We're heading off to Temagami, a vast pristine wilderness that will give you a new understanding of what remote really means.
During this 3 day, 2 night trip, we'll snowshoe in over frozen lakes, carrying our gear on sleds. The area is crown land, so we'll set up camp wherever feels suitable and set up our hot tents with wood fired stoves to keep us warm during the night.
During the day, we'll explore the old growth forests of Temagami, traversing frozen lakes to visit areas few have gone before. Winter camping involves plenty of camp tasks, so you'll learn and help with processing firewood, collecting water and setting up shelter. The evenings offer some of the best night sky viewing on earth and a chance of seeing the Northern Lights!
The trip is led by Jon, a Temagami expert and experienced winter guide, former navigation instructor for the Canadian and British army, Rob Buckingham with experience in the arctic and Isaac so you'll be in the safe hands of 3 guides with advanced wilderness first aid qualifications.
We're leaving first thing Saturday morning for the long but beautiful drive up to Temagami, getting lunch en route. Arriving at our jumping off point, we'll distribute gear between 4 sled teams and start the hike into our site.
We have 4 tents, with 4 people per tent - these will be our sled teams, all of whom are sticking together. We've proposed sled/tent teams but you can dm Isaac if you want to request a change.
We'll likely camp just a few km from where we leave the van so we'll snowshoe for a couple of hours, pulling our sleds before we find a suitable camping spot. First order of business will be setting up camp, collecting and processing firewood. This is hard but rewarding work that we'll share between each other. It's this work that keeps you warm so you'll soon embrace it!
After a filling breakfast on Sunday, we'll head out for a day of exploration. We have a few options including a hike to a nearby firetower and a navigation exercise, led by Rob. This is a particularly beautiful part of the world that's breathtakingly serene. Take a moment to enjoy how calm it is. We'll be bringing lunch with us on day two and will return to camp later to refuel both the fire and ourselves over a hot dinner.
The final day will see us pack up camp and hike back out. On the way home, we'll stop for a celebratory group dinner in a warm restaurant for one of the most satisfying meals you'll ever eat.
The Camp
We’ll find somewhere with enough space for all of our tents. Everyone will be assigned a different responsibility at camp and together, we'll set up our home for the night. This involves:
We'll aim to have dinner before the sun sets, eating around a fire before going to bed for what's likely to be an early night.
Sleeping Arrangements
We're taking 4 canvas, winter tents along with stoves and will help you set these up. The stove goes in the tent with a pipe that comes out of a heat reinforced hole in the canvas and we'll lay out our sleeping pads and bags a safe distance from the stove. We go to bed with a healthy stack of firewood with which to feed the fire throughout the night.
The tents will not be particularly warm but they'll be a lot more comfortable than if we had no heat source at all. With the appropriate clothing and sleep system you'll sleep well.
Facilities
This being backcountry, there'll be no phone reception, no electricity and no toilets.
Water
We'll likely be accessing water from a hole we cut through the ice. There's a risk of water contamination with viruses like Giardia (beaver fever!) and bacteria so we'll be boiling water to purify it. N.B that you shouldn't bring pumps or filters to purify your own water - if they freeze they will get permanently ruined. Purification tablets or a UV filter are suitable.
Keep in mind that your water may freeze quickly so keep your bottle close to your body or somewhat insulated within your bag.
Pooping in the woods
This is often the biggest concern for new campers- how do I go to the toilet in the woods? Peeing is relatively simple for guys, get away from camp (but not so far you lose sight) and go as usual. Some women find a pee funnel makes their lives easier, learn more about these here.
Pooping, you dig a hole that's at least 6" deep and go in there (we may end up digging a communal latrine). You can wipe with regular TP or if you're feeling really wild, leaves. If you use a leaf, you can put that in the hole. We'll be giving you all paper bags - if you're using toilet paper, that goes in the paper bag and then you'll burn the bag afterwards.
Leave no Trace extends to our most basic bodily functions!
Campsite responsibilities
This trip is an opportunity to build your skills so we'll all be mucking in to make the trip a success. We'll divide up responsibilities on the campsite so you learn how to set up a tent, collect firewood, purify water etc. We'll also share in the work to cook and keep things clean. Is there something you really want to learn while we're out? Do you have skills you could share with the group? PM us on Discord and let's work it in.
Sled/Tent Groups
Group 1:
Cordelia, Sarah, Joel, Isaac
Group 2:
Faustine, Laurène, Ellie, Jon
Group 3:
Imtiaz, Dom, Nashid, Rob
Group 4:
Beth, Jordan, Bodine, Ruben
Saturday - February 17th
06:00 - Those getting a ride meet up at the Petro Canada gas station next to Keele Subway. Please note that we'll be leaving dead on time and don't wait for latecomers so please be on time!
11:30- Park up at Northland Paradise Lodge. Last minute gear checks and packing gear onto sleds. Eat packed lunch before we head out
12:30 - Hit the trail and begin making our way to camp
15:00 - Set up camp
18:00 - Dinner
Evening - Campfire hangs, stargazing, smore eating
Sunday - February 18th
07:30 - Breakfast and prepare packed lunch
08:30 - Navigation lesson
09:00 - 15:00 - A day on the trails, exploring the area and navigating by map and compass
Evening - Dinner and fun at camp
Monday - February 19th
08:00 - Breakfast
09:00 - Break camp and pack up
10:30 - Hike out, visit the Temagami fire tower
12:30 - Arrive back at vehicles
13:30 - Visit local restaurant for celebratory meal
Evening - Return to Toronto sometime that evening
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Gear:
Clothing:
You have spares of most things - this is to ensure you always have dry clothes to change into.
Personal Stuff:
Please ensure that your dietary requirements are up to date in the my account section of the website.
On top of the meals, you should bring plenty of personal snacks according to your own appetite!
17th February
Breakfast - BYO breakfast/pick up en route
Lunch - BYO Packed lunch/pick up en route
Dinner - Hot dinner and dessert around the campfire
18th February
Breakfast - Hot breakfast
Lunch - Provided. TBD
Dinner - Hot dinner and dessert around the campfire
19th February
Breakfast - Hot breakfast
Lunch - Stop in for late lunch and celebratory meal in North Bay (additional cost)
Additional gear is available for rent above
Please ensure that any health issues we should know about are up to date in the my account section of the website.
Temagami has a rich history of Indigenous habitation, primarily by the Anishinaabe people. The Anishinaabe in Temagami are often specifically referred to as the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, which translates to "Deep Water People." This term is a reflection of their deep connection to the land and waters of the Temagami region.
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai have a long-standing relationship with this area, which is known for its vast old-growth forests, crystal-clear lakes, and intricate network of waterways. This region has been an important site for fishing, hunting, trapping, and gathering for thousands of years, and it continues to hold significant cultural and spiritual value for the Indigenous people who live there.
In more recent history, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai have been involved in land rights disputes and negotiations to protect their traditional territories and to recognize their rights to manage and benefit from these lands. These efforts are part of a broader movement among Indigenous groups in Canada to reclaim and manage traditional lands according to their ancestral laws and governance structures.
We're heading off to Temagami, a vast pristine wilderness that will give you a new understanding of what remote really means.
During this 3 day, 2 night trip, we'll snowshoe in over frozen lakes, carrying our gear on sleds. The area is crown land, so we'll set up camp wherever feels suitable and set up our hot tents with wood fired stoves to keep us warm during the night.
During the day, we'll explore the old growth forests of Temagami, traversing frozen lakes to visit areas few have gone before. Winter camping involves plenty of camp tasks, so you'll learn and help with processing firewood, collecting water and setting up shelter. The evenings offer some of the best night sky viewing on earth and a chance of seeing the Northern Lights!
The trip is led by Jon, a Temagami expert and experienced winter guide, former navigation instructor for the Canadian and British army, Rob Buckingham with experience in the arctic and Isaac so you'll be in the safe hands of 3 guides with advanced wilderness first aid qualifications.
We're leaving first thing Saturday morning for the long but beautiful drive up to Temagami, getting lunch en route. Arriving at our jumping off point, we'll distribute gear between 4 sled teams and start the hike into our site.
We have 4 tents, with 4 people per tent - these will be our sled teams, all of whom are sticking together. We've proposed sled/tent teams but you can dm Isaac if you want to request a change.
We'll likely camp just a few km from where we leave the van so we'll snowshoe for a couple of hours, pulling our sleds before we find a suitable camping spot. First order of business will be setting up camp, collecting and processing firewood. This is hard but rewarding work that we'll share between each other. It's this work that keeps you warm so you'll soon embrace it!
After a filling breakfast on Sunday, we'll head out for a day of exploration. We have a few options including a hike to a nearby firetower and a navigation exercise, led by Rob. This is a particularly beautiful part of the world that's breathtakingly serene. Take a moment to enjoy how calm it is. We'll be bringing lunch with us on day two and will return to camp later to refuel both the fire and ourselves over a hot dinner.
The final day will see us pack up camp and hike back out. On the way home, we'll stop for a celebratory group dinner in a warm restaurant for one of the most satisfying meals you'll ever eat.
The Camp
We’ll find somewhere with enough space for all of our tents. Everyone will be assigned a different responsibility at camp and together, we'll set up our home for the night. This involves:
We'll aim to have dinner before the sun sets, eating around a fire before going to bed for what's likely to be an early night.
Sleeping Arrangements
We're taking 4 canvas, winter tents along with stoves and will help you set these up. The stove goes in the tent with a pipe that comes out of a heat reinforced hole in the canvas and we'll lay out our sleeping pads and bags a safe distance from the stove. We go to bed with a healthy stack of firewood with which to feed the fire throughout the night.
The tents will not be particularly warm but they'll be a lot more comfortable than if we had no heat source at all. With the appropriate clothing and sleep system you'll sleep well.
Facilities
This being backcountry, there'll be no phone reception, no electricity and no toilets.
Water
We'll likely be accessing water from a hole we cut through the ice. There's a risk of water contamination with viruses like Giardia (beaver fever!) and bacteria so we'll be boiling water to purify it. N.B that you shouldn't bring pumps or filters to purify your own water - if they freeze they will get permanently ruined. Purification tablets or a UV filter are suitable.
Keep in mind that your water may freeze quickly so keep your bottle close to your body or somewhat insulated within your bag.
Pooping in the woods
This is often the biggest concern for new campers- how do I go to the toilet in the woods? Peeing is relatively simple for guys, get away from camp (but not so far you lose sight) and go as usual. Some women find a pee funnel makes their lives easier, learn more about these here.
Pooping, you dig a hole that's at least 6" deep and go in there (we may end up digging a communal latrine). You can wipe with regular TP or if you're feeling really wild, leaves. If you use a leaf, you can put that in the hole. We'll be giving you all paper bags - if you're using toilet paper, that goes in the paper bag and then you'll burn the bag afterwards.
Leave no Trace extends to our most basic bodily functions!
Campsite responsibilities
This trip is an opportunity to build your skills so we'll all be mucking in to make the trip a success. We'll divide up responsibilities on the campsite so you learn how to set up a tent, collect firewood, purify water etc. We'll also share in the work to cook and keep things clean. Is there something you really want to learn while we're out? Do you have skills you could share with the group? PM us on Discord and let's work it in.
Sled/Tent Groups
Group 1:
Cordelia, Sarah, Joel, Isaac
Group 2:
Faustine, Laurène, Ellie, Jon
Group 3:
Imtiaz, Dom, Nashid, Rob
Group 4:
Beth, Jordan, Bodine, Ruben
Saturday - February 17th
06:00 - Those getting a ride meet up at the Petro Canada gas station next to Keele Subway. Please note that we'll be leaving dead on time and don't wait for latecomers so please be on time!
11:30- Park up at Northland Paradise Lodge. Last minute gear checks and packing gear onto sleds. Eat packed lunch before we head out
12:30 - Hit the trail and begin making our way to camp
15:00 - Set up camp
18:00 - Dinner
Evening - Campfire hangs, stargazing, smore eating
Sunday - February 18th
07:30 - Breakfast and prepare packed lunch
08:30 - Navigation lesson
09:00 - 15:00 - A day on the trails, exploring the area and navigating by map and compass
Evening - Dinner and fun at camp
Monday - February 19th
08:00 - Breakfast
09:00 - Break camp and pack up
10:30 - Hike out, visit the Temagami fire tower
12:30 - Arrive back at vehicles
13:30 - Visit local restaurant for celebratory meal
Evening - Return to Toronto sometime that evening
This custom map is georeferenced, meaning it will show you where you are on the map in the right software and lays out the rough path that we’ll be following. It’s opened with the Avenza app which must be downloaded and installed in advance of the adventure.
You should also download the What3words app - this makes it easy to share and find locations in the unlikely event that you get lost.
Gear:
Clothing:
You have spares of most things - this is to ensure you always have dry clothes to change into.
Personal Stuff:
Please ensure that your dietary requirements are up to date in the my account section of the website.
On top of the meals, you should bring plenty of personal snacks according to your own appetite!
17th February
Breakfast - BYO breakfast/pick up en route
Lunch - BYO Packed lunch/pick up en route
Dinner - Hot dinner and dessert around the campfire
18th February
Breakfast - Hot breakfast
Lunch - Provided. TBD
Dinner - Hot dinner and dessert around the campfire
19th February
Breakfast - Hot breakfast
Lunch - Stop in for late lunch and celebratory meal in North Bay (additional cost)
Additional gear is available for rent above
Please ensure that any health issues we should know about are up to date in the my account section of the website.
Temagami has a rich history of Indigenous habitation, primarily by the Anishinaabe people. The Anishinaabe in Temagami are often specifically referred to as the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, which translates to "Deep Water People." This term is a reflection of their deep connection to the land and waters of the Temagami region.
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai have a long-standing relationship with this area, which is known for its vast old-growth forests, crystal-clear lakes, and intricate network of waterways. This region has been an important site for fishing, hunting, trapping, and gathering for thousands of years, and it continues to hold significant cultural and spiritual value for the Indigenous people who live there.
In more recent history, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai have been involved in land rights disputes and negotiations to protect their traditional territories and to recognize their rights to manage and benefit from these lands. These efforts are part of a broader movement among Indigenous groups in Canada to reclaim and manage traditional lands according to their ancestral laws and governance structures.
