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The Canadian Weather
Service issued a
"Dangerous Windchill
Warning" for this storm
that roared in precisely at
7 pm February 9th with
70km/hr winds and
deeply sub-zero temps. A
"Ground Blizzard" the
visibility was often
reduced severely by
blowing snow, even while
the sun weakly
glimmered through the
gale.
Service issued a
"Dangerous Windchill
Warning" for this storm
that roared in precisely at
7 pm February 9th with
70km/hr winds and
deeply sub-zero temps. A
"Ground Blizzard" the
visibility was often
reduced severely by
blowing snow, even while
the sun weakly
glimmered through the
gale.
Snow Walkers back in Nipigon,
Ontario February 13th. Left to Right:
Jon Farshmin; Duluth, MN
Chris Gibbs; Cambridge, MN
Gary McGuffin; Goulais River, ON
Rob Mullen; Bolton, VT
Ontario February 13th. Left to Right:
Jon Farshmin; Duluth, MN
Chris Gibbs; Cambridge, MN
Gary McGuffin; Goulais River, ON
Rob Mullen; Bolton, VT
| This expedition was an exploration of the beauty and recreational opportunities of the newly designated Lake Superior National Maritime Conservation Area (NMCA) in winter. Winter is the defining season of the Boreal Forest which is sometimes called the "Snow Forest" and as such it was also an opportunity to expand on WREAF's summer and autumn expeditions of the Boreal Forest. We started from Scania House in Nipigon, Ontario where we had spent the night of Feb 1. We traveled out across Nipigon Bay to St. Ignace Island, the second largest island in Lake Superior and the largest island in the NMCA where we spent the next 10 days exploring before returning to Nipigon. The town of Nipigon treated us like conquering heroes upon our return, with a welcoming committee that escorted us in so that we wouldn't miss the petroglyphs or the safe route across the river, dinner with the mayor and plaques for "Crossing the Line at 49" since we did come into Nipigon - the most northerly freshwater port in North America - by water, or ice in our case. |
Gale sweeping across the setting sun at Caribou
Point, St. Ignace Island, Lake Superior
Point, St. Ignace Island, Lake Superior
| Click on the inset above for a detail of the trip route |
| Gary and Chris take a break from pulling through the forest on St. Ignace Island |
| Ojibwa pictograph along the east shore of the Nipigon River |
| La Grange Island in the morning light from our last camp through a pressure ridge |
| Jon pulling along Nipigon Straight |
| View from last camp at Honeymoon Cove |
| Wind-packed snow with wolf tracks from a pack that crossed shortly before us along the Nipigon River |
| Sunset over Caribou Point through the ground blizzard that kept us hunkered down for two days. |
| Light across Nipigon Bay on the way to St. Ignace Island |
| Our companion for much of the trip; Orion the Hunter above camp on St. Ignace Island |
| The following Photos are by Gary McGuffin |
| Snow Shampoo |
