Brave and Crazy

Paddle Canada Level 2 2009

Dan prepares to launch from a challenging "put in" on the Rice RIver.

Late October, two days on the Winnipeg River, three days on the bottom of Lake Winnipeg's Kasakeemisekak Archepelligo.

Paddle Canada instructor's Phil Hossack and Mick Lautt several Ojibway fisher's from Hollow Water First Nations and a lot of smiles.

That pretty much sums up the second ever Paddle Canada level 2 program run here in Manitoba.




Mick get's up close and personal frying pickerel.

(And one evening lesson for Mick on pan frying fresh pickerel cheeks the traditional way!)

Here's the pictures as proof!

Level 2 enters Lake Winnipeg's Kasakeemisekak Archepelligo.


Enjoy.

Here's the video!




Ok where'd we come from, how'd we get here and just where exactly, are we?

To the "MOUTH OF THE RICE"...

OK, let's get serious now.

Samantha Page launches her VW into the depths of the winter road to the Rice River

Elk Island is a grand day trip, but sometimes one needs more of a challenge.....a drive up the winter road to the Rice River about 40 kms north of Hollow Water on the East shore of Lake Winnipeg was challenge enough for four of us in June last year. At least the last 30 km of the drive.....the "winter road" part.


Gloria becomes one with sky and water

After that it was clear sailing with three balmy days of calm weather and one night of thunder. Paddles out to the middle of the Lake between Black and Deer Islands, shore lunches and even a little rock scrambling on a mid channel rock that's not often accessable calm summer waters were the exception to the rule....

Sven Scrambles


Deer Island shore lunch

Samantha Page, Sven Hafemeister, Gloria Koop and I enjoyed it all.

Left to right, Phil Hossack, Gloria Koop, Sven Hafemiester and Samantha Page (front)

If you decide to go, please be sure your vehicle is up to the trip, the winter road should only be driven when conditions are ideal......not like we did.

Enjoy.

Stay tuned for more from Lake WInnipeg's East shore and the Kasakeemisekak Archepelligo.