Algonquin Park Blog

Sustainable Travel: Algonquin Park, Canada

toddles — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:29:26 +0000

Sustainable Travel is the focus at the Algonquin Park solar powered eco-lodge

Todd Lucier, co-founder of the Edge, gives a behind the scenes tour of the solar powered operation, showcasing a variety of sustainability practices that are a part of the site design and operations at Algonquin Park. Learn more about trips and getaways offered by Northern Edge Algonquin.

Staff Voices: What is your most memorable moment this summer?

toddles — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:48:40 +0000

What is your most memorable moment this summer?

from yoga goddess, Wendy Martin

There is a space in time for me.. within each trip that I believe I have felt and shared with participants utter stillness… a place where the outside environment and our internal environment merge.. and we float in complete brilliance and stillness and for these moments we are at the center of the world and in complete balance…

I have also discovered the joy and eagerness of myself and others to strip away all the unnecessary layers that keep us from each other and the earth. The more we work at stripping away what keeps us from our most authentic life, the closer we become within humanity. For us to have the support and encouragement of strangers on a soul level connects us to a common thread of hope for healing both within ourselves others and the precious earth we reside on. These are the moments I treasure….

~ Wendy

from the Edge kitchen, Gregor shares:

My most memorable moment so far has been the somewhat delicate retrieval of a piping hot pizza from the wood fired oven during a torrential down pour. This was especially challenging because my peel just barely fit between two waterfalls pouring down the chimney that runs through the live roof we planted last Spring. It was raining so hard that the water ran in sheets on top of the topsoil and under the flashing surrounding the chimney, so not only was the volume of water incredible, there was a lot of HOT water. In the end, all the pizzas were served hot and dry to the Quest for Balance participants and it was only me that came out soggy and a bit cool.
~ Gregor

from Algonquin Park adventureland, Alexis says:

My favorite part about this summer has been all of the wildlife that we have been experiencing on our trips. Just this week we saw a black bear swimming and a HUGE bull moose feeding on smartweed in a secluded bay . Algonquin park is such a magical and special place. Listening to the call of the loons as you sit next to a campfire or the howls of wolves in the far off hills as you sleep is music to my spirit. It’s so hard to pick just one thing. The whole experience is my favorite part. Watching the stars and the full moon glisten off the lake or the misty morning paddles on water that looks like ‘glass’. All of these things are food for my soul and help to maintain balance in my life.
~ Alexis

from the office, Wendy (OW - Office Wendy!)

My favorite part of the summer is finally having a bit of freedom! Since Griffin is now at a stage that I feel comfortable leaving for a while, or we can do things because he isn’t a fragile baby anymore I’m enjoying the nice weather by getting out to the lake to enjoy a swim, hiking and having some time to myself. Another ‘favorite’ would be enjoying my new found love, the camera!
~ Wendy

the queen of sole, reflexologist, Vicki

It is hard to pick just one moment there have been so many this summer.. . I would have to say sitting down on the yoga dock with my feet dangling in the water; the suns rays warming my body as I made garlic baskets with the reed that I had dyed the day before in so many brilliant colors.
~ Vicki

Our resident flower-child, Martha

Martha is out on a canoe trip with Mandaza and a dozen of her two year students, undoubtedly experiencing her most memorable moment of the summer.

as for me, Toddles

My most memorable experience this summer has been the sheer enjoyment I’ve had watching our partners (all our staff at the Edge!) deliver meaningful, memorable experiences to our guests. Whether answering the phone, greeting guests, serving a meal, or facilitating a learning experience, I am proud and humbled to be associated with such an inspiring team of passionate people.
~ todd.

Pictures from the August Long Weekend at the Edge

toddles — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:06:29 +0000

Todd and Wendy Chat about Taking Pictures and Weeding the Garden on the long weekend at the Edge of Algonquin Park.

Inspiration Awaits in the Wake of Tom Thomson

kate — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:22:18 +0000

On July 8, 1917 a canoe was found mysteriously abandoned on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park. The boat belonged to a avid outdoors man, fisherman, and park fire ranger. It wasn’t until days later that this man’s body was found floating ashore and by whom, we are still unsure? The unsolved mysteries surrounding this famous death still haunt the curious.

This canoe belonged to a young artist by the name of Tom Thomson (1870-1917). At the time of his passing, although he was a professional painter, he was relatively unknown. His early death catapulted his body of art work into the spotlight. In the year preceding his death Thomson explored Algonquin Park often. His love of the rugged Northern Ontario Landscape was expressed in each one of his works. He spent years on the shores of Canoe and Kawawaymog Lake in and around Algonquin Park.

And now each year we host an Art Retreat (http://www.northernedgealgonquin.com/thomson.html ) at the Nature Retreat Centre. The setting couldn’t be better, our lodge is located at the head waters of Algonquin Park, on the shores of Kawawaymog Lake, where some of Thomson most memorable works were created. This season the 4-day art retreat runs from August 7-10.

All of here at Northern Edge Algonquin look forward to this retreat each season. As Todd say “how could any Thomson admirer, not wade into discussion of the mysterious circumstances surrounding Thomson’s death in 1917?”. This is something we dig into year after year.

I think one of the things that participants love most about the weekend is sitting fireside listening to secret stories of Thomson, stories not known to others, stories of about meetings between Tom Thomson and conservationist Grey Owl, all the while enjoying fresh-baked dough nuts. As if they were here with the two back in 1916. They’ll also learn how Thomson originals were unwittingly destroyed on Kawawaymog Lake.

We love taking the group for a paddle out onto Kawawaymog Lake taking with us inspiration, fresh canvas, and paints spending the afternoons in the wake of Thomson, admiring the very landscapes that inspired him. “Sitting where Tom Thomson sat, it’s like being in a Group of Seven Painting, You don’t need much more than that” says Jen Daniels, art retreat facilitator (http://www.jenniferdaniels.ca).

For more information contact Wendy at the Northern Edge Algonquin head office, 800-953-3343 or northernedgealgonquin@gmail.com

The view from our front door

toddles — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:23:27 +0000

Does this scene look familiar? One of our facilitators - Jen Daniels, who leads the Tom Thomson Art Retreat Experience recently produced this beautiful painting from our front door. If you’ve ever stepped out the front door from the dining room you might recognize this scene.

Martha and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to purchase this beautiful canvas….. I just wonder where we should hang it?

Any ideas?

Morning Tea with Moose: an Algonquin Park Canoe Trip

alexis — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:09:39 +0000

We have just returned home from the Morning Tea with Moose canoe trip in Algonquin park. The weather was spectacular and we had an amazing time paddling and viewing wildlife on North Tea lake in the NW corner of Algonquin park. We had the privilege to see three moose early in the morning and after waiting quietly on the banks of a wetland we witnessed a beaver swimming back and forth between the dam and the lodge. Herons flew overhead and the call of the Loon put us to sleep at night under the stars and the beauty of the ‘rising’ moon. The days were warm and the water was calm during most of our trip. On one of the days we ventured to the waterfall between North Tea and Manitou lakes and the ‘pounding’ force of the waterfall was like a massage to our backs and arms. Stories and laughter were shared around the campfire at night and we were able to experience what makes this place called Algonquin to special and close to the hearts of people from around the world.

There are still a number of trips planned for the remainder of the year. Check out our website to see which ones may work for you. http://www.northernedgealgonquin.com/ or http://www.earthtracks.ca/

Until next time,

Happy Paddling

Crystal Bowls return to Blue Canoe

toddles — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:33:39 +0000

It’s been three years since David Hickey stopped by Northern Edge Algonquin to give a crystal bowls performance. Since that time he has travelled extensively throughout North America bringing his unique sound to audiences. This interview and soundscape was recorded in 2005 at the Edge. I hope you enjoy meeting David and coming to understand how he came to be a crystal bowl concert performer.

David Hickey performs at the South River Festival of the Arts on August 7-8, 2008.

Learn more at http://www.crystaljourney.ca/

Harmony, Balance, and Wellness-Achieved!

kate — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:44:49 +0000

Our Summer of seeking balance has arrived. Our first Quest For Balance,Yoga and Sea Kayaking Retreat was met with participants who completely opened themselves to all of the opportunities for growth ‘ The Edge’ has to offer.
With no complaints all questers showed up fearless in the rain to participate in kayak wet exits. Even though this pushed some of us to our edge, it was embraced and a complete success.
Our 7:00 am Algonquin Park Yoga practice on the dock was spectacular in it’s immersed stillness. The gentle murmur of the awakening wildlife, and the promise of a new day allowed us fully to take in the fresh morning air and compassionate movement that rang out all the remnants of fatigue. Collectively we could all begin to feel our sense of balance shifting and settling into our bones.
The whole weekend provided us with a forum to explore our sense of balance within many realms: in kayaks, on the water, within our yoga retreat practice (way to go to those who challenged their balance in headstand) and to be still enough to know when to go in retreat centre and rest.

Our final evening together was magically created by Greg and Vicki. Our indulgent yet simple pizza party at the Humble Hearth was amazing.

We all got to create pizzas and watch them get fired in the outside clay oven. Our outside dining hall was lit by candle light and the invitation heart warming. Lots of soulful conversations took place that evening.
As a facilitator it was a delight to see everyone soften and embrace the unexpected. Thanks must go to our fearless Kayak guide Ana whose spirit and enthusiasm rippled through to us all. I do believe that what we all left with was the many possibilities of bringing balance into our lives through simple delight, clear intention and just the right dose of adventure. Algonquin Park is an ideal and flawless setting for yoga.
Written by Wendy Martin, Algonquin Yoga Goddess, YogaAtTheEdge@gmail.com

Off-the-Grid Algonquin Park Podcast for July 16

toddles — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:51:00 +0000

Todd, from the Edge of Algonquin Park and Wendy from the office chat about wildlife that we see at this time of the year, living on the Edge of Ontario’s Algonquin Park.

Waterfalls, Watercolours & Wanderings Canoe Trip

alexis — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:18:46 +0000

Summer has arrived here in Algonquin Park and we are ‘plunging’ into the paddling season. The heavy rains have kept the water levels high and we have just returned from our first Wanderings Waterfalls and Watercolours canoe trip into the park. We experienced a little bit of everything in terms of weather creating some memorable adventures and beautiful landscape photos. The star filled nights, beautiful sunrises and echo of the Loon across Manitou lake are soothing to the soul and make one feel connected to nature in a way that cannot be explained in words, but felt by the heart. We were fortunate to view a couple of Bald Eagles soaring overhead and paddle quietly pass a cow Moose and Calf as they feed contently on the edge of the river. Each experience and trip into Algonquin adds to the countless memories and stories that will be told for many years to come. I’m thankful for the ability to experience such a special place and share it with others. There are still many canoe trips into the park this season, check out the canoe trips and drop us a note about your dream trip. (skype Wendy or Kate)

Happy Paddling