Summer Starts Here

Starts here! 06 By Pat Rediger STEPHANIE WOLTMAN IS AN AVID OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST WHO GOES CAMPING WHENEVER SHE HAS THE CHANCE. But this year her plans shifted substantially when the COVID-19 pandemic ended her plans to spend 10 days sea kayaking and camping through the Broken Group Islands near Vancouver Island. On the bright side, there are plenty of places in Manitoba that are on the Winnipegger's bucket list to visit so this year she plans on making it happen. "Shoe Lake in Nopiming Provincial Park has backcountry canoe sites that you can reserve if you're looking for something on the water, but don't want to worry about the stress of beating others to a campsite," she says. "I also think some of the lesser- known campsites in southwestern Manitoba, such as William Lake Campground and Adam Lake Campground, have a beauty of their own and aren't as busy." Woltman added that both of these campgrounds are located in Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, about 240 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg, which is dotted with hundreds of lakes and wetlands so the opportunities for wildlife viewing are abundant. If the provincial park campgrounds are booked, she suggests trying one of the private campgrounds in the area. Although Woltman always keeps safety in mind when she is camping, the pandemic means that everyone should be extra cautious. "Now more than ever we need to ensure that we're undertaking our activities safely," she says. "Knowing my limits and remaining within them will be my focus this summer. It's also important to recognize that everyone's skills and abilities vary – so if you're inspired to try something new, make sure you're asking questions and doing the research before taking on a challenging trail, like the Mantario." She also plans on being fully stocked with hand sanitizer this year, and suggested that it's a good idea to bring along toilet paper and soap since many campgrounds are asking campers to bring their own supplies this year. Garrett Tremblay, manager of Wilderness Supply, says that camping is likely to grow in popularity this year as people look for new ways to spend their free time this summer. Depending on where you pitch your tent, you are likely to find a place that's away from it all and you don't have to worry about physical distancing because the nearest campsite can be a considerable distance away. Before heading out on an adventure, he suggests phoning ahead or visiting the park's website to see if anything is closed or if there are any special restrictions in place. "Camping is still camping," Tremblay says. "With the pandemic you'll need to put the extra emphasis on safety this year, but if you are camping with people you know, you keep everything clean and sanitized, then you should be fine." For those who are interested in isolated areas, Tremblay says that canoe routes often offer great opportunities to escape. If you are just learning to canoe, he recommended trying Turtle Mountain Provincial Park, since it provides a number of smaller lakes, campsites and interesting vistas. "It's a great entry level trip," he says. "There is a major lake and a few people will usually be on it in their boats so there is an element of safety just being able to see people. But you can do a portage to Lulu Lake, where it is very quiet. You can do a little exploring and you never know what you might find." With the number of recreational opportunities being limited this summer, there is one activity that is on the upswing: backyard camping. "I think a lot of people want to spend their time outdoors, and they are more inclined to try camping this year," Tremblay says. "I've talked to several people who are taking the opportunity to do a camping experience with their families. They might end up in the backyard, inside a tent, and sleeping under the stars." PITCHING IN Pandemic expected to spark more interest in camping this summer "WITH THE PANDEMIC YOU'LL NEED TO PUT THE EXTRA EMPHASIS ON SAFETY THIS YEAR." - GARRET T TREMBLAY PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY Garrett Tremblay of Wilderness Supply expects there to be a surge in interest in camping this summer as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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