John you might have a bug or two near yeah yeah I noticed I also lost my GoPro on that parka it was a good one yeah that's been a rough day there just pelting off off of me like rain rain that hurts that bites hey folks how you doing rode on a real canoe trip with buddy.

John from backcountry angling Ontario so we're out here for a few days and we've got a pretty cool undertaking there's a chain of lakes on the map and we're gonna try to make a little bit of a loop out of them nobody's really been back in there for as far as John knows he's familiar with the area and he's tried to get in there last year I believe it.

Wasn't he was able to get into the first Lake so it means there's lots of trail cutting bushwhacking and surprises we don't know where what's gonna be on those lakes it could be brook trout gooey pie could be nothing could be inhabitable for us we're gonna go try and find it see how it goes I like this kind of trip it's an adventure we're.

Gonna set up one base camp maybe two base camps type thing explore from there pack out the bush from there make some portage trails and then complete the loop should be a lot of fun I'm gonna have some pretty good weather for the trip too so I'm really excited for it  look how nice that is the contours in.

Here are just blowing my mind this is some wild country just beautiful it's a great day - its it's not hot at all there's a breeze I'm all bugs shirt it up no bugs bug shirt it up no place to go that doesn't well that was a nice big long paddle but we're finally here at the first take out.

We have to figure out which way to go if there's any kind of portage or what not mistaken this is the start of the port are you can see all from John last year and this through this is just the start of it too so we're gonna take our bags first come back for the canoes up he'll get into the top of the hill there's parts of this port ours that aren't so.

Bad and parts that are but like I said John and Aaron clean this last year so this will be the the easier one of all the Portage's well we're halfway through our portage come across this beautiful little like mountain pond high up here really nice to see it's nice to the owner of the open again for a minute the blog bugs are in full force so be nice.

To get to that to the lake get on the lake for a little while hopefully away from the bugs into the breeze so we're earning this getting back into here it better be some good fishing for us which we think that there will be and it's not oh good we're hard workers good.

Forever hill and ten anyway well we did it John now this is uncharted territory right yeah never been here this is where I stopped last year put in probably three hours of clearing on that trail thankfully wouldn't have to do that today because that was no joke pork no yeah we're doing our fair share of course and that was not an easy 100.

Thank you very much for clearing that last year one point two kilometers in the first third is uphill yeah up of those ridges you're looking at before from the lake right and now we have this we're gonna get onto the lake and get into somewhat of the breeze out there and explore look for the next put in for the next piece of land we find our next.

Lake I can't possibly begin to describe to you the joy that being on the water brings to me right now it's uh it's a huge relief bugs are still kicking as you can see but I'm at my bandana soaked in some water put that on to cool down but also do a little Beavis cornholio type deal and have my neck protected so I got this Rhino skin on.

Which the bugs crawl the black flies crawl up right up a few cuffs and get you got this violence getting super tough on my past tucked into my socks I should be okay even though there's a ton of them I prefer it dropping John's got the bug net the bug jacket on which is great right now but I just can't get too overheated so I feel like this is the.

Better option for me right now we shall see how it goes I certainly brought my bug jacket too look at this this is a beauty Lake Oh buddy good signs again we're hoping there's brookey's in here look at this just gorgeous John's about to pull one out while I'm.

Filming so in this small little Narrows just checking this lake out a bit and I heard heard uh what I thought was a waterfall up here but it seems to be like it's a beaver dam we're gonna check it out but this is pretty shallow water but uh John just yelled to me that he saw a couple small brook rookies in here that is super promising just wanna go.

Check out this Beaver Dam oh this opens up well this opens up into a big lake over here I think cool  that's super shallow or I would push this but look at this is it two-tiered Beaver Dam this one and then there's another one there oh yeah that opens right up we'll have to check.

That out I'm gonna go back and talk to John because we were originally going to go the other way on the lake it's a really nice lake we're just sitting here kind of relaxing taking our time fishing and cooling down taking relief from the bugs it's starting to stink let's go tap back and talk to John two thumbs down the pipe.

A little refreshing there was literally two steps behind us dry feet well John caught a Laker on this lake it's we're surprised because the lakes not very big but it must be must be quite deep we're about done on the lake now there's a couple options we see a stream on the map we can try and walk up the stream or we can Portales across.

Land the stream will be easier but there might be a port augers made back in the day so if there is then that would be the easier of the two so we're gonna get out of the boats right now I'm go to stream if not we'll have to hook back around and and cut our way through the bush but yeah we're obviously looking for the path of least resistance well.

There's the creek I can hear it yeah that's pretty much impenetrable there's absolutely no point in going that way it would be more work it went up in the creek seems impenetrable as well yeah there's real I don't think there's any benefit for this no it can't be better than the North End I don't.

Think right and the North End offers a chance at a trail yeah okay let's try it yep you heard the man back in the canoes to go head down to the lake what happens next we have a trail started here or if we'll find the remnants of one good if not might need to post up on this lake and spend a lot of time creating the trail because it's quite a distance to.

The next lake so ideally both of us want to get out of here and head to the next lake but we shall see wow we're not finding much tuck in here see if I can okay John's gonna go down check at the very end it doesn't look promising at all this looks like the Everglades are we in Florida should go all the pollen in the.

Water get promising oh that's better than no nice it's a-- maybe maybe maybe I'm not seeing a trail like nothing is cut with a chainsaw or anything like that but it's reasonably clear and flat like we have it's a place to start if nothing else yeah I'd say let's take some saws and Scout the whole way okay see if it's because.

You don't want to start clearing get in 100 meters and then you hit a wall of course so yeah I know that sounds great I was up it's awesome some snacks and some water here I think it goes over there uh I think this this definitely fell across whatever trail right like yeah so it might cross over oh no that's pretty defined yeah it is.

Look at that well it's probably the steepest portage I've ever been on but much to our surprise it's pretty well clear other than a few blowdowns there's a defined trail this is not what we expected at all so who knows it might that's what John was saying - you want to blaze a trail or do you wanna be the first one stood in the other Lake we.

Might have spoken too soon the trail just stopped there is a defined trail then I just stopped so we're looking we're looking this is where we are we found it again and it disappeared again it's probably a good idea to be hiking this probably a good idea to be making us without the gear first okay so I'll just make our way down.

This is gonna be fun to bring the canoe through the bugs have found me all right with that last little bit we've successfully cleared a trail all the way to the pond now this pond is certainly not our destination but once we get here we're kind of into it you know what I mean we're not backing out and going to camp.

On the first lake so we're gonna go get our gear get back in here and then we'll have to blaze a trail again on the other side of the pond I might take off the bug shirt to me a grueling uphill yeah that's a very steep it was hard enough doing it with no gear or canoeing buckets it one pink lady slipper left.

Let's see any other color other than green everywhere those lady slippers are very pretty well we're lost again John's over there trying to reconnect the two trails I'm trying to hike back up this incline back to where we last knew where we were this is an adventure no doubt well I think we've lost each.

Other making my way back down to water bugs are crazy to cut our poor ties oh we brought our bags through and now the canoes but just halfway to a pond you still don't know where we're going from there no John we're gonna actually paddle that pod it'll save us a couple hundred meter how important and I'll take that man it's hot.

Oh there you see the end of the pond we got to get our powers up for about two minutes but we'll take it it's a break from the bugs break from hiking in the woods but now we're about to be back - that will create just to get to the next lake which will be our campsite our camp lake at least we're gonna have to hack a campsite out but.

Who knows maybe we'll get lucky maybe we'll get lucky there'll be a clearing or a rock we can use or leave in a previous campsite that would be heavenly so you might have a bug or two near yeah yeah I noticed I also lost my GoPro on that floor gosh it was a good one yeah that's been a rough day yeah they're just pelting off off of me like rain.

Rain that hurts that bites alright is our last hop from the pond it's it was a slog getting through there like John said he lost his GoPro we won't turn it off quite a few times we cut a lot of trail so yeah it's getting late - it's like seven I think now mm-hmm yeah it is seven oh five we got to go we.

Still have to make a camp we got to find a suitable spot on this lake for a camp and make a camp so uh cut firewood and all that fun stuff so if we gotta go all right we're almost done almost done this course hard it's been like half the day on this porc those past eight o'clock at night now so we really really are strapped for time like the whole job.

Of building the camp and everything like this yeah almost one of the most grueling Portage's I've ever done its rivals the woodland caribou ones with the burn pulling over the old burn lifting over the trees and through the puzzle and maze of trees oh here we go I could see John and the lake that's a good.

Are we done portaging to know that we have somewhere to sleep the glorious glow on the lake super stoked to be here bugs are happy I'm here too so you might be asking why I'm not wearing a bug jacket like John it's just they're not biting me like on the top or whatever I know if I do get sick from these things you guys gonna be like where's your.

Jacket but they're just really not biting me anywhere where the jacket would cover they are pestering me and swarming and going inside my eyeball is quite often but I will get to camp and get a shelter set up and take some refuge for a minute or two this is our home I spent a couple nights here well this.

Is cool Oh what school yeah it opens up over here nice boy it's the worst I looked at I thought for sure I could just skirt through not to be done Oh buddy one of the islands two or three small islands on this Lake thinking to grab the an island for a camp for the simple fact it'll keep down the bugs quite a bit.

With the breeze but there's really no flat land where you have flat-ish land at all it's not a got a good puttin oh man pretty thick it's all gonna be like this everywhere there's not gonna be cleared around anywhere why that's about 9:30 now we decided on a spot.

Nothing is ideal it all really is less than an ideal but we can't wait any longer so I silly Lee I stupidly brought this big wolves tent that has a big old footprint but I could have brought my minimalist and been much better off for it but we'll see how this goes I found the flattest ground that's possible and as you can tell the.

Farthest thing from flat okay that's something certainly not ideal well we'll get her done I think well camp is made for the most part John spent doing the finishing touches on us amok amok hammock my my tent has seen better days but it's alright well sleep well sleep well and the fire started well all is right in the world after.

This extremely extremely camping day yeah we're gonna go get this steaks made up that was a full day full day of camping canoeing and portaging camping camping camping a brains gone to mush by now the stake is gonna go down well   eight-time must reward much much deserve.

This will make us feel good no no absolutely it's a because I'm so hungry and tired but it's also just really good well done thank you good all right we're mucking it as John says straight Santa would you Oh ma'am it's like the best thing ever it's really really really worthwhile.

Pulling back well we really wanted to have some nice camp life this camp isn't really gonna do it for us we hacked this out of the bush that this isn't accommodating at all it's um it's very sloppy very very full of shrub shrubbery and greenery and stuff like that so neither of us have the greatest pitch for our tent or our.

Hammock but we had to make it work because we ran out of time we didn't get here to after 9:00 so I think tomorrow the plan is John misplaced his GoPro and his hat along the way on that those crazy Portage's we were cutting through and everything so tomorrow he's gonna go he's assured me he's gonna try and find that stuff tomorrow and I think well he.

Does that on me I'll fish around see how the lake is kind of hanging out a little bit but then there is a port into a bigger lake which which potentially would have a campsite or at least a spot that's kind of open resembling not the Amazon so tired Joe you're rubbing off on me blame it on the old Joe everybody else does where's your fire steel.

 anyways that snake went down rogue oh we had a beer each we're gonna save a beer for tomorrow go to bed real real soon but yet again the next lake over tomorrow is pretty decent-sized so we have high hopes what we're gonna do is just scout it out after John's done finding his two GoPro we're gonna scout.

It out tomorrow and because we can't stay here we can't stay at this campsite that was tonight only so well scout it out see how it goes but I think that lake is probably this far as we're gonna get and then maybe if we set up camp there can you explore from there and stuff so about to turn in any minute I'm gonna.

Help John find his GoPro here and yeah I'll get with you inside the tent I think pretty heavy dew in the air right now no doubt you know my bags wet over here just sitting here yeah seriously very wet John's rolling the dice tonight no tarp I'm double tarping it all right good night John oh you too Ben hopefully they're not about a portage well I.

Certainly don't have the best pitch tonight I'm I didn't set this up correctly at all but it is what it is we're on a slant we're gonna we're gonna make deal make do so we're gonna prop up this side that's sloping down with a closed bag you've got a bug net down at the feet we're kind of like a soggy panic or like a banana action here with.

This whole thing right in my face but we will I guarantee I'll sleep very feel asleep pretty good actually got my uijik we'll use equal ucq top quilt a little bit of scotch let's sleep good tonight so this is rated - what's up 8:50 it's rated to negative six negative six or twenty degrees if you're American.

Alright guys that's it for me tonight John's already made some Kofi and his headache I'm gonna go lay down in here tomorrow's another day we'll see what tomorrow brings it'll be an adventure hopefully some fish hopefully John finds his GoPro and hat and maybe we get into that other lake and there's actually a flat spot or maybe some open spot where.

We can camp regardless we're camping now huh see in the ward good morning my knees are hurting I'm feeling pretty good other than that John's gone he left at like 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning I heard him leave I was still in bed I called out to him and he's gotten to go find his stuff I gave him till about noon before I come.

Looking for him it's 9:00 now I'm just getting up I'm sure he'll be fine I'm sure he'll be back here in a little bit but I got cold last night a lot of condensation in my 10 just because a because I think the temperature change and be because it was hanging off each other the inner tent was hanging hanging and draped on the outer tent so I don't.

Know we'll see lots of lots of wetness in there though so I was afraid of last time but I'll show you here oh it's gonna be a warm one I can feel the Sun on my back already those trade-offs about being in the north know flat ground for one what look at this I can just grab twigs off a spruce tree break them put a lighter to.

Them and they're gonna go up it's almost almost guaranteed so while birch bark isn't even readily available in this specific spot where we are I don't see one birch it's not needed get a quick fire going as you can see the smoke from as fire is going to keep these bugs down because they're starting to come up pretty heavily now.

9:00 in the morning beauty it's a beauty day all right because this was a crawler Intrepid we were double carrying I brought a lot of food yesterday I was cursing the fact that I carry III packed heavily but I believe that we're in through the thick of it as far the worst is over even if we go into the other.

Lake which we probably will with our gear the worst of the portage is over or at least I am told so and hope so put hi I brought some extra goodies for breakfast and fur so you've got some eggs the way I get it once I crack them and put them into a into a jar sure hope I brought them and then I brought a English muffin to go with it I fear I.

Might have forgot them in the fridge Oh wouldn't be the first time nope I found them who that didn't leave my home after all how to find out if they are still edible it's pretty hot yesterday mmm it doesn't smell too that I'm gonna call that good we eat that we're gonna eat that nice that fire really does help with the bugs.

Whoa fresh not too smushed what more can you ask for a whole steak tank on your knife in the morning I really hope John finds his stuff it sucks to lose a camera like for real because the money and the the the potential footage for the rest of the trip you're gonna not get but the footage that he's weight that he got and.

He'll might lose that is really the kicker that really sucks I can attest for that all right I'm gonna toast these up on my grill to the fire I'm gonna fry those eggs up in a frying pan and put the eggs on the little uh breakfast sandwich dealio that's funny even all the way out here I can hear a plane today.

Have you found the GoPro flame me over there what no flames no flames all the smoke oh yeah I can cook on that see if I can build it up a bit to put a uh just so I can set my frying pan on something a little bit brought oil this time let's put plenty for all the fish we're going to eat do.

You hear that there's something right over there here that's so sure hope you can hear that it's a weird noise man I better get to cooking with it that's weird there's something right there sounds fig all right here's the moment of truth that works out pretty oily.

Forte Forte oily maybe I put too much oil I'm sorry I missed the flip just the flip on camera there we go it's not looking too bad is it squeeze a little bit of oil out talk about a breakfast right there boy that's not so bad we're gonna get it okay nice and done I'm gonna put some butter on this you know not enough oil on eggs already.

I wanna go fishing after this I think John's not back yeah yeah I'll go see what's in here maybe he trolled on the way there I'm sure he probably did it's hard not to last night we didn't just because we were dead to the world man it was it was a real day that goes a brutal day we got back in here it took all day it was yeah more than we both thought it.

Was gonna be but happy to be out here now and it's going to be easier going back up we have to go back up the same way but it's gonna be easier because we won't have to cut trail we will know exactly where the trail is because we were very familiar with it yesterday okie Dokes just made a ton of the wings.

Yeah Sam weird I've never heard anything like this noise so strange it was like good deep donkey all right it's big anyways Cheers folks that's really good okay we do by that my backs to it look I can feel how big is by the noise so strange hello right.

All right it's right there get out of here you listen hear that right look it's right there it doesn't care about me at all get out of here get out of here the long I was gonna set my tent up back in there I'm sure glad I didn't go you're the low mode.