Ouimet Canyon Loop Trail at Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

September 21, 2017 Red Hunt Leave a comment

One of the most impressive landscapes found North of Lake Superior is the Ouimet Canyon.

If you want to truly appreciate the size and unique nature of this canyon, then you need to visit Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park. It is by no means a large park, but it is conveniently close to Thunder Bay and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park.

What makes the day use park so attractive is the towering cliffs of the canyon that can reach as high as 100m. As interesting as that is, it is the fact that at the base of this canyon you’ll find arctic plants growing, which are typically found more than 1000km further north on the shores of Hudson Bay! How crazy is that?

Walking Bridge in Ouimet Canyon — Walking Bridge at Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars to get some cool views from the lookouts on the 1km loop trail here, which takes you right up to the edge of the canyon for some fantastic lookout views. There is also a nice boardwalk and bridge along part of the trail. This is a super sensitive area, so as tempting as it may be to think about heading down into the canyon here for a closer look at those arctic plants – it is strictly prohibited. Gotta keep nature pristine for the next visitor, you know!

There is a cool rock formation called The Giant here too, keep your eyes out for it if you visit!

A lot of people may never get to visit the Arctic, so this is the next-best thing – an ecosystem that varies from Boreal forest to sub-arctic tundra.

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar

September 13, 2017 Red Hunt Leave a comment

So I was enjoying a quiet morning while looking out over picturesque Rice Lake in Ontario recently, when I noticed a mostly-white caterpillar inching its way towards my hand. It was pretty darn cute and my first thought was to pick it up and show it around to some friends. But then I noticed some longer spikey black hairs.

For some reason I had second thoughts about petting the little thing, as I know some caterpillars are poisonous, and a white poisonous caterpillar had recently become more common in Ontario.

So, I did what anyone does these days – I took a little video of it and posted it on Instagram. Apparently some people think caterpillars are damn scary. Others think they’re quite cute. And new Instagram buddy the_caterpillar_whisperer confirmed he also thought it was a tussock moth caterpillar, which is mostly harmless but may be a bit stingy.

It was nice to meet you my furry little friend. Caterpillars really are pretty cool creatures. I only ever posted one other caterpillar on Instagram, which was a kinda rough and blurry woolly caterpillar picture. But I think I’ll try to get more photos of them in the future. What do you think, are caterpillars cool or creepy?

A Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar in Ontario

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photo: Parson’s Chameleon in Madagascar

June 21, 2017 Red Hunt Leave a comment

This is an old photo from way back when I used a film camera and wasn’t into photography as much as I am now. Taken in 2001, during a trip to Madagascar, this is a bit grainy but is the best photo I had of a Parson’s Chameleon.

As you can tell, this one has a bright coloured eye, which has given this potential subspecies an “orange eye” name. This is one of the largest chameleons in the world, although this one is medium sized.

While the lemurs may get the glory in Madagascar, the island is also home to around half of all the chameleon species in the world. I saw the giant Malagasy chameleon and many smaller cameleons when I visited, but most of my photos were pretty poor – worse than this one!

Definitely a place I intend to return to one day, as it is a true wildlife paradise.

Parson's Chameleon in Madagascar — An “Orange Eye” Parson’s Chameleon in Madagascar

Wildlife and Nature

Achilles Lake Hiking Trail at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park

May 30, 2017 Red Hunt 1 Comment

The Achilles Lake Trail at Fushimi Lake is more of an easy path to a scenic lake view than any sort of adventurous hiking trail.

Almost completely flat from start to finish, at only 500m in length (1km round trip) you’ll find many families and campers enjoying this trail at any time of day, because it starts and ends quite close to the campground in the park – only about a 5-minute walk away.

This is the kind of little trail that is perfect for an early morning walk while enjoying your first cup of coffee for the day, or for going on a evening stroll at sunset to see if there is any wildlife hanging out along the shores of Achilles Lake.

Spruce trees, and small shrubs line the path, which opens up to some rocky clearings along the shore of the lake. There are well-located benches nearby that are perfect for either fishing or just soaking up the views.

If you want a more leisurely fishing experience than heading out on a boat on Fushimi Lake, this is the spot to head to. Spend a bit of time casting a line from the shore and you’ll likely come away with enough fish for dinner, all just a short little walk from your campsite. Doesn’t get much easier than that! Walleye and Northern Pike both being plentiful.

Red Squirrel along the Achilles Trail at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park

Moose and other wildlife such as fox are frequent visitors to Achilles Lake. The easy access makes it perfect for launching a canoe into the lake to do some wildlife spotting. Alternatively, the rocky shoreline also provides some places to explore as well.

A good contrast to the longer, more challenging Fire Tower Trail, the Achilles Lake Trail can be your go-to morning and evening walk in the park. Spend a weekend, or week, camping in Fushimi Lake and chances are pretty great that you’ll come across some moose or loons if you take daily excursions out to Achilles Lake.

Achilles Lake - View — Achilles Lake – Bench View

For people who want to launch their canoe at the lake, there is a small parking area closer to the trailhead so that you don’t have to carry your canoe all the way from the campground. It’s a much quieter, calmer lake than Fushimi (much smaller as well), so definitely a better option for a casual paddle.

If you’re not familiar with the great nature and wilderness of our northern Ontario Parks, Fushimi Lake Provincial Park is just northwest of Hearst, which is about 6 hours north of Sault St. Marie, 7 hours north of Sudbury or 11 hours north of Toronto.

Flowers along the trail — Many interesting flowers and mushrooms are found along the trail to Achilles Lake

Travel Photos

Wildlife Photos: Arctic Ground Squirrel

January 26, 2017 Red Hunt 1 Comment

I have a great appreciation for squirrels and love when I come across different squirrel species when I travel.

At home, in Toronto, we have eastern grey tree squirrels. SO ground squirrels I find extra interesting as they do not exist near Toronto.

This cute guy is an Arctic Ground Squirrel. I watched him scurry around his various hiding holes in Denali national Park, Alaska. These squirrels are, not surprisingly, found further north than any other ground squirrel species in North America. they also happen to be the largest ground squirrel species in North America.

Hibernating for as much as 8 months in a year, these guys actually achieve the lowest body temperature of any mammal in the world. They mange to “supercool” their bodies – below freezing! It may sound impossible, but that is how they survive the winter.

These Arctic ground squirrels eat mostly leaves, seeds and fruits but are opportunistic and will even eat meat if the opportunity arises. As cute as these guys are, they’re also a prime food source for a wide range of Arctic animals like grizzly bears, eagles and foxes.

Red Hunt Travel

Ouimet Canyon Loop Trail at Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park

Wildlife Photo: Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Wildlife Photo: Parson’s Chameleon in Madagascar

Achilles Lake Hiking Trail at Fushimi Lake Provincial Park

Wildlife Photos: Arctic Ground Squirrel

travel writer. wildlife photographer. beer geek.