Armed with beer, tuna, and some crackers, my friends and I ventured into one of Ontario's popular camping grounds close to Sudbury.
For the geo-nuts, here is a google earth link:
Killarney, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada - Google Maps
Its not often that i get a chance to get out of the city for some nature fun, as much of a city boy that i am (born and raised in Moscow), my immediate family is composed of camping nuts, my father having a masters in hydrogeology, has pretty much been to every place worth visiting in Russia, even Siberia, in the cold, for 2 months, doing goverment research work.
His camping expertise and love for the outdoors carried over to me, and i savor every moment i get when i'm out with the bears.
I would like to present to you the Russian brigade, a rag tag team of various specialists, a photographer, economist, fashion designer, computer engineer, philosopher, a world class model and a psychiatrist.
The location is about 400 KM away from Toronto, Canada. Anyone thats from around here can attest that after while the road gets pretty boring. For a very long time all you see is road and trees, a few cops, and if you try really hard you can see the insects scream right before the smack the windshield.
There are good and bad things about camping in a commercialized zone, the good thing is that everything is civil, the bad thing is that everything is too civil. paved parking, fenced off camping grounds and ready made fire pits somehow take away from the feeling of being one with nature. We made due, the real fun would be in the hiking anyway.
Firewood was another issue, gone are the days of having to scavange for broken tree branches (or if you're good with an axe, take down a whole tree). Fire wood is conveniently sold for you in nice mesh bags, all thats left is to break it down into some smaller pieces for you to use.
The only thing i do with my axe nowdays is chuck it at trees, my personal best has been a direct hit from 18 feet away.
After setting up our tent and getting some sort of fire going, it was off to the lake (thankfully only a few yards away) there was a dock there so we got to do some good running jumps. The water was PERFECT, whoever thinks August is a cold month has another thing comming.
The evening came and we started to cook some meat, trying to avoid mess duties i sneaked out with a borrowed tripod and went to the lake for some sunset shots. If it wasnt for the mosquitoes i might have actualy enjoyed taking these
Back at camp the lights went out completly, so it was time for some tripod work. My friend Nelly (a full time model
Nelly Tsyrlin ) is always a good sport and willing to do some posing, its amazing how much better your pictures are when the person doesnt need much direction other than "DONT MOVE FOR EIGHT SECONDS"
after the girls went to bed the guys started to drink heavily and play cards, yes i'm the guy in the sailors cap.
The following two days we occupied ourselves with hiking, taking two massive trails in either direction (and different terrain) left us filled with joy and exhilaration for the great outdoors. This sort of trip is definetly not for those out of shape, all of a us are more or less physically fit, but this endavour took a toll on us all.
Along the trip i met 3 Nikon DSLR users, one had a tripod and one of those bags that can fit 2 kids and a turkey, i dont know what he was shooting or why he needed all that gear..
i came equiped with a LowePro 100AW bag, filled with a Flash (which i almost didnt end up using) a 85-205 Soligor zoom, my FA43, the sigma 10-20 and a Zenitar Fisheye. I also packed my Super Program Film camera just in case (actualy ended up being VERY handy) all this and a small manfrotto aluminum mono-pod (the monopod was a really good investment)
Anything more i think would have been overkill, although i do wish that i had the DA50-135 in my possession.
anyway,
This is the first time that the film camera really came in handy, in this swampy area we found a floating dock that is pushed using a large pole a-la Tom Sawyer, knowing how these stories usualy end up, i left my DSLR gear on the shore and brought my Film SLR onboard, once i get those developed i'll post them up.
My friends were glad that they got a chance to take a time out, rock climing aint easy.
We never made it to the end of the trail.. but this was good enough.
this is me...
Every one was pretty much dead at this point, it was a choice between walking further and then doubling the distance back, or just turning around then and there, so we rested up for a bit, ate some food, and decided to turn back, maybe next time when we plan everything better.
We returned back to the campsite and went for a much deserved swim. We had to relocate for the second night due to some administrative errors, but it was a change in scenery so that was good.
(my friends in the side there)
The day after, you can see how we're all not in our best conditions, physical travel wears you out. While i'm not super happy with the performance of the Soligor (come on, 15 dollars for a lens!) i am happy that i brought it, using Telephoto glass for "spy" shots like these really brings out the mood.
After packing up we had one last hike left before returning to the city. This time we went in the opposite direction and right past Georgian Bay, the rocks here were red, and they were very hot too.
For whatever dumb reason we decided to swim to this island, (and then the smaller islands to the left of it)
I had did not bring my waterproof bag, left it in the car, it weighted nothing and i should have brought it but whatever. Not being discouraged i snatched my Film SLR with the Zenitar Fisheye, put it on the monopod and decided to take that with me, if my camera was going to take a swim, losing a 60 dollar camera was going to be alot cheaper than my K20D.
ohh.. and for anyone trying to attempt this, swimming 150-200 meters with a camera on a monopod IS ****ING HARD!!!!!
but i did it! i just hope the negatives turn out good.
There were more pictures but i just decided to shocase these.
Epilogue:
I love swimming and i love diving, it is not often that i get a chance to find a deep lake with a relativly large dock where i can get a good run in.
I mentioned this earlier on but i will talk about it again as it relates to the next shot.
Every summer i have one true "desire", and thats to run as fast and as hard as i can along a wooden dock, and then when i get to the end i use all my power to jump forward and fly through the air for as long as i can before i crash into the water.
For that split second in time nothing else in the world matters.
This isnt me jumping but this photograph i think encompases the same feeling for me.
it was the last photograph of the trip, and it was the last jump we made. If i'm lucky i might sneak out again before the weather turns cold, but regardless, this was a very memorable trip for me.
Originally posted by dave sz 
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