Adventure Race lookback

We are in the midst of a late winter snowstorm throughout James Bay Frontier, but it’s not long before we enjoy a quick spring and then summer. A reminder of that was posted on the You Tube website recently. It has a music and photo presentation there of the National Adventure Racing Championships held last May. The 400 kilometre endurance race was based in Timmins but covered a huge part of our region. More than 20 professional teams took part. It was a tough race; so tough that even Survivorman Les Stroud had to quit. Check out the video on You Tube.

Have Your Say on Northern Ontario Tourism

There is a new initiative underway to create a multi-year marketing strategy for Northern Ontario. It's called Connexion-North. One part of the plan is to gather input from the public and tourism industry players. If you have something to say about tourism in Northern Ontario, now is your chance. Your opinion is important. A series of public meetings is to be held across the North. Check out the website and find out when you can have your say.

ATV Season approaching...

I was in a shopping centre parking lot on the weekend and noticed that there were plenty of pick up trucks. That’s normal for Timmins.. The difference is that ATVs are fast replacing snowmobiles as the most common cargo in the box. It’s that time of year when ATV riders are getting ready to hit the bush trails. Plenty of out-of-town riders like to visit James Bay Frontier to explore the wilderness and experience an ATV adventure. There is a dedicated ATV Adventure website worth seeing. Check it out. Ride safely. Ride with respect.

Spring in James Bay Frontier

Today is the first day of Spring. It’s determined by the position of Earth in relation to the sun and occurs on the vernal equinox, which is the day when the length of daylight is equal to the length of night. This is the Mattagami River in Timmins at Noon.

Snow Trails TV in James Bay Frontier

“Video Mike” is in Northeastern Ontario today. Mike Grant of Snow Trails TV arrived in Timmins last night and will be traveling to Kapuskasing and Cochrane this week to showcase the great snowmobiling in our area. Mike’s riding partner this week is well known tourism writer Shaun Fogg(left), from Sault Ste. Marie.

Trophy Pike

Anthony Plut of Alban, Ontario was all smiles Saturday after pulling this 24 inch Northern Pike out of Porcupine Lake. It's not the biggest pike in the north, but it was big enough to win $15,000 at the CTV Ice Fishing Derby. More than 200 anglers spent the afternoon on the lake trying their luck.

Come Play In The Snow

I met up with Bryan Pacello today, one of the better known adventure tour organizers in Northern Ontario. Bryan is the owner of Come Play in The Snow Inc, and he was bringing a huge group of American sledders back from the James Bay shores at Moosonee. Once the sleds were parked at the Howard Johnsons in Timmins the riders suddenly got “thirsty” and couldn’t hang around for a photo. Bryan says the season was a bit shorter than expected but all the riders he brought to Northern Ontario still had a great time.

Ice Fishing is Great!

Go Ice Fishing. It’s one of the best parts of winter. I like fishing anytime, but I have to say that fish caught in winter just taste better. I don’t know why…but they do. There are so many places to fish in James Bay Frontier this time of year. For something fun and different you might even try the CTV Ice Fishing Derbies where you can win money! There is one coming up this week in Kapuskasing and there is another one next week in Timmins.

Miner's Monument

The Kirkland Lake Miner’s Monument is one of my favorites. I find the bronze statues are lifelike and animated. It seems that even the snows of winter won’t stop this jackleg miner from getting his gold bonus. Drop by and see the monument when you get a chance. It's right beside the Hockey Heritage North centre.

Riding the wires?

At first glance it looks like this snowmobile racer is riding the wires. But it just shows how high some of them were on the jumps at the weekend snow-cross racing evening in Kirkland Lake. Hundreds of racers and race fans poured into town for the Northeren Tel Mobility three day event. There was lots of snow, the weather was mild and the action was hot.

Woohoo! More Snow!

Wow, we’ve got a nice storm blowing through the region today. Sledders are gonna love this! I grabbed this shot at lunchtime today and old Mac headframe was almost invisible because of the blowing snow. It will sure be welcomed in Kirkland Lake this weekend which is hosting an official CSRA snow cross racing event. Wow, it’s gonna be a great weekend.

Winter Fitness

Some guys have all the luck. This fellow was cool enough to grab his skates and stick and spend some time at the outdoor rink in Timmins at lunchtime. It’s hard to think of a better way to get some exercise on a beautiful winter day in James Bay Frontier.

Happy Trails

The last day of February and the snowmobile season is still in high gear throughout most of James Bay Frontier. Thanks to the untiring efforts of volunteers, the trails continue to be among the best in Eastern Canada. Conditions are still limited in our southern parts of James Bay Frontier, but they’re excellent in the northerly regions especially in OFSC District 15. Keep ridin’ -- keep smilin’.

Good Ice eh.

It was fun at lunch to drop by Gillies Lake to see the ice being cleaned. Most of us are used to seeing the zamboni machines at an indoor arena. This one keeps the ice in perfect shape on the popular skating oval in the centre of Timmins.

Celebrate Winter

Youngsters in Timmins enjoyed the sunshine, fresh air and frosty temperatures today with a snow day... literally. Today was the kickoff for the winterfest weekend and hundreds of school kids enjoyed themselves at the Gillies Lake Conservation Area.
They didn't seem to mind the minus 25 windchill! One little guy zoomed along the ice, lost in dreams of someday skating as fast as Bobby Hull... (boy that sure ages me eh) .

Snowy Gogama

Drove south along Highway 144 on the weekend. The snowmobile trail conditions are improving greatly. The Watershed junction is pretty well the cutoff point. Trails north of the watershed are in good shape, but trails south of there are in less-than-good shape. There's lots of snow in the bush, more is on the way this week and the weather continues to be cold -- so it should be fine for sledding.

The Road to Good Snowmobiling

Winter in some parts of Northeastern Ontario has been less-than-seasonal. Some areas have been left without enough snow to support a half-decent trail ride. On the other hand, the more northerly parts of James Bay Frontier continue to enjoy lots of good cold weather and enough snow to support good riding. So follow the signs to good sledding… Highway 11 Northbound will take you there.

Ice Fishing

The ice huts are scattered by the hundreds throughout James Bay Frontier this month as avid anglers try their hand at ice fishing. This is Porcupine Lake in Timmins. There are thousands of lakes in this region giving up trout, pike, walleye and whitefish for those patient enough to sit by the hole in the ice waiting for the right fish to come along. It's actually more fun than it sounds and I know I've spent many days sitting on the ice doing just that. It's one of the things that makes winter in Ontario so enjoyable.

Winter carnival in a convertible

Winter carnivals are one of the favorite pastimes in several communities across James Bay Frontier. And even with the windchill at minus 35 degrees, the mayor found time to ride around in an open convertible on Saturday.

We're in Harrisburg!

James Bay Frontier is bringing the good news of Ontario's outdoor adventure opportunities to the world's largest hunting, fishing, outdoors and boating show. It's called the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It attracts thousands of adventure seekers from all over the northeastern United States and many of them visit Canada. James Bay Frontier is there to let the tourists know that we have so much to offer. Drop by the Ontario Travel booth in the fishing and boating hall to find out more.

Temiskaming Shores Snowfest

Snowfest is on this weekend in Temiskaming Shores. This is an annual event to celebrate all the great things winter has to offer – snowmobiling, pond hockey, skiing, snow sculpture, skating. You can even enjoy ice fishing on Lake Temiskaming. Wherever you live in James Bay Frontier, a visit to Temiskaming Shores is an excellent getaway destination for a couple of days of fun and relaxation.

Winter Photography

I find that winter presents some great opportunities for nature photography in James Bay Frontier. Despite all the snow, there are some cool colors going on out there. The only problem is that when it's too cold the batteries in your camera wear down faster. If you have some older cameras ( like I do) there's also the danger of your film breaking inside the camera due to the extreme cold in this region. I did some photo work in the Eastern Arctic and found that some cameras will just freeze up. Luckily I was using a classic Nikon F2a that had special lubricants for Arctic weather.

Winter Getaway Contest

Tourism Ontario is hosting a pretty nice contest where you can win a winter getaway vacation at a deluxe resort in Huntsville. To enter the contest, you have to sign up at the Ontario Travel website. That's it. Sign up and enter. You might win. Tell ya one thing for sure ... if you don't sign up, you can't win. So check out the Winter In Ontario website. The contest draw is on February 20th, 2007.

Snowshoeing in James Bay Frontier

Mother Nature has finally come around with some great winter weather. There are those who like to huddle with a blanket, a book and a pot of tea. But this sort of weather also brings out the adventurous spirit in so many Northerners. I was able to trek about five kilometres Sunday. It was cold but the sunshine was glorious. The great thing about the northern bush is that it sure seems big enough for everyone. We saw moose tracks, snowmobile tracks and even cross country ski tracks.

Snow on the trails...

It's going to be a good week on the snowmobile trails in James Bay Frontier. We had lots of cold and snow on the weekend and the forecast calls for more of that kind of weather for several days ahead. Local riders have been out checking their favorite trails. Some long-distance sledders have also been arriving in town. Before you go, it's always best to check trail conditions through the OFSC website. If you need more detailed information, you can always call the James Bay Frontier office at 1-800-461-3766, toll free from anywhere in North America.

Passport rules...

Just back in from the fishing show in Detroit. It was nice to meet so many Americans seeking an outdoor adventure vacation in Northern Ontario. The passport issue was being talked about a lot. This is a matter of concern to tourist operators who rely heavily on American visitors. Those Americans will need a passport, not necessarily to get into Canada, but more importantly to get back home into the United States. Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable. This will be amended in 2008 to require passports for all persons who enter the U.S. by any means; land, water or air. ( source:US State Dept. website). On the other hand, if you are a US citizen entering Canada from the United States, you need two pieces of identification. One should be a photo ID; the other should be a birth certificate. If you are a citizen of another country, you will need a passport. Full details are available at the Passport Canada website at: http://www.pptc.gc.ca/

JBF in Detroit

We are at the Ultimate Fishing Show in Novi, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, this weekend. We are meeting with lots of potential tourists who are seeking outdoor adventure in Canada. The Americans always have nice things to say about Canada. They like the fishing, the fresh air and the friendly people.

SnowTrax Television back in the North!

The Kapuskasing-Moonbeam area is living up to its reputation as being the first to open and the last to close when it comes to great snowmobiling. That message wasn’t lost to veteran snowmobile broadcaster John Massingberd (second from left) this weekend who took the SnowTrax Television crew to James Bay Frontier. The group is spending a few days in the region to videotape some new episodes. Producer-host Debbie Burke was there too. I met them for brunch Sunday at the Moonbeam Snowmobile clubhouse. They had been out riding and exploring trails for three hours. Not all trails are open however. Be sure to check the OFSC website for updates.

Snow and Cold!

Winter is here. Finally. I was out walking in the bush yesterday and noticed there is fresh snow everywhere -- even on the boughs of the spruce trees. It all looks very nice and pretty. But we need a couple of more weeks of intense cold and snow to bring our snowmobile trails up to standard. Weather forecast says the cold will continue and three days of snow in the next week.

First Day of Winter

Welcome to the first day of Winter. Winter is no stranger to this part of Canada. But it is indeed odd to see the lack of heavy snowfalls. I was out for a hike in the bush near Timmins Thursday. There is snow in the bush, but not enough to support snowmobiling this week. We are keeping an eye on the weather and drinking a toast to the snow gods.

Winter is almost here

Supertrax: "white gold"

There is a flattering story in the latest issue of Supertrax Magazine, one of the best known international snowmobiling publications. The story refers to the snowmobiling in James Bay Frontier as 'white gold', thanks to the efforts of veteran sledder and writer John Arkwright, who tours this region every winter. Here is the full article: - - Story & Photo by John Arkwright “Welcome my friends to where the snow never ends. We’re so glad you could attend. Come and ride, come and ride.” Just a little ditty I came up with (a little help from Emerson, Lake and Palmer) while riding in Ontario’s James Bay Region in the winter of 1998 on the Gold Rush Tour. The JBF Region is truly a snowmobiler’s paradise offering some of the finest snowmobiling in North America. Over 5,000 kms (3,000 miles) of trails are groomed and maintained smoother than most highways and by the way they, boast the longest grooming season in Ontario. I first rode in this region during the winter of 1996 and since then the Gold Rush Tour, introduced in the fall of 1998, has turned out to be a Grand Slam! Now ten years later, it’s still going strong and is an absolute gem of a tour! This region has some newly discovered gems to enhance the touring snowmobiler’s holiday. In Kirkland Lake there’s the new Hockey Heritage North Museum with many of the same features as the NHL’s Hockey Hall of Fame! In Cochrane, get ready to add another half day because the new Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village will require some extra time. Plus, there’s a snowmobile museum as well. Gerry Miller, our village tour guide who owns most of the artifacts here will take you back in time to relive history as you could never imagine. Another must do when you are in Cochrane is a day trip to the Abitibi Canyons. The trip there features powder snow riding and short, steep pulls at sea level. Two great places to visit in Timmins are Cedar Meadows Resort Wildlife Preserve and the Shania Twain Centre. At the Wildlife Reserve you’ll get to observe moose, deer, buffalo and elk up close and personal. Ever fed a moose? We did. The Shania Twain Centre facility will take you from Shania’s early days in Timmins to her present day fame. Nearly forgot to mention we had five days of incredible snowmobiling. We may have sacrificed some miles of riding by taking in these attractions but it was worth it. Do something a little different. Trust me you’ll be glad you did. The JBF Region stretches from the town of Latchford through to Hearst, Ontario. On this trip we only rode the eastern portion of this region and there’s another four days of world class riding through Smooth Rock Falls, Kapuskasing and Hearst.

Weather is crazy!

The December weather in our region is wacky. There seems to be no other good word for it. We've had above freezing temperatures for nearly a week and the snow is melting! Environment Canada says it's a spin off from El Nino with all kinds of talk of warm fronts overtaking jet steams and yada yada yada. Cross country skiing competitions planned for this weekend in Timmins have been cancelled. Environment Canada says its won't last however. It says January will be cold and snowy. Well, let's hope so. We will keep you posted.