Taking Back Winter

Loch Alva

Feb 14-19, 2010

Paul Maybee

Graham Waugh

Winter: a great time to stay indoors.  Or so I thought.  For so many years, I have restricted my wilderness adventures to three seasons, but this year, I had a change of heart, or maybe I just changed my mind, and decided to go outside.

Day 1: Feb 14

So Graham Waugh and I planned a camping trip in the Loch Alva area which had intrigued both of us since our trip in to Turtle Mountain in May.  Looking out across the hills and lakes from Turtle Mountain, we wondered what other mysteries lay hidden in the green valleys and hills.

Robin Hood Lake

We quickly found a good rhythm walking with the sleds, and because of the well used snowmobile trail heading up the hill, Graham found it easier to go without snowshoes.

Mawhane Mountain Lunch

Winter travel is all about layers.  Once we got going on the trail, the layers come off, and as soon as we stopped for a bit of a lunch on Mawhane Mountain, they all go back on again.

Turtle Mountain

The wind has brushed all the snow from the top of Turtle Mountain.  It feels good to be back here, and I’m reminded of that wonderful trip with Graham and Ross in May.  It is especially exciting

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Taking Back Winter – Part II

Day 4: Feb 17

snow water

The next day was to be another day of exploration. We woke up in the bog, and found ourselves right next to the Miner’s Trail. Graham had noticed it last night and mentioned it to me, but I said that of course, it was just a stream, followed by, “but I’ve been wrong before.” Here, Graham is melting snow for our drinking water for the day.

Miner's Trail

Yup, that’s definitely the Miner’s Trail.

To earn our breakfast, we scurried up the Miner’s Trail a short distance and climbed a tree to get a nice view.

Turtle Mountain

Turtle Mountain

Turtle Mountain

May 16, 2009

Paul Maybee

Ross Curtner

Graham Waugh

Setting Out

We set out for Turtle Mountain at around 10:30 am by the side of the highway.  We have a vague idea of where we were going and the directions are patchy at best.  I am with my good friend Graham Waugh of Local Motion and his friend, and my new friend Ross Curtner.

Through the Gate

We embark up the dirt road, that could easily have been driven, but we wanted to know how far it was to walk the whole way.  Also, this trip was about getting out and enjoying the weather, not sitting in a truck until we got to some place.  You miss out on a lot of the benefit of doing something like this if you drive the whole way.

Robin Hood Lake Camp

A short distance up the road we came to a few houses with nearly a dozen trucks parked in the driveways.  We met a man coming up the road who was