The Happy Camper

Blogs, Canoeing, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Perseverance by Stephan Kesting
For him to recover in both body and mind, he decided to embark on his beloved canoe trip.

Canoeing, Ontario, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Join Me on a Trip on Lake Superior
Come join me for a voyageur canoe journey along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Blogs, Canoeing, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Double Duty for Recreational Barrel Works’ New Canoe Packs
Throughout the paddling season of 2024, I made good use of Recreational Barrel Works’ new line of canoe packs.

Blogs, Camping Gear, News, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Trangia’s New 100th Anniversary Colour Collection
You know a camp stove is good when it celebrates their 100-year anniversary in 2025.

Blogs, Hiking, Ontario, Ontario Trails, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: A Tour of Amherst Island’s Trails
I’m learning so much about the wild areas near Kingston, Ontario. I moved to the area in late summer and …

Editors' Picks, environment, Opinion, The Happy Camper, Wildlife
The Happy Camper: Are Birdwatchers Loving Birds to Death?
More people out their gawking at birds equals more attention towards the protection of them and their habitat.

Adventure, Ontario Trails, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Awesome Snowshoe Trails In Central Ontario
Snowshoes make it easier to get around out there… and there’s a lot out there.

Adventure, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Save These Outdoorsy Events In Your Calendar Now
There are lots of outdoor-oriented events scheduled for 2025. Some even have The Happy Camper presenting thanks to his sponsors, including Explore Magazine.

Opinion, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: 2025 Brings Big Changes To Ontario Parks
The year 2025 will bring significant changes to where canoe trippers can pitch their tent every night in some Ontario Parks.

Canoeing, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: The Best Books About Cross-Canada Canoe Adventures
After a glance up and down my bookshelf, I gathered the canoe books I had read. Here is a short review of each.

Camping, Gear, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Axe Lovers’ Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide
If you’re shopping for a Paul Bunyan wannabe this Christmas, check out these gift ideas that any axe lover would love to see under the tree.

Adventure, Opinion, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: A Review of Frank Wolf’s New Book
When I was asked to write a back cover review for Frank Wolf’s latest book Two Springs, One Summer, I jumped at the chance.

Contests, Ontario, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: SOAR Film Festival Award Winners
I was truly honoured to be a part of the SOAR Outdoor Adventure Reels Film Festival held at the Indie Cinema in Sudbury, Ontario back in early November.

Camping, Gear, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Esker’s Multi Winter Tent Is Pretty Awesome
The Esker Classic had its drawbacks. Now the new Multi Winter Tent has stepped it up a notch. To me, it’s a game-changer.

Gear, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: My Top, Most Useful Gear Picks of 2024 for Canoeists
It’s also time to reflect on the paddling season and decide on which new gear were my favourite pieces.

Adventure, Hiking, Ontario Trails, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Taking on the Frontenac Challenge, Part 2
Three stumbles, one fall, a knee brace, a broken hiking pole and a bottle of pain meds, but this 60-year-old finally finished the Frontenac Challenge.

Hiking Trail Reviews, Ontario, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Taking on the Frontenac Challenge, Part 1
I recently moved to the Kingston area in Ontario and I thought what better way to become familiar with the …

Ontario, Opinion, The Happy Camper
Bear Cubs Killed in Algonquin Spark Conversation About Nature
Anthropocentric views of nature. All the great nature writers warned us about it. Thoreau, Leopold, Carson. It’s a worldview that …

Ontario, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Canoe Trip in Opasquia, Part Four
If you’re a paddler looking for a “true” wilderness canoe trip experience, you’ll definitely have your prayers answered in Opasquia Provincial Park.

Ontario, Paddling, The Happy Camper
The Happy Camper: Canoe Trip in Opasquia, Part Three
It was late afternoon of day seven of our canoe trip in northern Ontario’s remote Opasquia Provincial Park when Andy and I finally slid our canoe into a large lake and joyfully paddled across the great expanse of water.