Summer 2007 highlights

Sorry, long time no blog and I must thank our loyal readers for their patience. Algonquin Outfitters had an extremely busy summer, which is good for business but doesn't leave much time for blogging.

Here are a few pictures featuring some notable groups and happenings at our Oxtongue Lake store since May (at least those I have pictures of!):

Our new outfitter, Jen McFarlane, takes two European travel operators
for their first canoe ride in a three-seat Swift Quetico.

Local high school teacher Marty Scarlett helps launch a kayak made by his students, while the CTV reporter gets right into Bracebridge Bay to get the shot! (For the full story on this great fundraiser, go to this link and scroll down to Operation Kayaks)

No roof? No problem! Two kayaks securely tied into a PT Cruiser convertible.

Pastor Tom Corbett and the gang from Pearce Memorial Church in upstate New York, ready to go on their annual Algonquin Park canoe trip.

If you have a roof on your car, there are many options for tying down canoes!

Empty canoe racks on the August holiday weekend. Reservations are highly recommended!


Campers from the Machal program at Camp Stone ready to paddle, even though they are still on the bus! Machal is a Hebrew acronym that stands for Machane Chalutzi, or pioneering camp.


The Sidell family after their 12th annual father/twin sons canoe trip. Slogan on Dad's shirt: "I'm the boss."

Glen Weber and friends ready to hit the road in the ultimate canoe tripping van, complete with Captain's chairs.

Kevin Birch of Salisbury University and our own Wendy Swift. Wendy is holding a plaque presented by Kevin, commemorating SU's 25th annual Algonquin Canoe program for new students. Check out the new "Salisbury Wall" in our outfitting room.

The "Kohn Expeditionary Force" poses after their 25th annual canoe trip.
This group of men met when they were campers and staff at Camp Tamakwa and have been going on canoe trips ever since. Every now and then a son comes along or a new member is recruited but the core group remains.

Employment opportunity at Opeongo Store

If you would like to spend your summer and fall working in Algonquin Park, here is a unique job opportunity. Our Opeongo Store, located at the Lake Opeongo access point, has positions available for seasonal outfitting staff and water taxi drivers.

We are looking for people who have these skills and experiences:

• experience driving motorboats in all weather
• possess or are prepared to obtain Pleasure Craft Operator's license
• canoe tripping background
• good general knowledge of Algonquin Park
• good level of physical fitness
• able to work in a close-knit staff team
• thrives in a fun, fast-paced work environment with a wide range of duties and responsibilities
• excellent communication skills
• retail experience beneficial

Job details:

• positions available for July & August and July - October time periods
• accommodation available
• numerous staff "perks"

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume by e-mail to the Opeongo Store manager Jerry Schmanda.

For more information, please call 1-613-637-2075 and ask for Jerry.

Algonquin Outfitters sponsoring two first aid courses in June

Get prepared for a wilderness emergency!
Outdoor enthusiasts wanting to be more prepared in the outdoors can take advantage of two wilderness first aid courses in Oxtongue Lake this June. Both courses are being run by Sirius Wilderness Medicine and are being sponsored locally by Algonquin Outfitters and the Wolf Den Bunkhouse. Both courses are being held at the Wolf Den Bunkhouse, 30 km east of Huntsville on Hwy 60, just past Algonquin Outfitters' Oxtongue Lake store.

Learn from the pros at Sirius:
Sirius Wilderness Medicine specializes in custom courses for groups and organizations, which are designed around participants' needs and the environments they work or live in. They have extensive experience developing and implementing wilderness first aid programs in the outdoor industry, at summer camps, in government departments as well as native communities in northern Quebec and Ontario. Sirius Wilderness Medicine's certification is recognized by outdoor programs and associations across Canada and abroad.



The introductory course:
The first course, WILDERNESS FIRST AID, takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 2-3. This is an experientially based 16-hour course designed for individuals who will be participating in outdoor activities within hours of medical assistance. The course will provide participants with an introduction to wilderness first aid. Basic topics are covered with an emphasis on practical skills, decision making and dealing with environmental conditions. A valid CPR certificate is the only pre-requisite. Those without CPR can sign up for the optional evening certification session (includes defibrillation). Topics covered include Backcountry Management of Shock, Patient Assessment, Injury Management and Treatment, First Aid Kits and Supplies, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies and Managing Medical Problems. Course tuition is $195.00 and the optional CPR-AED session is $50.00 (taxes extra).

The advanced course:
The second, and more in-depth, course is called WILDERNESS FIRST AID FOR OUTDOOR LEADERS. It takes place Thursday to Sunday, June 7-10. This 40-hour course has become a minimum standard for outdoor professionals, guides and instructors who work in a wilderness setting. Course content extends beyond urban-based first aid programs to include elements inherent in leading groups in the outdoors and guiding wilderness adventures. Special emphasis is placed on prevention of injuries, accident scene management, leadership, leader responsibility and liability, advanced first aid kits, wound management and managing the trauma victim. Again, a valid CPR certificate is a pre-requisite and those without CPR can sign up for the optional CPR-AED certification session on the first evening. Many topics of the two-day course are covered in more depth, along with additional sessions such as Wilderness Emergency Care, Leader Responsibilities and Liability, Leadership and Accident Scene Management, Backcountry implications of CPR, Vitals - Establishing a Baseline, Backcountry Wound Management, Common Expedition Problems and Long-term Patient Care & Monitoring. Course tuition is $385.00 and the optional CPR-AED session is $50.00 (taxes extra).


Contact for info and registration:
More details on both courses can be found at www.siriusmed.com. To register, please contact Sirius directly by calling toll-free: (877) 982-0066. Sirius will provide an information sheet to each participant.

Need accommodation?
Out-of-town people, or those wishing to avoid commuting, can stay at the Wolf Den. The Wolf Den offers three styles of accommodation for participants in the WFA program: dorm (8 beds/room) at $20/night; semi private room (4 beds/room) at $25/night; or private room (2 beds/room) at $30/night. There is a large kitchen for the use of guests with a fridge, stove, pots, plates and utensils. participants should bring their own bath towel and toilet articles. To reserve, contact the Wolf Den directly at 635-9336, toll-free, (866) 271-9336, or by e-mail.

Used rental canoes for sale at Swift Roadshows

Every spring and fall, our friends at Swift Canoe & Kayak run a number of "roadshows," where you can find a wide range of canoes and kayaks for sale at great prices. For the paddler on a budget, one of the best buys are used rental canoes. When canoes are retired from our rental fleet, they get repaired and refurbished and sent over to the folks at Swift. Prices range from $500 to $1000 or so depending on the model, construction and condition.

Three sales are coming up in the near future. Both feature on-water test paddling, expert advice, great selection and unbeatable prices. Click on the links for maps, show hours and more details:

April 27 - 29, at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area, near Guelph, Ontario

May 4 - 6, at the Rideau Canoe Club in Ottawa, our nation's capital

May 11 - 13, at Swift Algonquin, right beside AO in Oxtongue Lake

Sale day at Swift Algonquin!

We always have a number of used rental canoes for sale at our Oxtongue Lake store. Most are Kevlar and include popular models from Swift, like the Kipawa and Algonquin. Please call Swift Algonquin at 705-635-1167 or visit Swift Algonquin in Oxtongue Lake for more details.

The Swift Canoe and Kayak company sells new canoes and kayaks and used rentals as well. Call the head office in Gravenhurst at 1-800-661-1429 for more information.

Algonquin map news

My colleague Randy Mitson, who creates our retail blog, has produced a great map of all the Algonquin Outfitters locations. He did this using a new on-line service that I stumbled upon one day, called GMap. GMap allows anyone to create personal maps using the Google Map database. We've never wanted to link to the Google Map version of where we are, as some of the information they have is incorrect. For example, if you try to find our Oxtongue Lake store using our Dwight, Ontario address, Google Maps will locate it in the village of Magnetawan, a different town located an hour's drive northwest of here. Google Maps is a great tool but apparently not without a few bugs.

Speaking of maps, I'm excited to report that the official Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map, published by the Friends of Algonquin Park, has undergone a major update. The 2007 edition, sporting a snazzy label stating that it is "park ranger approved," is now compass and GPS compatible. The new map is overlayed with the UTM grid (at a 2000 m interval) as well as latitude and longitude. The new map will be available later this spring at all AO locations as well as the Friends' on-line bookstore.

These new features will make it much easier to plan trips with the Canoe Route Map and use other tools like GPS devices, mapping software and Google Earth for detailed cross referencing. We highly recommend using both the Canoe Route Map and Chrismar Mapping's more detailed Adventure Map series for actual navigation in the field. If you are like many people and are generally bewildered by all those lines and numbers on your map, visit Natural Resources Canada's excellent web page called Topo 101.

By the way, the ice is out!

Algonquin Outfitters' Opeongo Store and an
ice-free Lake Opeongo, April 23, 2007