The Lure of the Algoma Wilds
By Conor Mihell
The water ’ s like velvet , the air still , and the sun is sinking gradually into Lake Superior ’ s endless horizon . At a moment like this , the fatigue of a day of sea kayaking evaporates . The lure of an evening paddle is irresistible . We launch and point our bows into the setting sun .
A corridor of sheltered water leads us northwest , past the mysterious rock pillars and grottos of Cape Gargantua , in Lake Superior Provincial Park . Gliding effortlessly , I feel united with the travellers who have passed here before : the tireless voyageurs of the fur trade ; the early explorers ; and especially the native Ojibwa , who saw the magic of this coast . I ’ ve been guiding sea kayak trips on Lake Superior for nearly two decades ; this is the type of experience that turned a summer job into my career .
I ’ m certain Algoma boasts some of the best outdoor adventures in Canada . Hiking trails traverse the verdant , mixed-wood forests of the Canadian Shield ; backcountry canoe routes link pristine lakes and trace thrilling whitewater rivers ; and Lake Superior ’ s bold headlands and idyllic beaches are a sea kayaker ’ s dream . There ’ s no need to voice these assertions on this surreal evening at Cape Gargantua . Twilight descends and we reluctantly paddle back to camp .
Conor Mihell is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and sea kayak and canoe guide based in Sault Ste . Marie .
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