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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-18-2017, 05:06 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
08-17-2017, 07:05 PM
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10 years ago I was at a conference that was organized to try and devise strategies to get protections for Wolf Lake. Wolf Lake is the centre of the largest stand of Old Growth Red Pine in the world. 10 years ago after a retiring Premier created a series of waterway parks the mining industry was livid. Mines in Ontario believe they have a go given right to polite, so declaring all the major canoe routes to be parkland with no industrial activity allowed within 200 meters of their shores was a huge blow to this completely irresponsible industry, who pretty much only turn a profit when they are heavily polluting surrounding areas. Couple that with an unscrupulous mine company owner from Alberta with a mind to bulldoze into oblivion anything in Ontario which is prettier than Alberta (which is pretty much 90% of Ontario) and low grade ore that wasn't good for mining but which was great for conning investors into thinking if they invested now, someday in the future when technology improved they'd be rich. The new t Premier of Ontario locally known as lying McGuinty recited wondrous campaign speeches telling the world how he had spent some wonderful time at Wolf Lake with his children and vowed to protect it. Friends of mine geared up to stake the mining claim and beat the criminal miner to the claim office. However the some employees of the Ministry of Natural Resources assured us the claim would not be renewed. However despite taking the reigns of power, McGuinty reneged on his promise and the MNR renewed the outlaw's mining lease. Things have a way of fixing themselves however, and today Wolf Lake is more of a destination for Ontario Canoeists as it's ever been. The Alberta miner couldn't find any more investors willing to see their money go to driving bulldozers around in pristine wilderness and paying some self appoint CEO 6 figures for basically ruining a pristine environment. With the lease renewed the Mining Association lost interest in the area. After 10 years the wilderness is gathering all it's children, back again.
The put in a Matagamasi Lake, a canoeing destination but also cottage country.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-2 by Norm Head, on Flickr
Bob Olajas. I last saw him 9 years ago, also in Temagami at a gathering of the clans. Since then, I have Tess, he has a son, well actually a wife and two sons. Things change.
We shared a campsite with him and his son on Matasagami.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-4 by Norm Head, on Flickr
The second portage out of Matgamasi into Wolf has a series of at least 3 beautiful waterfalls, and the famous Paradise Lagoon, a swimming hole under a water fall.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-8 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-1 by Norm Head, on Flickr
The place has really become popular.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-10 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-14 by Norm Head, on Flickr
The next day it was on to Wolf Lake. We set up camp in time to get pictures of a gorgeous sunset.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-K-1 by Norm Head, on Flickr
Wolf Lake has many white quartz cliffs. It's truly a stunning destination
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-25 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-27 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-55 by Norm Head, on Flickr
We lost a whole day sitting under the tarp during heavy rains.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-40 by Norm Head, on Flickr
Canoe Trippers from a boys camp heading out, up early and on the water quickly. These guys cover a lot of ground. A couple of XG-1 images.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-49 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-50 by Norm Head, on Flickr
From a solo paidle around the lake.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-22 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-21 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-20 by Norm Head, on Flickr
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-23 by Norm Head, on Flickr
Hiking in the old growth forest. A monster red pine.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-43 by Norm Head, on Flickr
Hiking to get to the lookouts up on the ridges.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-44 by Norm Head, on Flickr
We had planned to do a loop but we never ran out of things to do on Wolf.
Back at the Matsagamin put in. Waiting for our friends who took their time.
 Wolf_Lake-Aug-2017-CT-58 by Norm Head, on Flickr
Full flickr album.
My report from 10 years ago.
The pipes left over from drilling are still sticking up out of the ground. The boxes of core samples and even all the core samples that were lying around on the ground are all gone, no doubt souvenirs collected by the people who come through over the years. We found one little fragment. We stayed 4 nights on the old exploration site, now grown over and quickly returning to it's natural state. Our efforts came to naught, but, Wolf Lake survived saved not by the intelligence of humanity but by the huge cost of destroying wilderness when no return is involved. Even for scam artists.
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