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High Temp.
17 F
Low Temp.
-36 F
Wind
W 10-20 MPH
Miles Traveled
10
Hours Traveling
6
New Snow none
(since last update)
People
Seen 0
(since last update)
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Posted: Thursday, 2/7/03 8:30 PM trails east of Cumberland
House, Saskatchewan
Our departure from Cumberland House left a bittersweet
taste in our mouths. We were anxious to finally hit the trail and
begin living in our tent. However, we met so many fascinating people
during our brief stay in "Cumberland." Meeting Kennedy,
the King Trapper, seeing the frozen wolves in his backyard and having
tea with his parents were all experiences we will not forget. Getting
to know Les, who
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runs his trap-line several times a week, was a lesson in the dying art of
trapping. Having a dinner with the Carriere family, comprised soley of food
that they harvested from the surrounding forest, was the icing on the cake.
Knowing that we will visit Cumberland House and our new friends again, it
is great to be on the trail.
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After a lively chat in our chat room
with many of the students participating in the adventure, we hustled
over to the Cumberland House school and spent the morning giving presentations.
Then it was back to Les's house to pack up the toboggans and get ready
for the big moment when we would finally hit the trail! We loaded
the toboggans, Lichen, Saylix, Frosty, Les, Kennedy, and me into Les's
pick-up for the ride to the trail-head. Around 3 PM we said good-bye
to our new friends and took off down the trail. The first few miles
were well packed by local traffic. |
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We sped along, enjoying the remainder of the day.
As the sun began to set, we found a nice place to camp and began
the many chores involved with making camp. Stomping out a place
for the tent, gathering fire wood, feeding the dogs, unloading the
toboggans, the list goes on.
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Click Photo To Enlarge
Students asked in the Chat Room what the dogs' paws look like.
Here's a close up of Lichen's after a day on the trail. |
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The temperature was dropping quickly, and the warmth
of the wood stove was a welcome relief from the biting cold. We piled
the wood high, anticipating a cold night. When I awoke at midnight
to stoke the fire, the temperature had plunged to 36 degrees F below
zero. |
Today, our first full day of travel, was a challenging
one. The trail was often sloped to the side, and our toboggans were
constantly sliding off of the packed trail in the deep, soft snow
along the edges. After man-handling the heavy sleds for a few hours
we began to tire. Soon our trail hardened bodies will be used to this
physical work, but now are hands are un-calloused, and our muscles
soft. We will sleep well tonight.
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Click Photo To Enlarge
We came across many animal tracks today, but couldn't figure
out what made this. It was the size of a snowshoe. What could it
be? Post your suggestions to the Message
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Our pace would have slowed to a crawl if we did not have Lichen and Saylix
along to help haul our toboggans. The last few miles of trail provided
easier travel, and we are hoping that tomorrow will provide for faster,
easier travel.
With bellies full of Mac and Cheese, we are ready to crawl into our sleeping
bags and dream about tomorrow's adventures.
The Wilderness Classroom Organization
4605 Grand Ave.
Western Springs, IL 60558
(630) 204-0420
info@wildernessclassroom.com
All content copyright (c) The Wilderness Classroom, 2002. All
rights reserved.
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