontario (off of Eastern Lake Ontario) last Thurs. - Fri. and then drove to my buddy's wood lot in the town of Sharbot lake for a bit of frog egg collecting (for research) and some camping fun. I ended going solo on this trip and while it would have been nice to enjoy the company of others who were invited, it was also nice to have a bit of solitude. I actually miss those days of my youth where I would routinely go camping by myself for a weekend and just enjoy nature on my own terms. This brought a lot of those memories back!

The forest is lush right now with lots of rain throughout the spring.

forestsxv.jpg


trillium.jpg


forest2s.jpg


This was my shelter. It is actually the footprint of one of my tents. I never tarp camped before and I thought this would be a good time to try it out. Mind you the bugs are rather ferocious this time of year so I also wanted to test my meddle here too (I did have a tent in my truck in case I wimped out for night 2).

shelterh.jpg


Really the tarp was just there for a bit of relief. There was little chance of rain over the weekend so I wasn't too concerned about set up. I also had a ground cloth, but decided I didn't like its crinkly noises and put it back in my pack. For luxury I had a foam pad and a light thermorest. All in all it was very comfy. I work a good coating of DEET on my hands, face and neck and that kept the skeeters at bay. I tried sleeping in a bug jacket but I didn't like the no-seeum mesh touching my face as I slept.

stump.jpg


streamg.jpg


pondy.jpg


knives.jpg


My new snow & neely modified 24" camp axe was my main chopping tool. I actually brought a fiskars 19" axe and will do a review comparing the two of them later this week. I was very pleased with the S&N. This was my little nightly pile of wood I would produce. It took about 15 minutes to generate.

firewood.jpg


Oh I had a few other choppers with me too!

leuku.jpg


cont...
 
marshv.jpg


wildflower.jpg


Garter snakes, green and leopard frogs were all around the place. I suspect these two guys were young of the year.

snake1b.jpg


snake2p.jpg


Notice the large disk on the green frog, the tympanum (eardrum) in these shots. In the 2nd one the typmanum is larger than the frogs eye indicating that it is a males. The shot below is a female.

frog1i.jpg


frog2.jpg


knives2.jpg


Being on private land means you can have a beer break whenever you like!

ken1.jpg


Over this trip, the breeden pathfinder was my main belt knife. I really fell back in love with this knife again. With its 5" blade length and 0.125" thickness it was a great cutter. Very generous and comfortable handle just made it a great knife to have on the belt. The custom kydex sheath by On-Scene-Tactical also worked well with this set up. You put this knife down anywhere in the grass and it is easy to find. Good enough for small batoning and a real pleasure to whittle with. I really like this knife!

pathfinder1.jpg


Millipedes! Before the re-introduction and expansion of earthworms in North America post glacial retreat, the role of detritivore on the forest floor was dominated by these guys.

pathfinder3.jpg


cont.
 
millipede.jpg


To my surprise I came across a couple of hooters on my travels...

owls.jpg


Dazing at the fire at night is a great past time.

pathfinder2.jpg


Its even better when you are sipping some spirits.

ken2.jpg


Chipmunks can be found about every 10 feet.

chipmunkb.jpg


This guy is saying in his tough voice - 'Are you looking at me???'

chipmunk2.jpg


A couple of dragonfly shots

dragonfly2.jpg


dragonflyf.jpg


Lastly, my bunny burner kit. Yeah, Rick has his wilderpouch. I have a bunny burner kit!

firekit.jpg
 
Really nice pics, kgd. The critter pics are cool, but all that green is just amazing to a So. Cal. guy. I've trekked through asian jungles that I don't remember being that green.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Wow, awesome post kgd.

I wish I could have made it for this trip! I imagine it would have been quite the educational experience - like camping with a wiser version of Ace Ventura, but with an appreciation for microbrews. That owl picture (during the daytime, no less!) is particularly neat.

Thanks for sharing, and all the best,

- Mike
 
Great pictures Ken! That looks like an awesome trip.

It is cool that you gave the tarp a try. If the bugs are too bad, you can always try an Equinox Mantis, or something similar.

B
 
Last edited:
KGD,

I'm jealous of your time alone in the woods... I used to really enjoy that. Great pics, thanks.
 
WOW Ken those pics were just awesome. I love the senery you have there. that pic with the Pathfinder and the fire made my heart skip a beat LOL that was totally cool.
Glad to hear you are still using your Breeden Pathfinder.
It was neat to see your camping set up with the tarp that is my favorite way to camp. you really get to see nature with out having to be closed in Yes the bugs can be a pain but to do that type of camping is just awesome. Glad to hear you tried it out. Will you do it again?



Kathy enjoyed the animal pics you posted she is a real animal lover.

Take care and chat with you later.

Bryan
 
Brian Andrews said:
Great pictures Ken! That looks like an awesome trip.

It is cool that you gave the tarp a try. If the bugs are too bad, you can always try an Equinox Mantis, or something similar.

B
Click to expand...

I like it for the ability to go light. The bugs weren't nearly as bad as I imagined. I did feel far more vulnerable in just the tarp with my head stuck out there. I suppose the tent gives a false sense of security for bears and the like, but I'm not one of those nervous types really. You get a much better audioscape of your surroundings. Some of the strangest sounds seem to be produced not too far off. Of course I was pitched right near a wetland and there were at least 3 species of frogs chirping away.

I forgot to post my spring peeper.

woodfrog.jpg
 
Great pictures, k, especially the bugs.

However,........... when you say hooters I was expecting this:

Hootersrestaurant.jpg


Doc
 
Great pics Ken!

I love the Owl shot !!

Did you just pack in the bottles of beer?
 
Awesome weekend! Really really nice pictures. That shot of the Barred Owl is special. I'm just envious as Hell. Good for you that you were able to have and to enjoy this time.
 
Lots of green there! My son, who is in the Navy, saw the first picture and said "There are five navy seals there, can you see them?"
 
Very nice pics, that dragonfly one is really good. Looks like you had a good assortment of blades with you too.
 
Those are some sweet pics 'Ol Bud ! What kinda camera you using ? Glad to see another Breeden Pathfinder fan... thats my main belt knife to :thumbup:
Thanks for sharing the pics !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top