Vanishing Trails, David and Lea Jackson

memaquay · Apr 24, 2024

I'm not sure if any of you have come across these two yet, David is a phot journalist, lives down the road from me in Nipigon. Him and his soon to be wife did an epic 60 day trip all the way to Hudson Bay. He made a video about their journey.

I'm not much of a video watcher when it comes to canoe tripping, but this morning I watch the entire half hour, a new record for me.

These two are the real deal, living their best lives.

Robin · Apr 24, 2024

I started watching it too, it’s amazing watching them find old portage trails via old blazes, a sawn deadfall from many years ago, ruts from years of moccasin clad feet crossing between water routes.

“Look for the signs of use, listen to the stories, and you will find a land to connect with, not the ghosts of an industrious company. To those who left only trails in the moss, miigwech.”

Boreal Birch · Apr 24, 2024

I watched the whole video, while drinking a pot it tea to keep myself hydrated on all those portages. They will have the memories of that trip to cherish the rest of their lives.
Thank you Memaquay for sharing it with us.

jdeerfoot · Apr 24, 2024

Robin said:
I started watching it too, it’s amazing watching them find old portage trails via old blazes, a sawn deadfall from many years ago, ruts from years of moccasin clad feet crossing between water routes.

“Look for the signs of use, listen to the stories, and you will find a land to connect with, not the ghosts of an industrious company. To those who left only trails in the moss, miigwech.”

Great video - thanks for sharing.

Searching for old portages was what we did for the 14 years of the Wabakimi Project - look for old blazes, trail tread and old cuts by ax or saw. It always amazed me that Uncle Phil could flag a likely route without finding any signs of an existing route and get to the end, turn around at the waters edge and there would be an old blaze. He had a great instinct for where the most logical route would go. Another thing we learned was often the portage landings were at the absolute last place to take out before you would be in real trouble.

Ralph · Apr 24, 2024

Really inspiring. What a difficult route. Thanks for sharing.

VernAK · Apr 25, 2024

Thanks for the thread. I'll be watching this evening while on my treadmill. I'm always searching Youtube for canoeing adventure videos.

Thanks again!

SouthernKevlar · Apr 25, 2024

Laying in bed for the fourth day resting a wrenched back, this was good medicine for the soul.

Living in a part of the world where one is seldom out of sight or hearing of civilization it is good to see, if only vicariously, the type of world that has been rarely touched by the human hand.

Thank you for posting this video.

Gamma1214 · Apr 26, 2024

Outstanding video, thanks for sharing.

I wonder how many hours of video were shot to get the final 35 minutes... Great job of overcoming the challenges of keeping the equipment charged for almost 60 days in the bush, excellent cinematography and the fact that they're both still smiling at the end bodes well.

The references to "community lockdown" makes me believe that they social distanced themselves in a way that most of us only dreamed of.

Great job & Godspeed to them both.

Alien Legs · Apr 26, 2024

jdeerfoot said:
Great video - thanks for sharing.

Searching for old portages was what we did for the 14 years of the Wabakimi Project - look for old blazes, trail tread and old cuts by ax or saw. It always amazed me that Uncle Phil could flag a likely route without finding any signs of an existing route and get to the end, turn around at the waters edge and there would be an old blaze. He had a great instinct for where the most logical route would go. Another thing we learned was often the portage landings were at the absolute last place to take out before you would be in real trouble.

I prefer the old hand cut blazes on the trees compared to modern bright white or blue paint.

Cheeseandbeans · Apr 26, 2024

I enjoyed that. Thank you for posting.

Bob

stevet · Apr 27, 2024

Really enjoyed that. Very nice video production. Mosquitoes gave me concurrent memories and shivers ;-)

Rubbaboo · Apr 27, 2024

Yup, a good watch. Thanks for the recommendation. The Fawn/Severn just moved up my to do list.

Vanishing Trails, David and Lea Jackson

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