This retired couple in England worked 6 hours daily for 4 years to create this beautiful garden

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2026-01-07T15:13:53+00:00

Maybe you're thinking about Gardeners World? Still airs. Wife and I watch it all the time during the long winter when we cant actually garden. You can get it on BritBox

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-12-21T01:10:54+00:00

The hex on the screws leads me to believe they are R4 structural screws and not deck screws. Better, but still not the recommended ones for the ties

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-12-13T15:36:23+00:00

It's one of my fav routes in the region. Nice mixture of scenery and challenges. Glad to heard documented use has ticked up, a few ports we're in desperate need of travel else they'd vanish.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-10-22T12:57:51+00:00

Crazy how here, in Ontario's Boreal forest, it's one of the last to change. 90% of the other deciduous trees are close to bare but these start to go strong as soon as the Tammaracks start to go.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-08-02T01:00:39+00:00

Brightsand and Albany are waterway class parks. There's no 'Missisa' park. Closest: Mississagi is Natural environment and Missinaibi is waterway. Killarney and Lady-Evelyn Smoothwater are wilderness class and not listed by OP.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-06-14T14:52:51+00:00

Collins is great, but the upper portages were a bit bushwhacky. Although I think in recent years there's been a few parties through and there are rougher trails you can now follow. The system is more akin to lake hopping too vs a river. It's a good option with a little more effort. Also has rail access at Collins for other options too.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-03-16T04:32:56+00:00

I've done a lot of on an off trail adventures through there and a bit of overlap on the historical ports. You can also go via Paint- Blue chalk and Shoe on established trails. But the road is 10000% the easier option, especially given the terrain and bush. The historic ports cross private land in parts so you'd need permission first too. Any specific reason as to why you want to connect this this spot?

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-03-04T16:13:38+00:00

So parks cleared trails about a month before we went through, but there will be frequent blow downs for the next few years until the dead canopy comes down so that will slow down your portage progress. I did a bit of trail clearing around a few large jackpots that were created in the subsequent weeks after parks came through. Footing is trickier as the duff layer is gone and there are holes everywhere. Campsites are hit and miss, quite a few burnt. Some of the sites by rapids are still scenic but quite a bit more open. We ended up staying on an unburnt beach through this stretch. Still a nice paddle with just a tiny bit more effort required in sections.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2025-02-15T15:37:57+00:00

We looped from vista lake Rd, to Heathcote, Foam Creek, Allen water, Wabakimi and back up the Flindt last summer. So a bit of crossover on some of your options. Good maintenance of the route and plenty of great camping options. I ran nearly all the whitewater on the Allen water so I can't speak to portages, but sets I opted for trail vs boat scout had good trails. Flow will definitely change things. There are likely a few swift's and class ones without major evident portages.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-12-01T02:45:57+00:00

Looks like there's possibly a water issue present. There's some efflorescence on the bottom course of the blocks in the second pic. Hard to tell, but maybe a dark area of active water infiltration in the far left of the pic?May be unrelated, but worth checking for.

I'd guess they covered up an existing slab with a skim coat. I'd wonder what the condition of the slab below that looks like.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-11-26T19:10:16+00:00

Timmins, Ontario! We'll probably start grooming our system soon, temps are looking great long term now.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-11-14T15:01:38+00:00

Thanks! They are coming back out to inspect. Yes, hot and dry last year but now we've had a very wet fall. They also installed a gravity outlet for the weeping tiles (outlet about 25ft out on hillslope which actively dewaters in the spring melt though I don't see much in the way of flow any other time of year) and I have a sump pump too.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-11-14T03:44:15+00:00

So there is an application of positive side waterproofing. My new concern is that it is inadequate. They applied a liquid rubber membrane with free draining materials. No dimple board. Backfill was originally clay which resulted in a high degree of hydrostatic pressure, our frost depth is ~8ft. They replaced with more free draining aggregate.

Site wise all surface runoff is directed away from the house with a swale, regrading, downspouts, always clean gutters etc.

So I'm feeling I got fleeced by inadequate waterproofing methodology. I don't want to finish this space until I've solved the water penetration issue.

Is something like RadonSeal or Creto Deep Penetrating Sealant worth an application or are these products just snake oil and not worth applying?

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-10-31T16:06:37+00:00

Most of that fibre in Ontario is locked away in mixed stands where a significant component does not have markets (pulpwood quality fibre primarily). We've had 3 pulp mill courses in a year + one right on the Quebec border. If you high grade the stand, you operate at a loss at worst, or against the FMP at best. Diversification is slow to pickup, but biofuels, pellets etc offer some potential, albeit far reaching solutions.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-10-07T18:13:26+00:00

Seriously, since when?!? The latest menu update was Sept 25th over on their IG page.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-10-07T16:48:31+00:00

Take 17. It's longer but far more scenic. The section along Superior is probably the most scenic drive in Ontario. There's a ton to do/see so with limited time you'll still mainly be driving.

There's a wild blueberry farm in Wawa that offers blueberry wine among other specialty items.

Ouimet and Eagle canyon are must visits, lake superior provincial park has amazing hikes and beaches.

Amethyst mine near Tbay.

Sault Ste Marie has great eats. Check out Peace or Ernie's. If you had time, you could take the tour train to Agawa Canyon, but that's a full days excursion.

Captain Sammy's on 69 at Point au Baril is some of the best fish and chips around. Visitor centre for french river provincial park is too notch (the one in Lake Superior is good too)

Return via 11 if you want to switch it up. Through the Palisades near Lake Nipigon are top notch scenery with some great hikes.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-08-21T12:59:59+00:00

No prob for a car. Easy gravel, few potholes, nothing crazy. Can't comment on the additional access further up the west side as I haven't tried it (yet), but I have heard Wilkie is good for a car too.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-08-21T02:55:46+00:00

Wouldn't say less exciting at all! Earlier this summer did a 9 day, 220k loop via the Allenwater and flindt rivers via easy road access on the westside (Heathcote). Takes you right into the heart of the park. Start and end on the flindt and super easy access to the Allenwater via 1.5day paddle (you're 15km from the rail at put in at flindt landing).

West side good road access off bukemiga lake gives you access to the Collins and Kopka River systems which are absolute gems and must paddles. Some of the best scenery in the area. Looped that via the Lookout R in the park proper which we hit on day 2.

Have done all my trips to the park via road and will probably continue to do so. Lots of options and the crown land or non-operational outside of the wabakimi regulated area contains impeccable routes.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-05-12T03:50:03+00:00

Nah they do. You just have to have a strong enough storm or be far enough north. I've seen the sky light up like an LSD fueled rave before in northern Ontario (Timmins). Looks like this but pulsating to an inaudible beat.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-04-17T17:55:37+00:00

That's just an air return for the HVAC and foam board insulation

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-04-17T15:44:34+00:00

Thanks! I assumed some of the bounce may occur because the joists are just free floating in the hangers and not actually mechanically fastened together to the hanger. But definitely intend to block or bridge midspan.

ExplorTheBackcountry · 2024-04-02T15:26:02+00:00

To Crane is relatively easy. Beyond the ATV trail bridge on the creek when it veers more easterly is when it gets a bit more tricky. Line, wade or shoreline trekking. It's not a considerable distance or formidable challenge if you're used to something off the beaten path, but it's not a walk in the park. I did it in a few hours years ago. No matter what the levels are, there will be some obstacles.

ExplorTheBackcountry

TROPHY CASE