Last weekend Sarah and I headed out canoe camping. We’d first considered Algonquin but the bits of it that weren’t on fire were booked. Instead we decided to camp at Massasauga Provincial Park.
It’s known for:
- Backcountry camping on Georgian Bay stretching from Parry Sound to the Moon River
- Park takes in hundreds of windswept islands, inland forests and lakes
- Camp by the bay or paddle to inland lake sites
- Protected sanctuary for the Massasauga Rattlesnake
Though it’s known for the Massasauga rattlesnake, it was clear from the very abundant and insistent signage that the creatures we needed to watch out for weren’t snakes, they were bears.
The “extremely active” bear signs amused me to no end. I don’t know if this blog is to blame but I kept imagining bear bootcamp. Bear burpees! Bears running laps on the track!
Like these bears…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ol28kPTqa4
Or these ones…
In the end we didn’t meet any bears. We did hang our food pretty high out of the way. There were frogs and chipmunks and loons and ducks.
We had a speedy paddle to our site on Friday night, trying to make it across the big bay by dark, and plans for a more leisurely paddle on the way back. On the way back though we met up with wind and waves on the open water. I got to learn how to paddle the canoe through wake. Thanks motor boats! Grrrr.
But no bears, extremely active or not.
Okay, one more video. It’s a personal favourite. Rick Mercer tagging bears in Algonquin Park.
Talk of camping and bears always reminds me of my Australian friends who seem horrified that we camp where there are creatures that are large enough to attack us. I think of spiders and snakes and box jellyfish and salt water crocodiles but apparently bears are the things that are truly scary. For the record, black bears eat primarily grasses, roots, berries, and insects, though they easily develop a taste for human foods and garbage.
I saw the headline and totally thought you went camping with a bunch of really enthusiastic big fat hairy gay dudes in leather. So disappointed now.
That would have been fun too
Sam, Ontario isn’t the same as …..Banff National Park here in Alberta where the bears and wolves have been active especially this year. There have been several incidents already and warning signs by the bike path connecting Canmore and Banff town. Cyclists who do off road cycling are more conscious of carrying bear spray. In fact at the local MEC shop and similar outdoor sports equipment, bear spray has been a hot item this summer.
After living and camping in Ontario, for certain going into wilderness in British Columbia and Alberta Rocky Mountain wilderness, the experience of “wilderness”, more large different wildlife is even greater and more serious….ie. some bears wandering into streets in edges of Metro Vancouver.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/banff-granfondo-prepares-for-bears-wolves-along-route-1.3727765 I have this feeling a pack of cyclists whipping around might scare off the wolves.
I know not to go here. Ever. I am terrified of bears. I am glad you had fun, though!