Canadian Ecology Centre
6905 Hwy 17 P.O. Box 430 P0H1V0 Mattawa, ON, Canada

‘Stay’ mesmerized watch it sparkling even though grey ... groceries can wait BRB January 16, 2021 #18 #northernontario #backroadsbill #backroadsbillhaiku This is the location where Moore Lake drops into the Amable du Fond River on its way to the confluence with the Mattawa River. One reason we are drawn to moving water because we unconsciously associate flowing water with clean, healthy drinking water. Psychologists have determined the immeasurable sense of peace that we feel around water it has been referred to our "blue mind"a chance to escape the over-stimulated state of modern day life, in favour of solitude. Research has long found that humans are pulled toward Mother Nature’s blue for, in part, its restorative benefits. The first word of the haiku suggests the beginning of these moments.

‘Reality’ (zoom to the bottom left corner) PART ONE anthropomorphism predator prey outcome, yes ... never, Walt Disney BRB January 15, 2021 #17 pan to the bottom left corner #backroadsbill #northernontario #backroadsbillhaiku The wolf tracks were just outside the cabin last eve.The first recorded deer kill of the winter at the confluence. Most people do not understand the cycle of disease, starvation and predation within the animal kingdom. Anthropomorphism is an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics. Human beings frequently attribute anthropomorphic features and behaviors to animals. Historically, many interpretations of this attitude have been provided often within comics, cartoons and computer animated films, like 'Bambi.' What most interpretations have in common is distinguishing children’s manifestations considered natural, from adults’ occurrences, which must be explained by resorting to particular applications within the realm of ecology as one example.

‘Reflect’ Down the river view pause the time naturally. ... Don’t look back this year. BRB January 14, 2021 #16 #backroadsbill #northernontario #backroadsbillhaiku You might be thinking of a swim here on the Mattawa River near the boat launch. Winter swimming has grown rapidly because of the restrictions related to indoor pools. It is an activity practiced by some. And I found this interesting quantitative and qualitative measure of temperatures: Temperature (C) Technical term 0 to 5 degrees Bloody freezing 5 to 10 degrees Effing cold 10 to 15 degrees Nippy or 'not as warm as we like it' 15 to 20 degrees Alright (once you get used to it). Large rivers do not freeze "throughout" because; water, ice, and snow are good insulators and poor conductors of heat. The portions of a lake or river that are exposed to the cold winter air will freeze into ice and this ice insulates the water below from further rapid freezing and in essence this is why ice floats.

‘Where? ‘ open spaces beckon keep moving to sunlit days ... winter time of life BRB January 13, 2021 #15 #backroadsbill #northernontario #backroadsbillhaiku It is a lone wolf tracking the deer-prey here in the Park. Crusty snow or ice favors the wolves whose wide round paws have evolved to perform like snowshoes (their paws actually spread out); their gait looks effortless. An experienced wolf is well aware that hoofed animals break through the crust and can become bogged down in deep snow. Their tracks are nearly always in a straight line, with the left and right paws only slightly offset. Compared to wolves, dogs walk like they're drunk. Their tracks are distinctly scattered, and often appear more "wandering." Also, even on hard trails, dogs tend to drag their toes when they walk, whereas wolves generally leave a cleaner stride. Look for a narrow trail with in-line footprints. Most animals take the path of least resistance, you will most likely see a plethora of tracks as there is now on the shoreline of Moore Lake. When hunting in winter wolves will conserve energy whenever possible, by following the same trail as the deer here.

Have you tried the Multi Use Trails in Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park?!? Trails are now groomed and ready for Snowshoeing, Fat Biking and Cross Country Skiing! Park at the CEC, follow the Multi Use Trail signs and check out the link below for the maps! See you out on the trails! https://www.canadianecology.ca/mut/

‘Hungry’ Gather season, long, winter, at home, stores open. ... Burp, excuse me please. BRB January 12, 2021 #14 #backroadsbill #northernontario #backroadsbillhaiku A little anthropomorphism but it looks like a feast just happened, just outside this squirrel’s home opening in the snow. Just like people, squirrels stay inside and put on layers of fat to beat the cold temperatures. Squirrel hibernation varies in length depending on the day to day weather and species. Instead of hibernating, they rely on sheltered dens below the subnivean environment, fat reserves, and food caches to survive the cold weather. One squirrel can stash more than 10,000 cones in the course of the pre-winter season. These stashed white pine cones were stripped for its the seeds and then the squirrel deposited the inedible parts on the snow. You can see the many peduncles, the long slender stem or central axis that binds the scales.

MUSCOVITE - PURDY MICA MINE - HERITAGE VALUE - ROCK HOUNDS NorthernOntario.travelDestination Northern OntarioDestination OntarioNortheastern Ontario Tourism Fo...r a change of pace went up to the Purdy Mica Mine with "jeepster" Bernie Moseley-Williams. Featured in my first book, 'North Words' I had not been for several years...of course looking for rocks. If you are rock hound then go looking for Muscovite and Feldspar (pink). It was one of the most important mines during WW II. Muscovite is an excellent insulator, and that makes it suitable for manufacturing specialized parts for electrical equipment and it ended up in many armaments . The sheets of Muscovite were taken out by horse and wagon to Highway 17, sorted in North Bay during the war effort and ended up in New Jersey for processing. It is on the VMUTS trail system but here is the direct route, see https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit . Your can mountain bike or hike up from the Mattawa River at Bouillon Lake...about 38 minutes. There is reference to the mine in my first book...see https://www.pastforward.ca/perspectives/june_132003.htm Yours to discover.

POST SCRIPT - GLACIAL POTHOLE - DEEPER NorthernOntario.travelNortheastern Ontario TourismDestination Northern OntarioDestination Ontario Given the radio carbon ...dating data of 1969 the pothole is shy of 4 m and about 12'. Digging today revealed this is one of the deepest and best examples of glacial evidence in Northern Ontario. See the map link...https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit See the next photo of portaging a homemade ladder to the site. You can scroll back to see other posts in the recent days gone by. Yours to discover. See more

Limited spaces left in weekends 1,3 & 4, weekend 2 is SOLD OUT, don't miss out!

ICICLES IN TRANSITION - A REFLECTIVE LOOK NorthernOntario.travelDestination Northern OntarioDestination OntarioNortheastern Ontario Tourism The personal ice-fre...e record for paddling the Mattawa is approaching; today was kind of a balmy day. Funny thing what you don't see through the lens until post viewing. See more

Saturday November 21st - Join the CEC for a weekend of Pothole explorations. With a donation to the CEC's Educational Foundation, "Backroads" Bill Steer will gift you back a guided excursion this Saturday to some of his most favourite local potholes . It's an adventure you won't forget! For those who want to make a weekend of it...it get's even better! For anyone who books a cabin accommodation stay for this coming Saturday, you'll also get Friday night for free AND a c...hance to visit Bill's latest pothole discovery on Sunday morning. Share your stories of adventures around the campfire! This is a last great fall weekend you won't want to miss! Contact [email protected] by Thursday to reserve your cabin or make your donation...and adventure details will be shared with you! Your stay and/or donation will help the CEC's Educational programs. See more

Cabins are still available for this weekend's Halloween special! Message us for details and to book!

EPILOGUE - THIS IS THE ONE - GLACIAL POTHOLE REFERENCE LOCATED - PART II - SUCCESSFUL CLOSURE - MOREL MOTHER LODE NorthernOntario.travelDestination Northern O...ntarioNortheastern Ontario Tourism Destination Ontario This is a "bushwhacking story with many pages." (Now...now easy to get to.) You stare at the map and review the field notes and the references too many times. You wander aimlessly and sometimes through a purposeful grid for years. You give up, not really including one pair of expensive boots recently taken to Vic's Shoe Repair. You see the grainy 1972 reference photo, nothing makes sense. When was the last time you arrived somewhere with no directions and you go back again and again? Then there is a new bit of information from a field note attached to a table. You find one pothole, one day with Laura Kielpinski and know it is not the right one from the photo. The next day, with Dr. Jeff Scott, you go again. "Found it, there it is just like the black and white scanned photo." You debrief...and trace the anatomy of a mystery, riddled with clues and information that has to be interpreted and applied. (Thanks to Dr. Larry Dyke, who had a keen interest in this, from a professional viewpoint, and also bushwhacked...several times.) See the detailed map...https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit . If you want to share and others do not have FBook, use this link... https://www.facebook.com/bill.steer.90/posts/10221937346240453 Yours to discover.

MOREL POTHOLE/KETTLE FINALLY LOCATED - LUCKY DAY - PART ONE -THAT'S NOT THE ONE! NorthernOntario.travelDestination Northern OntarioNortheastern Ontario Touris...mHiking & Paddling In Northeastern Ontario This Friday the 13th PM was a lucky one. After 16 years of exploring an irregular shaped rectangle, an area 1 km X 400 m along a railway corridor, more than 100 hours of field work and research, more than a dozen trips to the area, one of the elusive Morel glacial pothole/kettle(s) was located. Part one today, part two, tomorrow, to find the other kettle/pothole cited in a 1972 journal. For now this map link... https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit west of Mattawa within the former glacial spillway, south side of the railway line, between Taggart Lake pipeline corridor and the Taggart Lake Rd. as it crosses the former CPR railway. Yours to discover, more to come.

FALL ECOLOGY LESSON - BEAR CLAWS AND BEECH TREES Destination Northern OntarioDestination OntarioNorthernOntario.travelHiking & Paddling In Northeastern OntarioN...ortheastern Ontario Tourism It’s late and the bears are most likely finished their hunt for ripe beechnuts. With more protein and fat than acorns, the nuts are fuel for the coming winter. Each fall bears haul themselves up beech trees, leaving the almost smooth, pale-grey bark peppered with claw marks. Wandered into this nice stand of beech on the north side of the Mattawa River near Kearney Lake. Yours to discover.

Just in time for Christmas Shopping, the CEC store is now online! Order some CEC apparel, books from our amazing Writer's Festival authors and some super cute stuffed animals!!! https://canadianecology.square.site/

SNOWSHOE PARADISE GIFT - SURVIVAL OF CANADIAN ECOLOGY CENTRE - YOU CAN HELP - PLEASE SHARE Snow is on the way and you are one of our friends. Christmas in th...e Forest, New Year's...2021 winter (Valentine's Day, Family Day, March Break) - we are in need of your help. Park in a Cabin - rent one and your stay will mean the Canadian Ecology Centre stays on as we try and survive. See www.canadianecology.ca or call 705-744-1715 (press 0). Or make a donation through the online tab. Here's a digital map link with details, all the trails and pathways...yours to discover...https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit

MISSANABIE PART TWO - FIRST SNOW STORM - MORE STORIES Destination OntarioDestination Northern OntarioNorthernOntario.travelNortheastern Ontario Tourism More to ...come with these photos taken on Saturday just after the first snow storm of the season. On the shores of Dog Lake (48.300N 84.083W) Missanabie is located in the Algoma District at the northern terminus of Highway 651, half way between Chapleau and Wawa; inside the boundaries of the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve. In 2011, on August 17, The Missanabie Cree First Nation and the Government of Ontario signed an agreement to provide the Nation with 15 square miles (39 km2) of land as an initial allotment of a total 70 square miles (180 km2) to which they are entitled under Treaty 9.

Try something different this Halloween Weekend ! Visit https://www.canadianecology.ca/cabin-rentals/ to register! Saturday October 31 Sunday November 1 ,2020 (Stay Friday night at no additional cost). $175 + DEPOSIT+ HST (price includes 1 adult & 1 child 5+), $40/additional adult (ages 13+), $25/additional child (ages 6-12), Kids 5 and under FREE Costumes are encouraged Includes:... -Saturday Spooky Dinner/Sunday continental breakfasts (available for take out from our dining hall to maintain physical distancing) - Saturday afternoon scavenger hunt - Saturday evening campfire with wolf howl - Guided night walks See more

SNOW WAY! THE BEAUTY OF WHAT IS FORTHCOMING -EARLY WINTER PREDICTION Missinabi FormationNorthernOntario.travelNortheastern Ontario TourismDestination OntarioD...estination Northern Ontario Survived the Colorado low that plummeted Chapleau-Timmins. On a story trek to Missanabie, half way between the Big Goose and Chapleau. The early AM provided this photo opp. Sorry, if you missed the early winter prediction see Back Roads Bill...there were so many natural signs this summer, I called it on August 28...https://www.sootoday.com//keep-the-scraper-handy-but-the-s BRB featured in Northern Ontario Travel within a story by Jeff McGirr...https://www.northernontario.travel/author/jeff-mcgirr And on the CBC https://www.cbc.ca//backroads-bill-using-nature-to-predict

Hit the slopes safely this winter, then cozy up in one of our cabins for the night!

MATTAWA RIVER REFLECTIONS - THE STILLNESS OF TWO WORLDS - EERIE Destination OntarioDestination Northern OntarioNorthernOntario.travelNortheastern Ontario Touri...smDestination Ontarios Late in the day...tranquility not a wisp of wind and the silence of the fall all around...unique times. Yours to discover.

Join us this Halloween Weekend... if you dare! Stay in a cabin in the woods with your family! Costumes are encouraged! Date: Saturday October 31 Sunday November 1, 2020 (Stay Friday night at no additional cost).... Price: $175 + HST (price includes 1 adult & 1 child 5+) $40/additional adult (ages 13+), $25/additional child (ages 5-12), Kids 5 and under FREE Includes: -Saturday Spooky Dinner/Sunday continental breakfast (available for take out from our dining hall to maintain physical distancing) -Saturday afternoon scavenger hunt -Saturday evening campfire with wolf howl -Guided night walks Visit www.canadianecology.ca/cabin-rentals to book!

HOW A TOAD HIBERNATES! NorthernOntario.travelNortheastern Ontario TourismDestination OntarioDestination Northern Ontario I have not seen how a toad hibernates, ...until yesterday. They dig deep down, feet first initially, into loose soil, which insulates them from freezing temperatures. I watched this common American toad with interest, then they go face first into the litter layer and down out of sight. Toads have special, hardened knobs on their hind feet that help them dig into the soil to locate below the frost line. Hard to see because of the camouflage but its ready for winter. See more

THE BATS ARE BACK! MAYBE. Travel Northern Ontario-Voyage dans le Nord de l'OntarioNorthernOntario.travelNortheastern Ontario TourismDestination Northern Ontario...Destination Ontario Have you seen bats this summer, more so than in the past? See the BRB stories and more photos... Village Media chain, my stories now appear on Wednesdays throughout the province. https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/are-the-bats-back-2700687 CBC post...https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1786977347814 with BRB. Report a sighting...

ONE OF THOSE REFLECTIVE COVID 19 DAYS...on the Mattawa River, any which way you see it! (Oh yes this is the "fairy tree" you have to duck, touch and make a wis...h; south shore down from the cold water stream.)The wonderful thing about using reflections is they can completely alter the image from something fairly straightforward to something richer or abstract or otherwise more artistic even if it is the stillness of this Canadian Heritage River. Not quite equal at the base. See more

The CEC is giving back this fall. Please consider helping by enjoying a cabin stay in the forest this fall. This past Thanksgiving weekend, the CEC (which is a not-for profit organization) has been reflecting on the 1000's of educational students and schools who would have normally visited the CEC this past spring, summer and fall. We miss you all dearly! We miss the laughter and your voices in the forest as well as the inquisitive questions about our natural environment. ... We miss teaching you! In anticipation of better days ahead, we are preparing to give back to our Educational Foundation, helping our schools and groups get back into the forest that much sooner. The CEC will be donating a portion of all cabin rental bookings starting in November and December to our Educational Foundation. Book 2 or more nights and you'll get a charitable tax receipt for 50% of your stay. Book a 1-night stay and receive a tax receipt for 25% of your stay. Consider our New Year's package. Book and pay by December 1st and you'll receive a tax receipt for 25% of your stay. Help support our Educational Foundation if you can! For cabin booking details visit: https://www.canadianecology.ca/cabin-rentals/

Anne’s Colors by Kelly Hill makes a great gift! No batteries Easy to wrap Endless page turning for little hands