Birch Bay, Waskesiu 2021: "cold" camping

Wendy and I have been increasing our camping/canoeing frequency since our children have graduated high school. The one aspect that we have not done for a VERY long time is winter camping. It was the first way we ever camped together when we started obsessively spending time together, but it is a lot of work and our children never enjoyed camping enough that we ever felt inclined to try and do it with them as tiny dependants.

Our 25-year-old 'Eureka' tent from Lee and Sandi

Also, while the COVID-19 pandemic is terrible for trying to do normal things (like travel to places other people want to go), it is less terrible for going to places few people want to go. Hey, Saskatchewan, how are you doing? So, we invited David (at the cost of $5.01/night)--yes, we made him pay his own way--to meet with us at Birch Bay to share some social distanced solitude.

I’m not sure exactly where Wendy, Teela, Jessie, Ali, and I were, but it was definitely on Waskesiu, so it was like a bit of a homecoming for us to do a trip some 25+ years later.

Like the last time I went, it was super warm during the day. I think it was +8C. After a long, pent up winter, While Wendy did all of the easier ‘work’ around the campsite, I may have accidentally over exerted myself making a very large snow-person (with a bit of help from Wendy and David).

What this might have weighed? I'm guessing 300kg

Once Saturday’s “day use visitors” were gone, the quiet stillness of the frozen lake was amazing. We did some snowshoeing and I took wildlife photos.

Boreal Chickadee

I was a bit of a coward, but David literally ‘stepped up’ and conquered the snow-person.

The 'David' Michelangelo wishes he could have sculpted

We were only there for one night, but it was a pretty magical experience. So grateful for our national parks.

You can find the rest of the photos in this album.