I've been studying my family's genealogy and history for nearly 40 years now. Along the way I've located a few ancestors as far back as twenty generations ago.
But my biggest surprise came last year when I made a breakthrough in my mother's French-Canadian line. I discovered more than a few of them had been voyageurs and fur traders.
Maybe that explains my 50-year-long obsession and passion for canoeing, and my quest to discover the silent places that can only be reached by paddle and portage.
But my biggest surprise came last year when I made a breakthrough in my mother's French-Canadian line. I discovered more than a few of them had been voyageurs and fur traders.
Maybe that explains my 50-year-long obsession and passion for canoeing, and my quest to discover the silent places that can only be reached by paddle and portage.
Nearly half a century ago I made my first river float trip down California's Owens River.
I was amazed at the variety of wildlife along the river, and I couldn't believe how close I could get to them in a canoe.
Since then I've canoed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Minnesota, portions of Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada, the Upper Missouri River in Montana, and a myriad of other lakes in California, Wyoming, and Montana, as well as a few in British Columbia, and Alberta, Canada.
In the BWCA I paddled along accompanied by a giant bull moose, and on the Missouri River I floated for miles in the company of golden eagles and osprey.
I was amazed at the variety of wildlife along the river, and I couldn't believe how close I could get to them in a canoe.
Since then I've canoed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Minnesota, portions of Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada, the Upper Missouri River in Montana, and a myriad of other lakes in California, Wyoming, and Montana, as well as a few in British Columbia, and Alberta, Canada.
In the BWCA I paddled along accompanied by a giant bull moose, and on the Missouri River I floated for miles in the company of golden eagles and osprey.
Today my favorite place to paddle is the Snake River Oxbow in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. It takes a little effort to get the proper permits, but the reward is ample.
Last year a young bull moose appeared on the edge of some willows, then waded into the oxbow, and swam past me.
The next day as I was floating down a portion of the Snake River, I spotted a bald eagle on a river bank. I pulled my camera out just in time to get one quick shot of him launching into the air.
Last year a young bull moose appeared on the edge of some willows, then waded into the oxbow, and swam past me.
The next day as I was floating down a portion of the Snake River, I spotted a bald eagle on a river bank. I pulled my camera out just in time to get one quick shot of him launching into the air.
I've always known that the stealth of a paddled canoe assisted my fishing efforts, and I am no longer amazed when I paddle along with otters, beaver, moose, and eagles.
Oh! And, I do carry a can of bear-spray in case grizzly 399 and her cubs decide to swim past me in the Oxbow.
Oh! And, I do carry a can of bear-spray in case grizzly 399 and her cubs decide to swim past me in the Oxbow.
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