tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200795112024-03-13T04:51:42.868-04:00Marc Charron's BlogMy view of the world from a height of 5ft. 16in.
© 2005 to 2014Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-53387406118509054322015-12-19T18:42:00.000-05:002015-12-19T18:42:11.601-05:00ApologiesWow, hard to realise & admit that I haven't updated my blog since March 2014...<br />
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I fought-back against FaceBook but with a daughter in Jamaica (back then) and another one in Dubai (now), it was much easier to keep in touch with FB. Along with that, it was much easier to post about just about anything with FB, including topics normally reserved for my blog, such as kayak-camping trips, hiking & snowshoeing expeditions. As a result, easy won over better, and my blog lost out.<br />
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What I needed was some "incentive" to update my blog. I may finally have it (subject to confirmation). The lack of better suggests may result in Santa delivering a <a href="http:" target="_blank"><span id="goog_859273461"></span>Sunnto Traverse<span id="goog_859273462"></span></a> under our Christmas tree with my name on it. The built-in GPS and recording will hopefully track my adventures in 3-D. I've heard good things about Sunnto's <a href="http://www.movescount.com/#" target="_blank">MovesCount</a> site that will hopefully allow me to share my adventures with blog readers with 3D (or 2D) maps. Hopefully (I haven't read-up on all the details yet), I'll be able to integrate pictures from my GPS equipped camera into the MovesCount maps.<br />
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Stay tuned, keep your fingers crossed, and I may be back in January with more posts on this blog. I have so many posts that I could add from past adventures since March 2014 that blogging could end up being a full-time job. Unfortunately I'm not retired yet and that means it could take me a while to fully update my blog.<br />
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Thanks for being patient, hopefully I haven't lost too many of my regular followers.<br />
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Holiday greetings to all!Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-87289371335118164522014-03-30T22:00:00.001-04:002014-03-30T22:07:47.106-04:00Snowshoeing Monts-Valin National ParkSeven hours snowshoeing through the peaks comfortably in below -15 degrees Celsius weather (not counting wind chill) wearing:<div><br></div><div>- Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid shell</div><div>- Black Diamond Solution hoodie</div><div>- Black Diamond Coefficient hoodie</div><div>- Arc'teryx Beta Ar pants</div><div>- North Face Arctic Hedgehog boots</div><div>- North Face Patrol 35 pach</div><div>- MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykePO-jze_6EXG55ugq1RwQrkqLWLJRezdYGp-zBspnXqAf0kYJOGbpQitQ8yCwv1zTrbq1Vlt6fr3saHGGTDdsaB4i_N5yfYgTxvYMwqQtWBTXZmthqPwZRJdTsTlvlrXXhsZg/s640/blogger-image--2091774226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykePO-jze_6EXG55ugq1RwQrkqLWLJRezdYGp-zBspnXqAf0kYJOGbpQitQ8yCwv1zTrbq1Vlt6fr3saHGGTDdsaB4i_N5yfYgTxvYMwqQtWBTXZmthqPwZRJdTsTlvlrXXhsZg/s640/blogger-image--2091774226.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-23602900101439447712014-03-22T21:49:00.001-04:002014-03-22T21:49:18.158-04:00Snowshoeing Spring 2014 - Gatineau Park<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">One last snowstorm today gave us great conditions to close out an extended snowshoeing season that started in November.</span></div><div><br></div><div>We headed up to the Lac Philippe area for trail #74 that (surprisingly) we hadn't done yet this year. </div><div><br></div><div>Here are some pictures that we took along the way. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q9bmQcYX5snSTidgzyXpJxf4GLoD6QWTaS-V2gJBk2CqyvKIURzppDVbEdbu9p-J9B22LUIgL9yomjqukr2anhLNbfSJuAq_YI1PzlwD3-v3eNmO6wVzzCphj2dmohdUdkG-jg/s640/blogger-image-170937711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q9bmQcYX5snSTidgzyXpJxf4GLoD6QWTaS-V2gJBk2CqyvKIURzppDVbEdbu9p-J9B22LUIgL9yomjqukr2anhLNbfSJuAq_YI1PzlwD3-v3eNmO6wVzzCphj2dmohdUdkG-jg/s640/blogger-image-170937711.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSPHTuFQFk0qHT8S0Tqfy-W0xXYNtgz1TsGITPEwYcbdmW_gWmeR4GgNtEoch2f_vERT-xEGHzVIMwsHfxKaYTiphyg8uoDvuYsLbjlRBvXH1nGpnRvdoE2dOvoGAtwKNV_eymA/s640/blogger-image-2007881055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSPHTuFQFk0qHT8S0Tqfy-W0xXYNtgz1TsGITPEwYcbdmW_gWmeR4GgNtEoch2f_vERT-xEGHzVIMwsHfxKaYTiphyg8uoDvuYsLbjlRBvXH1nGpnRvdoE2dOvoGAtwKNV_eymA/s640/blogger-image-2007881055.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOzPjEqXTY9692crzMTJ_lNWm7SlmnyKA17wUGTM0CI5t3GBXUfWw9Ynq75Hj5Ac_3IQ7faCPeRfnEcA_vcBYQVQLQ0j7Iy7Tq85jhkjBrw0BSKLd5n_axZWjnWh0qmSmQfxDw/s640/blogger-image--456388525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOzPjEqXTY9692crzMTJ_lNWm7SlmnyKA17wUGTM0CI5t3GBXUfWw9Ynq75Hj5Ac_3IQ7faCPeRfnEcA_vcBYQVQLQ0j7Iy7Tq85jhkjBrw0BSKLd5n_axZWjnWh0qmSmQfxDw/s640/blogger-image--456388525.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlLydqszz2zEhL3FWNGlbcZqs5zKwOVmvQ70f_lR0EqFG3L9SebyCaEfAe1RglO6dKW9g5Dn8Rrv0ySDbTpp1-28PAWEsWCF6-ucgkhI0T8Sucs5zQYgZnw0u3OdebtlGvqAxrg/s640/blogger-image--101684071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlLydqszz2zEhL3FWNGlbcZqs5zKwOVmvQ70f_lR0EqFG3L9SebyCaEfAe1RglO6dKW9g5Dn8Rrv0ySDbTpp1-28PAWEsWCF6-ucgkhI0T8Sucs5zQYgZnw0u3OdebtlGvqAxrg/s640/blogger-image--101684071.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F9SKLsXMZwU9OUwi63jK_m4Zv8iPNRrUeHGuOenTV4wdZbUeMNOoS7-nxRV8YoNSNYMPMSi0uF_LhS7_ihgNDJCzVwxX9XXdKFx5s4HjvyyA58GpisKkR_PISB-K7U-gKPjrKQ/s640/blogger-image-1644004926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F9SKLsXMZwU9OUwi63jK_m4Zv8iPNRrUeHGuOenTV4wdZbUeMNOoS7-nxRV8YoNSNYMPMSi0uF_LhS7_ihgNDJCzVwxX9XXdKFx5s4HjvyyA58GpisKkR_PISB-K7U-gKPjrKQ/s640/blogger-image-1644004926.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-42329765417067798192014-02-02T14:34:00.001-05:002014-02-02T16:04:28.930-05:00Finally Some Fresh Snow!!!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dVVTncwEoE2glgIanvyv7zxkiP_Uz_SpVDsFbIwLTsBJV4wc0r5a2WbokO2Z_72n-zSGBKHMgTbslNu6Y6x_ODscIOz9E28qpdRvzsv5VXRo3FnUbWcHGhBbLEfZAAwSIAqbfw/s640/blogger-image--921720485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dVVTncwEoE2glgIanvyv7zxkiP_Uz_SpVDsFbIwLTsBJV4wc0r5a2WbokO2Z_72n-zSGBKHMgTbslNu6Y6x_ODscIOz9E28qpdRvzsv5VXRo3FnUbWcHGhBbLEfZAAwSIAqbfw/s640/blogger-image--921720485.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Officially 18 cm of snow fell on the Ottawa area. The Gatineau Park, being further north of the weather system, got somewhere between 10 to 18 cm.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswdS6ylZVEsSuzQqx0NgzHRBS1LZqgHUDTB_qcndxwsjQzxcGBAzFfCQ4mmJcpDexJyul4PSlsEwWWs3BI6hqw9UEw588rqOOU-ZD1N88aqI06gL5rv03BzMdAD-YScamoqgHAQ/s640/blogger-image--2095809154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswdS6ylZVEsSuzQqx0NgzHRBS1LZqgHUDTB_qcndxwsjQzxcGBAzFfCQ4mmJcpDexJyul4PSlsEwWWs3BI6hqw9UEw588rqOOU-ZD1N88aqI06gL5rv03BzMdAD-YScamoqgHAQ/s640/blogger-image--2095809154.jpg"></a></div><div><div><br></div><div>Got to the trailhead by 9:10, already a half dozen cars in the parking lot by then. Headed up Blanchet to the split at Wolf's Trail.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc98QG4XQ0KG9FroAvBl1Kr25mX-UywGMMf6gFxryIMG0U0XEAroLJCb25iceNapdSGKhP7fPbEXzVFroJKCt6ak5myGI7qrrto3BNJf4KHwSH228CT1FzXJBOFqUPP9oQ9yUGXQ/s640/blogger-image-846179251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc98QG4XQ0KG9FroAvBl1Kr25mX-UywGMMf6gFxryIMG0U0XEAroLJCb25iceNapdSGKhP7fPbEXzVFroJKCt6ak5myGI7qrrto3BNJf4KHwSH228CT1FzXJBOFqUPP9oQ9yUGXQ/s640/blogger-image-846179251.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>No one had gone up the left side yet so I ventured onto the virgin powder. Wasn't too long before I started crossing joggers and othe snowshoers. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0pYHmvmIdfswDllZPky23cUsaU8ZWTvXC9Z2Z2Zr8h9AXS_35gvkwrMaIJJHPRJ56b3BE6CWEjeJ0gopkGLCm-SyHQIkfadc-elw0GStwqsyAmPN0v-_M9KWZe2o2SNqdImK_Q/s640/blogger-image-1531344772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0pYHmvmIdfswDllZPky23cUsaU8ZWTvXC9Z2Z2Zr8h9AXS_35gvkwrMaIJJHPRJ56b3BE6CWEjeJ0gopkGLCm-SyHQIkfadc-elw0GStwqsyAmPN0v-_M9KWZe2o2SNqdImK_Q/s640/blogger-image-1531344772.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This was probably the first time I snowshoed the blanchet/wolf trail in a clockwise fashion. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vOZf0se0PK24b13r-gAHr7AUe8qXBuhcJK8nQt4HEwX0GVtRROw_uSUSN84aDIN7PXh052jdt9LlmYP7zUvEFFbqGxGbnDpSFOi5HmDqiB86m9ZuVryW1Vs9l1mBzi8mkyAr5A/s640/blogger-image--769576693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vOZf0se0PK24b13r-gAHr7AUe8qXBuhcJK8nQt4HEwX0GVtRROw_uSUSN84aDIN7PXh052jdt9LlmYP7zUvEFFbqGxGbnDpSFOi5HmDqiB86m9ZuVryW1Vs9l1mBzi8mkyAr5A/s640/blogger-image--769576693.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As expected, it was a bit easier/quicker than counter-clockwise. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrwMuZ7R60ZeSR2GtXP5Y7XNOkKHko7ZgjSgkaYpnurBOdNGNGndZL033cciTC7tGAob1t6koWjkiO0adx1DKW865jCqiOmiZKEsQFGlac5Epk0NRb7ftdZKM1XpRw7KgRaAO-w/s640/blogger-image--670268880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrwMuZ7R60ZeSR2GtXP5Y7XNOkKHko7ZgjSgkaYpnurBOdNGNGndZL033cciTC7tGAob1t6koWjkiO0adx1DKW865jCqiOmiZKEsQFGlac5Epk0NRb7ftdZKM1XpRw7KgRaAO-w/s640/blogger-image--670268880.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Took 2:50 start to finish, with a 0:10 break to enjoy the view at the Tawinda lookout. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vSffDKEs3_SyfY76fRjx1WTOnvcsv0f4dwKD50Di3iSA5eSa5a9lcWbe5cfqjfXTzoODHjoAPs9vMkmZQDYVKHND_9hG-K5YPvUywTObMqT_mPwd71LastJ__JJXf1tSf2QuYg/s640/blogger-image--1741770131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vSffDKEs3_SyfY76fRjx1WTOnvcsv0f4dwKD50Di3iSA5eSa5a9lcWbe5cfqjfXTzoODHjoAPs9vMkmZQDYVKHND_9hG-K5YPvUywTObMqT_mPwd71LastJ__JJXf1tSf2QuYg/s640/blogger-image--1741770131.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">That direction was about 0:20 quicker than usual. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2wL0I206QNiQfVIRaI_HsHZUfwWpP9E76V-nvr771KH-5mbXJhz2QQJplQ_iOIzJFVPdN-UKcCPefhmzUYPdxQq9jOfK7e_sdI4htzfTc5r6ZB3u-ocJuIr6k5SNjn16brbXCA/s640/blogger-image--1096304613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2wL0I206QNiQfVIRaI_HsHZUfwWpP9E76V-nvr771KH-5mbXJhz2QQJplQ_iOIzJFVPdN-UKcCPefhmzUYPdxQq9jOfK7e_sdI4htzfTc5r6ZB3u-ocJuIr6k5SNjn16brbXCA/s640/blogger-image--1096304613.jpg"></a></div></span></div><div><br></div><div>I still prefer the challenging climbs in the counter-clockwise fashion.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3G9ZpU59RjFveYCdaDgVaJXTXTZslkdDWs4WEpHst442LuQfRbXYywS8MzoWjHH8GMIS3Vts7BzUdbKhzuFnqFNmi2kfo2tWnbl8cyQzaHC43fOEKFsFWVDabfse6UQPkk_Bpw/s640/blogger-image--1126669297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3G9ZpU59RjFveYCdaDgVaJXTXTZslkdDWs4WEpHst442LuQfRbXYywS8MzoWjHH8GMIS3Vts7BzUdbKhzuFnqFNmi2kfo2tWnbl8cyQzaHC43fOEKFsFWVDabfse6UQPkk_Bpw/s640/blogger-image--1126669297.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Another great day in the park...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFh9_mzDMHoHlHwH_DrNreODnByKeWKYB6bVZK8xTNAEaQiDxCSIbivO0bfwNMuRQuUgXL5NTL_xbZOm9kZ909rdHH2FJv-jNgC7xvWIjFo1eqi_Deuj66-Z6R-RL3N4O6Mg3yg/s640/blogger-image--335481452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFh9_mzDMHoHlHwH_DrNreODnByKeWKYB6bVZK8xTNAEaQiDxCSIbivO0bfwNMuRQuUgXL5NTL_xbZOm9kZ909rdHH2FJv-jNgC7xvWIjFo1eqi_Deuj66-Z6R-RL3N4O6Mg3yg/s640/blogger-image--335481452.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-7221822853722345132014-01-05T18:28:00.001-05:002014-01-05T18:28:54.907-05:00Snowshoeing Conditions on Trail #61-61 Gatineau Park<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Lots of deep powder available today off the beaten path of Trail #60-61 in Gatineau Park today. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLw6TPEeEhVqzLe3B7i0XZO1Zz8WelChqhU07Vynw_wTOT7eTyZwPqB__NQtyuXCyb0v8dlNiSwFtfVksY2L8e2Q7_5JiCOEP5bxlmrF29L5y6_3D9ZOZDRvV_8REZQsGDEXH_A/s640/blogger-image--1355969318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLw6TPEeEhVqzLe3B7i0XZO1Zz8WelChqhU07Vynw_wTOT7eTyZwPqB__NQtyuXCyb0v8dlNiSwFtfVksY2L8e2Q7_5JiCOEP5bxlmrF29L5y6_3D9ZOZDRvV_8REZQsGDEXH_A/s640/blogger-image--1355969318.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Temperatures were very mild compared to the deep-freeze we've had recently. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraOhKS7e5DP0YEQpVP0LrLlal17qiDXTGBwo5hUZUsGfmId9q5TuFyVllxTOYTFuxas1jyHUDKNq5tSgsdnWDLoFSNONVC7kWyG0uE30P91Aa2xE3ncC0c7SRdQv7hKxrM8bXnA/s640/blogger-image-538281367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraOhKS7e5DP0YEQpVP0LrLlal17qiDXTGBwo5hUZUsGfmId9q5TuFyVllxTOYTFuxas1jyHUDKNq5tSgsdnWDLoFSNONVC7kWyG0uE30P91Aa2xE3ncC0c7SRdQv7hKxrM8bXnA/s640/blogger-image-538281367.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Unfortunately, the warm spell is bringing a substantial amount of freezing rain and rain, followed by colder and windier conditions. It will take a while before conditions come back to what they were today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-27362186969213403962013-12-15T18:46:00.001-05:002013-12-15T21:41:49.804-05:00Dawn Patrol on Wolf's Trail'twas the morning after the snowstorm that was to bring at least 15cm (3 in) of fresh new powder. With overnight temperatures near -20 deg C (-5 deg F), it was destined to be light and fluffy. Alarm clock set at 6am (on the day of rest), headed out to the trailhead before the break of dawn. Maintenance crews hadn't plowed the parking lot yet and I was the first to bust through the massive snowbank blocking the entrance-way. Always nice to be the first one to reach the trail head!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcRYJksfMJb8GsSRlRd1JnGttqP_wezXYFtkbZjkb3hvCwYkn6sKvqwJ5mN7bDoYqbWeEK1AaGzHSorbonkiZdtlzzNEcqXuEpvHYFxQw2Gp4SOZf184T8P6XndwWYCgwaB52kg/s640/blogger-image-761240879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcRYJksfMJb8GsSRlRd1JnGttqP_wezXYFtkbZjkb3hvCwYkn6sKvqwJ5mN7bDoYqbWeEK1AaGzHSorbonkiZdtlzzNEcqXuEpvHYFxQw2Gp4SOZf184T8P6XndwWYCgwaB52kg/s640/blogger-image-761240879.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On the trail before sunrise, temperature around -12 C by then (10 F), the gradual climb wore off the chill that submerged the landscape. </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr0j9iCTpAqpf_C26888WGsRIj9n_o4hW4kjxkxiR39Nhiri8cMan26H2HYNOOo3h-lOdesrcZQh0QYaprqwvKWYKhJGiClrXqkWWo2PxE3o6kfWP-c67E8Ds1s1nc-tJSkR0Ew/s640/blogger-image--1715856913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr0j9iCTpAqpf_C26888WGsRIj9n_o4hW4kjxkxiR39Nhiri8cMan26H2HYNOOo3h-lOdesrcZQh0QYaprqwvKWYKhJGiClrXqkWWo2PxE3o6kfWP-c67E8Ds1s1nc-tJSkR0Ew/s640/blogger-image--1715856913.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This was the first chance for me to try my new gear consisting of:</div><div><br></div><div>- Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid shell</div><div>- <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- Arc'teryx Beta AR pants</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- Helly Hansen Warm Pant</span></div><div><br></div><div>I didn't want to overdress and steam up on this 8mk (5 mile) loop with a fair bit of vertical rise, and with 15 lbs of gear in my backpack. Lets just say that if I wasn't moving, I'd be chilling. With an MEC T3 turtleneck under my hoody, I was comfortable and dry the whole way, lowered the front zip of my shell only during the steepest climbs. Legs felt fine under the surprisingly loud Goretex Pro pants from Arc'teryx. First impressions of the HH Merino/Lifa blend long-john's are very good (comfortable, dry, warm). </div><div><br></div><div>The one new piece of gear that I left at home (but wished I had with me) were my MSR Lightning Ascent snowshoes. My Atlas 12 shoes have lots of grip but not enough to stop me from slidding on side-slopes and falling down a few times. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Took picture at the usual spots along the way, </span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a9gVh8Ew4WCdjz9ac-xo0p41Ov0j4I_UFR8nTo7whbdRjXZP5toc1TX7vBWp0W_NijIRWu019dCkADDL63WBcB3DJ1nz3IABR5H3Ctxs9e8QMQSl5oWmrMQhMxna1raG4zhN8Q/s640/blogger-image-1402535511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2a9gVh8Ew4WCdjz9ac-xo0p41Ov0j4I_UFR8nTo7whbdRjXZP5toc1TX7vBWp0W_NijIRWu019dCkADDL63WBcB3DJ1nz3IABR5H3Ctxs9e8QMQSl5oWmrMQhMxna1raG4zhN8Q/s640/blogger-image-1402535511.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The infamous creek crossing, without the old log bridge. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35PszFTlOYv0E5WuSaCmOK9Wu4BiHLkxFpI1vx8jwR3DsXaVVMKAzE3iwy4MmOpQXQN6DhvRtrCRnQ3FfeHV4r8ODFhGFYAL_33cp5vz1BxFIR-fTsxe8pCBsudVv6CKpDcn0IA/s640/blogger-image--1778620473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35PszFTlOYv0E5WuSaCmOK9Wu4BiHLkxFpI1vx8jwR3DsXaVVMKAzE3iwy4MmOpQXQN6DhvRtrCRnQ3FfeHV4r8ODFhGFYAL_33cp5vz1BxFIR-fTsxe8pCBsudVv6CKpDcn0IA/s640/blogger-image--1778620473.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The infamous beaver pond. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5g1Dbr_yFoaXC08IFKZhKkmQhbk5R3jddI2BBwsXD3WjjzC0AWLUrIsY25TJTC0pOWW-_vq5MlBF0FWspdJ6sM5AjNJ4kM_4eeAImvalEm-07RmgGL_FywlRw-NGaMLrAo7MiQ/s640/blogger-image--36982368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5g1Dbr_yFoaXC08IFKZhKkmQhbk5R3jddI2BBwsXD3WjjzC0AWLUrIsY25TJTC0pOWW-_vq5MlBF0FWspdJ6sM5AjNJ4kM_4eeAImvalEm-07RmgGL_FywlRw-NGaMLrAo7MiQ/s640/blogger-image--36982368.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>First lookout, shortly after sunrise. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPWmncaFahHgqChWlOM4HkySeBbAq2825Yogj6yzPusjF3xeK8dlqNGLMOD7Crs6AaW3l8rrI2eObUbuI4rtLCgHW5yyNmrqOQQCEHfmjXrELAfTBgX1vtUr5GU963fhkgoK4hw/s640/blogger-image-251700299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPWmncaFahHgqChWlOM4HkySeBbAq2825Yogj6yzPusjF3xeK8dlqNGLMOD7Crs6AaW3l8rrI2eObUbuI4rtLCgHW5yyNmrqOQQCEHfmjXrELAfTBgX1vtUr5GU963fhkgoK4hw/s640/blogger-image-251700299.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Next lookout along the way up.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_88o7BL8eOzQe9AgxE_GmKZWXDpjqcOBfWY7VXla5Wa0XkOT_sD0iT8HtLWBe6YP402tObe6I2EaXvSfZ-O98UhC2sYzVogIG6gTqZUG0h-7qqU80ePx-YuVV8TJEBfFvJ0biew/s640/blogger-image-1037311828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_88o7BL8eOzQe9AgxE_GmKZWXDpjqcOBfWY7VXla5Wa0XkOT_sD0iT8HtLWBe6YP402tObe6I2EaXvSfZ-O98UhC2sYzVogIG6gTqZUG0h-7qqU80ePx-YuVV8TJEBfFvJ0biew/s640/blogger-image-1037311828.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>Altitude (uncalibrated) check. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcrkPHgsvk4yc4Hz3N-_nSLdb1P95cl7GsZCZPACB7OkehjwxW9PUJYVTN0mfusl3t1OJXtPBwRQu4cJqMUqy8DNw4dM-tP1lB7F9FxEyORaHaGRA7P5P3M9EKeRmOhMagKL1Zw/s640/blogger-image--938109116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmcrkPHgsvk4yc4Hz3N-_nSLdb1P95cl7GsZCZPACB7OkehjwxW9PUJYVTN0mfusl3t1OJXtPBwRQu4cJqMUqy8DNw4dM-tP1lB7F9FxEyORaHaGRA7P5P3M9EKeRmOhMagKL1Zw/s640/blogger-image--938109116.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Lookout with view of the Ottawa river far away.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit003VKP7BsBBob0W0S2_hQBILAZtm3pJkcRsgLmiWh3HNqRB-C1hq84H2GnS-9v0DaTHVDof8u2D0AAtQqeGzzaxtOU8aUsm5KIDy8Fb9aoCj9ew6tM83yghxf7Q13vIHyGE6Qg/s640/blogger-image-1982847839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit003VKP7BsBBob0W0S2_hQBILAZtm3pJkcRsgLmiWh3HNqRB-C1hq84H2GnS-9v0DaTHVDof8u2D0AAtQqeGzzaxtOU8aUsm5KIDy8Fb9aoCj9ew6tM83yghxf7Q13vIHyGE6Qg/s640/blogger-image-1982847839.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The infamous bench with a view (reservations recommended). </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx9DYxxmxV3UpYt2WYAz0gG5H7SbIhFgTmrzoZLXwCrlWqzv-hs7qC1a2Vc6vofekEi7FVKA3t6c9xd1YTX-39VmWJ0q5UwbpAQJzSo3pW8S3MOOi1Lh9-XDF6FHr3UKa5q5Jhw/s640/blogger-image--1888554814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx9DYxxmxV3UpYt2WYAz0gG5H7SbIhFgTmrzoZLXwCrlWqzv-hs7qC1a2Vc6vofekEi7FVKA3t6c9xd1YTX-39VmWJ0q5UwbpAQJzSo3pW8S3MOOi1Lh9-XDF6FHr3UKa5q5Jhw/s640/blogger-image--1888554814.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Back-side view.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ90DidBYT3Zj4NZnkaALYdtmYr4Kgy1s7QmAZ7jNeEHMtQ2DVsC7CT1TJ1tLFdKBY3GpdL3FOkacri2yOPhLtTD2bApZis24zMmlbw91m6nH7_rBu-MFNxBEr_WJpLBOpa23zw/s640/blogger-image--1379440350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ90DidBYT3Zj4NZnkaALYdtmYr4Kgy1s7QmAZ7jNeEHMtQ2DVsC7CT1TJ1tLFdKBY3GpdL3FOkacri2yOPhLtTD2bApZis24zMmlbw91m6nH7_rBu-MFNxBEr_WJpLBOpa23zw/s640/blogger-image--1379440350.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Reaching trail #1 toward the fire tower (but nowhere near there). </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZ9N48iHApfeSE7gB4hyphenhyphenEHmTGZDqEw9E6QevQrxGYKme8IWZxE7fDD_T0C0wFLXT8kgBzetbp_jZEpTL7HgglWEP_FwUI9ccRDaJO5U45TqoOHV7HHpZmHM0qgpaQN8VqsB8MBw/s640/blogger-image--794089387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZ9N48iHApfeSE7gB4hyphenhyphenEHmTGZDqEw9E6QevQrxGYKme8IWZxE7fDD_T0C0wFLXT8kgBzetbp_jZEpTL7HgglWEP_FwUI9ccRDaJO5U45TqoOHV7HHpZmHM0qgpaQN8VqsB8MBw/s640/blogger-image--794089387.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The infamous moutain-top lake/swamp.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrn6brsOx2belu8asXBl95YR1neQx6f9iF-51N4FFVg_2bbgjhKK4-DTKzyCrsWPxyFn2IRXR-G9DXyf558Nt3h_A8htHm7kR4chdmbjXQrBmuEa-9XlpnwEUDrcl27mB1e0ATg/s640/blogger-image--1518602369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrn6brsOx2belu8asXBl95YR1neQx6f9iF-51N4FFVg_2bbgjhKK4-DTKzyCrsWPxyFn2IRXR-G9DXyf558Nt3h_A8htHm7kR4chdmbjXQrBmuEa-9XlpnwEUDrcl27mB1e0ATg/s640/blogger-image--1518602369.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">And finally, multiple views of the gorgeous Tawinda Lookout.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vkZGH7CbjmiHstO-uT-F8PiPnezFx1UZ471ocxDaxqBUgnWQnNQUgcFQZJVWRhTEjZKJBi9g_R3xrJx58g2h_EJAGlt_aoB1TcX43kLaFHt341SkU9igW6c6My7qv9cIRumPAQ/s640/blogger-image-810442871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZznoAo-IZV_h8eowm41nBmYv9py6zd3ZC5hXO04R4nS6pTH97IO8b96Emo-ecySLjK78N39YkjwIYQcTaOk6a1zqzGy9urpwU0lahhx23wtHDHz2IhpZW6QOaJoMZjuBdNs7YA/s640/blogger-image-2037956262.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4EiD2GdLXgJIxWGr20qW5QgK2UnUfoeJN2kfpvVLYAzMaKz_qg-DmVhLAeBtyXLf0hWFrrRD_8W9A-K0RarQjD2Bvj0w407sDfBtrvMTupTXGtH_zmgUrJc8gMBhCuUHoUNUYA/s640/blogger-image--134850497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4EiD2GdLXgJIxWGr20qW5QgK2UnUfoeJN2kfpvVLYAzMaKz_qg-DmVhLAeBtyXLf0hWFrrRD_8W9A-K0RarQjD2Bvj0w407sDfBtrvMTupTXGtH_zmgUrJc8gMBhCuUHoUNUYA/s640/blogger-image--134850497.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_-YYxxRSGFfYvfFgKGXOa5dCi3igLjwDlvip4wjdoxRLLG2jYWq1Zltvvo2AJLKgWACovVc7Zy4lzP9eAfjqR6dAJFfzo1gW3D3SPssQBtTqHE_0x7NABX8nkC8U-r6PLCuGUg/s640/blogger-image--252689804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_-YYxxRSGFfYvfFgKGXOa5dCi3igLjwDlvip4wjdoxRLLG2jYWq1Zltvvo2AJLKgWACovVc7Zy4lzP9eAfjqR6dAJFfzo1gW3D3SPssQBtTqHE_0x7NABX8nkC8U-r6PLCuGUg/s640/blogger-image--252689804.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the way back, downhill and rehabilitated trail, half the time it takes to walk up the other side of the loop. Crossing trail #1 again, toward Western lookout (but nowhere near there). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc8qEZJIimy_FIRLw3zv1hdZfSTMncbNTeOyS9npA7ESAneas3qFCUVF0BF1qPbz9EOtKW1Wyhz0N0MYYEB2SJf1d1cJ1sbBS5Oho1V3xMbNiWOBO3AQ7TmOpy8wAZBETOrpdgA/s640/blogger-image--1808603415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc8qEZJIimy_FIRLw3zv1hdZfSTMncbNTeOyS9npA7ESAneas3qFCUVF0BF1qPbz9EOtKW1Wyhz0N0MYYEB2SJf1d1cJ1sbBS5Oho1V3xMbNiWOBO3AQ7TmOpy8wAZBETOrpdgA/s640/blogger-image--1808603415.jpg"></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div>This next picture sums it all up, it was like "walking on a cloud" today on the Wolf/Blanchet loop (trail #62) in Gatineau Park near chelsea QC. </div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGrzpH3UyIDNyadb0h7GEHBiGFNhtPL70yoOAMgj3-vh4VDKiF6-E5hx50LwIMmNLQcjJNrm9LBjPEA2mexX9ipnyJuFoqmsGy1Om__eFA7Stj18T5bICMHoNf3lXzmlfsFJdLA/s640/blogger-image--1190394709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGrzpH3UyIDNyadb0h7GEHBiGFNhtPL70yoOAMgj3-vh4VDKiF6-E5hx50LwIMmNLQcjJNrm9LBjPEA2mexX9ipnyJuFoqmsGy1Om__eFA7Stj18T5bICMHoNf3lXzmlfsFJdLA/s640/blogger-image--1190394709.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the last half-hour of this 3-hour outing, came across the first of three groups on their way up. One of a few small stream crossings below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe_v1cbQEJgsjZnLZv7WIT4jO8Mnt32x2hu5g4IboS9HTUnELNg5v5RW-FO2S1qm3196_QO7nULqsC-FQvQEtUTwGbPOYp6uU4mqmayB33jxrT7Ch5d4qddvkXyLz1bc_TmaNJg/s640/blogger-image-1009197184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe_v1cbQEJgsjZnLZv7WIT4jO8Mnt32x2hu5g4IboS9HTUnELNg5v5RW-FO2S1qm3196_QO7nULqsC-FQvQEtUTwGbPOYp6uU4mqmayB33jxrT7Ch5d4qddvkXyLz1bc_TmaNJg/s640/blogger-image-1009197184.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>To rest-up from this little work-out, nothing like heading back home to spend 1+ hour clearing the driveway :-)</div><br></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-82602269481610651632013-11-03T19:52:00.001-05:002013-11-03T21:44:44.420-05:00Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid ShellThis is what the large size looks like on a 6'4" frame. Underneath, I was wearing only thin marino base layer and Black Diamond Coefficient Hoody. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Picture was taken on the new observation tower at the Mont Morissette regional parc at Blue Sea Lake PQ. </span><div><div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms4UGKjnrwk5aeKh9mj0pkWP8tsHKPV7Eh6vPQOqugXrRhBzbPYu9QbXgftKHvvFAwDxizQkg6hFK1g3D-p8fwSHnRDENu8QXI5gVHKNU8_p52rHDLQTDTlCfoUSH_FHgzu6Ogg/s640/blogger-image--1410028009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms4UGKjnrwk5aeKh9mj0pkWP8tsHKPV7Eh6vPQOqugXrRhBzbPYu9QbXgftKHvvFAwDxizQkg6hFK1g3D-p8fwSHnRDENu8QXI5gVHKNU8_p52rHDLQTDTlCfoUSH_FHgzu6Ogg/s640/blogger-image--1410028009.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-84645359819885852582013-10-12T19:04:00.001-04:002013-10-12T19:04:52.681-04:00Wolf Trail - Sentier des loups, Gatineau Park (Québec)Another fine day for a quick 2-hour loop around the Wolf Trail up/back to the Tawinda lookout, along with various other fine lookouts along the way. All pictures taken with my new Olympus TG-830 iHS Tough camera. Click to see full-size.<br />
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<br />Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-19507604006119425952013-09-30T21:19:00.001-04:002013-09-30T21:23:08.334-04:00Wilderness Systems Tempest 170 Pro<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc3aW8WZCNI_JJMcCxXX5lbldVAhNtxH4NKX5mEHZQlL2nzHiG-3PnfrdXCsZftnlTU9XKhyjHHF4l4gmWIsz1PzoqZWQAb6BiecFgmQ2eCYEjXtHdFOeRTFmDTbouAzKAJbMsw/s1600/IMG_8986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZc3aW8WZCNI_JJMcCxXX5lbldVAhNtxH4NKX5mEHZQlL2nzHiG-3PnfrdXCsZftnlTU9XKhyjHHF4l4gmWIsz1PzoqZWQAb6BiecFgmQ2eCYEjXtHdFOeRTFmDTbouAzKAJbMsw/s640/IMG_8986.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.wildernesssystems.com//product/index/products/expedition/sea_kayak_tempest/tempest_170pro_seakayak/"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">http://www.wildernesssystems.com/</span></a></div>
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Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-6637317595758777162013-09-30T21:15:00.001-04:002013-09-30T21:16:24.593-04:00View from Mont Morissette Observation Tower - Blue Sea Lake QC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-3135147160140933982013-09-30T21:14:00.001-04:002013-09-30T21:14:15.021-04:00Mont Morissette Observation Tower - Blue Sea Lake QCOfficial Opening: 5-Oct-2013<br />
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<a href="http://www.bluesea.ca/documents_temp/we-climb-poster.pdf">http://www.bluesea.ca/documents_temp/we-climb-poster.pdf</a><br />
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<br />Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-40547093178701922232013-09-17T18:13:00.001-04:002013-11-04T20:44:27.712-05:00Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell - A Quick Review & A First Look
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Just received my new Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid shell jacket today.<br>
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<a href="http://blackdiamondequipment.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BlackDiamond-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=%20APW27W_cfg">http://blackdiamondequipment.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BlackDiamond-Site/default/Product-Show?pid=%20APW27W_cfg</a></div>
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Kudos to MEC for the quick delivery upon receiving their shipment from BD!</div>
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<a href="http://www.mec.ca/product/5032-319/black-diamond-dawn-patrol-hybrid-shell-mens/?Ns=p_max_sale_price%7C1&h=10&f=10&q=Black%2Bdiamond">http://www.mec.ca/product/5032-319/black-diamond-dawn-patrol-hybrid-shell-mens/?Ns=p_max_sale_price%7C1&h=10&f=10&q=Black%2Bdiamond</a></div>
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My very initial impressions (more to follow in due time):</div>
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- very light weight</div>
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- nice feel to the fabric</div>
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- hood is generously size, can still cinch it down for use without helmet</div>
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- Large is long enough for my 6'4" frame (can't say that about their pants with 32" inseam)</div>
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- the pulls for the drawcord hem are inside the handwarmer pockets</div>
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- the internal stretch media pocket is nice</div>
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Since everyone has probably seen pics of the outside of the shell already, I thought I would share a few quick pictures of the inside. Since this is a hybrid version, these picture show the extent of the laminated C-Shell versus the unlaminated but more breathable soft-shell.<br>
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Here is the back of jacket,</div>
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and the front (small hole is for earphone cable),</div>
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along with BD's label inside the jacket.</div>
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Now waiting on matching Coefficient Hoody as a mid-layer, MEC (and other supliers) don't seem to have received these yet. </div>
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That's it for this lightning quick review, post a comment if you would like more specific details!</div>
Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-58436866130348340262012-11-06T20:55:00.001-05:002012-11-06T20:55:49.968-05:00Early Morning Paddle on Blue Sea LakeI know, I have a lot of catching up to do on my blog...In the meantime a quick post to share a picture of a memorable paddle on Blue Sea Lake late this summer.<br />
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<br />Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-74696110755863628182012-07-07T16:53:00.000-04:002012-07-07T16:55:11.366-04:00la Diable Sector: Mont-Tremblant National ParkLast week we <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=parliment+ottawa&daddr=45.67544,-74.94764+to:Mont+Tremblant+Resort,+Mont-Tremblant,+QC&hl=en&sll=45.81417,-75.156125&sspn=0.846132,2.113495&geocode=FaMdtQIdtex8-yFun8JgT7VrAinvlORP_wTOTDFun8JgT7VrAg%3BFbDzuAIdyGOI-ymbuwIzfFfOTDFBV4cjXG5J6Q%3BFUsawQIdSOmN-yESGWqnA20HHyn9w5s00nfPTDESGWqnA20HHw&oq=mont-tr&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&t=m&z=10" target="_blank">headed up</a> to Mont-Tremblant <a href="http://www.tremblant.ca/index.htm" target="_blank">resort </a>for a couple of days for some biking and hiking.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.laurentians.com/parclineaire/" target="_blank">“Le P’tit Train du Nord” Linear Park</a> is 230 kilometers long. We started in Annonciation sector of Rivière-Rouge, where parking and full facilities are available, and headed north to lac Nominigue. It's hard to believe until you're riding on it, but the trail is paved, not simply stone dust and/or gravel. <br />
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The next day we were off to the "la Diable" sector of the <a href="http://www.sepaq.com/pq/mot/index.dot?language_id=1" target="_blank">Mont-Tremblant National Park</a>. We started by the "La Chute-du-Diable" (or The Devil's Waterfall) a relatively easy 1.4 km (0.9 mile) hike.<br />
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This trail leads to an impressive natural amphitheater with a side-entry/exit for the waterfall.<br />
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Next we headed to the Les Chutes-Croches (Crooked Waterfalls) trail, a shorter and easy 0.7 km (0.4 mile) hike.<br />
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The last section of the trail is on a bike-able service road and quite easy to walk to get to the waterfall.<br />
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Our next destination was "La Corniche"(<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">the</span> <span class="hps alt-edited">Cornice), a longer and more challenging trail that I will describe in a subsequent post.</span></span><br />
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<br />Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-41565837666524728482012-05-06T21:07:00.001-04:002012-05-06T21:10:05.551-04:00<h4>
Moon Perigee - 5th May 2012</h4>
Taken with hand-held SLR (no stand) and 200mm zoom.<br />
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Click on picture to see full size.Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-21405070975897609422012-04-29T19:08:00.002-04:002012-04-29T19:09:12.216-04:00<h4>
Wolf Trail - Gatineau Park</h4>
Three hour hike on Saturday. Trail was in great condition, no bugs, lots of flowers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTujz76D-jaYD_TlFB5HInZGnAuxSnSphyphenhyphenwiE10d9EcBIhndlxT3rDT8dNGex1e_Jvgfw01dvWKcarf2oFJy5m4eCSiOBrrfCtYcl8Jig9is9yBTFheMXSlA8U61-BuNIStteRrg/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTujz76D-jaYD_TlFB5HInZGnAuxSnSphyphenhyphenwiE10d9EcBIhndlxT3rDT8dNGex1e_Jvgfw01dvWKcarf2oFJy5m4eCSiOBrrfCtYcl8Jig9is9yBTFheMXSlA8U61-BuNIStteRrg/s400/IMG_2168.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-63901891431333625092012-03-27T19:55:00.045-04:002012-03-27T23:02:04.243-04:00<h4>Island Hopping the Sea of Cortez in Baja Sur, Mexico</h4><span style="font-size:78%;">(Due to the extensive number of pictures on this post, the previews are smaller than normal - click on any picture to expand to full size)</span><br /><br />We recently booked an Island Hopping trip to the <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1182/">UNESCO World Heritage site</a> in the Sea of Cortez.<br /><br /><a href="http://whitewaterraftingblog.oars.com/post/wendy-perrin-chooses-o-a-r-s-mindy-gleason-as-a-top-travel-specialist">Mindy Gleason</a> (<a href="mailto:mindyg@oars.com">mindyg@oars.com</a>) of <a href="http://www.oars.com/">OARS </a>provided great service setting-up & coordinating all of our arrangements. The expedition itself was provided by local outfitters <a href="http://www.kayakbaja.com/index.php">Mar Y Aventuras</a> in La Paz, Mexico, co-located with the <a href="http://www.posadalunasol.com/">Posada Luna Sol</a> hotel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwG1VcDEzLKUItHoXANpc6DCxejZqJT2KLi0m1AWGoHgfiglHsRNYKzkJpUmhnTDkfTxLbPxBgyLwTDUrOBA4qUTb1U6KWc0N3DedIF1Yu84ftS0-4NWJlBU8hgi7khql09iEZg/s1600/Mar+Y+Aventuras+Posada+Luna+Sol.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwG1VcDEzLKUItHoXANpc6DCxejZqJT2KLi0m1AWGoHgfiglHsRNYKzkJpUmhnTDkfTxLbPxBgyLwTDUrOBA4qUTb1U6KWc0N3DedIF1Yu84ftS0-4NWJlBU8hgi7khql09iEZg/s200/Mar+Y+Aventuras+Posada+Luna+Sol.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724771660039995858" border="0" /></a>Due to very unique and very unusual conditions, we ended up being the only participants on this expedition, essentially <span style="font-weight: bold;">our own private expedition for a week!!!</span> The only exception was that we were joined by another couple for the first night only.<br /><br />Before heading out, we had a bit of time to visit a portion of La Paz. They have a nice beach along portion of the shoreline.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNquZCNAkLuopsMGFuAQmmZGSCLGZMM92vLql7AmpGSANpg2rQ4QXsjdudiR_KKL1ra6GI02UHUzwioNr4kQqTR2TZ9O4JGQKwLGQAKnZ8oJj4qZl2Tu9hZKAjfZjQ3YKKZGIigQ/s1600/Beach+La+Paz.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNquZCNAkLuopsMGFuAQmmZGSCLGZMM92vLql7AmpGSANpg2rQ4QXsjdudiR_KKL1ra6GI02UHUzwioNr4kQqTR2TZ9O4JGQKwLGQAKnZ8oJj4qZl2Tu9hZKAjfZjQ3YKKZGIigQ/s200/Beach+La+Paz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724730804993955522" border="0" /></a>Along the main road by the sea, they have a very lengthy "boardwalk" made of ceramic tiles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotql4W9yBk1WPbGY7LfUp9N29qknvjqzTTh0ZI_s4v2On0A5rVSQooXoIZ3zJ_Ire7ny4Jeh7ORzSqDqHovq4ssdBGYBzohsk68Nwa2BvievYHlubfYdDzN_aAK1WhA06tlXwIA/s1600/Malecon+La+Paz.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotql4W9yBk1WPbGY7LfUp9N29qknvjqzTTh0ZI_s4v2On0A5rVSQooXoIZ3zJ_Ire7ny4Jeh7ORzSqDqHovq4ssdBGYBzohsk68Nwa2BvievYHlubfYdDzN_aAK1WhA06tlXwIA/s200/Malecon+La+Paz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724730803023321234" border="0" /></a>It turned out that National Geographic had their Sea Bird ship in port that day. Take a good look at the number of sea kayaks on the top deck!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VUbkuzmg2apXX_hTvcDJuLx0gyM8vRZ_CaduxE_SEKYcV3o3_E5bp-MshlRA78c5JD5_4Xzfq0tCkLlx145KEhIKIn7uXi-F10B6y_RVNQWw1KP3ckoOpXGh5EbVtZ2-NhyphenhyphenU3w/s1600/NG+Ship+La+Paz.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VUbkuzmg2apXX_hTvcDJuLx0gyM8vRZ_CaduxE_SEKYcV3o3_E5bp-MshlRA78c5JD5_4Xzfq0tCkLlx145KEhIKIn7uXi-F10B6y_RVNQWw1KP3ckoOpXGh5EbVtZ2-NhyphenhyphenU3w/s200/NG+Ship+La+Paz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724730815480681042" border="0" /></a>Some pretty good ingenuity was on display in La Paz, with a transmission tower cleverly disguised as a very tall palm tree!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY72T3p-KCv0gHqiQl4bPLxq0282D_tFnmiFu-C4ZFLUEf1e9tQ8Lx27WZNnnLAByoaIHzm3c9-PkLZOE3ZCMl8t0i_Z5aRary-udU6UFrVNGADs1b_nXhjfhw6eughc3ekhfEhw/s1600/Antenna+Tower+La+Paz.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY72T3p-KCv0gHqiQl4bPLxq0282D_tFnmiFu-C4ZFLUEf1e9tQ8Lx27WZNnnLAByoaIHzm3c9-PkLZOE3ZCMl8t0i_Z5aRary-udU6UFrVNGADs1b_nXhjfhw6eughc3ekhfEhw/s200/Antenna+Tower+La+Paz.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724730822690971602" border="0" /></a>Our first day on the Sea of Cortez took us to the Mar Y Aventuras Base Camp on Espiritu Santo island. Click on <a href="http://www.kayakbaja.com/maps/baja_calif_sur.pdf">this link</a> to see a map of the area we visited on this trip, including islands named below.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-H0xS3tXe29aBEa2rFHt64-Q4zvYcptuPWsVfHc9MqdGKcrIWjQ6umkaE9AXX6-PEgAumMW3yptWVFRkpBYQlaj_zZqBTNSvXPCrYTIr6jnx3aDYZt6_IIQ8GjBOJMhKdxmSuA/s1600/Base+Camp.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-H0xS3tXe29aBEa2rFHt64-Q4zvYcptuPWsVfHc9MqdGKcrIWjQ6umkaE9AXX6-PEgAumMW3yptWVFRkpBYQlaj_zZqBTNSvXPCrYTIr6jnx3aDYZt6_IIQ8GjBOJMhKdxmSuA/s200/Base+Camp.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724735121283506658" border="0" /></a>It's here that we camped out for the first night under the stars.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPac7H-fzsxyF4S_28qsRHKbjAHVt9HyCrNDNVOGMBAD178UXzr5-ZlMLRmF-g6FbqYBMifOQB-PazLtYSHnPtXBJjOVQltpwlXC_We2mB5vCSHB_eswXVuzakusy5fCrp7uhPQA/s1600/Camping+%25231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPac7H-fzsxyF4S_28qsRHKbjAHVt9HyCrNDNVOGMBAD178UXzr5-ZlMLRmF-g6FbqYBMifOQB-PazLtYSHnPtXBJjOVQltpwlXC_We2mB5vCSHB_eswXVuzakusy5fCrp7uhPQA/s200/Camping+%25231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724735129805921538" border="0" /></a>We were treated by an intense sunset thanks to the clouds on the horizon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN9ZDIeOroW5Up3PLyITdms2lIcw5hA7gHDkrUhUNac-jiEdkY206MTUGh9DdAvD16k40q0ZBSUUO-rol5PMpGpsjxLmgDzSZqUp4fhSVeg_vhsQu-V6XmmtjbEIFQ3pxl3ZOgw/s1600/Sunset+%25231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN9ZDIeOroW5Up3PLyITdms2lIcw5hA7gHDkrUhUNac-jiEdkY206MTUGh9DdAvD16k40q0ZBSUUO-rol5PMpGpsjxLmgDzSZqUp4fhSVeg_vhsQu-V6XmmtjbEIFQ3pxl3ZOgw/s200/Sunset+%25231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724735138689292274" border="0" /></a>The next morning brought us blue skies for our first full day on the Sea of Cortez<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxMh-P8PPe9b0OycSXfqwZKmQem9hsRb35Edpa8Rwzg3MgXrbgcQ91Uq0NM-3NzO1FFu2cjmAPBQgs_kmb2BMWvZvjTGKAXCKrlAp6pKtNM6ENqps0m4ZtDgCpA52rpTf5SSoqg/s1600/Sunrise+%25231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxMh-P8PPe9b0OycSXfqwZKmQem9hsRb35Edpa8Rwzg3MgXrbgcQ91Uq0NM-3NzO1FFu2cjmAPBQgs_kmb2BMWvZvjTGKAXCKrlAp6pKtNM6ENqps0m4ZtDgCpA52rpTf5SSoqg/s200/Sunrise+%25231.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724735151125221266" border="0" /></a>Our first snorkeling expedition was at Los Islotes, a sea lion rookery of impressive proportions. This is where my trusty Olympus Stylus Tough 1030SW camera went from being water-proof to being no longer water-proof. At first the screen stopped working, then just about everything else on the camera started to fail :-( It's a good thing I brought a back-up camera on this trip for the remaining pictures!<br /><br />I managed to take a few very short videos of the sea lions, just enough to give you a feel for what it was like to snorkel with them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxXcrDghAM_fUjQvxN1Rk8acTdoxSQowJsVZtMckMjWBqVvL0xldf6AxN7UnJUerUAaSLCVjBvwhJA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzO1Vy3XHNLAehAsk25BO58dbTWgZEx9A3cj6879FFzmXcbUaybQVukEb0zwTfdYym2UiAvIUPLVj0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">From Espiritu Santo Island, we headed out in a 30 foot skiff skillfully piloted by Captain Chuy and a smaller 20 foot Skiff piloted by the Alberto, the Chef on this expedition.<br /><br />We passed a small village on a tiny island, inhabited year-long by a handful of residents. I'll refrain from posting a picture to preserve this peaceful haven.<br /><br />Our first stop would be San Francisco Island, to visit the largely abandoned but still operational salt ponds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxvZJ8ZoEwI5vjri3VqdoapG8PvFDYjAZFUO-txQEIiT9VivdxsvBmmtYLzkgBryKhFsa4sKmx-nS1i8O382j_qm4cf3d74vKiQ_hjYxvzDAiqPZSmOxu10pbkaa7RPWIpERo-g/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxvZJ8ZoEwI5vjri3VqdoapG8PvFDYjAZFUO-txQEIiT9VivdxsvBmmtYLzkgBryKhFsa4sKmx-nS1i8O382j_qm4cf3d74vKiQ_hjYxvzDAiqPZSmOxu10pbkaa7RPWIpERo-g/s200/IMG_1837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724745915747536306" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgDitNQOBeagdwRCCLC8qHqymxJSuO-8SOCp4mivfTORVc6T0sWhG4v_bS2BqTZJBWkmS1ulMnogwK7Zl9lsL3DBMaI7TUs731Od464U3-lXAvWsDkWLByyqreC_4KAsPNAgRIA/s1600/Vegetation+at+Salt+Mine.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgDitNQOBeagdwRCCLC8qHqymxJSuO-8SOCp4mivfTORVc6T0sWhG4v_bS2BqTZJBWkmS1ulMnogwK7Zl9lsL3DBMaI7TUs731Od464U3-lXAvWsDkWLByyqreC_4KAsPNAgRIA/s200/Vegetation+at+Salt+Mine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724745031629802434" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD4kk31iAYYKyd2Gz6cwjdiAxXaCU8jw8amfBvPdaXIA0rYC2OQa-99FJvFCimicltLOnKO8lIGP1fIe6DNrnQhkmYGGY00DeTOzqTfHB3MVX_GdRVCDPNYkVmme_sqA3YzzNZg/s1600/View+from+Salt+Mine.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPD4kk31iAYYKyd2Gz6cwjdiAxXaCU8jw8amfBvPdaXIA0rYC2OQa-99FJvFCimicltLOnKO8lIGP1fIe6DNrnQhkmYGGY00DeTOzqTfHB3MVX_GdRVCDPNYkVmme_sqA3YzzNZg/s200/View+from+Salt+Mine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724745059682717570" border="0" /></a>Next on our itinerary was San José Island for a 2nd night of camping.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3NLkbgIFpIANAjBelWnWX8iDLKUdhOiow6myyhFQEe4K6g_RbNyc1QUl8nrCl62Sg5p_HW_EAoUT5q2ojEPEoaH-Qpl4-06bR7SgLyg2GlPqtMrZk_3n5jHTe9oXSXzqPSSbsQ/s1600/Sunset+%25232.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3NLkbgIFpIANAjBelWnWX8iDLKUdhOiow6myyhFQEe4K6g_RbNyc1QUl8nrCl62Sg5p_HW_EAoUT5q2ojEPEoaH-Qpl4-06bR7SgLyg2GlPqtMrZk_3n5jHTe9oXSXzqPSSbsQ/s200/Sunset+%25232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724746414176033058" border="0" /></a> We stopped at a lovely coastal village and were treated by a delicious manta-ray lunch by the very friendly residents. Again I'll refrain from posting pictures to protect their little haven.<br /><br />Faced with continued waves of 4 to 6 feet, we slowly made our way along the coast line towards what would turn out to be our campsite for two nights in a row. This gorgeous bay was surrounded by wind-carved red sand-stone and provided welcomed shelter against the wind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMFLr_L0fil3elgAaCYUqPYPeJ3tEEX6Ws6USCaLdUgHor9Zos4tSy9i49tOn7YN1AsNvU-VAvudcWP_EeQIf5vOqXYNcL-8qQVeOEbSV0f6nMPUQcnHcx8Vs-HCQ0TqTyt0Dug/s1600/Curved+Rocks+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMFLr_L0fil3elgAaCYUqPYPeJ3tEEX6Ws6USCaLdUgHor9Zos4tSy9i49tOn7YN1AsNvU-VAvudcWP_EeQIf5vOqXYNcL-8qQVeOEbSV0f6nMPUQcnHcx8Vs-HCQ0TqTyt0Dug/s200/Curved+Rocks+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724753965991781538" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NKM6s7BH3PCjJXyOZH57SFmwnwhPlkHqCOQIR4XMFt6zQUC8uT85F0hZHTorun-OT5WaKqjfD94_YWpgoo4wbIOwte1zZjAeAUHwggdCvzRKuXa25PK4wHKHu1XB-0MMqWOE7Q/s1600/Jagged+Rocks+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NKM6s7BH3PCjJXyOZH57SFmwnwhPlkHqCOQIR4XMFt6zQUC8uT85F0hZHTorun-OT5WaKqjfD94_YWpgoo4wbIOwte1zZjAeAUHwggdCvzRKuXa25PK4wHKHu1XB-0MMqWOE7Q/s200/Jagged+Rocks+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724753971904769266" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8rEbJyTpBL69TDhya2WjkR6STSvand7Gvm4owXeDzd4imNjg_lxgX1k7-KvIClSNYBG7Us55onwt2tEQHFgoDV8WO5lSvq9ysf3QWsCVmrG8wCsr1QWngtp63r1ce2pypPMyvA/s1600/Site+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8rEbJyTpBL69TDhya2WjkR6STSvand7Gvm4owXeDzd4imNjg_lxgX1k7-KvIClSNYBG7Us55onwt2tEQHFgoDV8WO5lSvq9ysf3QWsCVmrG8wCsr1QWngtp63r1ce2pypPMyvA/s200/Site+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724753984970061266" border="0" /></a><br />We visited the nearby the village of <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=25.257893,-110.948803&spn=0.008422,0.007907&t=h&z=17">Tambobiche</a> where an ancient mansion was paid by selling one (1) Perl from the Sea of Cortez!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrCUQfUZyYgPPUMNBgNAxvJLidq0NToIPSisGGhhpOebzhnuHx9ucSvGZXVM11mbAP9eFMOwzQh6y_EUxCpCV7kFLoEVN9eIj7JQdzopC96G2iPibg3CrHe59Qshis4raD0DPMA/s1600/Old+Perl+House.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrCUQfUZyYgPPUMNBgNAxvJLidq0NToIPSisGGhhpOebzhnuHx9ucSvGZXVM11mbAP9eFMOwzQh6y_EUxCpCV7kFLoEVN9eIj7JQdzopC96G2iPibg3CrHe59Qshis4raD0DPMA/s200/Old+Perl+House.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724755292704335202" border="0" /></a><br />This village won the state-run lottery for new schools. The roof is a solid block of Styrofoam to keep the temperature in the classroom as low as possible. A similar technique was used for an adjacent house.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAS3AHtpOx8POIacNkUMoYkNEoicMA2v2ZKPuZKsJPrg1olHhFCGxOB3qdGw5r3i63qtyCdqfT3E9UbE2o7p00Bu9T-mcFxqn5HQsE2AZRfPwj2keEShl_T5f-pRFBFn5kAftkQ/s1600/Old+and+Modern+School.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAS3AHtpOx8POIacNkUMoYkNEoicMA2v2ZKPuZKsJPrg1olHhFCGxOB3qdGw5r3i63qtyCdqfT3E9UbE2o7p00Bu9T-mcFxqn5HQsE2AZRfPwj2keEShl_T5f-pRFBFn5kAftkQ/s200/Old+and+Modern+School.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724755302735667170" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqdrT26wGiNjxosjN0JpO2ZORqOaUOX0HD4ixu73Rnk4_WOeBxW1wiArhD_UMdC_tEfKha8bn-FxptBL1me4ROXktTl7Hncw_289jQ6yfoEE3P3bR0RMvGYTmcP9lCRYxMKc-Hg/s1600/Modern+House.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqdrT26wGiNjxosjN0JpO2ZORqOaUOX0HD4ixu73Rnk4_WOeBxW1wiArhD_UMdC_tEfKha8bn-FxptBL1me4ROXktTl7Hncw_289jQ6yfoEE3P3bR0RMvGYTmcP9lCRYxMKc-Hg/s200/Modern+House.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724755308014743842" border="0" /></a>Supper the first night in this bay included fresh scallops and lobster from the area, before settling into our tent after yet another gorgeous sunset.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WqE378RioksMcxywGbEhj46CGmnzxVHi9QH4BBASu3iT8WatKEzk8tR3iNl4WR5XnJva_RyUXzgG7JwDkDHsY6H0WZBkW_cYf6v_DKmqDgwZPP1R_5GPobSsGBheI545p_D9qQ/s1600/Scallops.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WqE378RioksMcxywGbEhj46CGmnzxVHi9QH4BBASu3iT8WatKEzk8tR3iNl4WR5XnJva_RyUXzgG7JwDkDHsY6H0WZBkW_cYf6v_DKmqDgwZPP1R_5GPobSsGBheI545p_D9qQ/s200/Scallops.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724753994458957186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzkMpDlWphw6KI9xoiJdSG7ZH1RKMaGoNMRt1VJs0w8aNrvrGwfYSzyMlXBs_FxbVMq2eyvYcoZN78ubXtC5GbnVGpL8j9M6mTJWfC6yZXjkxs_xC9EVQxSYBQMOJYR0wVf9NYg/s1600/Skif+Sunset+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzkMpDlWphw6KI9xoiJdSG7ZH1RKMaGoNMRt1VJs0w8aNrvrGwfYSzyMlXBs_FxbVMq2eyvYcoZN78ubXtC5GbnVGpL8j9M6mTJWfC6yZXjkxs_xC9EVQxSYBQMOJYR0wVf9NYg/s200/Skif+Sunset+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724756156993460530" border="0" /></a><br />The next day we set out on a hike to view the local vegetation and the rather unique geology<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11aTejNHJIMQvlX1g-IBBa9Izlg7K2NQ1pmRGV531YOcWWYGDr-OnPlCCPeFDLrkMFj76wz1K3-DJura1oUyEPLbuuLaoJB4r75SgqSOMQ0vH-vbA89EY7ah7u1opHObIutH1Lg/s1600/Red+Tint+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11aTejNHJIMQvlX1g-IBBa9Izlg7K2NQ1pmRGV531YOcWWYGDr-OnPlCCPeFDLrkMFj76wz1K3-DJura1oUyEPLbuuLaoJB4r75SgqSOMQ0vH-vbA89EY7ah7u1opHObIutH1Lg/s200/Red+Tint+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724763021821134130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrvzpX_ADaTU8pwY1mKuHntWu0gDYLqSJIgCy389Ht9bOD_7Cql5jeVKX_fQM4ZFoXniuH3CXepciihYkt3iXXEYfwd6iXPEIFXXdio5JXuPtfrZ9lRLg0ohYKn33BB2UExHT3Q/s1600/Greenish+Tint+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrvzpX_ADaTU8pwY1mKuHntWu0gDYLqSJIgCy389Ht9bOD_7Cql5jeVKX_fQM4ZFoXniuH3CXepciihYkt3iXXEYfwd6iXPEIFXXdio5JXuPtfrZ9lRLg0ohYKn33BB2UExHT3Q/s200/Greenish+Tint+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724763026710152130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEsT4eM117wku7dcUhfaaWmafGKubGpKIcrlu-mJ66J1A2i4nWbLm5fBH43vK23nCjDrN5nB_8X2eqE4cqa30NzD2iRnAVjMuGQrP_vfD887qRw099w1ZFH6025chYF3mGMsURQ/s1600/View+Hike+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEsT4eM117wku7dcUhfaaWmafGKubGpKIcrlu-mJ66J1A2i4nWbLm5fBH43vK23nCjDrN5nB_8X2eqE4cqa30NzD2iRnAVjMuGQrP_vfD887qRw099w1ZFH6025chYF3mGMsURQ/s200/View+Hike+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724756646575130146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fx0aUtjasMRuemgcg3CguyE3BwgseJtqU6H1_zFin9wgWMF9Yrd3jXziMeZ6yqmJjmDZ7oppVPiXumhqGhU2SWZn7OhLW8sbGena5H-3H2uBHD4Ty7l64Ura3AJeOJM5A_Kjiw/s1600/Broken+Rocks+Hike+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Fx0aUtjasMRuemgcg3CguyE3BwgseJtqU6H1_zFin9wgWMF9Yrd3jXziMeZ6yqmJjmDZ7oppVPiXumhqGhU2SWZn7OhLW8sbGena5H-3H2uBHD4Ty7l64Ura3AJeOJM5A_Kjiw/s200/Broken+Rocks+Hike+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724756655371638066" border="0" /></a>One last picture before leaving the bay, this time of my lovely wife on the beach next to our tent, with a Canadian registered ship in the background.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5fEbsQHKyXNLpnHP_-yt3rQDeF72NvQwiZ_m_Te6v14Ew97H_9slSN6_3PjovW4qyVt8zA2rrmG_OFsPC0Dsu8PkJ-YMArVMDmHeNAcwP80_861GiESKN2nRDB2UKTsGrL0FfQ/s1600/Beach+Front+Camp+%25233-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5fEbsQHKyXNLpnHP_-yt3rQDeF72NvQwiZ_m_Te6v14Ew97H_9slSN6_3PjovW4qyVt8zA2rrmG_OFsPC0Dsu8PkJ-YMArVMDmHeNAcwP80_861GiESKN2nRDB2UKTsGrL0FfQ/s200/Beach+Front+Camp+%25233-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724756970881405458" border="0" /></a><br />Throughout our hikes, expert-guide Carlos generously shared his knowledge of the area with us, including the local vegetation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-j6cVTKujwAbTsJZPNFmbS4a6e3uohq1KHi-2cd9u83Mei53Cv1nF-7QFWPmNbOBlGCpMXks_PFBBCiCEFASI4nGTaIBwY7eKsca6l60BNWXeqiHapWzk4o9z4KcaWbnGYcH6Q/s1600/Caves.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-j6cVTKujwAbTsJZPNFmbS4a6e3uohq1KHi-2cd9u83Mei53Cv1nF-7QFWPmNbOBlGCpMXks_PFBBCiCEFASI4nGTaIBwY7eKsca6l60BNWXeqiHapWzk4o9z4KcaWbnGYcH6Q/s200/Caves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760886897098258" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAC_P4VDl42wb7NAj9h1LIL_uFHCgW1l7QNXlR9m9vWxzpnDXVXk_FGnWhosaMckmnyen4eSX0AKZypKoxUqt55x8FfxKH_rqxBBC5wmMXxAdqcXFdGYRv3ATFcsnmgnu6kXjOQ/s1600/Flower.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAC_P4VDl42wb7NAj9h1LIL_uFHCgW1l7QNXlR9m9vWxzpnDXVXk_FGnWhosaMckmnyen4eSX0AKZypKoxUqt55x8FfxKH_rqxBBC5wmMXxAdqcXFdGYRv3ATFcsnmgnu6kXjOQ/s200/Flower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724757984616108034" border="0" /></a>The most impressive vegetation we saw was on Santa Catalina Island, where everything seems to grow much bigger here than anywhere else we saw.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw1dYfk9EXIKZQbZNMJifzaMapUFLX-EqfZ6juUpeZJyREBxzDqPufNn5V2RnQVnC1u-TOl7WiY96tzR1JZyhYu-FAOYKn0JdMvk8ASerGiMfbh9b9__uHLwqNYuNRzI9nB6p9A/s1600/Giant+Cactus.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw1dYfk9EXIKZQbZNMJifzaMapUFLX-EqfZ6juUpeZJyREBxzDqPufNn5V2RnQVnC1u-TOl7WiY96tzR1JZyhYu-FAOYKn0JdMvk8ASerGiMfbh9b9__uHLwqNYuNRzI9nB6p9A/s200/Giant+Cactus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724757992565155522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj5urfikGUXKvZATL76ZqDEsKt9lokKxgLsz83gEWwaNtNIANfg_XMCwMJOFvAKRFrK0oXTfFxYS_T8AdyE-cRIE6Wb5QQp__IRrZsy70WzPguvffWGuAyDfWSbLId1myqh5JRw/s1600/Blooming+Cactus.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj5urfikGUXKvZATL76ZqDEsKt9lokKxgLsz83gEWwaNtNIANfg_XMCwMJOFvAKRFrK0oXTfFxYS_T8AdyE-cRIE6Wb5QQp__IRrZsy70WzPguvffWGuAyDfWSbLId1myqh5JRw/s200/Blooming+Cactus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724758009611834178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUmmY4sr4NP2_YD8I8aaydvlmhGKRXtskrUtMp14CO3jKAJauNUM_3_OstoJCM5XPZ9SQYSsRSuCyBkX5ukP0BtlWjjUVdldzoQMHSxNfGBlU_W7JRPkMoK0I_vZZGU7TifOuHg/s1600/Macro+Cactus.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUmmY4sr4NP2_YD8I8aaydvlmhGKRXtskrUtMp14CO3jKAJauNUM_3_OstoJCM5XPZ9SQYSsRSuCyBkX5ukP0BtlWjjUVdldzoQMHSxNfGBlU_W7JRPkMoK0I_vZZGU7TifOuHg/s200/Macro+Cactus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724758003023017922" border="0" /></a>At the edge of the Santa Catalina is what's known as "Elephant" Island.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon3BhJrlu0Xcf6RSCl-NjcORSfdtLEFi_P1htesps3P6L3ZuZXjBcq-Eq_EjOb_jdkOWGOEnZJTdc98yiPRBnMv1GxktjlWa39FSK2CZ_YTX1Sh_z1gGhfwP6bKqFOnyhFPb_mg/s1600/Elephant+Island.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhon3BhJrlu0Xcf6RSCl-NjcORSfdtLEFi_P1htesps3P6L3ZuZXjBcq-Eq_EjOb_jdkOWGOEnZJTdc98yiPRBnMv1GxktjlWa39FSK2CZ_YTX1Sh_z1gGhfwP6bKqFOnyhFPb_mg/s200/Elephant+Island.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724760878906100706" border="0" /></a>On our way to Monserrat Island, we were joined by some dolphins who seem to enjoy swimming under the bow of boats.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzWKYgpN8o1Z9KHXUYkI0HVvgj5V6RlEnCb1WxMjolh06d4b-2n43F-ZuQCP_PBBkotX-dF0HD9eiAdA48OcQPIK7lCXtZ59L2D3Muke4_W8JcSFz6zPBfHMhPiKO8QiH9v1SPA/s1600/Two+Dolphins.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzWKYgpN8o1Z9KHXUYkI0HVvgj5V6RlEnCb1WxMjolh06d4b-2n43F-ZuQCP_PBBkotX-dF0HD9eiAdA48OcQPIK7lCXtZ59L2D3Muke4_W8JcSFz6zPBfHMhPiKO8QiH9v1SPA/s200/Two+Dolphins.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724761256053551266" border="0" /></a><br />Monserrat Island has layer of brittle yellow-colored rocks that we had not seen on other islands.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAaSPCCChYvB4nv9m1vVQN2Bt6Dcgweb-ftGSuiF237YIBus117sPsSTTNE3x8RKySTdkKVl8edIpGsOML1YpwaZyql6PmHyk91Fd2nqYAZL3QM_muQoCkYOP4_PlNcG0VR39Jw/s1600/Yellow+Rocks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAaSPCCChYvB4nv9m1vVQN2Bt6Dcgweb-ftGSuiF237YIBus117sPsSTTNE3x8RKySTdkKVl8edIpGsOML1YpwaZyql6PmHyk91Fd2nqYAZL3QM_muQoCkYOP4_PlNcG0VR39Jw/s200/Yellow+Rocks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724762331011603186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSIxBxJkKUySuAZs6gHiX-6g3f5cpdWzM8-HHGkfff-qiuSwprasSTv6tX_Mek3uQ2VdEPPmfCOLbgaByWY3Tk1admB_0YuWfu0fJY7xxYsWFWlriSz22RHZWyl7BV9SpcoRxgw/s1600/View+from+Yellow+Rocks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSIxBxJkKUySuAZs6gHiX-6g3f5cpdWzM8-HHGkfff-qiuSwprasSTv6tX_Mek3uQ2VdEPPmfCOLbgaByWY3Tk1admB_0YuWfu0fJY7xxYsWFWlriSz22RHZWyl7BV9SpcoRxgw/s200/View+from+Yellow+Rocks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724762335872999330" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yINlab1R8spORYqIHRkZ89OYj9_Ef128iIGjL7pAwjF9A2M0IdvVmLDWNfFFYXjBwsQhT2_ZAW6UxU3VvoiTUuA62I-ODMhIpKnmG9WqCZS_UrnhJ28MeXlpUx9futhq0lOmzw/s1600/Opposite+View+Yellow+Rocks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yINlab1R8spORYqIHRkZ89OYj9_Ef128iIGjL7pAwjF9A2M0IdvVmLDWNfFFYXjBwsQhT2_ZAW6UxU3VvoiTUuA62I-ODMhIpKnmG9WqCZS_UrnhJ28MeXlpUx9futhq0lOmzw/s200/Opposite+View+Yellow+Rocks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724762346707943810" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpMGL38gbJH2VMubMgk3Kp33Z_l1xAzyhPMUCmyhDCi_CNafoJNDsw3pPuuRO2QR4NQQInQAru-zvrDeFYqjK-wAWY9mFlD6OFDHO6gTNCVWI_-5JJp5rC0mRztCY0TtDaD-b5A/s1600/White+Rocks.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpMGL38gbJH2VMubMgk3Kp33Z_l1xAzyhPMUCmyhDCi_CNafoJNDsw3pPuuRO2QR4NQQInQAru-zvrDeFYqjK-wAWY9mFlD6OFDHO6gTNCVWI_-5JJp5rC0mRztCY0TtDaD-b5A/s200/White+Rocks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724763455869341378" border="0" /></a><br />We then made our way towards Isla Carmen. The skiff dropped us off at the tip of the island where we kayaked our way towards the next campsite.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwH9iJrXfDzL5Bdv3bpwxKEgwR17iDQrxUSaiIPGary4DM1WBtAM1C4m2IDhDW9wkm6JWraHZvkvhHWN2OMqpKgvljJsmqCvx6OoY1QY9OgCEH-KdDKmQ5xM6jYOcg6b2DbAPfg/s1600/View+from+Kayak.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwH9iJrXfDzL5Bdv3bpwxKEgwR17iDQrxUSaiIPGary4DM1WBtAM1C4m2IDhDW9wkm6JWraHZvkvhHWN2OMqpKgvljJsmqCvx6OoY1QY9OgCEH-KdDKmQ5xM6jYOcg6b2DbAPfg/s200/View+from+Kayak.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764531625416738" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeyq0j3FqBYC7XPGFfrsbMJ0B8U1X5kt_DYFsI6pNYmrSxx2jZlA1rK1xhZohmY2N7fz8AhnxL6Lfm2mVYU1cPyJ9bgODiFHJkl2neScNQFF1thcwVVdAp4zxmRev9-Ttcjqr6Q/s1600/Kayak+Camp+%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeyq0j3FqBYC7XPGFfrsbMJ0B8U1X5kt_DYFsI6pNYmrSxx2jZlA1rK1xhZohmY2N7fz8AhnxL6Lfm2mVYU1cPyJ9bgODiFHJkl2neScNQFF1thcwVVdAp4zxmRev9-Ttcjqr6Q/s200/Kayak+Camp+%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764539405682370" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0eFGpjB1x-1uw0wUv_QIgu8BpbjFMbhYRMLdMFLzm_L0lo-gBGhXRg3-mGJiUIKGVJ8OzkqletDD-j7WuQ3JKu_aGDsjYKMiwuq7KkSwTIBhD50fX8C126PXdtbmPGJeN5PVbw/s1600/Pelicans+Camp+%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0eFGpjB1x-1uw0wUv_QIgu8BpbjFMbhYRMLdMFLzm_L0lo-gBGhXRg3-mGJiUIKGVJ8OzkqletDD-j7WuQ3JKu_aGDsjYKMiwuq7KkSwTIBhD50fX8C126PXdtbmPGJeN5PVbw/s200/Pelicans+Camp+%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724764547280588594" border="0" /></a>On this island, campsites must be reserved in advance. In our case, we had a huge campsite to ourselves for two nights.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcN_THKBd_PifiWuN_K1Gq96Ds_mFJyX4kULgYk_VV-KzyWDpHhjYldpAybJns2Q6cqoEwty9nP9Kbg4J9IkXmFKdz9It4LCQHtMkuz6xexAK9ox_fJ19OLRiSww5xtvQ8g6Trmg/s1600/Campsite+%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcN_THKBd_PifiWuN_K1Gq96Ds_mFJyX4kULgYk_VV-KzyWDpHhjYldpAybJns2Q6cqoEwty9nP9Kbg4J9IkXmFKdz9It4LCQHtMkuz6xexAK9ox_fJ19OLRiSww5xtvQ8g6Trmg/s200/Campsite+%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724768782599363090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgzGgn8hZGQt4OAYxa7G35qYJok-Xyf1Nv387G-TzKsEe7i_g68rVO4z4-nvTwAvcvkax1jV5mm8gvZCs_RLrPjZqgNcjxdi0hkg2KPzIu-2vKR_JSPgorOFqgquLCZF9yYgPuA/s1600/Skifs+Campsite+%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgzGgn8hZGQt4OAYxa7G35qYJok-Xyf1Nv387G-TzKsEe7i_g68rVO4z4-nvTwAvcvkax1jV5mm8gvZCs_RLrPjZqgNcjxdi0hkg2KPzIu-2vKR_JSPgorOFqgquLCZF9yYgPuA/s200/Skifs+Campsite+%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724768792933518178" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sQNmuxJDZhiRU-f5Rnoq0NPujDVIjb5IxeWb7E8033_uKZC8byBX07PaJG77D6TkEo7oFX6dOSw5vHaDn0oJNjvJU8OZ7gkxaLP9fDDKbxxeEUrFbiCoMF8dnQYFdv4BU3L9Aw/s1600/Tent+Camp+%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sQNmuxJDZhiRU-f5Rnoq0NPujDVIjb5IxeWb7E8033_uKZC8byBX07PaJG77D6TkEo7oFX6dOSw5vHaDn0oJNjvJU8OZ7gkxaLP9fDDKbxxeEUrFbiCoMF8dnQYFdv4BU3L9Aw/s200/Tent+Camp+%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724767909991931266" border="0" /></a>The kayak conditions were perfect and we paddled across to Danzante Island.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWJbTqKIJU_snsCtj9CT2x4aUtBxrlTcnWfi8V_U0p4OtEWqP117lf91lb4-NU_8DyL_B7B-YB-O7VHBDbVeRMHEaHWwCoP-3TnrdEwAGqcE4CyN7Frg1kGOaX-A8M5hoQlFWFQ/s1600/Danzante+Island.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWJbTqKIJU_snsCtj9CT2x4aUtBxrlTcnWfi8V_U0p4OtEWqP117lf91lb4-NU_8DyL_B7B-YB-O7VHBDbVeRMHEaHWwCoP-3TnrdEwAGqcE4CyN7Frg1kGOaX-A8M5hoQlFWFQ/s200/Danzante+Island.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724767921017929330" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RP2J-Cc2Fj8MwqIhIFgNmh-HhaKtF3zWQAE-I4RNz4zmsP1Zle4xyEY_oucKdPzQSQihzIN3IQBzeBs8wmzW2qRwtOa7qqLggPrcwpFdn5-IP6QzJ9J7mzGgkbrTHbQGXogXzA/s1600/1st+Kayak+Camp+%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RP2J-Cc2Fj8MwqIhIFgNmh-HhaKtF3zWQAE-I4RNz4zmsP1Zle4xyEY_oucKdPzQSQihzIN3IQBzeBs8wmzW2qRwtOa7qqLggPrcwpFdn5-IP6QzJ9J7mzGgkbrTHbQGXogXzA/s200/1st+Kayak+Camp+%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724767922181283154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oMpyYXfyJmZmd_1UXxaw_i52P5bqctxIg4BuQDZ8kv6ZKF4EFexxeYvPelJpCpk6nA09G8F6QNIXNISLraLmA0MK6sfP35zYFVFls44eTYVL8lLqnmsiXwqnUAl0vDoJNwvUmQ/s1600/2nd+Kayak+Camp%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oMpyYXfyJmZmd_1UXxaw_i52P5bqctxIg4BuQDZ8kv6ZKF4EFexxeYvPelJpCpk6nA09G8F6QNIXNISLraLmA0MK6sfP35zYFVFls44eTYVL8lLqnmsiXwqnUAl0vDoJNwvUmQ/s200/2nd+Kayak+Camp%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724767934594868738" border="0" /></a>This campsite had it's fair share of activity from colorful crabs to playful dolphins, along with some artful driftwood.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyR0tV5wlEqsOnoEO0W0BNeEdaxPzV-dLkCbCuT-n6IuRq1yJoIj7sZ6a0sMBcFu0tNaG2im4lHLEStdz4AlgSdF_GAD_w_yhOQvmBQe-nz0WrrPJy-MLCx19jFnqslq5LAollw/s1600/Crab+Camp%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyR0tV5wlEqsOnoEO0W0BNeEdaxPzV-dLkCbCuT-n6IuRq1yJoIj7sZ6a0sMBcFu0tNaG2im4lHLEStdz4AlgSdF_GAD_w_yhOQvmBQe-nz0WrrPJy-MLCx19jFnqslq5LAollw/s200/Crab+Camp%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724769673031995570" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiIQzzssdP_A-c7_HDb-nVX7YY2DijE_QOmdyLmtfPTiIPgewuWpnQuFfc0l7zlxKGQ6xvM2GdWkU9wo-5hhYioTJ1yvFzLuhufuVPHwlZ00wEjDILp0yKzVANX98AUUQWIdnXA/s1600/Dolphin.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiIQzzssdP_A-c7_HDb-nVX7YY2DijE_QOmdyLmtfPTiIPgewuWpnQuFfc0l7zlxKGQ6xvM2GdWkU9wo-5hhYioTJ1yvFzLuhufuVPHwlZ00wEjDILp0yKzVANX98AUUQWIdnXA/s200/Dolphin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724769702044312962" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS7kj6GUWsEROnBP16LdHfFjlJ1iNeL4lnMNB2BXzsVqKeuRvl3ILPuPc2VFNRfl7jX3PFu9iOMU1qSw3ArqhKNAbw4j5ERC3XMa14-V5PKWHZckOjmLh9EbvSVsnbswug1C9cA/s1600/Driftwood+Camp%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGS7kj6GUWsEROnBP16LdHfFjlJ1iNeL4lnMNB2BXzsVqKeuRvl3ILPuPc2VFNRfl7jX3PFu9iOMU1qSw3ArqhKNAbw4j5ERC3XMa14-V5PKWHZckOjmLh9EbvSVsnbswug1C9cA/s200/Driftwood+Camp%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724769665068371522" border="0" /></a><br />Across the channel we spotted a large group of dolphins making their way up the coastline.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf2OPHXf63Ee5X5qwXAWS7PrYln_qOFBdjHi25ee3TWLt53uPMrI9YTIAZQ0Z7zfeGFTEj_wXXk-VEc2eF8iY-XJPDaOrOlSr4CQfOWqonfI4HqRf8z5nZPp8IBwtCjCz611jQg/s1600/Pack+of+Dolphins.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf2OPHXf63Ee5X5qwXAWS7PrYln_qOFBdjHi25ee3TWLt53uPMrI9YTIAZQ0Z7zfeGFTEj_wXXk-VEc2eF8iY-XJPDaOrOlSr4CQfOWqonfI4HqRf8z5nZPp8IBwtCjCz611jQg/s200/Pack+of+Dolphins.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724769683150326834" border="0" /></a>We were treated by yet another spectacular sunset to finish off our camping adventure.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrCbeK3SdVIDh7hogIp7NvMAR-fuo1doxYIXq-tX1fJeSMgNmfvVG4FoQ5mWF7kwo-E1WUk1UhsYzkhfxcZc36ar7vQjc7RXj0up2R86IwaiSOL_NRGfBQw0xwVbt__2ZJQvKnA/s1600/Sunset+Camp%25235-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrCbeK3SdVIDh7hogIp7NvMAR-fuo1doxYIXq-tX1fJeSMgNmfvVG4FoQ5mWF7kwo-E1WUk1UhsYzkhfxcZc36ar7vQjc7RXj0up2R86IwaiSOL_NRGfBQw0xwVbt__2ZJQvKnA/s200/Sunset+Camp%25235-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724769695320256386" border="0" /></a>Our last day was spent in the village of Loreto, where we enjoyed a warm shower at the Desert Inn and slept on a real bed for the first time in a week.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTdQneXj2gHUK9lBSiymtjf556v9qi0DX2DkfViOn1NpwYdKjhVyIj2R-t_j6XDSB4ZwOE03wJizmxGmWFIhA29QvRtJ8hJpnkLd-BA13FRqB_Xns0NA-nyTg50OqOWVZ70XDCA/s1600/Desert+Inn+Loreto.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTdQneXj2gHUK9lBSiymtjf556v9qi0DX2DkfViOn1NpwYdKjhVyIj2R-t_j6XDSB4ZwOE03wJizmxGmWFIhA29QvRtJ8hJpnkLd-BA13FRqB_Xns0NA-nyTg50OqOWVZ70XDCA/s200/Desert+Inn+Loreto.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724772459151289138" border="0" /></a><br />Like La Paz, Loreto has a Malecon that borders the shoreline. Unfortunately a portion of it near the hotel was under construction.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrfrFHI-9Y0GoMZ7cpNq6ITBKQ51OzVrE67l_jkUYw6Wolve6UVtjlKte6VxLwHBG2dli8AaWQlfoyZYGVVjSnl2HOo28jjQXRR0MhGk9hjJHPecMGbb4XJsADjxzckxWgrdELQ/s1600/Malecon+Loreto.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrfrFHI-9Y0GoMZ7cpNq6ITBKQ51OzVrE67l_jkUYw6Wolve6UVtjlKte6VxLwHBG2dli8AaWQlfoyZYGVVjSnl2HOo28jjQXRR0MhGk9hjJHPecMGbb4XJsADjxzckxWgrdELQ/s200/Malecon+Loreto.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724772468336322946" border="0" /></a><br />We visited some shops in Loreto and walked around to discover some of the local sites. Below is a picture of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misi%C3%B3n_de_Nuestra_Se%C3%B1ora_de_Loreto_Conch%C3%B3">Mission Loreto</a>, founded by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_Jesus" title="Society of Jesus">Jesuit</a> missionary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Mar%C3%ADa_de_Salvatierra" title="Juan María de Salvatierra">Juan María de Salvatierra</a> in 1697.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa0FaIY-Z9acNtTgTZ0HD60f2KOs_PA7n48W_OGAbAhhJ9msU8TNYCCLXAH75OAiqCRbU8M8wcT4UHUfBWrpJVvAIg3sRaCm8n4LWjF7yrMhm38ISMEWhZxg0uaC5iCBqUVxtQg/s1600/Mission+Loreto.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa0FaIY-Z9acNtTgTZ0HD60f2KOs_PA7n48W_OGAbAhhJ9msU8TNYCCLXAH75OAiqCRbU8M8wcT4UHUfBWrpJVvAIg3sRaCm8n4LWjF7yrMhm38ISMEWhZxg0uaC5iCBqUVxtQg/s200/Mission+Loreto.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724772476613150978" border="0" /></a> It's from the hotel in Loreto that we saw our most spectacular sunrise, hours before taking the bus back to La Paz for our flights back home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyVkP23J5MUQQ-TaZpq7a0jP5ffhMpSV7xBBjz7H2VArz7TBz0NoJgR2kaaKmdEGYKEcheLm3j6yi7m7nwPzEtcezh70xmwjUNVfeurQbtpbAYjvzVXHOJCz0z9I4jSHpjcaebQ/s1600/Sunset+Loreto.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEyVkP23J5MUQQ-TaZpq7a0jP5ffhMpSV7xBBjz7H2VArz7TBz0NoJgR2kaaKmdEGYKEcheLm3j6yi7m7nwPzEtcezh70xmwjUNVfeurQbtpbAYjvzVXHOJCz0z9I4jSHpjcaebQ/s200/Sunset+Loreto.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724774094854360818" border="0" /></a><br />We would like to thank the absolutely outstanding crew that we had on this expedition, it was truly a great pleasure to share this experience with them. On the left Captain-Comedian Chuy, in the middle Chef-Extraordinaire Alberto and on the right, Head-Guide & Best-Interpreter Carlos.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9YZkvjzqHm9Vmi1-pxrMm39UzBjWdw4ynPK_BIZ9on4m4sH3iozAzJ5f4kZuZAoJiZw_bFdWayvCmI_TUmW5KWK-AK1IOsXvwVIRXCQdS8Aes_QGkkt3_d6K4haJb7b0pmbYJg/s1600/Guides.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9YZkvjzqHm9Vmi1-pxrMm39UzBjWdw4ynPK_BIZ9on4m4sH3iozAzJ5f4kZuZAoJiZw_bFdWayvCmI_TUmW5KWK-AK1IOsXvwVIRXCQdS8Aes_QGkkt3_d6K4haJb7b0pmbYJg/s200/Guides.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724775306485840850" border="0" /></a><br />After 7 days of hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, camping, sightseeing and eating tons of fresh seafood, we are now back home with great memories of the trip we've been dreaming of to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Vm5D40q7xJXFi3NDIqSPEHMUGMHTaxSvk5q_YuScgj0MGb82ue7lrSD3DN0OrzTKub35Z6FKUm0erdTBbQtfzWNY2x6SPG-jql4Rj7RXvmQJrRWWmlrLmVlOFIzbKRk4viIPA/s1600/Baja+2012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6Vm5D40q7xJXFi3NDIqSPEHMUGMHTaxSvk5q_YuScgj0MGb82ue7lrSD3DN0OrzTKub35Z6FKUm0erdTBbQtfzWNY2x6SPG-jql4Rj7RXvmQJrRWWmlrLmVlOFIzbKRk4viIPA/s200/Baja+2012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5724776024932935970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div></div>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-68964053533135146622012-02-19T19:52:00.007-05:002012-02-19T20:02:29.936-05:00<h4>Trail #73 Lac Philippe From P19 to Parent Beach in Gatineau Park<br /></h4><p>Gorgeous day for a hike along the shores of Lac Philippe in the Gatineau Park, no snowshoes required.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROuHsgRl4Hm2drOCy73UxegjbZd-qgkLNMNK1-yWOS38pTl8F_vsZHjP2m4Eq8TAvKTGJE9hjsQm8EIpYgCBknhtMNxlDKym0AJPToyRnOxFjXaNZGZMoI7bWXGux48BwsQMsMA/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROuHsgRl4Hm2drOCy73UxegjbZd-qgkLNMNK1-yWOS38pTl8F_vsZHjP2m4Eq8TAvKTGJE9hjsQm8EIpYgCBknhtMNxlDKym0AJPToyRnOxFjXaNZGZMoI7bWXGux48BwsQMsMA/s400/IMG_1711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711015973060278626" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_iG18Hn_qaruF1QoWdpUW6_s4Ubq6db0XSAuOtvruu29ioDu6qnBpdIOE-B_Ds2RfHKpPUDqmgru0yriOBGWltw8CgRvVZUCHdpWknYM_g3XCMDm7YJ7tqgiUFOtW3eXafATtQ/s1600/P2190016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_iG18Hn_qaruF1QoWdpUW6_s4Ubq6db0XSAuOtvruu29ioDu6qnBpdIOE-B_Ds2RfHKpPUDqmgru0yriOBGWltw8CgRvVZUCHdpWknYM_g3XCMDm7YJ7tqgiUFOtW3eXafATtQ/s400/P2190016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711016008633674962" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn7EI2U_bixX887m_l0nKhF4PceBt51lQsbuxK6SbkU9qBLMwVMZCl2j4ybxNDGnT0LqWX2SVXGGeRYPlvS-M1vUt4aPKBT7sLjaZuXGK5cdettXegeqNhsbTEn7QZbEutxbCvQ/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn7EI2U_bixX887m_l0nKhF4PceBt51lQsbuxK6SbkU9qBLMwVMZCl2j4ybxNDGnT0LqWX2SVXGGeRYPlvS-M1vUt4aPKBT7sLjaZuXGK5cdettXegeqNhsbTEn7QZbEutxbCvQ/s400/IMG_1717.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711015974330295234" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn7EI2U_bixX887m_l0nKhF4PceBt51lQsbuxK6SbkU9qBLMwVMZCl2j4ybxNDGnT0LqWX2SVXGGeRYPlvS-M1vUt4aPKBT7sLjaZuXGK5cdettXegeqNhsbTEn7QZbEutxbCvQ/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG"></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDwgmVxDJnPRnYDbWsJrihXCVxJfBe9_qDe7k9jq9psZMxcUqpG9dQF6R-tXO1AeS5wiGPPByTtPElPo3jWU0HCurQ4HRQc4FTWz4P0YLQvTcx7o3InuMdu7PA3xDWzfblDFu_Q/s1600/P2190030.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDwgmVxDJnPRnYDbWsJrihXCVxJfBe9_qDe7k9jq9psZMxcUqpG9dQF6R-tXO1AeS5wiGPPByTtPElPo3jWU0HCurQ4HRQc4FTWz4P0YLQvTcx7o3InuMdu7PA3xDWzfblDFu_Q/s400/P2190030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711016018623155810" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn6WrMfMTkuUpoAk41_Sb7IBBYFZ_9kEB1lwf51mQA6UvCV7j1TdqC0x1FdQ5M-r9rBw8McVa1oVOh5ziuF23zEDidA9mtgHsijhJB0AShcpoAsgefDOP0MLN6Yf5QiUEcPH4mA/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn6WrMfMTkuUpoAk41_Sb7IBBYFZ_9kEB1lwf51mQA6UvCV7j1TdqC0x1FdQ5M-r9rBw8McVa1oVOh5ziuF23zEDidA9mtgHsijhJB0AShcpoAsgefDOP0MLN6Yf5QiUEcPH4mA/s400/IMG_1728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711015992230913410" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn7EI2U_bixX887m_l0nKhF4PceBt51lQsbuxK6SbkU9qBLMwVMZCl2j4ybxNDGnT0LqWX2SVXGGeRYPlvS-M1vUt4aPKBT7sLjaZuXGK5cdettXegeqNhsbTEn7QZbEutxbCvQ/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG"></a></p>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-87055575319352691922012-02-10T19:14:00.024-05:002012-02-10T20:51:33.149-05:00<h4>Snowshoeing in the Pimbina Sector of Mont-Tremblant National Park</h4>On January 28th, following a full day of rain and freezing rain from southern Ontario all the way up to the summit of <a href="http://www.tremblant.ca/index-e.htm">Mont-Tremblant ski resort</a>, we were lucky that 14 cm of fresh snow fell overnight in the Pimbina sector of the <a href="http://www.sepaq.com/pq/mot/index.dot?language_id=1">Mont-Tremblant National Park</a>, north of the lovely municipality of <a href="http://www.saint-donat.ca/English/Welcome-to-Saint-Donat">St-Donat</a>, QC, slightly North of <a href="http://www.ville.sainte-agathe-des-monts.qc.ca/en/">Ste-Agathe</a><a href="http://www.ville.sainte-agathe-des-monts.qc.ca/en/">-des-Monts</a>, QC.<br /><br />After an incredible evening at the <a href="http://www.copainsdabordtremblant.com/eng/index.php">Bistrot Les copins d'abord</a> (highly recommended) at <span class="titleBig">804, rue de Saint-Jovite in Mont-Tremblant, </span>we had plenty of reserves in our bodies to tackle this challenging climb in the park.<br /><br />Our goal was to climb to the summit by trail R1 (named "L'Envol", 3.4 km, rated Intermediate) to the Geai-Bleu shelter, returning to the starting-point by trail R2 (named "Le Geai-Bleu", 2.4 km, rated "Easy"). See below for a close-up of the trails, see the following <a href="http://www.sepaq.com/dotAsset/159270c0-633f-44e7-a8ec-b8333cbfcbe5.pdf">link </a>for the full map.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-3uAiXkrH2gpjthjvxmg0sJr9h2_Btn00Xm1aLyN5_Oz44ctLA2T4_uJivhBG70EqXiis5ntHsTh_Udj8sFcKP7Hw_hcj3MbY18lmwdmMxLYZBkEOS9cwB61MkfVp9fVsWBxuw/s1600/Map+of+R1-R2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-3uAiXkrH2gpjthjvxmg0sJr9h2_Btn00Xm1aLyN5_Oz44ctLA2T4_uJivhBG70EqXiis5ntHsTh_Udj8sFcKP7Hw_hcj3MbY18lmwdmMxLYZBkEOS9cwB61MkfVp9fVsWBxuw/s400/Map+of+R1-R2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707670575468068226" border="0" /></a><br />The starting point is at 400m (1300 ft) of elevation, if you look closely enough at the contour lines on the map, the peak is around 740m (2405 ft), for a vertical rise of 340m (1100 ft). The area shaded in darker grey is a "free" zone where snowshoeing off the beaten path is allowed. While it looks deceptively small on the map, there is LOTS of room to roam around.<br /><br />You don't get from the base to the peak without climbing and without sweating (unless you are dressed for some highly aerobic activities). The following picture give a sense of what it was like on the way up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovApmJkdbSOnz0CBPKTWChPt-UcrGep9SeX-9Dopk9fDChyphenhyphenWXnb9nzZDPd3xG0v3vdzKzFbySU58ncKaFA2yLHcqzMH1HskdlHVhDG2VBzZ8EojzppXMoubGc1Nsk5-MyhCa2oQ/s1600/P1280338.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovApmJkdbSOnz0CBPKTWChPt-UcrGep9SeX-9Dopk9fDChyphenhyphenWXnb9nzZDPd3xG0v3vdzKzFbySU58ncKaFA2yLHcqzMH1HskdlHVhDG2VBzZ8EojzppXMoubGc1Nsk5-MyhCa2oQ/s400/P1280338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707672708379000450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPiGtLTqqSHTL3nHaZRrHijZ2MS1_l7l9xhUlnldiQXJEExm5z3_Qt9XHuVnhqamFhzNFTPRhe3x8Nxdhg_ND7-Ft0K_QldhbnVQSM-TK_Vys-O9sAz6D_BodOYwsR0wghAszSw/s1600/P1280340.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPiGtLTqqSHTL3nHaZRrHijZ2MS1_l7l9xhUlnldiQXJEExm5z3_Qt9XHuVnhqamFhzNFTPRhe3x8Nxdhg_ND7-Ft0K_QldhbnVQSM-TK_Vys-O9sAz6D_BodOYwsR0wghAszSw/s400/P1280340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707672715393495954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtp8uFPDM9corFHt-5UDDOBOajYHLXfvBOKWtY0HE-P-pEUE-bsirK3BwsTxtYr1Ff_17wqv7H8AwFuaAnfAj2nbyWd6YqWsngkKiW84qGo08M_Q1bgESoOH-Cu6MQXMR3C4apA/s1600/P1280341.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtp8uFPDM9corFHt-5UDDOBOajYHLXfvBOKWtY0HE-P-pEUE-bsirK3BwsTxtYr1Ff_17wqv7H8AwFuaAnfAj2nbyWd6YqWsngkKiW84qGo08M_Q1bgESoOH-Cu6MQXMR3C4apA/s400/P1280341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707672731279775042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first lookout provides a rewarding view to the North-East, towards Lac Provost and Lac Lajoie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M7AhJOB7eadDEjul66Tfp5_yOty-0b4DwO6EMlrUF5iNp8R0t6bhpCHom3x__1CQVZtu5W3XtuIVuCDjRhpJKIrWfdLsXmIF2D9AMEHrmc0ets49Mm5r2w59UkZR4rtgap-ddQ/s1600/P1280344.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5M7AhJOB7eadDEjul66Tfp5_yOty-0b4DwO6EMlrUF5iNp8R0t6bhpCHom3x__1CQVZtu5W3XtuIVuCDjRhpJKIrWfdLsXmIF2D9AMEHrmc0ets49Mm5r2w59UkZR4rtgap-ddQ/s400/P1280344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707673509901494898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Continuing the climb over and across the summit leads to the second lookout with a truly spectacular view of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurentides">Laurentian </a>mountains. I'm a bit puzzled by the 1680 ft marker at this point, that's a fair bit below the 2405 ft peak suggested by the trail map for the nearby summit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHknyeBd8eD0a_7kD9tZ8LFoDBV-hzPfLTWONF5OvBGGnj9ah_WQabSvmo4IZnxIhPM_x87PEMn1GaR_2EShlHcJdTQw3FdaiMfEgJKE0zc6wpCNLRN771jHXOindKPQebr4BTdw/s1600/P1280350.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHknyeBd8eD0a_7kD9tZ8LFoDBV-hzPfLTWONF5OvBGGnj9ah_WQabSvmo4IZnxIhPM_x87PEMn1GaR_2EShlHcJdTQw3FdaiMfEgJKE0zc6wpCNLRN771jHXOindKPQebr4BTdw/s400/P1280350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707674212233043618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Reaching the summit is half the challenge, the other half (before heading back) is to reach the shelter. As we head back into the snow-infested forest....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiLe1JpV_xc_jpBHAax1dk6F1GUIxgKkStPUMZMabnbVUJ0IVj4y99KMAzE2RTecprqWaNJtx_jHwgGVE1cWK6jApd6abl_cZ2NBGA6GkMjGtArcbM1z17tvbKzi9mdHqe4pZew/s1600/P1280355.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiLe1JpV_xc_jpBHAax1dk6F1GUIxgKkStPUMZMabnbVUJ0IVj4y99KMAzE2RTecprqWaNJtx_jHwgGVE1cWK6jApd6abl_cZ2NBGA6GkMjGtArcbM1z17tvbKzi9mdHqe4pZew/s400/P1280355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707675098816770466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...there are some nice viewpoints along the way...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxCKqs-Sj-SkzBe5ROt7DMQBhygvk-mawQWKbrdG_t4O4lQb9jRGqhyZnAPXfznQ6KoE5EdIR-vx1NUuVTNrwtYT8rC69izhlr8y7LObpYDdbH8A3aZzbns3gONoth_-6qS6aoA/s1600/P1280360.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxCKqs-Sj-SkzBe5ROt7DMQBhygvk-mawQWKbrdG_t4O4lQb9jRGqhyZnAPXfznQ6KoE5EdIR-vx1NUuVTNrwtYT8rC69izhlr8y7LObpYDdbH8A3aZzbns3gONoth_-6qS6aoA/s400/P1280360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707675103171679682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...including some nice downhill sections.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EpSrcv_wzauwI4NzLrr_nK_ZBpVvbhpHiu4TUo1_Oet55iyreBLqW8ET5LwvekaWt8R1effLiinb6wcqHcodDLCGcojc4rrwgNrxLqKzeXpq3tbd4Pas5Fhp7v8LuOlCZPpZXA/s1600/P1280366.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EpSrcv_wzauwI4NzLrr_nK_ZBpVvbhpHiu4TUo1_Oet55iyreBLqW8ET5LwvekaWt8R1effLiinb6wcqHcodDLCGcojc4rrwgNrxLqKzeXpq3tbd4Pas5Fhp7v8LuOlCZPpZXA/s400/P1280366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707675613856849474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By the time we finally reach the Geai-Bleu (Blue-Jay) shelter, we're ready to dry-out, rest-up and eat-up before heading back!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs63SHNhBHcDQcvlzb7-L3xOLBbCPG_O2e8ClLp81R5QW8r3d5X9-9ZvEM67h3BWkz_TrXaizjiWC06m2TXahoBL8aDNOhuHxUp6iGFVHjFjw6zou-roRwDb5PbJ-eLwkOmKKQ0A/s1600/P1280369.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs63SHNhBHcDQcvlzb7-L3xOLBbCPG_O2e8ClLp81R5QW8r3d5X9-9ZvEM67h3BWkz_TrXaizjiWC06m2TXahoBL8aDNOhuHxUp6iGFVHjFjw6zou-roRwDb5PbJ-eLwkOmKKQ0A/s400/P1280369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707676076356664962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The shelter includes a wood stove in the back corner, a set of tables from front to back and beds around the perimeter (for those with reservations after 4PM). An outhouse is located in the woods behind the shelter.<br /><br />I made the mistake of stepping in the unpacked snow without my snowshoes and sank to my hips. Definitely more snow here than back home!<br /><br />One unique experience at this shelter was seeing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_jay">Grey Jays</a> for the first time ever. I didn't even know such a bird existed and had never heard of its name beforehand. Note how I skillfully hide the full rations behind my thumb!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfJARt-4eAPwhUqdXPpcbBkyjAY1Sb_AJIuAEtjwnrJLjtRbJudosiRZsv5Zxnqpw4dlk4ia7JYWN3aTRM5RexWXqO9kN_4ZujecjwGpk6hGzM-VR1UzcnLd7bAdF_Y7VVfdXcA/s1600/P1280370.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfJARt-4eAPwhUqdXPpcbBkyjAY1Sb_AJIuAEtjwnrJLjtRbJudosiRZsv5Zxnqpw4dlk4ia7JYWN3aTRM5RexWXqO9kN_4ZujecjwGpk6hGzM-VR1UzcnLd7bAdF_Y7VVfdXcA/s400/P1280370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707677114429887490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Heading back on R2 avoids much of the climbing encountered on R1. The scenery along this trail is more rustic than the wider R4.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7UF2-Dr2x8MHlI1rG0MwYDXYMPLWZGPIUadCBZNcvAprNa882LyX6toDxOyLQkAa21LcmVIlWPB1k6CIQV8CmRNvlytaiF88y1XSVYc9mipfg1HCn88IXBhQzxSAjEuvtUF9CA/s1600/P1280375.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7UF2-Dr2x8MHlI1rG0MwYDXYMPLWZGPIUadCBZNcvAprNa882LyX6toDxOyLQkAa21LcmVIlWPB1k6CIQV8CmRNvlytaiF88y1XSVYc9mipfg1HCn88IXBhQzxSAjEuvtUF9CA/s400/P1280375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707677847244345266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Note the small <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacial_erratic">Glacial Erratic</a> rock in the next picture...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-fFZOE2SHQ8lZqvHwjy2IGM2IboeQ8mGSCNEP4_067-d4rYT1OrFZPDTOGyflpDlmigcqTq0sXtNx7zhZZndp09qKLQ6yHQ9Ga-T5R0x05Z6_q2DQUtP8Rhf-azaywlFHf394w/s1600/P1280376.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-fFZOE2SHQ8lZqvHwjy2IGM2IboeQ8mGSCNEP4_067-d4rYT1OrFZPDTOGyflpDlmigcqTq0sXtNx7zhZZndp09qKLQ6yHQ9Ga-T5R0x05Z6_q2DQUtP8Rhf-azaywlFHf394w/s400/P1280376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707677854127819122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a challenging and very satisfying snowshoe outing, it's always comforting to know there is a full-service visitor's center at the end of the trail.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJCjMI13qfTREo1UrEXyTQZVhMIirieSxXOgahGmZz0GUIDnY37KSTGoOmof3Kfw92iCQd5eCIi2g4pUSajWWHljTvfyqqDuKvTO5EjYImt0MC0W6sjHRvE63T4-RQvmWAG6Mgg/s1600/P1280378.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJCjMI13qfTREo1UrEXyTQZVhMIirieSxXOgahGmZz0GUIDnY37KSTGoOmof3Kfw92iCQd5eCIi2g4pUSajWWHljTvfyqqDuKvTO5EjYImt0MC0W6sjHRvE63T4-RQvmWAG6Mgg/s400/P1280378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707678694776313250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Highly recommended destination for snowshoeing, a few hours away from Montreal and the Ottawa region.Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-89109895960806910982012-02-04T19:56:00.004-05:002012-02-04T20:03:42.599-05:00<h4> BoréalDesign Bankrupt?</h4>A few posts today including this <a href="http://www.paddlinginstructor.com/blog/industry-stuff/item/4447-quebec-kayak-manufacturer-boreal-design-files-for-bankruptcy.html">one </a>suggest that BoréalDesign is filing for bankruptcy on Monday.<br /><br />As proud owners of two of their kayaks, this is a sad day for Canadian design and manufacturing talent. Let's hope someone seizes this opportunity to keep the dream alive by investing into this proven brand.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">No word yet on what that means for Maelstromkayak, another outstanding product line.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-CA;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"></span></span>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-35215314022381247102012-01-22T10:05:00.006-05:002012-01-22T10:13:42.237-05:00<h4>Gatineau Park Snowshoeing Trail #71 Saturday PM Jan 21st</h4><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62PG-dUUsYC_1ZGEzCvdyb-gy9e35CPfpxIcWBuhJ0-la0thQHrrXWYzTLYW3CQUvUg3J6-imcFBOy-B9M6FmMHO6bGRjmMUXf-jn5GAa1AtVYznr5e_tmKd28rJVFtt9mpysNQ/s1600/P1210323.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62PG-dUUsYC_1ZGEzCvdyb-gy9e35CPfpxIcWBuhJ0-la0thQHrrXWYzTLYW3CQUvUg3J6-imcFBOy-B9M6FmMHO6bGRjmMUXf-jn5GAa1AtVYznr5e_tmKd28rJVFtt9mpysNQ/s400/P1210323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700473378191666818" border="0" /></a><p>Conditions were very good, nice layer of powder over a good base.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BY8Xp1VRHicRkqG4-0EP-FXrJftvJY_zBQZq_Ahe3boGwCIQOMdcMv0iihnMa1OCEh4Xto0NCgbcZU4u1RN0mpJyQ1g6Gns8fyhZjFMsfKqlOciPN6u1epNH3tkDsN_AsOiuLA/s1600/P1210325.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BY8Xp1VRHicRkqG4-0EP-FXrJftvJY_zBQZq_Ahe3boGwCIQOMdcMv0iihnMa1OCEh4Xto0NCgbcZU4u1RN0mpJyQ1g6Gns8fyhZjFMsfKqlOciPN6u1epNH3tkDsN_AsOiuLA/s400/P1210325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700473387261307986" border="0" /></a></p><p>Slight crusty layer was more noticeable in the southern portion of the loop (towards P15), almost non-existent in the northern portion (towards Carman lake).</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta32jjvwwqnp4yO8YVhd5UEgfsAx4LAxW_8qGjEeIBjzWKxSXnkMxhY58wtWVRwWW_a6DbUxgRsiczmVrpeowzjENZrmIracdxv4Jc1snv_yI8w78iIjT89ofrd_puXLVlawNHg/s1600/P1210329.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta32jjvwwqnp4yO8YVhd5UEgfsAx4LAxW_8qGjEeIBjzWKxSXnkMxhY58wtWVRwWW_a6DbUxgRsiczmVrpeowzjENZrmIracdxv4Jc1snv_yI8w78iIjT89ofrd_puXLVlawNHg/s400/P1210329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700474094850845474" border="0" /></a></p> <p>This trail offers great viewpoints of a rolling valley and some nice challenging climbs in the forest.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlqJNbZyHf2MpAe8jjrcuSn9e9jre5AVudKhbzBBCoGFk3ztDm6dy5g5flAOjS-Vq9yNZdmC5LgvM20mztY7yPJZoyJSdhWVQvRKGjgvMTkFvCmcBW64rPZpRi1ZNhLJPquoc0w/s1600/P1210328.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlqJNbZyHf2MpAe8jjrcuSn9e9jre5AVudKhbzBBCoGFk3ztDm6dy5g5flAOjS-Vq9yNZdmC5LgvM20mztY7yPJZoyJSdhWVQvRKGjgvMTkFvCmcBW64rPZpRi1ZNhLJPquoc0w/s400/P1210328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700474079337180994" border="0" /></a></p><p> We stopped a few minutes to warm up by the fire pit before heading back to P15.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqC1dKOQkXP15HotViYNXCEiinYa_7Usmq5SE1GcOorUgTLMWk08nNCH-22BlzGlj_hRiW2xZSvRVg4SgsruHs9s4fN_JrvSvjRsRLJhbt0u7IhBfU1LSqiWpAWiHu3ykBkSy1w/s1600/P1210327.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqC1dKOQkXP15HotViYNXCEiinYa_7Usmq5SE1GcOorUgTLMWk08nNCH-22BlzGlj_hRiW2xZSvRVg4SgsruHs9s4fN_JrvSvjRsRLJhbt0u7IhBfU1LSqiWpAWiHu3ykBkSy1w/s400/P1210327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700474076597663730" border="0" /></a></p><p>Total time: 3 hours.</p>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-51932569088674954662012-01-14T16:22:00.004-05:002012-01-14T16:36:43.972-05:00<h4>Gatineau Park Trail #60 & 61 Friday Jan 13th</h4><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoIh0K5M2u8S8uiBwSgg60i8S15FxH7B5dljsTOz1sVXGTu0G12-Zn8YioGLYYQXFHRp4pt4XzOL9LGDTgc2Q4oV-P0O6u5dRMW7g5nmjQ1tHiM-Kvl6yQM5d_If5bH2JUic2_A/s1600/P1130310.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoIh0K5M2u8S8uiBwSgg60i8S15FxH7B5dljsTOz1sVXGTu0G12-Zn8YioGLYYQXFHRp4pt4XzOL9LGDTgc2Q4oV-P0O6u5dRMW7g5nmjQ1tHiM-Kvl6yQM5d_If5bH2JUic2_A/s400/P1130310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697603537130750674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Conditions were as good as they have been this year, thanks to a fresh dump of snow on Thursday/Friday. Snow was slightly humid, with a very thin crust half-way down from the light freezing rain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoIh0K5M2u8S8uiBwSgg60i8S15FxH7B5dljsTOz1sVXGTu0G12-Zn8YioGLYYQXFHRp4pt4XzOL9LGDTgc2Q4oV-P0O6u5dRMW7g5nmjQ1tHiM-Kvl6yQM5d_If5bH2JUic2_A/s1600/P1130310.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kRzsJCvHKm1KZJzDMH1DO3jToDic7Mg12dcxTVBiy4wdogDEbrSecTo8Uz_frKOatJDnQkGY54dPT-CnxyCsHpRQI-cAC4wv2eAQjL67rUJZJgaCCde_vGsyoKup2IUk8arwDQ/s1600/P1130307.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kRzsJCvHKm1KZJzDMH1DO3jToDic7Mg12dcxTVBiy4wdogDEbrSecTo8Uz_frKOatJDnQkGY54dPT-CnxyCsHpRQI-cAC4wv2eAQjL67rUJZJgaCCde_vGsyoKup2IUk8arwDQ/s400/P1130307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697603528737550066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5Z-WAetHtRtMAaNRBifVW3Zs4Hbz6YugcIYdNBm6ltGauViW0Kp55rlQ0F0fa9pCgqQ9PID3cHRjwb4PEgJzrBSrNPnF-NmIr_q0uFG0xF1xhEpqm2iVZ7InA_TuGL0NK8N8zg/s1600/P1130318.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5Z-WAetHtRtMAaNRBifVW3Zs4Hbz6YugcIYdNBm6ltGauViW0Kp55rlQ0F0fa9pCgqQ9PID3cHRjwb4PEgJzrBSrNPnF-NmIr_q0uFG0xF1xhEpqm2iVZ7InA_TuGL0NK8N8zg/s400/P1130318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697604093518234754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3viERj2zMlxpsfErK-XGLuncVyf3ZmlNB4gJKUyp-Qa4PXSvgXCk1kqiwRqPPXQN5SDoVPeKNw_UpM-BquaAH3NRAyRiHpo6OXCGs1JBk7MaoTqMthZfYJdlZ9Y_9V6FRzSGFg/s1600/P1130319.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3viERj2zMlxpsfErK-XGLuncVyf3ZmlNB4gJKUyp-Qa4PXSvgXCk1kqiwRqPPXQN5SDoVPeKNw_UpM-BquaAH3NRAyRiHpo6OXCGs1JBk7MaoTqMthZfYJdlZ9Y_9V6FRzSGFg/s400/P1130319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697604103265702642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHxFVbBLTo1QrorSiRVkDsV2Rui3EJv3FQUCtqWKTaSKaARpSmL420BzjNW0LZQNGzIYAkYxtnki5o4acnDER-O7NF_GX_nUiVbGIt2Thyphenhyphen8kd-QV07cQDlEyozVVeiXT58OCpRw/s1600/P1130322.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTHxFVbBLTo1QrorSiRVkDsV2Rui3EJv3FQUCtqWKTaSKaARpSmL420BzjNW0LZQNGzIYAkYxtnki5o4acnDER-O7NF_GX_nUiVbGIt2Thyphenhyphen8kd-QV07cQDlEyozVVeiXT58OCpRw/s400/P1130322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697604117033423474" border="0" /></a>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-91848335762653802872012-01-06T20:58:00.003-05:002012-01-06T21:34:13.465-05:00<h4>Gatineau Park Snowshoeing Trails #60 & 61 Friday January 6th</h4><p>Trail conditions were good to very good this evening. Still early in the season, very few bare rocks left on the trail, plenty of fluffy powder off the beaten path.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9902E7If4kBW4LSPqJzemJAxUTwTsjYAixN3J3D-Rly2_FERGk_aevP83oPLKcdYXPOBMPj56TTOD-oq4ckF4qfk_VVzjTpXUdKB-cu0xEro6HgSG0pIkBok3oU0rAcAcLIdwyA/s1600/P1060304+rotated.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9902E7If4kBW4LSPqJzemJAxUTwTsjYAixN3J3D-Rly2_FERGk_aevP83oPLKcdYXPOBMPj56TTOD-oq4ckF4qfk_VVzjTpXUdKB-cu0xEro6HgSG0pIkBok3oU0rAcAcLIdwyA/s400/P1060304+rotated.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694712589526634834" border="0" /></a></p>Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-40535760602008038112011-11-29T20:25:00.017-05:002011-11-29T21:39:28.040-05:00<h4>Climbing Mont-Ham</h4>The village of <a href="http://www.saint-joseph-de-ham-sud.ca/">Saint-Joseph de Ham-Sud</a> is located <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Saint-Camille,+QC+J0A&daddr=103,+route+257+ouest,+St-Joseph-+de-+Ham-Sud,+QC+J0B3J0+%28D%C3%A9veloppement+Du+Mont+Ham-+Sud%29&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=45.730749,-71.640129&spn=0.10281,0.264187&sll=45.709766,-71.683003&sspn=0.205697,0.528374&geocode=FbYSuQIdROO5-ynr7sGDWpa3TDF_q4JaA7Ceag%3BFTGEugId29i6-yFfodZw808xQg&vpsrc=6&mra=pd&t=m&z=13">10 miles north-east</a> of the world renowned village of <a href="http://www.saint-camille.ca/">Saint-Camille QC.</a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW6YY_46Cq9Eb_n4As5Rcb0my1jKgGKo-USAGo4yQE1FzMLtncKk2J8d0KDhmpoYO4WyhkcukYUirVtzwkW548kJDx5H2JE66XtCgNlsecElGQOnsKmATRZLJcuiPIa3d_hITdw/s1600/129.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW6YY_46Cq9Eb_n4As5Rcb0my1jKgGKo-USAGo4yQE1FzMLtncKk2J8d0KDhmpoYO4WyhkcukYUirVtzwkW548kJDx5H2JE66XtCgNlsecElGQOnsKmATRZLJcuiPIa3d_hITdw/s400/129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680602800745370610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Seemingly out of nowhere, <a href="http://www.montham.qc.ca/">Mont-Ham</a> rises to an altitude of over 2300 feet to offer a panoramic 360 degree view of this beautiful corner of the Estrie county. A non-profit organization operates and maintains the network of trails, including the fully equipped visitor's centre and various camping accommodations (including log cabins and prospector tents) and activities including a frisbee golf course and snowshoe rentals.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhxkMHpzoK373_hFJcuYvQy0m0kbSIFotZFW73xDdq7CeC8gUaLCzqtOI-0oTpZuoY-wEm7aiZN8GnrNTrThg_-5KmmWZBYMvZMx8vHqG89PAlaCQSlOaMc1SekBxE4fFbKbSuw/s1600/157.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhxkMHpzoK373_hFJcuYvQy0m0kbSIFotZFW73xDdq7CeC8gUaLCzqtOI-0oTpZuoY-wEm7aiZN8GnrNTrThg_-5KmmWZBYMvZMx8vHqG89PAlaCQSlOaMc1SekBxE4fFbKbSuw/s400/157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680605654573369346" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />On a particularly cool morning with scattered snow-showers, we decided to hike up the direct "Intrepid" route up to the summit (shown in red below).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnEIhENIJzpVb6MxBwjl8k3H7ewlbQPQjM20OFYgkIr0yYMeeIvjXJP7DUdBYorCmR0SvFfP6MhCpT9RMDwQGWiEudbZ_d7yuHtS4kXirDu3-DzN6fJEOH7noSoZUr0M8OWrCIw/s1600/image.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnEIhENIJzpVb6MxBwjl8k3H7ewlbQPQjM20OFYgkIr0yYMeeIvjXJP7DUdBYorCmR0SvFfP6MhCpT9RMDwQGWiEudbZ_d7yuHtS4kXirDu3-DzN6fJEOH7noSoZUr0M8OWrCIw/s400/image.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680603653235835746" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The 1 mile hike is challenging, including the scaling of a"Wall" of rocks (much steeper than what's shown below).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHftNDJLxCM-pwzC_zazHhqzYu1jBw8gj7u0UOA_g2TyhbVs-TWDM9VvpKgYKooepzY9dU2llEqDIOnMvhwFki9XS5ouiQlkzOsPhdDFLXJOEHuee1bgw7yni3DQ7WURYlQx1OQ/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHftNDJLxCM-pwzC_zazHhqzYu1jBw8gj7u0UOA_g2TyhbVs-TWDM9VvpKgYKooepzY9dU2llEqDIOnMvhwFki9XS5ouiQlkzOsPhdDFLXJOEHuee1bgw7yni3DQ7WURYlQx1OQ/s400/IMG_1690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680611055815123666" border="0" /></a></div><br />The first summit that we reached was fully exposed to wind and made for a rather chilling experience.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgii0cpDmw3RtvUWX_-iIjMQtO3bO1_-31riweyCcmWIu8TStZRJAlgwp-sStXWBeN_g0x83g7ThcQPJMrnhlXIwRS3TPKChA_fU_28FEFS9sVTdPAdD-KnmN01r37ztZGS5jJKEg/s1600/141.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgii0cpDmw3RtvUWX_-iIjMQtO3bO1_-31riweyCcmWIu8TStZRJAlgwp-sStXWBeN_g0x83g7ThcQPJMrnhlXIwRS3TPKChA_fU_28FEFS9sVTdPAdD-KnmN01r37ztZGS5jJKEg/s400/141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680604754834049378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The view was outstanding despite the limited visibility due to snow. Below is a picture of the Stoke mountains.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkV-tZzNc3-f5Rz57cQ15qNJUah1nNWz2tXaMjA1slZo8yASEkn3zw4U-lpE4XBAHKILgKUosZFPulL-o96j02uqkzrv-MXNCvcIhg-EFyzO7D0dObtOXOTZGqKEZFynov6XlfQ/s1600/139.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkV-tZzNc3-f5Rz57cQ15qNJUah1nNWz2tXaMjA1slZo8yASEkn3zw4U-lpE4XBAHKILgKUosZFPulL-o96j02uqkzrv-MXNCvcIhg-EFyzO7D0dObtOXOTZGqKEZFynov6XlfQ/s400/139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680607447307123698" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div><br />A short hike down then back up led to the adjoining peak of Mont-Ham with its sturdy metal cross.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QfIpI4zmxLeMFhfeoWBH6heXilSRfSxic3qJwMZ8NsgCtwsSsSOKoR3VjKlmiIoe2wvmvJXOVC2jM2FHeDNNYhhXjvjRpSTVPJuJ5vvmvCZCPso6pHCajVM281q3iSNYhIQwYg/s1600/150.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QfIpI4zmxLeMFhfeoWBH6heXilSRfSxic3qJwMZ8NsgCtwsSsSOKoR3VjKlmiIoe2wvmvJXOVC2jM2FHeDNNYhhXjvjRpSTVPJuJ5vvmvCZCPso6pHCajVM281q3iSNYhIQwYg/s400/150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680605273812041506" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />Not wanting to waste any time to climb down to more comfortable temperatures, we headed back along the "Button" trail (shown in dark blue on the trail map).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LvfKQU0Ap8ToFLa2zBcsdUJflZ2nej0sQnaE1o7RkbtdQKEv-yfKt7qsV2xUz6navcpUZK3JIXA-xHil0Wdbr4nKTAyblH4iEA9LvpB2qtY_mCtSq3j8PaD6WQsiTvVfU8y-ig/s1600/IMG_1701.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LvfKQU0Ap8ToFLa2zBcsdUJflZ2nej0sQnaE1o7RkbtdQKEv-yfKt7qsV2xUz6navcpUZK3JIXA-xHil0Wdbr4nKTAyblH4iEA9LvpB2qtY_mCtSq3j8PaD6WQsiTvVfU8y-ig/s400/IMG_1701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680611340064756306" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Seeing the steep climb down then back up the next summit, we chose to turn around and head down the "Panoramic" trail instead (shown in light green), despite what I had read about that trail. The top part consists of rugged exposed outcrops of rocks, making for a challenging (and today chilling) hike. The trail then starts down the side of the mountain, leading to countless boulders of crushed rocks along the way. While the trail wasn't as steep as the "Intrepid" on the way up, it was a good test of endurance and balance most of the way back.<br /></div></div><br />Curious to understand the unusual rock formations that we had seen, I read up on Mont-Ham's rather unique geology after our hike. I found this explanation on their web site, loosely translated as follows (with help from Google Translate):<br /><br />"<span id="result_box" class="" lang="en"><span style="" title="La séquence de roches qui forment le Mont Ham est presque identique à celle que l'on retrouve dans les fonds océaniques actuels.">The rocks that form Mont Ham are almost identical to those found in the ocean. </span><span style="" title="Il s'agit donc bel et bien d'un morceau de la croûte océanique.">It is actually a piece of oceanic crust, l</span><span title="Il ne manque que la partie la plus basse appelée ultrabasique.">acking only the lower part called ultrabasic. </span><span style="" title="Nous avions à ce moment deux plaques continentales qui se distançaient l'une par rapport à l'autre avec la création, entre les deux, d'une croûte océanique."></span><span style="" title="Entre 500 et 475 millions d'années, pendant la période géologique de l'Ordovitien, les mouvements des plaques continentales se sont inversés et les plaques se sont rapprochées.">Between 500 and 475 million years ago, during the Geological Ordovitien, the movement of continental plates were inverted and the plates got closer together. </span><span style="" title="Lors de ce rapprochement, impliquant des forces immenses, une plaque s'est enfoncée sous l'autre et une partie de la croûte océanique (le Mont Ham) qui s'est brisée, a remonté vers la surface et s'est retrouvée à la">In this process, huge forces caused part of the oceanic crust (Mount Ham) to break, pushing it up to the surface, </span><span style="" title="bordure du continent pour en devenir une partie intégrante.">becoming an integral part of the continent. </span><span style="" title="Par la suite d'autres mouvements importants des plaques tectoniques ont amené ces roches à être à leur tour écrasées vers le continent.">Subsequently other important movements of tectonic plates crushed these rocks to form</span><span style="" title="Ces nouvelles roches, en se déformant ont érigé des montagnes (longeant une partie de la frontière américaine)."> mountains along part of the U.S. border. </span><span style="" title="Ces mêmes montagnes subissent à leur tour l'érosion, elles se désagrègent lentement et les sédiments acheminés par les nombreux cours d'eau vont se déposer vers la mer actuelle."></span><span style="" title="La majorité des roches qui la constituent sont des roches volcaniques appelées basaltes ainsi que de quartz.">The majority of the rocks are volcanic rocks are called basalts and quartz.</span></span>"<br /><br />The staff at the visitor's center were very friendly and helpful. The cost for a day pass was $8 per person. I would recommend this hike to anyone in the area looking for a challenging and rewarding hike.Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20079511.post-19795018893987118342011-10-19T21:01:00.009-04:002011-10-19T21:29:26.470-04:00<h4>Bald Eagles North of Ottawa-Gatineau</h4>Not far north of the Ottawa-Gatineau area, majestic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle">Bald Eagles</a> have been nesting and reproducing for at least the past two years. According to the Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Distribution_H._leucocephalus.png">map </a>showing the distribution of the Bald Eagle, this area would be north of the Resident - Breading zone, and at the lower end of the Summer Visitor - Breading Zone. This would explain why their nest has been torn-down during winter months (click on any picture to see full-size).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywicyzqWwbEc-9QwQ6d-5nHXY_fSazlKHfiEW1-7AuSBANJemkrLocqqUas3amdWUVEnqz7yMpYEME93ALt2t3Ie6jj7ZVub3ydPsJqmPLKavy0UKAmrmVIYnV2ItaKEu47qfmg/s1600/IMG_0606.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywicyzqWwbEc-9QwQ6d-5nHXY_fSazlKHfiEW1-7AuSBANJemkrLocqqUas3amdWUVEnqz7yMpYEME93ALt2t3Ie6jj7ZVub3ydPsJqmPLKavy0UKAmrmVIYnV2ItaKEu47qfmg/s400/IMG_0606.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665377450984376386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By approaching slowly and quietly, it's possible to spend a considerable amount of time observing the eagles at a distance without disturbing them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZFpx22prjyLL2rXoZw6_WM1adxAySi2cnqlORHNx0_IlISyPnYoLVVhBo_K41qgdpqCwwz3TNYUYqCrnR_M9_0Fx1RmoyKYjgghqxZ2D9MUyYysEr6FqBgHDnOEsYwNYATxt8Q/s1600/IMG_0615+%25282%2529_1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZFpx22prjyLL2rXoZw6_WM1adxAySi2cnqlORHNx0_IlISyPnYoLVVhBo_K41qgdpqCwwz3TNYUYqCrnR_M9_0Fx1RmoyKYjgghqxZ2D9MUyYysEr6FqBgHDnOEsYwNYATxt8Q/s400/IMG_0615+%25282%2529_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665378223970862834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The opportunity to see such a majestic bird from so close is great experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gbq_llBuPtwbtwnkDg8oSV44ekYZA19uCYlEc5ae6u9SqSgfa7rfemq7CLkHwExN73yOHudopigxSfqFfEjiuRC8mrAqWYyCT36p4AL36wX5CqU-6JNY-VcCc-YA8cgN9qP5vQ/s1600/IMG_0610+a_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gbq_llBuPtwbtwnkDg8oSV44ekYZA19uCYlEc5ae6u9SqSgfa7rfemq7CLkHwExN73yOHudopigxSfqFfEjiuRC8mrAqWYyCT36p4AL36wX5CqU-6JNY-VcCc-YA8cgN9qP5vQ/s400/IMG_0610+a_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665378672136018162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course, when someone gets too close for comfort or makes too much noise, the inevitable happens, ending the experience with an impressive finale.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs8doh5DpbhDpcNdgjNO7-0PrBOL_725ZwaHti71Z2OjQJfYlWEDfP_iaqujFh7uTjOoi9Ur094A48okkI5lTfQP06zU9VC06yL06hfUGbAzzg0N1mSkALCx8MmZ7hKbaMUqopA/s1600/IMG_0617+a_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs8doh5DpbhDpcNdgjNO7-0PrBOL_725ZwaHti71Z2OjQJfYlWEDfP_iaqujFh7uTjOoi9Ur094A48okkI5lTfQP06zU9VC06yL06hfUGbAzzg0N1mSkALCx8MmZ7hKbaMUqopA/s400/IMG_0617+a_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665379356155075810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What a sight!Marc Charronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08314049154534215185noreply@blogger.com1