Ski and Snowshoe Tracks Trace Winter Pleasure

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Close to home and really varied

 

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photo by Eric Fletcher

Because Ottawa gets tons of snow and few thaws, it makes sense to get out there. Otherwise, winter can seem awfully long if you’re just staring out the window.

Where to go? Here are some favourite trails that could fit on anybody’s destination list. See you there?

Click to read entire winter issue.
My article is on p. 36.

Life Under the Snowpack

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There’s an active “subnivean” world down there

 

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photo by Eric Fletcher

While people snowmobile, hike, snowshoe, ski or ride horses across the winter landscape, few give much thought to what’s going on beneath them. It’s a fascinating environment called the subnivean, a word derived from Latin, where “sub” means “under” and “nives” means “snow.”

Many animals use the snowpack as shelter from harsh conditions above ground In the Ottawa Valley, mammals like voles, mice, red squirrels and shrews build tunnels, enabling them to...

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My article is on p. 35.

Antarctica Revealed

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If you go, pack carefully for the most remote South

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photos by Eric Fletcher

Penguins. Humpback whales, Tales of the undaunted British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1915 expedition. Ice, glaciers, mountains and snow. Kayaking amid icebergs and growlers (“baby” icebergs). Camping on the Antarctic Peninsula, that reaches out toward South America.

Depending on weather and sea ice, all this awaits voyageurs bound for Earth’s southernmost continent...

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My article is on p. 17.

Natural Encounters in Antarctica

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My article starts on page 14.

Story by Katharine Fletcher, photos and magazine cover by Eric Fletcher

A 19-day Expedition to the End of the World

Antarctica conjures images of penguins, snow and icebergs

Many of us also recall vivid tales of exploration, where heroic explorers such as Britain’s Sir Ernest Shackleton and Norway’s Roald Amundsen raced to reach the South Pole.

The southernmost continent had been on our bucket list, so last December my husband Eric and I booked on Norwegian company Hurtigruten’s 19-day Great Antarctic Expedition. MV Fram would depart Ushuaia, Argentina, bound for the Falkland, South Georgia and the South Orkney islands—destination Antarctica.

. . .

Read the full story at Dreamscapes online.

Ottawa’s Natural Environment: Blinded by the Light

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Dark Sky Preserves open a door to the universe

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photos by Eric Fletcher

Above me, the night sky is velvety black. Against it, the pathway of our home galaxy – the Milky Way – courses across the heavens. As my eyes adjust, black silhouettes of the surrounding white pine forest appear, and once again I am humbled by nature’s beauty.

While contemplating dark skies, people can feel connected to our distant ancestors who, like us, gazed at the mystery of the heavens. From their wonderment would spring their culture’s superheroes, gods, and creation stories...

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My article is on p. 21.

Geology Rocks in Ontario’s Highlands!

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Ottawa Valley is renowned for stories and treasures in stone

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photos by Eric Fletcher

“Geology rocks,” says Chris Hinsperger, owner of Eganville's Bonnechere Caves. “The Ottawa Valley is home to fascinating geological features.”

He’s right. The Bonnechere site is just one of many destinations to discover.

Another thing he’s right about is his firm conviction that geology isn’t boring. It may seem complex, but National Capital Region residents have many places close by to handle fossils, visit museums which demonstrate how the Earth was formed, or go rockhounding to collect mineral specimens.

Click to read entire fall issue.
My article is on pp. 18-19.

Indeed, Ontario’s Highlands Region, an official tourism area that covers a thick slab of the province south and east of Algonquin Park along the Ottawa River right down to Arnprior, has developed a recreational geology program for people wanting to understand the story of the rocks.

Here are some basics...

Take a Ride on the Wild Side

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2014 is the Year of the Horse, and it’s time to saddle up

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photos by Eric Fletcher

“Are you afraid of heights?”

Guide Josh Walton of Alpine Stables in Waterton Lakes National Park had good reason to ask. Our four-day horseback ride of this popular park south of Calgary would see us riding soaring ridges, where wind whipped our mounts’ manes and tails every which-way.

Watson’s quarter-horses were sure-footed athletes, and each had their traits: my horse Major scrupulously picked his way along precipitous scree trails while husband Eric’s mount, Jackie, powered her way through thick and thin, up and down. Both inspired confidence.

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My article is on pp. 12-13

That was a good thing...

Quebec's Nearby Pontiac Region Beckons

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Little-known, but full of hefty outdoor fun

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photos by Eric Fletcher

Want to raft amid frothing whitewater under a full moon? Hike along woodland paths and canoe the Ottawa River? Race dog teams along sandy trails in summer? For full-on adventure amid a backdrop of spectacular nature, grab your gear, bring the family (lots of stuff for kids), and discover the Pontiac.

It's a lesser-known part of West Quebec and a fine outdoorsy “staycation” destination for Ottawa-Gatineau residents. Pontiac’s gateway lies immediately west of Aylmer, and includes towns along Highway 148 Ouest such as Luskville, Quyon, Bristol, Fort Coulonge and beyond. Even the “orphaned” island known as Rapides-des-Joachims – Pontiac residents call it Swisha or Da Swisha – is officially in Pontiac, though you can get to it only from Ontario!

Click  to read entire summer
issue. My article is on pp. 43-45.

Although it’s easy to drive along Highway 148, another scenic route is via the Quyon ferry Fitzroy Harbour (Mohr’s Landing) on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River to Quyon.

Here are some don't-miss attractions, starting really close to home.

Ottawa’s Natural Environment

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How close is too close for wildlife watching?

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photo by Eric Fletcher

How close is too close for wildlife watching?

“Look at that bear! I’m going to get a great photo!” Off the photographer ran, straight for the animal.

Another Darwin-award moment…

Normally sensible people can be transformed into fools when nature’s serendipity presents a golden opportunity for a stellar photograph.

Although you’d think people would know better than to run towards a black bear, Homo sapiens frequently exhibits thoughtless behaviour towards wild animals instead of being sensible… and acting respectfully.

But what’s respectful?

Mud Lake Madness

Remember the commotion at Mud Lake – the popular wildlife watching spot at Ottawa’s Britannia Filtration Plant – during the last two winters? The Ottawa Field Naturalist Club’s Facebook page exploded with comments because some photographers had positioned tripods semi-permanently to shoot Great Gray and Snowy owls. Come spring, others similarly created a zoo-like atmosphere when Great Horned Owls were nesting.

Click to read entire summer issue. 
My column is on p. 33.

Some birders brought live mice purchased at a pet shop, and threw them to the birds of prey. The owls swooped down, wings beating the air and talons bared to grab the rodents, then transport and devour them aloft. The Great Horned adults fed some mice to their young.

So what?

Historical Gatineau Park

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A hike to Carbide Ruins reveals pioneer and industrial history

Story by Katharine Fletcher; photos by Eric Fletcher

This hike from O’Brien Beach to the Carbide Willson Ruins was formerly known as Discovery Trail. Today it’s just No. 36.

Pity.

That’s because of all hikes in Gatineau Park, this one presents what’s perhaps the most tangible kind of human history. 

Even the approach to the trailhead at O’Brien Beach parking lot (P11) is historical. From Old Chelsea, we travel west on the Meech Lake Road, named after Asa Meech, a Congregationalist minister who came to Hull (today’s Gatineau) from New England in 1815. 

Click  to read entire summer
issue. My article is on p. 11.

Although the National Capital Commission, the agency which manages Gatineau Park, owns Meech’s farmhouse, it remains unidentified, a sad and baffling neglect. Watch for a simple, gabled white farmhouse on your left as you approach O’Brien Beach. Meech built it on 80 hectares of land, deeded to him in November 1823.

Incidentally, O’Brien is a famous Canadian. Renfrew-born, he became a major industrialist who, among other things, planned the Crow’s Nest Pass section of railway which still connects Alberta to British Columbia. And he founded the National Hockey Association in 1909. 

Sweet Surrender

By Katharine Fletcher
(translation to French by Natalie Richard)

In Quebec and Ontario, a springtime sugar shack excursion is de rigueur, with traditional comfort foods — drenched in syrup — and horse-drawn sleigh rides through the woods being the main attractions. But, what’s new in this sweet old world?

Quebec alone produces more than 75% of the world’s maple syrup. The province’s maple producers’ association, the Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec (FPAQ), has created the Maple Gourmet Road, with stops in 19 regions doling out a wealth of information for aficionados of all ages. The trail is lined with all kinds of maple-related enterprises, including the Maple Masters (a handpicked group of particularly creative producers and processors), and a hundred artisanal bakeries, pastry shops, charcuteries, chocolate shops, and candy makers, where you’ll discover new products, regional specialties, traditional  recipes, and unique gifts.
. . .

Published VIA Destinations, March-April 2013. 
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Visit VIA Destinations’ website.

Putting the ECO in Ecotourism

Tips for ensuring your wildlife experience doesn't harm the animals and habitat you want to conserve

By Katharine Fletcher

When travelling, we want to respect and support wildlife, ecosystem biodiversity, local
communities and diverse cultures. Yet we've all heard about nightmare trips that promise green but deliver negative, sometimes damaging experiences.

Moreover, for those of us who love animals, our fascination with them can cloud our common sense — and our responsibility to keep a reasonable distance from wildlife. The prospect of snorkelling with spawning salmon in British Columbia’s rivers, hand-feeding elk or swimming with belugas may trigger an eager “I’d love to do that!” response. But it’s precisely at these times that we have to summon our conscience and choose instead to keep wildlife healthy and protected in their habitats.
. . .

Published in the March/April 2010 edition of Canadian Wildlife Magazine.
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Visit Canadian Wildlife Magazine’s website.

Seeking the Real Deal

Summer, 2008

SLEEK black water grabs our raft and hurtles us through the Ottawa River’s raging Rocher Fendu rapids. “Paddle hard! Harder! Go, go, go!” our leader shouts, and with a swoosh we’re through the churning froth. Before tackling the next whitewater, we rest while our guide tells us about the river’s ecology and spins tales from First Nations history of the area.