Enid's Blog

Grandpa Hugh, Rhian and the Deer

2012-01-27T15:38:00.000-06:00

Rhian takes some ownership along with Hugh for the deer, bunny rabbits, squirrels and birds who visit regularly. She brings her best freind Victoria over to show her all the "work" that needs to be done.

It is so easy to entertain kids when we live in this part of the world.

Then lay down the law and force them to come back inside!

2012-01-21T11:02:00.000-06:00

Hello Enid...... We all are looking forward to being with you good people. I have been so excited since we first called you ...that I tried to fly in to Douglas Lake with my Flight Simulator from Red Lake. I really don't know if I picked the right lake having no charts etc. I have attached a few pics of my flight.....did I fly to the right lake???? Thank you again and in the meantime remain terrific........Leon

I have 2 suggestions. As you near Viking Island, you flewover dry land, when you could have followed the water just to the north. Always have a landing strip in sight. Also you didn’t overfly the lake tocheck for rocks. Haha Enid

Good Morning Enid and thank you for sharing your flying experience!!!!! I wish I could do the "rock" fly over. Maybe the Sim System will be that good in the future. I am so pleased that my "charting" worked out. Yes.... I am always looking for a spot to land in case of failures. The sim can be programmed to unexpected failures with a simple click check. This time I was so focused on my speed and flight time ....and direction to be sure I landed on the right lake. I finished Amelia's Flight around the world a few months ago and flew her last two legs for "her" as well. That was a real living experience for me and we can chat about that over coffee when we see you. Look forward to being there and can't wait to feel the tug on the line again. In the meantime remain your terrific self......hello to Hugh too......Leon

2012-01-19T09:44:00.003-06:00

Woodland Caribou
2012 Information Guide

Do I hear laughter

by Claire

I’m amused by Mother Nature’s sense of humour when I enter her backcountry. Be it the twig that grabs my boot resulting in an ungraceful landing or catching a whiskey jack’s curious glance while I’m using the open-air “jon”, these moments bring a smile to my face. My heart skipped several beats once when I thought I heard a bear growl in a raspberry thicket when all along it was the sound of a hummingbird’s rapid wing beats as it hovered by my ear. An otter ran off with my corn on the cob once and the one night when I thought I could retire without the tent fly, I woke up to pouring rain in the middle of the night. I wish I could see the humour in other areas of my life but such is not always the case. Somehow, I am not so readily amused by line ups at the coffee shop, hick ups at the office, or misplaced house keys.

Until I learn to lighten up in our man-made artificial world, I will continue to retire to the woods for my fix of comic relief.

Claire Quewezence

Assist. Park Superintendent

(807) 727-1388

P. S. Viking Island, Telescope, Optic and Domain Lakes are within Woodland Caribou Park, just west of Red Lake. I love my friend Claire's attitude to life and the people around her. Like myself, she finds herself and restores her energy when venturing out into our bush. Enid

Hugh at the show in St. Charles

2012-01-14T14:55:00.001-06:00

Hugh at the St. Charles Show

All Canada Show, Chicago, January 12 -15, 2012

Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center

4051 E Main St
St Charles, IL 60185-
(630) 584-6300

Need Directions?
Google Maps

Hours:
Thurs 5 - 9 pm
Fri 3 - 9 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 10 am - 4 pm
I tried out a new design for his backdrop. It was quite a challenge, learning photoshop, but now I know. Let me know what you think if you drop by and see Hugh. Enid

A Good Christmas Holiday

2011-12-28T13:09:00.001-06:00

Harriet ready for a ride

A little time outdoors checking out Harriet's favourite site.

A few Walleye for supper. (Florence's favourite meal)

Happy Holidays from Viking Outposts!

2011-12-27T20:04:00.000-06:00

The excitement of Christmas is settling down. It is -28 and we spent the afternoon exploring the lake on four-wheelers and snowmobiles. Then we were lucky enough to have fresh walleye for dinner, care of our friend Billy. We hope all our friends elsewhere are enjoying the holidays, nice weather, good food, and time with their loved ones.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE CARLSONS!

2011-12-20T12:05:00.000-06:00

Story and photos by Robert S. Grant – first published summer 2002

For the Whole Article and a photo gallery of Norseman, Click here.

Two thousand feet below the Beech King Air 350, a break in the dull gray undercast revealed Northwestern Ontario’s evergreen woodlands. Moments later, the sleek corporate aircraft overflew a tiny ﬂotilla of canoes plunging across a white-capped bay. Soon the aircraft settled smoothly onto Red Lake’s Runway 08 as a Chevrolet Suburban stood by to drive a group of Chicago-based executives and their pilot into the tourist community.

Their destination–a pine-walled complex on the north side of Howey Bay–was the headquarters for Viking Outpost Cabins Ltd., a fishing- and hunting-oriented enterprise established in 1948 by Swedish-born Arthur Carlson and wife, Florence. Impressed with the hospitality shown by Suburban driver and general manager Enid Carlson, the camp-bound turkeys (tourists) crossed the office floor and peered down at several seaplanes rocking gently against a tire-sided dock. A pristine Noorduyn Norseman Mk V caught the King Air pilot’s eye. Having learned to fly on metal-clad Piper PA-28 Cherokees and moving on to his club-seated, $5-million Beech, he had never encountered a commercial airplane covered with “canvas.”

Hugh Carlson, a 6-foot, 7-inch, 287-pound son of Red Lake pioneers Arthur and Florence, understood that visitors from regions south of the Canadian border knew little about seaplanes and northcountry flying. Co-owner of Viking with his brother Craig, he politely explained that CF-FQI’s covering consisted of doped Ceconite fabric. He added that AMEs, pilots and tourist operators alike considered the “wooden wonder,” a nickname bestowed upon the prototype soon after its first flight from Montreal on November 14, 1935, as the most “overbuilt” aerial freighter to carry Canadian registration.

As the turkeys snickered at the mention of sitka spruce ribs and walnut fittings in airplane wings, Craig’s wife, Roseanne, pointed out that the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-powered aircraft suited their wilderness-oriented business perfectly. This caught the group’s interest since some slaved as bean counters for a midwest American newspaper. They listened, distracted momentarily as a Red Lake Airways’ Beech 18 on Edo 7850s rumbled eastbound into Howey Bay for a passenger pickup and beer run. Ensconced in Viking’s office–more of a living room than a place of business–they began to understand Roseanne’s justification of an airplane designed specifically for bush pilots.

Too Tired To Swim

2011-12-19T10:15:00.001-06:00

Too Tired To Swim, a photo by Morgan Swant on Flickr.

Morgan takes the most amazing pictures. He is a bush pilot who enjoys what he does and sees beauty in our north country.

Red Lake Seaplane at Work

2011-12-16T11:01:00.000-06:00

Of course there is more to aviation then just flying. We are lucky to have the best mechanics we know working on our planes. Winter is the time to go through the planes top to bottom. Of course, preventative maintenance is the only way to go. Our beaver is being outfitted with a new boat rack which will accommodate 22 foot canoes. New government regulations are getting all air operators in Canada to reevaluate how they carry external loads. Our Cessna 185 is getting a good inspection.

C-FHXA, our Cessna 185, and C-GEZW, our Beaver, at Red Lake Seaplane Service

John Blaszczyk is working on Dave Robertson's old J3.
From bare naked to fully dressed, it will be a beauty.
Left: Bill Ivaniski, owner of Red Lake Seaplane Service
RIght: John Blaszczyk

John Blaszczyk worked at Red Lake Seaplane for about 25 years before coming to fly our Norseman. Now our Norseman is gone and he is back working on small planes. This is a talent of his. He is meticulous and loves to see a plane rise from the ashes to fly again. He has his own beloved SuperCub CF-ZRL and knows this plane well.

Good Solid Blue Ice, Great for Travelling

2011-12-15T11:43:00.000-06:00

Bobby Green

2011-12-12T11:10:00.002-06:00

These pictures were taken by Morgan Swant.

For many years Viking Outposts and Island flew with Green Airways. Jack and Bobby were always helping out their younger competitors, the Carlson Boys. When Hugh and Craig started out, Green Airways backed them up. When airplanes broke down they lent parts. When Hugh and Arthur didn't return from a fishing trip on time, they went looking. And on and on, they are the best neighbours, good boys working hard for a living.

Last week after watching his grandson, Ryan, play hockey, Bobby lay on the couch for a break ..... he didn't wake up. The family have had a private service at the Lutheran church and next summer they will have a memorial for Bobby when people can come from out of town to celebrate his life.

Bobby we will miss you.

The ice has frozen smooth and deep

2011-12-12T10:41:00.001-06:00

The lake has frozen well. The best freeze happens when there is very little snow on the new ice. It freezes deep and smooth. This Sunday, Howey Bay was full of people skating across the smooth ice wherever they chose. This is a rare event for Red Lake.

Cathy and Lindsey live on the edge of Howey and Bay and get a great view of freeze-up,
break-up and all that happens out on the bay

These deer hang out below my office window.

This fox comes by in the morning
to check out my yard.

These grouse hang out by the apple trees.

Florence enjoys a visit with grandson Arthur at his new house.

Florence Loves Red Lake

2011-11-30T12:19:00.001-06:00

Florence November 29, 2011
at the Red Lake Senior's Supper

At 97, Florence still lives at home and enjoys life. Here she is attending her 39th annual senior's Christmas Supper. Many, many people came to talk to her during the evening and she remembers them all, their families and funny stories too.

Life is great

this small town

Merry Christmas Everyone

2011-11-28T18:51:00.001-06:00

On the shores of Red Lake, Harriet has made herself a little hide-out (or party cabin, depending on her mood) For now she is gone and the place sits quiet an...

A November Day

2011-11-27T14:39:00.001-06:00

The deer watch as my granddaughter and I make Xmas decorations.

2011-11-22T09:47:00.000-06:00

When our son, Arthur started work as a heavy duty mechanic underground at the Gold Corp Mine here in Red Lake, Hugh was full of advice and stories of the years that he mined. Arthur asked Dick Toffanello to show Hugh around and show him the big changes downunder. Gwyneth and I got to go along. At one point, we are 1 mile under ground and Dick asks us to turn out our lamps! I have great respect for the men up here that work so hard down deep... they are proud of what they do and deserve the wages they get.

Music is by Stomping Tom Connors, our iconic Canadian singer who "has been everywhere, man" at least in Canada.

Freeze up Begins

2011-11-20T14:34:00.001-06:00

It's very quiet and the lake is quickly freezing.

I just love to watch the lake change each season.
Oh HERE's my shovel!

My Back Yard

2011-11-19T10:30:00.001-06:00

That water IS cold.

The sun is coming up, the frost is on the trees and it is 5'F (or -18'C in Canadian) The sky is the beautiful blue of our Canadian winter.

Artur Hjlmar Carlson founded Viking Island

2011-11-16T13:05:00.001-06:00

Arthur hunting, 1936.

Our museum in Red Lake has just completed the huge project of documenting and publishing on the internet the stories of many of our pioneers. Hugh and Craig's father is there!

Artur Hjalmar Ludvig Carlson

For lots more information go to Artur's page , Carlson Family photos or to a story of Artur's life.

Arthur Carlson (Facing Camera) did assessment
and trenching work on numerous mining claims
including those of Lorne B. Howey,
one of the founders of Howey Gold Mines.
Arthur Carlson's home on
Telescope Lake near Red Lake,
nicknamed Trappers' Hotel, 1936.

Artur Carlson hunted and supplied the Howey Gold Mines
with five tons of de-boned moose meat, 1930-31.

Arthur Carlson and his dog team out at west end, 1935

King McInnes and Glory celebrate

2011-10-13T16:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Viking Outpost Family,

Our time up at McInnes was fantastic! Sunshine, Rain, Hail, Snow: we had all four seasons in one week. None of it kept the King and ueen of McInnes off the water. (Well, maybe one afternoon when there were huge winds blowing, but, then, we had fun in the cabin) Hiking, Fishing, Shore Lunch, Sitting on the Deck eating just caught walleye and drinking a cold one, watching the eagles and gulls having a fracas over fresh scraps on Gull Island. For one week, we were in paradise. The best 25th anniversary we could have ever hoped for.

Lee and I both want you to know how special a home we think you have up there in Red Lake and how special a place you have in our hearts as well.
Thank you for everything.
Lee and Glory

Wolverine Pictures!!

2011-10-13T13:23:00.000-05:00

Henry Purucker and his group found their moose near the shores of McInnes Lake.

The crows have found it within minutes

They sent the meat to town and then took the carcass out in the bush and set up a game camera. The crows found it first and they set to work.

Could be a Wolverine

Then during the night an interesting animal dropped by. You can see his ghostly image in the photos. The next day he returns and it looks for all the world like a wolverine.

A wolverine looks like a fisher on steroids, with wide shoulders, a sturdy build and a ferocious reputation. He has been known to kill deer, beaver and even moose!

This fellow is rare. I studied trapping records for 1970 to 1982 and could only find a very few wolverine in the Sachigo Hills (123 miles to the northeast) and on Cape Henrietta Maria (501 miles to the northeast). I believe they are easy to trap out as they follow a trapline just like a trapper does. A male has a huge home range of about 240 square miles. The females are about 5 or 6 before they reproduce and only have 2 or 3 kits. I guess when an animal has no predator they don't need many young, but trapping can change that.

Now that trapping has dropped off, wolverine seem to be making a comeback. Sightings will always be rare and exciting.

Great Photos Guys

2011-09-12T10:28:00.005-05:00

Roseanne, remember, our 10 yr old granddaughter, Gracie? She did this drawing as we loaded up the scale to fly out to Orno Lake in July.

It was a trip to remember with the HEAT AND SMOKE. Looking forward to the next trip already!
Rick & Sharon Radl & Gracie Stevenson

A Little Bio for you:

Gracie is in 5th Grader at Mary Of Lourdes School in Little Falls, Mn. She loves Art, Fishing, and Soccer. She went on her 1st Fly-in Fishing Trip with Viking Outposts and she sketched and took pictures of sunsets to paint.
She is ready to return to Viking Outpost next year and said,"I'll take less weight so I can take my painting stuff with me." She was seeing the area with an Artist Eye and can't wait to return.

While waiting for our flight out to camp, she drew the picture of a plane and the cabin. She won prizes at the local and Minnesota Sate Fair for this drawing in pen.

Thank you Gracie!!

Meet the crew: life in a forest fire team - Canada - CBC News

2011-09-06T20:45:00.000-05:00

Meet the crew: life in a forest fire team - Canada - CBC News

This is a CBC article about our Red Lake fire fighters. They had a crazy fire season!!

Walleye Fishing on Douglas

2011-08-24T11:19:00.000-05:00

Brad Blomquist and John Hunerberg fished for 5 days with their sons Ryan and Ben. Of course the young guys didn't want to get up early. However you will notice that they fished well after the sun went down.

Yes a good idea... a few days fishing....

August Fishing is Great

2011-08-23T17:53:00.002-05:00

I have been busy cooking, cleaning and doing the real work.....just no time for blogging. My good staff have been needed at home, but all is fine again. Doreen is cleaning the lodge and tidying this place. While I have been absent from the net, the fishing has been fantastic despite the hot weather. I have lots to put on line!!

Joel and John Diller and Jeff and Scott Calvin haven't been to Viking Island for about 5 years. It is great to see them back here. They have been off to Paige, Peterson, Hatchett and Caribou Lakes. As I write this they are overnighting on Embryo Lake.

Joel Diller and his northern from Douglas Lake

New Dock at Telescope

2011-08-18T15:54:00.002-05:00

Hugh and Craig's Dad, Arthur, built a strong dock. Using the trees from nearby and the largest rocks he could possibly move (with help from his sons), he built a very sturdy crib. He didn't know to put a bottom in the crib to keep the rocks and crib moving together but it still remained for 6o years. Over time the ice pushed it this way and that and finally it needed to be redone. So Hugh built a new crib over the old rocks and we are good to go again. Back in the day, Arthur would have used 3 or 4 inch wide poles cut from the surrounding bush to deck the dock, but Hugh flew in treated lumber... a modern luxury item.

Testing out our new GoPro camera!

2011-08-16T16:52:00.009-05:00

Tim Kachur and Harriet are flying in C-FHVD, Viking Outposts' Cessna 180, west of Red Lake, Ontario. Here is the "tail cam"!
They leave from Domain Lake and then fly past Optic Cabin before landing at Optic Lake.

Oh, Yes We're Flying with Tim

Biologists on McInnes Lake

2011-08-15T10:24:00.015-05:00

Lake trout netted on McInnes Lake at 66 to 115 feet

They caught 7 lake trout at 66 to 115 feet.

Four were sampled and three were released.

Top: common white sucker, Bottom: long nose sucker
There are lots of fish in the lake a fisherman seldom sees.
Suckers, White Fish, Cisco, Burbot, Perch and smaller Minnows

Reasearch by
the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit
Laurentian University in Sudbury Ontario
Professor: Tom Johnston

Nate Antoniolli and Andrew Corston were up at McInnes Lake this past week. As they describe it, they were collectiong samples from netted fish. These samples will be used in a food web and contaminent survey of Northwestern Ontario fish using stable isotope annalysis. Data will indicate how the fish are feeding, where, what and depth. If they can develop a baseline of data, it can be used throughout the area as a measuring tool when looking at other lakes.

For more info go to this Uof M in Duluth site: Lake Zones

For example, it is interesting to know where McInnes lake trout feed. Lake trout are very temperature sensitive and prefer to hang out in the cold water 47 degrees F and below. However they will go to the food. Each lake offers different types of food for lake trout; cisco (lake herring) swimming in schools in colder midwater, suckers, white fish and burbot (ling or freshwater cod) on the bottom, minnows and walleye and perch in warmer water. Lake trout will also resort to zooplankton and insects if need be, but the lake trout will not be as healthy on this diet.

Here is their list of sampled fish from the board at the cabin.
They caught 7 lake trout but couldn't resist throwing 3 huge healthy ones back in the lake

They had trouble catching northern in the nets but found angling for them to be easy.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

How old are these huge lake trout?

Is there a chart of size versus age for walleye, northern and trout for our area?

What is considered old age and extra large for the game fish around here?

What are they eating, where are they hanging out?

Sure hope these guys get back to me

Moose hanging out near Viking Island

2011-08-08T12:00:00.002-05:00

Our friend Tyler Murphy shot with with his iPhone on Douglas Lake.

2011-08-05T11:34:00.062-05:00

C-GGMB and Tim off to save some canoers

Tim and Russ arrive on Bigshell Lake to find 5 young women ready for rescue

C-GEZW and Russ skirting the fire- Mission accomplished

We still have no fires near our camps, and guests are fishing and enjoying our great summer weather.

BUT elsewhere fires are raging. Russ and Tim were off today to rescue a group of 5 canoers. They needed to be moved from Bigshell Lake across the fire zone to Artery Lake on the Bloddvein where they could resume their trip. Tim and Russ flew together past the fire boiling up between Murdock and Larus Lakes. They wondered how much gear a group planning to be out in the bush until August 18 would have and if it would fit in the planes. When they arrived they were happy to find 5 petite girls, enjoying their trip and ready to hop over the danger zone.....no problem....no big guys with cases of beer on this trip!

The fire known as Red 124 began on July 25 (11 days ago. Hugh noticed it burning by our old wild rice camp along the creek near Ben's Lake. The location is in Woodland Caribou Wilderness Park. Here forest fires are supposed to be left alone to burn naturally EXCEPT for value protection. That means the MNR can use fire fighters, sprinkler systems and water bombers only to protect camps and such. Our boreal forest is meant to burn. Without a fire every 100 years or so, the bush turns into garbagey balsam and a miss match of species. Jackpine cones only open with the heat of a fire. Plenty of plants like blueberries and fireweed are waiting in the wings to flourish in the new acidic soil.

During the last 100 years, we have developed fire protection and loggers have tried to imitate the fire environment when they cut. People have spread themselves through the bush building cabins, small towns, logging operations and mine sites. We have grown accustomed to the MNR sweeping in and saving the day. Now they must let a fire burn and just protect small sites. There may be problems if cabins need to be left with limited gas, if the fire breaches the border of the park. Short term problems are just smoke smoke smoke. The planes need to see the ground to fly, and land safely.

Hmmm, If this gets worse, we'll turn around and head home

Forest Fires flare up again but not near us

2011-08-03T19:26:00.006-05:00

In 1981, Jeff Ciesar and Larry the Legend were the first guys to fly into Telescope after the fire swept past the cabin. The fire crew on site kept the fire at bay with sprinklers, so the cabin was safe. Behind the cabin though the fire had burned even the moss and duff, leaving lots of bare rock. The MNR said they needed a caretaker and so they were lucky to have John Blaszczyk (JB) join them for a week of fishing.
This year, when they saw smoke in the air, they knew it was a long ways away. They also knew they would be fine on the lake. This week a few fires have started up again and there is smoke in the air again.

Our cabins are safe. Fishing is Grand

Ashley & Harriet's Canoe Trip: DAY 3

2011-08-02T13:10:00.004-05:00

We woke up on Glenn Lake to another beautiful day. We both slept poorly, each with one eye open, waiting to defend our food supply when Mr. Bear returned. But surprisingly he never came back.

We tried to start the campstove again, but no luck. We took out the bottle of purifying tablets we bought before we left. Upon reading their instructions, I learned that these tablets were actually only neutralizing tablets, to remove the iodine taste from our water AFTER it had been purified by other tablets. So, we did our best to ward off Beaver Fever by going out into the middle of the lake to scoop water.

After a "breakfast" of sunflower seeds, we headed out. The first portage was 275 metres, which with all our gear, along with little energy from food, we struggled! I carried the canoe for 1/3 of the way before giving up and sharing the task with Ashley. There was a storm moving in. Between the end of this portage and the start of the next one of the same length, there was a small stretch of creek. So even though we could see the next portage, we had to load up the canoe and paddle across. As soon as we climbed in, the rain and lightning came.

We walked the next portage while the rain poured hard. When we arrived at the end of this portage, on our last trip across, the rain pretty much stopped. We were soaked.

Now we were on Optic Lake, and lucky for us, my family has an outpost on the lake. It was empty this week, and my dad had given us the heads up that we could use it if need be. Well, "need be" was the case. We canoed across the lake to what we now considered "paradise". There was ice in the freezer, propane hooked up to the stove, and even warm water in the tank for a nice shower! As soon as we arrived, so did more rain and wind, so we hurried inside. We put on dry clothes and made ourselves hot coffee, cold sodas (left by the last party), and a spaghetti feast! Meanwhile, the storm raged outside.

The weather eventually lifted and the sun came out. We decided to stay put for the night instead of carrying on by canoe. All the luxury got to us I guess. My dad flew in and found us lounging on the dock, fishing and soaking up the sun. He said he was surprised that we even got this far, with all the gear we brought. He said he didn't have time to look at our broken campstove. He was only dropping in to bring us a cooler full of beer and ice, and he expected us to still be on Glenn Lake. Thanks for the confidence, Dad!

posted by Harriet

West Red Lake Mining Museum

2011-08-02T07:30:00.005-05:00

Last week, Enid & I got the opportunity to check out the mining museum at the west end of Red Lake. The building is a historical log cabin that was taken apart at Bow Narrows Camp, moved log by log to this spot, and then rebuilt. All by local volunteers.

As the sign says, "In the 1920's and 1930's, West Red Lake was a thriving community with no less than eight gold mines. There was a post office, a physician, supply stores, laundry and everything else needed to keep a population of about 200 outfitted." There was a historical gold rush in the area. During this time, my grandfather, Art Carlson, moved here from Sweden in order to get in on the action. He spent a lot of time on the west end of Red Lake, living and working. His photo is hanging up in the mining museum.

posted by Harriet Carlson

Ashley & Harriet's Canoe Trip: DAY 2

2011-08-01T12:00:00.007-05:00

Well, we woke up Tuesday morning to a clearer sky. The smoke had shifted, and I guess it was hanging out elsewhere. Hugh called us from Viking Island to say he was leaving immediately. We threw all our cooler food back into our food pack, buckled up our personal packs, and collected all our gear in the front yard. If there is one thing I've learned about my Dad (Hugh), it is to not keep him waiting. Haha.

So the Cessna 185 arrived and we loaded up, and the three of us took off, flying west.

We left the canoe behind in Red Lake, planning to pick up a different one from Viking Island. I learned that the only difference between the one we picked, and the one my Dad gave us, is that my Dad's canoe doesn't have comfy, rounded shoulder pads attached to the yoke. Instead, it is just a hard piece of wood across the middle. Carrying this canoe solo, I guess, was to strengthen my character or something?

Hugh dropped us off on Mexican Hat Lake, on a sand beach. This is my one of my favourite lakes. I've been canoeing here on three other occasions. The walleye fishing is awesome. And there is a great set of falls which I like to camp near. We had planned to stay here the first night of our trip, but since we were off schedule by a day, we only visited the falls, ate lunch, and then carried on towards Beck's Lake.

It was a perfect day outside! The sun was shining, it was hot out, and there was a gentle breeze to cool us down. Even that breeze was in our favour, giving us a gentle tailwind to move us ahead with less paddling. There was a small set of falls between Mexican Hat Lake and Beck's Lake.

We portaged to Glenn Lake. It is quite large, and of course, full of walleye. This is one of my grandfather's favourite lakes, and part of his ashes are actually on the campsite we use there. Also, our good friend and employee at Viking Island, Jimmy Strang had a trapper's cabin on Glenn Lake for years. So needless to say, when I'm on this lake, I feel pretty much at home.

We arrived at our camp site on Upper Glenn Lake. It is a great spot with a long, clean rock out front. Ashley struggled to set up my tent, while I struggled to start her camp stove. The tent went up successfully, while the campstove didn't. Ashley and I fiddled with it for a while, until we decided it was broken. Leaking or clogged, or broken in some way we couldn't pinpoint. We were disheartened to say the least. All the food, with exception to our sandwich lunch supplies, were to-be-cooked.

To add to our stress, a black bear arrived on the scene. We were fiddling with the stove, when heard the breaking of branches and the rustling in the bushes. Then a black bear poked his head up from behind a shrub. I was already frustrated with the stove, so when our furry friend arrived, I yelled at it that we had no food for ourselves, nevermind him. He got spooked and ran up a tree, then made huffing sounds at us. We left him alone. He didn't come back to our site during the night, which led us to believe that he wasn't a problem bear, but rather just a traveling bear who popped by only for a visit (and not to rip apart our food kit).
posted by Harriet

Ashley & Harriet's Canoe Trip: DAY 1

2011-07-31T14:31:00.009-05:00

Ashley arrived at the train "stop" at Red Lake Road in the middle of the night Sunday/Monday, July 18th. The reason I call it a "stop" and not a station is because it only stops beside a dirt road off the highway, 120 miles short of Red Lake, and lets off any passengers bound for Red Lake. There are no buildings out there... just a street light and a few CN vehicles. So if your ride doesn't show up for your 2:00 AM arrival...you're a bit SOL. Her train was late, so when we finally left Red Lake Road, our two hour drive back to town brought us into Red Lake at about 6:30 in the morning. I spotted eight moose, a few deer, and at least a dozen foxes on the way to the train, and almost as many on the way back.

So Ashley and I combined our canoe trip gear... Food pack, personal packs, cooking equipment, beer cooler, canoe and paddles. Then we waited for our flight out to Mexican Hat Lake.

This was right at the peak of the FIRE BAN, so the sky was thick with smoke, the visibility was poor, and the air smelled like fire. Quite an exciting time for Red Lake really. The town is buzzing with helicopters and forest fire crews from across the country (every province including Nova Scotia, BC, and the Yukon). Many of the northern communities were being evacuated due to nearby fires. Some of the fires were "rank 5"...meaning maximum intensity. The Red Lake area was hitting 100 forest fires and counting. Our town was featured on the national news broadcast. It had been years and years since things heated up like this.

So on this particular day, the airplanes weren't flying. Hugh was stuck on Viking Island. Low visibility stopped him from flying back to town to pick us up. We stayed on hand, ready to go, for most of the day, but by 4pm, Hugh put an official "no fly day" into effect (to the west, anyway). We were disappointed, but it's one of those things you can't control! We ended up cooking our "first dinner of the canoe trip" at home on the BBQ... Hot dogs.

Our Beaver pilot, Russ, ended up making a trip north to McInnes Lake. Our friend Morgan (who flies the Turbo Otter, down the bay from Viking Outposts) called to get Russ's SPOT information to see if he made it successfully to McInnes without having to land because of smoke. We checked the SPOT website, on Russ's profile, and we saw that he had made it there, so, that gave the go ahead to some other pilots to make trips on a similar route.
posted by Harriet Carlson

Dick Asbell finds THE northern

2011-07-28T16:13:00.010-05:00

Our trip to Rheaume in mid July started with a big bang.

On day one we were idling out from the dock while putting on our jigs and setting up our reels but not really fishing…yet somehow I hooked a small northern and nice walleye within minutes. My dad (Dick Asbell) was with Jeff Elkins a little behind me and he did a little better. On his first cast……“BANG”! the biggest northern ever caught in our group! After a serious battle and a failed attempt netting (with what looked like a butterfly net compared to this alligator), I tossed them the net from my boat (which is bent now) and Jeff was able to land the pig. It was healthy 46”, 31lb (est.) and based on charts, a 24 year old fish. We snapped some photos and quickly got her (a male this big would be an anomaly) back in the water and revived. After a few moments she gave a quick burst with her tail to soak all of us and let us know what she thought of that experience! Now she is out there patrolling for the next lucky fisherman.

We have been to Rheaume for the last (12) years and never fished in front of the cabin….I guarantee we will now!
Pat Asbell

FIRE BAN IS LIFTED

2011-07-27T16:20:00.003-05:00

Remember these? Campfires to cook fish with or dry your boots on, or both? The MNR has lifted the fire ban that was in effect until now. There was a little bit of rain lately. The fire situation is still active and exciting, so there is still reason to be even more cautious than usual when you are making a campfire. But the good news is, our guests can have shorelunch again!

Tuesday Morning

2011-07-26T07:56:00.003-05:00

It is 7 am and no one is stirring, only the birds singing, not a ripple on the water, only a wisp of cloud. Coffee on the deck...... Heaven.

Forest Fire Hazard Just a Memory

2011-07-25T08:52:00.008-05:00

The hot weather, crazy winds and forest fires of last week are a memory now. A cabin on Spoonbill Lake burned to the ground while the owners watched from their boat. Some northerners are returning home after being evacuated for a week.Our boreal forest is meant to burn to renew itself. The jack pine cones don't even open without the extreme heat of a forest fire. Blueberries, fire weed and other plants are waiting in the wings for acidic soil of a fire. For us humans, though, a forest fire can be viewed as a disaster. We must try to take these natural events in stride. Some days we can't fly because of smoke that can cover 1000s of square miles. Some times we need to stay off the portages after lightning strikes. In very rare situations we need to evacuate people out of the path of the fire, but in this country there is always a boat and lots of water to escape to.
For the next month and a half, forest fire fighters will be working the recent fires, putting out hot spots and checking things out and finally declaring each fire out one by one.
Here are some pictures taken by our friend Chris Sherwin who fights these fires for a living.

Planning your Fishing Trip?

2011-07-20T18:01:00.002-05:00

If you have any questions about your trip,
For Viking Outposts please call Craig and Roseanne at 807-727-3461
For Viking Island, please call Enid and Hugh at 807-727-0321
We have some openings at Viking Island for this coming week July 23- 30

Red Lake Area Fires

2011-07-19T20:34:00.010-05:00

This is a picture of a water bomber taken by our friend Chris Sherwin. He is busy mapping the fires from above and planning strategies to work with nature and beat this storm of fires.

Here at Viking Island, the smoke has cleared and we are fine although it is extremely dry and hot here. Hugh tells me that flying north is getting more difficult and we may need to move guests around. If for safety it is necessary, we do have room for our guests at our camps in Woodland Caribou Park where there are no fires at present and the skies are clear.

So if you are coming north to fish with us Vikings, we are waiting for you and have a cabin ready for you. ( You just may have to be ready to fish a different lake.)

Current Forest Fire Situation in Ontario.
I'll try to keep you up to date but for now this is all I know.
If you want to get in touch with us, call Roseanne and Craig at 807-727-3461 or Enid at 897-727-0321. Hugh and Craig will be sitting down to make plans for the weekend tomorrow, Wednesday.

All our outposts are far from fires

2011-07-18T14:52:00.004-05:00

The air is still Very smokey. The visibility is so low we are not flying for now. However all our outposts are safe from the present fires and all is well with us.

Smoke in the Air

2011-07-17T14:03:00.005-05:00

Last night we watched thunder storms in the distance. Today the air is smoky. We gather the fires are a long way off as the smoke is spread out and we hear no airplanes.

Dry Hot Wind and Low Water

2011-07-16T16:39:00.007-05:00

A stiff south wind is blowing, the land is dry, the water is low and thunder storms are predicted for tonight and tomorrow morning. I'm antsy ....... thinking about forest fires. The Ministry of Natural Resources are in high gear, trying to keep up with the new lightning strikes. Here is a site which shows where the fires are at present: Current Forest Fire Situation in Ontario

Kevin you asked about the water levels and in the last week they have gone way down. The water is the lowest I've seen in about 8 years. Onnie Creek is difficult to navigate but, on the other hand, all our docks are well above the water. 15 years ago this would be a normal water level but in 2011 it is considered low.

What does a pilot do on his Days Off?

2011-07-13T08:19:00.008-05:00

Go fishing of course

Kristen Peebles and Russ Stephenson have their supper for tonight. Tim Kachur and Amber Kruger almost.... Hey guys, those fish are a little big for the fry pan.
Up here, when you need a little R&R.....

Just go Fishing

Rheaume Lake with Brent McGill

2011-07-12T16:13:00.004-05:00

Enid,

Just returned on 6/30 from another great week at Rheaume. Great weather and fishing. Attached is a picture of a moose eating some grass as we motored into a bay one afternoon. She took a long look at us to figure out what we were doing. Then she started trotting off through the water and ultimately back onto shore.

The other picture is of a 27" walleye I caught on the newly named Treibic's rock! Unfortunately this 27 incher did not take the weekly prize for big walleye. That came to Joe Miller who won both the biggest walleye 27.5" and northern 40" for 2011 bragging rights.

Already looking forward to our next trip.

Thanks, Brent McGill

Tis the Season for Canoeing

2011-07-11T09:54:00.003-05:00

Who of us does not dream of that wilderness canoe trip or remember past adventures? When the sun is out and the water has warmed up, when you head off to work on a Monday morning, doesn't that feel of the canoe on the water and the sound of the paddle ripple through your mind?
Here is a video of Harriet and Jori on such a trip. It could be aptly named "Dining in Woodland Caribou" as they seem to bring out the camera at meal time.

We are meeting lots of canoers this summer. We have teamed up with Harlan Schwartz from Red Lake Outfitters. Our job is the flying and we do know the park. Our pilots enjoy the challenge of flying canoes and landing on wilderness lakes with no docks or camps. For more information, videos and ideas, check out Harlan's websites, blogs and forums.
Red Lake Outfitters
Harlan's Blog

Oh yes a few days in a canoe is good for the soul.

Lake Trout in July? oh Yes

2011-07-05T16:14:00.011-05:00

Mike, Jim and Scott have always come fishing over Independence Day. For one week each year, Douglas is their lake. They have named all their favourite spots and it is hard to understand them as they loudly discuss the day with their Chicago accent.

Mike knows how to find those lake trout on Caribou, Douglas, Peterson and Paige. He can also find all the walleye he needs for a grand shorelunch. Of course, he goes hunting big northern as well.

You're Flying with Tim

2011-07-01T10:11:00.005-05:00

Tim flew both Cessna 180'2 last summer and then the 185. This summer, Craig trained him to fly Craig's favourite De Haviland Beaver, CF-GMB. They put in plenty of hours flying freight and doing camp checks together. Today was the day for Tim's first passenger flight with GMB. Mike works at O'Hare tower, Joe was an air traffic controller and Scott works for the airlines so they were critcal. They reported all was good and the landing was better than Craig's. you are a good teacher Craig!

So, Craig, you are a good Teacher!

Checking out where Grandpa went fishing

2011-06-28T08:43:00.016-05:00

Jerry Yeskis was a long time guest here and he always wanted his grandkids to experience Viking Island. This summer Katherine, and twins, Bianca and Jacob, came with Uncle Doug and friend Tony. Oh yes, they did fish and had a good time doing that. They hung a nice walleye from a stringer from the side of the boat. They were planning on such a great shore lunch. A northern had a different idea!

Doug struggled to keep lines straight, and hooks baited.

But, Viking Island is not just about the fishing. Katherine wanted to learn how to make butter tarts and she ended up just making them all, pastry and all. Bianca and Katherine then made the ever popular whoopie pies (kind of like huge oreos, but much better) Jacob decided to help with breakfast and turned up before 7 am each morning to be my short order cook.

I tried to keep all three for the summer, but Uncle Doug would not agree!!

Ham Radio with Morse Code

2011-06-27T08:56:00.003-05:00

Don Sommerfeld came to Viking Island with his portable Ham radio gear. Each morning he set up his radio on the deck of the Eagle's Nest Cabin and tapped away to people all over the world. He was amazed at how clear the air is up here. (Well there isn't much background noise up here!)
He talked about bringing friends up here far a week of fishing and Ham Radio.
I sure hope it happens.
Anyone else interested?

Tyler and his Grandpa

2011-06-26T10:01:00.015-05:00

Sometimes it is so great to see guests return after many years. Chuck brought his son, Brian, when he was 8 and they returned each spring until Brian left home and entered the working world. Over those years they brought friends, sisters and mom on some trips and my kids got to know them all. They swam their way up and down Onnie Creek, fished and made their own fun on the island and around the lake.

Now Brian has a young family of his own (and some gray hair). They are back with Maggie's son, Tyler, the first grandchild, to show him Douglas Lake. I am hoping to see a whole new generation of Cavanaugh kids as the years go by

Tyler jumped onto to the dock excited about fishing and never stopped......until just before supper!

What Happened to the Game Cam

2011-06-23T07:27:00.002-05:00

Matt and I are having fun with a Game Cam that Arthur gave Hugh for Christmas. We've seen bald eagles, turkey vultures, squirrels and crows. BUT something is messing with the cam......

Sasquatch??

Chris Terry and his Father

2011-06-17T19:43:00.005-05:00

Lurenet.com had a father's day fishing story contest. I submitted a story about the pike my dad caught on Nighthawk Lake and it was included as one of the winners.

My father and I bonded over fishing. Growing up, it was the special thing we did together. I have a lot of great memories from the time we spent together in a boat, but the best happened just before my own son was born. (Photo: Chistopher's Dad with a big pike.)

Knowing that Grandfather/Grandson would likely be the new fishing equation, my Dad and I decided to take one last trip as father and son. We went on a fly-in out of Red Lake, Ontario, for a week in the Canadian outback. It was one last week of fishing together. The walleye fishing was pretty good, but on the second to last day we were trolling along a bluff bank when Dad moved to set the hook.

His hook set stopped dead and he thought he was hung but I could see that the rod was still pumping, and I knew the fish had to be huge. I stopped the boat and turned toward the fish. It was a massive northern pike and it took off on a solid run.

Dad froze when he saw the size of the fish. He had never seen one so big, and he literally didn’t know what to do. His reaction was to do what he had done when I was a kid; Hook a big fish and let me reel it in to “catch it.” But as an adult, the tables had finally turned. As he frantically pleaded for me to take the pole from him, I held up my hands and refused. I told him this one was all about him.

I proudly watched as my Dad, the man who had for years handed me the rod every time he hooked a fish, fought the largest fish of his life. Four hard runs and 20 minutes later I scooped up a 40-inch northern pike with the net and handed it to my dad for a picture. We worked together to revive the fish as it swam off. I was never prouder to be his son than I was in that moment.

In time for my son to be born I felt the father/son cycle had come full circle between Dad and me, and I hope that someday I’ll be able to share that feeling with my own son.

How the heck do you get a Boat into Optic?

2011-06-17T11:12:00.001-05:00

You need to know how to fly a boat and have an approved boat rack. Then you need to be very diligent about tying it on and checking all the details. Russ Stephenson, our Beaver pilot, is just the guy for the job. He loves to fly and takes great pride in his airplane and the jobs they do together.

From Viking Island to Telescope

2011-06-15T06:24:00.003-05:00

John Amann, Dave Martin and Roger Dieckman have come to Viking Island for years. This season, though, they decided on a change and booked Telescope Lake. Here they have the lake to themselves, they cook their own meals and decide where to fish without advice from Hugh. I can see that Telescope is well suited to their style of fishing and relaxing, and I am sure that their cooking is up to snuff.

Enid,

We really missed seeing you this year and just enjoying the time spent on the Island. Hugh told us about the pie and the three of us figured out that it was his master plan to leave the Island early so that the pie would still be there when he got back. It was really sweet of you though to think about us and it is appreciated.

After looking at the blog I see that Rhian should also be thanked as I see she is busy making the pie shells. She is a cutie for sure and has to be a real treasure to have out there with you.

We really enjoyed Telescope this year and will probably return there next year if we are all able. Again a little sad to miss you along with all the regular boys at the Island too. We sure couldn't even compare the meals and cooking with that on the island but we sure didn't starve either. No blueberry pie or even rhubarb (whew). God willing we will be back at the Island in the not so distant future though and really look forward to that as well.

Hope you have a great year out there and meet lots of new guests as well as greet the old ones like us.

Stay safe and well,

John

Fish with the Vikings your style

We are Lucky to have great Pilots

2011-06-11T15:31:00.003-05:00

Russ likes his Dehaviland Beaver, EZW. He would fly all day everyday if only Craig would send him on more missions. Anyone need a flight....

Tim has graduated this season from the Red Cessna 180 (BYA) to the better performing Blue Cessna 180 (HVD). Yesterday he flew into camp with the Cessna 185 (HXA). He tells me that Craig is training him on the Beaver (GMB).

One Proud Gramma

2011-06-11T09:37:00.007-05:00

This is my granddaughter, Rhian Abby Nault.

Oh, I SO need a Cook!

Moose on Douglas Lake

2011-06-09T20:27:00.006-05:00

More pictures from Andy Chramowicz.

This time of year, we often see cows with their calves, but this young cow appears to be alone. Two weeks ago, Matt heard a calf calling for its mother just at dusk. He called and the calf came right out to the shore. Then he heard a cow call and Matt left the area, hoping that the two found each other even in the dark.

Eagles of Viking Island

2011-06-09T15:12:00.007-05:00

Thank you Andy Chramowicz

Another Day of Adventure for Mike and Crew

2011-06-08T15:13:00.005-05:00

At Viking Island, we have lots of portages with boats, motors and gas ready to go. There are also plenty of lakes just one more lake over. Maybe a group will get there each season, sometimes 2 groups. Things won't be perfect when you head out to thefarthest reaches. All that is guaranteed is that it will be an adventure and each trip will have its own surprises.

Well, you may need to carry a motor.
Oh, the handle could be broken off the motor that is there. How did that happen??

Or the kill switch needs to be jerry rigged...... don't tell Hugh!

And you may be surprised at what you catch!

Here's to a good old fashioned Adventure.
Fish with the Vikings your way.

Some Guys like an Adventure

2011-06-07T20:30:00.010-05:00

Mike Martin, Kyle Nolan, Bill Buc and Jack Ahler come prepared to travel. The lake, farthest away and toughest to get to, is where they head. Rain, shine, wind or hail, they are off to a different lake.

Of course, there are rewards.

Eagle on the Nest

2011-06-07T16:00:00.005-05:00

Back in the 1970's and early 1980's, it was rare to see a bald eagle in this region....except for Douglas Lake and west to the Manitoba border and down to Ear Falls. This small part of Northwestern Ontario had a constant but not large population of eagles. They somehow escaped the DDT problem that left their egg shells too thin. Now that DDT is no longer used, they are back in nice numbers all across the north and always a delight to see. (Unless you are a seagull)

Thank you Andy Chramowicz for these great pictures.

Trials of the Junior Pilot

2011-06-06T09:02:00.002-05:00

Tim Kachur is our Junior Pilot even though it is his second year of flying with us. His main job is to shoulder all the blame for whatever.

"Where is the tool box? It's been missing for a week."
"Oh, here it is, sitting in the rain at Domain."
" TIM!!!" (might have been Russ)

Our Facebook Page

2011-06-05T09:38:00.003-05:00

If you are interested in what's happening at Viking Island or the Outposts, please go to this page and "like" the page. Maybe you have some pictures you could add to the page.
Thank you
Viking Island and Outposts Facebook Page

A Viking Island Storm

2011-06-05T08:58:00.002-05:00

The weather is part of any fishing trip and it is a treat when supper is just over and we can watch a storm from the comfort of the lodge.

Good friends, good fishing, good times

2011-06-03T15:07:00.012-05:00

Jimmy Ogg came in 1987 with his Dad and here he is with Stephanie (Craig's daughter) and Gwyneth (Hugh's daughter) Oh back in the day..... it seems like yesterday.

Jimmy convinced his Dad to make another trip this way and five of them came including grandson, Sean. No group could be more enthusiastic about fishing than these guys. Lake trout fishing rocked. Northern fishing rocked. Walleye jigged rocked. Even my cooking was fantastic!

Jim Ogg returns after 24 years

2011-06-01T15:55:00.015-05:00

Jim Ogg brought his son fishing in 1987 with Herb Pozdro and Joe Petykowski. This year he brought his son, grandson, son-in-law and good friend......What a great group! Very entertaining at the dinner table..... On the first day, Sean threw his rod and reel in the lake on a cast. Mike gets way excited about northern fishing. Poppa tries to get everyone up and at it early in the morning. Brian adds his humorous take on the day. Jim, the instigator of the trip, gets guys going and travelling aboard to different lakes.

On May 30, they headed out for Caribou Lake with Tom Robertson. When they returned late for supper, it was hilarious to meet them at the dock. Sean jumped out before the boat hit the shore and began telling fish stories. Mike yelled, "Caribou freaking rocks!" They found the northern and the lake trout with Len Thompson spoons. (Mike had read Hugh's fishing advice and bought enough for everyone.) The weather was cold and windy but Mike was ready to camp out there and forget supper. They even saw a woodland caribou and calf swim from an island in Caribou and a huge bear lumber along the shoreline. I hope he didn't find the calf.

They found 3 of these unusual lighter colored lake trout. Usually all the fish I see are those dark dark fish. All these fish and the northerns were all returned to the lake immediately...making me very happy.

If you ever get bored fishing after years on the lake, just invite someone new. They will remind you how awesome a good day of fishing really is.

Take a Couple of Kids Fishing

2011-05-28T17:23:00.031-05:00

Grandpa Herb Pozdro has a recipe for a good time.

He brought his son, Steve, and grandsons, Zach and Evan

fishing at Viking Island.

Here's how it went.

1. Take the kids out of school (You are popular right away)

2. Stick them on a float plane and take them way back in the bush.

Zach commented that it is like the nature channel here.3. Try to get them up early (or not, depending on the weather)4. Show them how to catch big fish.5. Let them out fish you.

Nice walleye ZachNice lake trout Evan

Nice northern Evan.

Watch his teeth

6. Take them on a portage.

7. Take them up the creek.8. Leave them on an island9. Tire them out.10. Have a good laugh11. Let them drive the boat.12. Let them play cards. No computers in sight.

Two happy kids fishing with their Grandpa

A Rare Encounter with Woodland Caribou

2011-05-26T17:57:00.004-05:00

Nick Galle and his group fish Rheaume Lake every spring. They came upon this mother and calf along the shore. Woodland caribou often calf on islands away from bears and wolves and, then, within a couple weeks, they head inland to a fen or jackpine forest. If you come across them in the water, steer clear as that little calf is having a rough time getting to the far shore.

I send the Guys out to Work and....

2011-05-25T18:08:00.012-05:00

Matt and Dano need to learn the ropes. In the spring, my brothers and Tom Robertson come up for opening weekend of walleye season to help open up camp. So this is the perfect opportunity to teach these young guys the meaning of a good days work.......

2011-05-25T16:58:00.004-05:00

Safety is important in the bush and some guys need to bring extra equipment to protect themselves, others and the enviroment.

Camp Maintenance is Neverending

2011-05-21T18:03:00.006-05:00

Tom Robertson and my granddaughter Rhian are fixing the door before Doreen gets here. Might as well get them working right away!

An Evening Spin

2011-05-20T10:10:00.003-05:00

Camp is ready and the boys are out for a spin; Matt Dicaire driving, Dan Kincaid on the camera. They are enjoying the glassy water and how in the front it looks like they aren't moving. I've got steak to grill and people coming this afternoon to celebrate the start of the season.

Hey are you thinking of fishing???
Give me a call.
Always room for a few more fishermen.

Visitors Always Welcome

2011-05-18T17:53:00.008-05:00

Herb, your cabin is ready (honest)

2011-05-17T16:30:00.005-05:00

Herb has been coming up for the first week of fishing at Viking Island since long before I got here. He has seen every kind of weather; snow storms, ice, wind, rain and sunshine. Usually I am scambling to get water lines thawed, docks repaired and boats in the water, but this year, if I am not ready, I can't blame the weather!! There has never been a year as warm and sunny as this year.

Joe Andrews flew over McInnes

2011-05-16T16:16:00.003-05:00

Hi all,

I flew a piece of equipment from Winnipeg to Iqaluit yesterday and snapped a couple photos of the old stompin grounds as we went past. I miss the area and you guys. Hope to be back sooner or later.

Joe Andrews

Do you recognize McInnes Lake from 21,000 feet?Does this look like Critchell Lake?
Thanks Joe, Your job sounds great.
Please send updates and stories about your northern adventures.
Please stop by whenever you get a chance!!!

yup, my staff has abandoned Ship

2011-05-16T12:08:00.002-05:00

Weather here is so crazy nice, we can't stay inside cleaning!
They can't resist a little lake trout fishing!

Viking Island is Ready- Time to go Fishing

2011-05-15T11:37:00.005-05:00

Mike your cabin is looking fine.

Jake your cabin is waiting for now or later.

Matt Dicaire, the new guy at Viking Island, is at work. His mother will be happy with this picture, but I'm sure Matt would rather be fishing.

Don't worry, Matt, when Tom gets here......
You Will be Fishing!

Tim and Russ are experimenting with SPOT

2011-05-14T09:29:00.002-05:00

If you are interested in where Russ and Tim are flying today, go to our SPOT PAGE. A SPOT is a small GPS unit that transmits a signal every 10 minutes with a location. You can also send prearranged messages like "Evrything OK" or "Waiting for Weather" or "Need Help"

Ready to Fly, Waiting for Weather

2011-05-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

Russ Stephenson and Tim Kachur have the base cleaned up, the outboard motors checked and the floats pumped. They are hanging out on the dock waiting for the weather to clear!!!

Come on boys, let's get moving!

Ice is gone

2011-05-11T09:11:00.002-05:00

Craig and Tim flew north yesterday. Ice is gone everywhere except for McInnes Lake north of Middle Camp and that won't stick around long.

Florence and Brian talking History

2011-05-10T14:52:00.004-05:00

The first weekend of May is the Sportsman's Dinner. It is time for the outfitters and local people to get together and celebrate the beginning of a new season. FLorence has been there every year. At 96 and with an excellent memory, Florence is the go to person for local history.

Brian has set up a volunteer museum at the west end of Red Lake. It is a log cabin, restored and set up for people to drop in. Check it out if you visit the west end of the lake. Send Brian pictures or memories if you have stuff he can use.

Oh, Yes, We are in Business

2011-05-04T15:32:00.004-05:00

Craig flew our Beaver C-GGMB into Red Lake from Selkirk, Manitoba today. It is parked at Amik's Dock on the Chukuni River. Thank you, Johnny and Bruce, for giving us dock space! Craig will have a report on how breakup is going on the surrounding lakes.

The Boys are working....Just a bit more open water needed

2011-05-03T14:08:00.003-05:00

Russ and Tim are back to work, tidying up the base, checking out the motors and of course breaking up the bay.

May 2 and the Boat is in the Water

2011-05-02T18:02:00.001-05:00

I just can't resist!! Howey Bay will never breakup if we don't help it along. The boat is in the water. The ice is disappearing. We will be fishing soon. (Well, I'll be cleaning cabins and hauling groceries, but there is always time for some fishing)

April 29 and the Ice has Taken a Beating...Hurray

2011-04-29T15:30:00.007-05:00

Break-up is later than last year but it won't be long now. Craig is heading to Selkirk to bring back the Beaver probably on Wednesday. He'll park at the bridge and be able to give us an aerial report on the surrounding lakes.

Ice on Red Lake, Ontario, April 20, 2011

2011-04-21T09:05:00.013-05:00

Hugh measured the ice today in front of our house. He was surprised to find only 10 inches of good ice with 5 inches of slush ice on top. I heard that someone put their 4 wheeler through the ice today. It seems the ice is going even thought it still feels cold and snowy around here.
Last year, Hugh and I landed on Howey Bay on the water on April 17th. I have to admit that there was just barely enough room and Hugh landed just to beat the record. However there is no sign of water at the same narrows today.

Maybe May 14th for break-up, but that's a wild guess.

Our Pilots are heading back to Red

2011-04-20T14:31:00.010-05:00

It doesn't look much like spring yet, but this week Russ was headed to Red Lake, ready to get flying....but can he drive?
He did a complete 360' and 5 minutes later the salt truck came by.
He's here now and ready to fly...all he needs is some open water....heck, he'd fly on skis if we let him.

Here is his excuse.....pure ice on the main transCanada Highway.

Drive carefully, Tim and Amber, we're waiting for you.

Red Lake Spring Sledding

2011-04-18T13:42:00.008-05:00

Nathan Herbert, a good friend of my kids, made this video of their Sunday entertainment. The driver, Chris, took a whole 6 seconds to make it to shore and out of the water. Amazing what you can do when you hit that cold water. He may have made it to the ice if he hadn't let up on the throttle when the goose flew in front of him. (the water comes forward and gets to the belt) With some drying out and a good mechanic the machine is none worse for wear.

2011-04-15T17:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday, Roseanne!

Spring is here

2011-04-15T13:14:00.013-05:00

The days are much longer; the snow is disappearing; the ice is bare.

Hugh took off for Viking Island yesterday. He was dragging a boat with a small riding lawn mower for Viking Island. A WHAT? you ask...... Seems he used the wrong old boat. The keels dug into the ice, the broken transom scooped up wet snow. The ice, in spots, was so slippery that he got no traction. Check out his trail on the ice! However the ice was solid and there was snow on the portages. Last year at this time, the trails had no snow at all. I couldn't burn the brush piles where they sat because they were too dry. Break-up will be later than last year for sure. I figure sometime in early May; just for fun I'll say May 10. The season opens on May 21, the latest possible.

Count down to

Break-up begins.

Bald Eagles in the Nest on WebCam

2011-04-05T15:54:00.001-05:00

Live TV : Ustream
This pair of Eagles are in Iowa somewhere, captured on a Web cam by the Raptor Porject.

Joe Keewasin

2011-03-31T08:29:00.012-05:00

Joe Keewasin died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family and friends. Joe was Mary Jane's partner and for the last few years cleaned the fish and did odd jobs around camp at Viking Island. He was a traditional story teller and had many guests on the edge of their seats right up to the punchline. He had a great sense of humour and kept us laughing at camp no matter what was happening.

Joe was born in the bush and grew up on the outshirts of Red Lake. Together with his 3 brothers and 1 sister, he went through the difficult transition from traditional bush life to the modern day world. He went to residential school from age 10 to 14 years. There, miles away from home, he was taught a different culture and was not allowed to speak his own language. He remembers sneaking out of bed to sleep on the floor where he normally slept. He went to work at 14 in a sawmill and over the years, worked in the bush cutting trees, in the mine, digging graves. He worked the longest, though at Sandybeach Lodge, on Trout Lake where he became known as an excellent guide reknowned for his chowder and bannock served at shorelunch. He watched the now owner, Wade Mitchell, grow up, and probably taught him how to fish, clean fish and generally run the camp. I'm sure they also had crazy parties and adventures Wade will never tell us about.

Joe was a drinker for many years and homeless for most of that time, with an amazing ability to survive our winters and the streets of Red Lake. Seven years ago, he and Mary Jane got together and Mary Jane just made him quit (quit or leave, as she dumped out bottles of booze). He did quit and they spent 7 great years together. They reconnected with their traditional culture, made lots of friends, and looked after their brothers in an old age home. At Bingo, in Eagle River, they met up with lots of friends from back in residential school days.

They also reclaimed Frank Paishk's cabin at the west end of Red Lake. Frank Paishk was Art and Florence's first and most important employee at Viking Island from 1948 until 1978. He was also Mary Jane's uncle.

Joe we will miss you.

The Norseman CF-FQI still Flying

2011-03-28T09:24:00.024-05:00

Peter and Paul Dillon bought our Norseman and they are using it just as it was built for. They are rebuilding a lodge on Moar Lake, Manitioba. Lots of work, lots of hauling, and FQI is up for the job.

Hi Enid,

The Kubota tractor was a must - have for the reconstruction project we have ahead of us and its pretty move friendly. It took about a day to break it down , moved it in two loads ,and a day to put it back together. After years of lift,load,carry, drag it puts a pretty big smile on your face.

I will keep you updated on on FQI.....its a airplane thats pretty easy to fall in love with and I am sure you miss it.

Best Regards
Paul Dillon

Oh YES, I am jealous, Viking Island could use one of those!

This past winter, CF-FQI has been stripped down to bare tubing. It will reimerge with new skins, new engine and maybe a new colour scheme... ready to fly and work again.

The Norseman, a war bird, still flying.

In My Front Yard

2011-03-27T14:45:00.003-05:00

A bright Sunday morning and I might get visitors. Well Maybe. Don Bicknell got a little wet right in my front yard.

Viking Outposts back in 1985

2011-03-24T13:24:00.017-05:00

A letter in the mail can bring back lots of memories.

Back in 1985, Van Gillespie and Leroy were fishing on Crossland Lake, a new lake and a new cabin back then. In Van's notes, I see that they stayed at the Red Lake Inn and had breakfast at the Lakeview Restaurant at 3 am. They were at the dock at Green Airways at 5 am on Saturday morning. Also in his notes, is a complaint that Tom's Dutch Oven supper contained too many potatoes and onions...I wonder about that. They wanted real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.

Come June...Van and Leroy will be fishing with Jerry Davis up at South Camp on McInnes Lake.

Our Cessna gets a new Engine

2011-03-23T13:18:00.011-05:00

Spring is in the air. Time to get going. Hugh had the engine from our blue Cessna 180 rebuilt by Signature Engines in Cincinnati. Now Red Lake Seaplane Service is putting the engine on the plane. It should be ready to fly come open water.

This plane has always been Craig's favourite, so he will be happy to fly it again

Craig has had plenty of adventures with CF-HVD.

My Own Channel on You Tube

2011-03-15T09:45:00.003-05:00

I'm working on "Social Media" these days and this old mind takes lots of time to figure things out. Last night I worked on my own You Tube Channel-

Viking Island and Outposts on You Tube

Over the next while, I'll load some of the videos I've taken and others people have sent me.

Getting around

2011-03-11T17:54:00.003-06:00

My granddaughter, Rhian, is comfortable out on a 4 wheeler or zooming across the lake on a skidoo. Hurry up, Mum, lets go. Now that the weather is a little warmer, we will be out every day.