Lure of the North

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Lure of the North

Specializing in traditional winter travel, natural handcraft workshops and culture in North Eastern O Visit us at lureofthenorth.com to find out more.
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Ever thought of making your very own winter clothing that will keep you toasty in the blistering cold? And then how about taking those very same clothes and head out snowshoeing up in to the rugged Boreal Forest?

23/03/2025

And they’re off! Icebreakers 2025 has just commenced with our fearless travellers departing this afternoon.
Their trip will see them travel the twists and turns of Killarney, out onto magnificent Panache, through Whitefish Falls and into the expanse of the North Channel!

Today was a coming together of gear and participants, the first loading of canoe sleds, a maiden launch and small tow to the first campsite. This gives everything a shake down before everyone settles in for the first night on the trail 🏕️🛶

Follow along!

First Campsite Lat 46.081735 Lon -81.236515

19/03/2025

What we are about to embark on might be called a bit of a crazy expedition. But what we thought was a one off trip last year, we liked so much we're doing it again!

Last year's winter was less than ideal as far as snow and ice go. At this time last year there was basically no snow and way less ice than we should have had! So while we were supposed to be heading on the Trans-Temagami expedition we were worried about the Sturgeon River being an impasse. So rather than chasing winter North and driving for hours on end, we opted to stay local and deal with the hand we were dealt. So we pulled out our Craig Macdonald papers and our Beyond the Paddle book by .conover and started gathering materials to build our very first canoe sleds...

We bought our very own pickaroons (or hookaroon- both of which sound awesome and hilarious)- which are incredibly something you can still buy! We rented canoes from the very generous Ted from and away we went!! With a handful of the brave participants from what was supposed to be a two week deep winter trek, we threw on our brand new drysuits and let the learning begin!

The learning curve was steep and the adventure was real.

We ended our goal of reaching the town of Spanish short by taking the 3km portage back into our lake system and finished at the pond. Which was really a great way to finish the season. But this year we're going for it!

From Johnnie to Spanish. In t-3.

17/03/2025

It was a complete mixed bag of weather and conditions as we crossed the Temagami wilderness. Complete white outs, head winds, tail winds, snow mobile tracks and thigh deep fresh snow. We got only a couple days of sunshine during the whole trip but did we ever appreciate and take advantage of the glorious rays!!!

This trip was a magical blend of appreciating what you have at home while also being in deep awe of your surroundings. Not just the beauty of the wilderness, but the comradery of a group that comes from far and wide to journey together through challenge after challenge.

11/03/2025

Trail Breakers' Bond continued from yesterday:
....

But first we get to reap some reward with some glide,
Some fun like we're kids, the toboggans we ride.
As we walked further north, the memories flooding back,
It's all where LURE started, our snowshoes re-track.
We made it together, our souls are in tact,
Hard times let us grow, it's a matter of fact.

We thank Mother Nature, for letting us pass,
Even if she gave us, a healthy dose of sass.

And soon we'll part ways, go back to our fonds,
But we've shared something special, the trail breakers bond.
I hope you remember the fun as type II,
For what you hold in your heart will always be true.
....

This trip was incredible thanks to so many things. Firstly it was made possible by our support team. I will say more soon.

The people that come on our trips come from all over the world to what most would call a crazy way to spend their hard earned holiday. And to be honest some may have questioned it themselves on this trip! But it always comes back to working as a team to get through any and all of the adversity we face on the trail. Because of weather, because of travel conditions or because of our own inner challenges that we face on a daily basis. Stronger together is always true. These portraits were taken after walking on the Sturgeon for an hour after a cold -36*C morning.

10/03/2025

Trail Breakers' Bond

We started together on the trail much less traveled

A variety bunch, includes both order and gavel.

Bright eyed and bushy both black hair and silver

We set out on our way north, the wind causing shiver.

Narrow and step, winding and tough,

Day two was admittedly, pretty darn rough.

We lost our dear couple up from San Antone

A twisted knee but no broken bone.

That took up some time, our momentum was stalled,

We felt like we were now, behind the 8 ball.

But blessed by our trail angels, our motor companions,

We made heaps of mileage and we all felt like champions.

But wait! Mother says, you're now in for a treat,

Blinding snow and head winds,

Can't quite see, kind of neat?!

We get to the falls, can't hear or even see 'em

Tough camp to set up, broke pole, ah who needs 'em!

Kettle falls to ascend, we have to go up where?!

Get the pulleys and your might, let us see how we fare.

We heaved and we hoed, we gave it our all. Each stage as back breaking as we slip and we fall.

We rejoice at the top, the Sun finally out,

But the fun didn't stop there's a wind swirling about.

A lake carved from heaven, looks like a new planet

Head down just keep walking to the Sturgeon we pin it.

We round the bend, shelter quickly was given,

Limits had been reached, some heads were a spinning.

Perspectives were shared, and respect always given,

A Journey that's tough is always worth living.

Agreements were made, push ahead and we'll see,

What the Sturgeon will gift us, what our next phase will be.

Oh great have some slush, the cold kind no less,

Some thin ice for Patrick, what a beautiful mess.

New strats' are employed, our untiring leader,

Sets forth after camp, the slush we will beat'er.

Work as a team, most certainly we must,

Fearless out front, in Dave's probe we trust.

We get through it together, by tooth, nail or feather.

We definitely got our fair share of weather.

We decide as a group, as the rain came tumbling down.

Our goal post has shifted, we won't walk to town.

We'll stop shy and finish at our old friend the bridge,

The good Montreal River, passing through Ishpatina Ridge.
..to be cont'd

07/03/2025

A colder day today made for excellent travel conditions. A north wind blew in overnight, and squeezed even more snow out of the warm moist air. We crossed Smoothwater by compass bearing in white out conditions. The portages in this section are wide and easier rolling terrain, perfect for toboggan rides!
We're nestled in now to a little bowl with hills all around sheltered from the north wind.

06/03/2025

I've said it already, but I'll say it again: the weather on this trip! Heavy snow turned into rain this afternoon. We still managed a 10km day and an early finish to start the clothes drying process.
We're warm and dry now in the tents, looking forward to colder temps tomorrow.

04/03/2025

The wild temperature swings continued today, but we had great progress nonetheless. Our journey took us up the twin falls portage (much easier that Kettle!) through some sneaky little passages around open water and under cliffs at Ghoul Lake. The upper section of the Sturgeon meandered through low banks of Alders, and finally we ended the day on a long trail to our spot here at the southern foot of Ishpatina Ridge.

03/03/2025

Whoa! The Sturgeon River is going full Beauty and the Beast on us! The scenery is spectacular, narrow and windy with technical ice challenges. But the challenges are full on. Ascending Kettle Falls is no joke and the slush at times has been bank to bank. But we're past the point Of no return now. Taking our final break tomorrow, then pressing northwards.

01/03/2025

A beautiful clear starry sky last night and a morning that dawned at -26C, clear and calm. We anticipated a warm sun shiny afternoon, instead we were treated to our third snowstorm this week! Toboggans we're getting buried as camp setup progressed. Despite a number of hard portages today, we have reached a major route milestone: the Sturgeon River! Camped below Kettle Falls tonight, though the snow obscured the view.

28/02/2025

Whoa Nelly, a wee bit of a morning coffee portage into Dougherty lake to wake us up this morning! A steep roped uphill followed by even more uphill, followed by a steep drop back to the lake. We made up some time on the big lakes, and pulled up to our campsite just as a snow storm turned fierce.

27/02/2025

Yesterday we had an impromptu rest day due to a strained knee (everyone's ok!), but we were back at it today with a big, bold and beautiful, blue sky day. The open spaces and towering red pines of Chiniguchi were beautiful, but our campsite lake is cute as a button.

25/02/2025

A life in a snow globe kind of day today.
The thermometer tipped past the point of "nice gliding snow", and into the realm of "Dense, wet and sticky" snow. That combined with a heavy portage day made for a tough one. But we're settled into the tents now, clothes steaming away.

24/02/2025

Trans Temagami Day 1
We were blessed today with great travel conditions to ease us into the adventure. Warm weather made for slippery, low friction snow. We're camped now in a little pond between lakes, and have pre packed the trail over to Silvester already.

.outfitters

22/02/2025

Just before we take off for two weeks for an incredible snowshoe across Temagami, I got to hang with a flock of White Wing Crossbills yesterday in the glorious sunshine. Watching them scurry from tree to tree picking at the cedar, spruce and fir trees while they chirp away was infectious. The days are growing noticeably longer now and when the sun does shine you can feel it's warmth again.

We're heading to our start location now where we gather and spend the night getting ready as a group. Hopefully we'll get a group shot of us walking into the wild from Nero tomorrow morning.

I hope you enjoy your day as much as these little birds seems to be!

20/02/2025

On Saturday, we start on a journey together through the Temagami wilderness. The traditional land of the Anishinaabe people and a vital ecosystem of some of the last old growth Red Pine in the world. Along with 11 other people from all over the world we will spend 16 days snowshoeing North through one the most magical and beautiful lands of our province.

This route it's probably one of our favorite routes of all time. This will be our third time doing it as a company and it's the variety, remoteness and ruggedness that keeps us coming back.

Our trusted Australian friend Nero will be updating you with our progress along the way including satellite map links to see exactly how our progress is going and how we're doing out there! And if course he'll be keeping the homestead warm and the pets fed and well loved 😍

So make sure you follow us along on this incredible journey that I'm sure we're about to have!

Food is officially packed, gear is heading out to the trailer as we speak. We may actually squeeze in a board game before we set off!!!

13/02/2025

Stick with me folks!

I wrote this poem and I admit it's long! It was when I was alone at the pond going for daily walks with Hank and got inspired. Sometimes the pen ink keeps flowing!

If you stick to the end there's promise of a hug 🤗

Send me your thoughts!

09/02/2025

A beautiful way to finish 8 days on the trail with such beautiful people.

The morning I went to pick up the crew in Spanish, I first had to get more wood across the pond for the furnace, and take out the compost. Well this beautiful Great Gray owl was hunting mice and voles in the snow! I got to watch them for a minute and then they stood tall in a tree watching me while I did my work. I just stood there having a moment with them and thought, there's no way that I have time to go inside grab my camera and they'll still be there. Well I thought it was worth it and instead of being on the tree for the photo shoot, they moved a top the solar panels. I snapped photos until my fingers went numb and Hank and I enjoyed our connection with this stunning owl for 10 more minutes. Such a wonderful experience and I thank Hank for being so chill to allow the moment to happen.

What can I say about this group? Despite not being on the whole trip, being there at the beginning at the end and hearing updates throughout the journey I can tell that this was a very special group. I don't know how we seem to do it, but it seems like no matter where people come from, they always come together in a very special way.

This group had fine folks from the UK, USA, northern Quebec, representatives from our beautiful Ontario, and even all the way from New Zealand! With Nero from Australia, we really had quite the Commonwealth gathering this week!

In times of uncertainty when you think of the world going to 😬, you can just look at what throwing a group together to accomplish a specific goal in a challenging environment can do to pull people together. There's no question in my mind that all humans yearn for connection, a feeling of belonging and a desire to live in shared experiences. Thank you all who were there to share that together and share part of it with our friends here.

Our season is far from over, but I wanted to express deep gratitude for the people who have already come out with us this winter and entrusted us to make your hard earned money and time well spent. I hope you feel like you're apart of the Lure family because you are! ❣️❤️🎈🤗

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