Images from the 12th Annual 2010 Conquer the Dog triathlon in Kaministiquia Ontario. The triathlon consists of a 5 km canoe/kayak paddle on the Dog River, 18 km cycle along the river and a 5 km run on the scenic country backroads.

This year’s event saw over 100 participants. Temperate weather made for fast times and smiling faces.

More photos here -http://www.flickr.com/photos/11083672@N02/sets/72157624657865777/

[Show as slideshow]

THUNDER BAY, ON, May 17, 2010 – Parks Canada invites members of the public to open houses to contribute to the development of an interim management plan for the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area. Four open houses will take place in communities along the north shore of Lake Superior at the following times and locations:

Terrace Bay Curling Club – Monday, May 31 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Rossport Community Hall – Tuesday, June 1 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Nipigon Community Centre – Wednesday, June 2 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Thunder Bay Travelodge Hotel Airlane – Thursday, June 3 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The public will be asked to share their vision for the marine conservation area as well as their thoughts on the themes and zoning of the area. At the open houses, Parks Canada staff and members of the Interim Management Advisory Board will be available to answer questions and provide information on the interim management planning process.

More information, including a draft vision, themes, and zoning for the marine conservation area, and the opportunity to comment are available at www.parkscanada.gc.ca

Parks Canada manages national marine conservation areas to ensure their ecological sustainability and to provide opportunities for appreciation and enjoyment of our marine heritage. Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, at more than 10,000 square kilometres, is the largest freshwater marine protected area in the world. Its boundaries extend from Thunder Cape at the tip of the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in the west, to Bottle Point just east of Terrace Bay, and south to the Canada-U.S. boundary.

Will the Great Lakes states keep pace?

Toronto – On Tuesday, the Ontario government tabled Bill 72, the Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act. This bill sets the legal groundwork for Ontario to implement and regulate its commitments under the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Resources Agreement, going beyond the baseline conservation requirements.

“When Great Lakes lawmakers shut the door to diversions, they also committed to addressing our own wasteful water use. With this bill Ontario steps ahead of the pack by legislating a conservation mandate,” said Derek Stack, Executive Director of Great Lakes United. “The real question is whether the Great Lakes states will keep pace.”

Pumping and treating water is a huge public expense that in Ontario can reach $80 million per month. Using less water lowers operating costs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and defers costly infrastructure expansion – often in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The benefits to the environment and ratepayers are clear.

If passed, The Water Opportunities and Water Conservation Act will encourage the creation and export of clean water technology, promote water conservation, attract economic development and create jobs.

Whereas some Great Lakes States such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana are focussing all discussion on voluntary conservation measures, and others such as Illinois are likely to depend on existing regulations and programs, the province of Ontario is legislating change with the eye to export Ontario skills and technologies in the water conservation and treatment sector.

In Michigan, an Advisory Council was set up that recommended conservation goals and targets but the Council was disbanded before any public consultation on conservation took place, and the effort is now stalled. It’s much the same in Minnesota.

In Wisconsin the general approach is for voluntary conservation targets, while in cases of larger withdrawals and diversions the DNR is drafting rules on mandatory conservation measures. Waukesha has been a focal point in the state, having long sought access to Great Lakes water. But earlier this week Mayor Jeff Scrima balked at the $160 million price tag to purchase water from Milwaukee, Racine or Oak Creek. Instead, the mayor indicated city council would now consider improved treatment of local sources.

Ontario is retooling its economy to save taxpayers money and garner access to global water conservation and treatment markets valued at over $400 billion, and doubling every five to six years.

The province signalled its intention to pass the act in the Speech from the Throne earlier this year. Since that time, Great Lakes United has joined forces with other environmental and conservation groups, green businesses, labour representatives, and citizens to form the Ontario Water Conservation Alliance, in an effort to ensure Ontario implements the strongest conservation plan possible.

“Ontario is recognizing that when we reduce our water use, we use less energy pumping treating, and heating water, we lower our greenhouse gas emissions, and we reduce the burden on an overwhelmed and aging sewer system that annually leaks billions of gallons of untreated sewage,” said Stack, adding: “Laggard states should take note. The Ontario bill shows that the province believes conservation is not only possible, it is profitable.”

Visit www.conserveourwater.ca for more information.

All-levels instruction and world-class kayak touring highlight a three-day event in the heart of the Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area

Wawa, Ontario — The largest gathering of sea kayakers on the Canadian shore of Lake Superior returns in 2010 when Naturally Superior Adventures and Superior Outfitters host the biannual Rossport Islands Sea Kayak Festival June 18 to 20. Based in the quaint village of Rossport, Ont., located about 180 kilometres (110 miles) east of Thunder Bay, this weekend event includes beginner, intermediate and advanced sea kayak instruction from Paddle Canada- and American Canoe Association-certified instructors, kayak touring amid the wilderness islands of the Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area and engaging presentations from conservationists and paddlesports  professionals. Special interest workshops, including yoga, photography and standup paddleboarding, as well as a family program and a Saturday night concert makes this sea kayak festival appeal to everyone.

“The festival includes activities for paddlers and non-paddlers alike,” says Naturally Superior Adventures director  David Wells. “The plan is to gather in the beautiful Rossport and celebrate sea kayaking, wilderness and the newly created Lake Superior Marine Conservation Area, the largest freshwater protected area in the world.”

The village of Rossport is a former railway and fishing community on Lake Superior with acclaimed restaurants, bed and breakfast facilities and scenic provincial park campgrounds. A nearby inland lake at Rainbow Falls Provincial  Park offers an ideal warm-water learning environment. The cornerstone of the festival are guided half- and full-day sea kayak tours on Lake Superior that visit some of the scenic highlights of the Marine Conservation Area. Tours  will explore the legendary Rossport group of islands, including the historic lighthouse at Battle Island, as well as venturing further afield to discover aboriginal rock paintings, ancient fossils and voyageur resting places. The treasures of the marine park will come to life with a presentation from Parks Canada’s Greg Stroud on Friday night.

Given Naturally Superior Adventures reputation for experienced, service-oriented instructors, guides and support  staff, participants can expect an emphasis on safety and professional instruction. Program coordinator Megan Gamble describes the Rossport Festival as as an ideal event for beginners looking for an enjoyable way to try kayaking and experienced paddlers hoping to learn new skills and explore a world class wilderness coastline. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate a great wilderness area that’s literally in our own backyard,” she says, “and a chance to  share the joys of kayaking with a wide range of people.”

Naturally Superior Adventures has offered guided sea kayak tours on Lake Superior since 1994. It recently won two Readers Choice awards from Sea Kayaker magazine and was rated among the world’s ten best kayaking outfitters by National Geographic Adventure magazine.

For more information visit www.rossportsymposium.ca.

The wild and rugged shores of northern Lake Superior have a captivating presence that cannot be denied. For those who have traveled upon her, Superiors stunning beauty and immense power is very well known. In the summer of 2008 three Lakehead University students in the Lake Superior Research Group (LSRG): Aaron Nicholson, Jessica Johnson, and Zack Kruzins embarked upon a 50-day sea kayak expedition within the newly announced National Marine Conservation Area. While studying everything from campsites to water trails, risk management, arctic disjunct plants, lichen, terraced beaches and more, the three were treated with many of Superior’s gifts. This film, a reflection of their expedition, was created as a tribute to the stunning beauty and power of Lake Superior.

www.lakesuperiorresearchgroup.ca

February 26, 27, and 28, 2010

Participation in the Expo is FREE OF CHARGE! There will be a fee for the Saturday night dinner, music and prizes (which we expect everyone to attend) - this includes the Sunday morning Finnish pancake breakfast.

THE DETAILS

The event kicks off on Friday night with dinner and a bonfire under a full moon at Beyond the Giant Nature Retreat. Saturday will start with a three-hour clinic for beginners. The afternoon will be open for shorter one-hour, drop-in lessons. Experienced kiters will fill the day exploring the bay and trying out the latest kites and equipment from Ozone and Ocean Rodeo. Dinner, prizes and live music will cap off the day at the conference centre on Lake Marie Louise, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. The final day will begin with traditional Finnish pancakes and birch syrup and end with a long distance kite tour down the length of Black Bay. Accommodation is available at Beyond the Giant (only one cabin left!) and at the conference centre on Lake Marie Louise, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

THE LOCATION

Most of the action will be taking place in on Black Bay, offshore from Beyond the Giant Nature Retreat. The dinner, food and live music will be taking place at the conference centre in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Depending on condition, more events could move to Lake Marie Louise. Check back for updates.

THE OPTIONS

All participants must register. There is no fee for this. You can register HERE or by calling 807-627-3017 or send message HERE..

There are two options for taking lessons. A three-hour clinic will be held on Saturday morning (wind and weather permitting). This in-depth clinic will cover kite design, equipment and safety before heading out onto the lake for hands-on with a variety of kite sizes. Limited to six participants. We supply the kites and harnesses, participants will need a helmet, skis or snowboard. Cost for the three-hour clinic is $100/person. You can register HERE or by calling 807-627-3017 or send message HERE.

The other option for lesson are drop-in one-hour Intro to Kiting lessons. Learn the basic skills of flying a 3-4 line trainer kite to prepare for the larger kites needed for snowkiting. We supply the kites and harness, participants need a helmet. You can register HERE or by calling 807-627-3017 or send message HERE.

There will be food (Saturday supper, Sunday morning breakfast) prizes and live entertainment for a cost of $20/person. You can register HERE or by calling 807-627-3017 or send message HERE.

Accommodations are available at Beyond the Giant (one off the grid log cabin left!) or at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park conference centre ($40/person - shared and private rooms available). You can register HERE or by calling 807-627-3017 or send message HERE.

Photos and results from the 2010 Sleeping Giant Loppet.

Find more photos here.

Event website here.

Results here.

[Show as slideshow]

Gunflint Trail- The big news on the Banadad is that after twenty years of managing the Banadad Ski Trail Boundary Country Trekking has turned over the management duties to a newly formed non-profit- the Banadad Trail Association. The mission of the Association according to Karen Monsen, the association’s president, “ is to maintain and enhance the Banadad Ski Trail, preserve the history of the forest and the trail, and promote the appreciation and care of wilderness lands which the trail runs through.”

The Association has retained boundary Country Trekking as the Trail’s maintenance coordinates.

Other Trail news-two more miles of the Trail’s remote interior within the BWCA were widened this summer. In August a five-person crew from the Minnesota Conservation Corp (MCC) working out of “spike camps” along the trail spent eight days widening and clearing another two miles. According to the Trails maintenance staff, “the wilderness section MCC cleared due to it’s remoteness has been neglected you years and was about to be choked off by brush. It is now cleared six to eight feet wide and all the overhanging brush is gone. MCC did a great job!”

On the other end of the Banadad outside the BWCA, with the aid of a Minnesota DNR grant the Tall Pines Trail has finally been re-surfaced by a bulldozer. Four year’s ago the trail was hand cleared but due to the Trails rough surface grooming was impossible and skiing difficult. Finally with the bulldozing completed the rocks and ruts are gone and the Trail is groomed and ready for skiers.

Skiers traveling the BWCA’s Banadad Ski Trail this winter will be greeted midway along the trail by greatly improved overnight accommodates. A new twenty-foot yurt was erected earlier this fall at Bedew Lake. Olga’s Yurt as this new yurt is called replaces the old Olga’s hut. The name Olga is of a mythical character created by guests staying at the yurt camp many years ago. Olga’s Yurt will serve as the main lodging at the camp with overnight accommodation for up to seven guests and house the camp’s dining facility. The older Croft yurt will provide additional lodging for another four guests.

With fourteen inches of snow on ground the groomers are out grooming the entire forty kilometers of the Banadad Trails.

The sun had begun to set over the waves at Park Point and the wind had taken on a brutal chill. Most of the other surfers had left the beach when I saw Randy Carlson, 43, of Duluth MN, already wearing his full-body wetsuit, jump out of his Volkswagen Vanagon and unload his surfboard. 

 “Long day at the office, Randy?” I asked as he paddled by me. He just chuckled and shook his head. “I had to wash wetsuits!” he yelled over his shoulder just before he ducked a wave. 

As the head of UMD’s National Kayak and Canoe Institute (KCI), Carlson has a job that most people only get to dream about. He does adventure sports for a living - a lot of them.

Carlson has been working with UMD’s Recreational Sports Outdoor Program (RSOP) for twenty-five years. Along with facilitating all of KCI’s programming, he also runs the surfing, stand up paddle boarding, and snow kiting programs for the RSOP. 

“It’s a unique job.” Carlson admits. “It’s not really the sort of job you can apply for. Nobody told me I couldn’t start these programs, so I just did.”

Carlson received both his BAS in Teaching Earth Science and his Masters in Education at UMD and never left. 

“I’m an alternative thinker,”Carlson says. “I have spent the past 25 years creating my own job description…I’m still working on it.”

His office is overflowing with stacks of boxes, files, folders and old gear catalogues that, like Carlson himself, don’t seem to fit comfortably into the space. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the stacks of paper in his office was just a pile of his certifications. He’s an American Canoe Association certified Instructor trainer/educator in white water kayaking and canoeing as well as open water coastal kayaking, a wilderness first responder and, to top it off, a certified Professional Air Sport Association snow-kite instructor.

No matter how busy he is Carlson always stops whatever he’s doing to check the surf report for people passing by his office, even if they’re not particularly interested. He chats in long drawn out tangents, smiles constantly, and in short, is extremely mellow for a guy who makes his living kayaking, surfing, and kiting.

For every hour Carlson spends outside instructing, he spends at least two or three in his cluttered, windowless office doing prep-work or out running around organizing and cleaning gear for the next program.

 “It’s hard to balance everything” Says Carlson, who’s married and has two children. 

“But life is about balance, that’s why I’d rather be skillful in a wide variety of sports than specialize in just one…I don’t really care if I’m the best.  I just want to be safe, skilful and on the scene. There’s a similar generosity up here as there is in places like Hawaii, I think. We all share our experiences and resources to help one another. That’s why I like it here. ”

David Costello is a UMD student and freelance writer living in Duluth, Minnesota.