Canadians - Help! Need winter wilderness cabin to rent.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by daletournier

So Mark, you do understand that its cold, like really cold, not like Sydney cold,I think the pictures look great BUT!

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Canadians & northern States folk have more than shorts,tee shirts & sandals in our wardrobe.
We will make sure Mark gets an extra cozy igloo with a jumbo whale oil lamp / Len

[rognvald]

Mark,
I think I might be able to help if you are flexible. My neighbor has a beautiful wilderness cabin on the North Shore Of Lake Superior. The closest town is 10 miles by gravel road. There are numerous inland lakes, ponds and streams within walking distance and the wildlife is spectacular. Although it is a small open cabin with one bed, there is a beautiful fieldstone fireplace, running water, indoor toilet and a great old cook stove. The cost will be free with one small catch: you'll have to share it with another person. Let me know if you're interested. Your roommate's picture is below. The cabin can be seen in the distance. Good luck and may your Winter be warm!!
Rognvald

[Prairie Chicken]

I can't suggest a cabin, but could give you some feedback on any location you may be serious about.

It's a damn big country, so there is lots of geography that would fit your needs. They say something like 75% of the population of Canada lives within 100 miles of the US border, so you don't want to be anywhere close to the 49th parallel. Have a look at the Yukon for sure. Don't rule out Newfoundland (they have more moose than humans) or NB (New Brunswick). Interior BC (British Columbia) would be good & not so extremely cold. Northern Alberta & Saskatchewan will be damn cold. Don't go above the treeline. That's serious cold & there would be less wildlife. I wouldn't recommend rural Quebec unless you speak French. Do you want mountains, hills, or just flat land?

In addition to the pet/house sitting website suggested earlier--a good idea--you might want to peruse some wildlife photography forums or sites. Jasper National Park has numerous rental cabins & some may be winterized. Sadly winter is screw-the-skier season (as opposed to screw-the-golfer season). That would be closer to civilization though & you'd still have the wildlife--plus the Rocky Mountains!

You'd need access to a vehicle, preferably a 4WD truck or SUV, as you're likely to be some miles from a town. You'd also be more comfortable with a winterized cabin (i.e., heat, running water & an indoor toilet).

It sounds like something you want to do & we certainly have the opportunities here. Please let us know what you end up doing.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yes, of course i f'ing do!
I trekked 3 weeks to Everest Base camp in -20C and a week in Siberia at -30C.

One can't expect to understand a northern winter sitting in a casino in Las Vegas!!!




Its like so many cruisers. They only want the life when the wind doesnt blow and the ice in the margaritas doesn't melt.

Life is not a Facebbok photo!

That would be a warm day then. I saw -46c in the Mountains in BC in Jan once. There are colder parts.

I don't know why no one mentioned it already, but most wildlife has flown south (Caribbean perhaps). Those creatures that can't leave are tucked up in a nice warm cave/burrow. The odd shivering moose may be seen. Oh, and 8 hours of daylight only.

That said, I love the Rockies and deep winter is magical.

[Mike OReilly]

PC makes some excellent suggestions and wisdom Mark. But I wouldn't disregard all near-49th parallel possibilities. Northern Ontario from Thunder Bay to Kenora runs close to the 49th and is some of the most remote and "wintery" places you'll find. So too with interior BC. Lots of semi remote areas close to the border.

Actually, most of Canada's population lives well south of the 49th parallel. Even Thunder Bay is just south of the line.


Why go fast, when you can go slow

[MarkJ]

Yes, PC does give some great info, as do others, esp Rognvald!!!

The idea of remoteness is it gives a most undisturbed habitat.
And its not just the large animals that turn me on... a few years ago I did some days in Michigan snow-shoeing. The little critters can't migrate and many don't hibernate but use food caches. They must venture out each day or so. And their tracks are preserved in snow so much easier to identify and track than in summer. Just to see that a mouse has hopped this way is good for me.
Remoteness also gives a chance of hearing wolves howl at night. Damn that would be exciting!

The more remote the better

I don't care if I need to be dumped in at the beginning of the month and picked up a month later because THATS the adventure. To be away, remote, alone, in the wild, the wilderness, the outback, in the forest, the woods, the bush, the scrub, surrounded by what most people think is nothing, deserted and useless. THATS the adventure.

Winter is not the time of plenty. That's the warm months when everything is abundant. Winter is the time of struggle and survival: animals must get out and range, hunt and forage. It is the perfect time when the birds have flown south taking all the humans with them, then is the time to watch the wildlife survive. THATS the adventure

So thanks everyone with their ideas and contacts. I have had some great PMs with ideas where to look, as well as posts here, I know I can find a perfect warm room with a window into a view of a world I have never seen

And further north I could get the Arora Borialis as well!!!

So I appreciate your help. If you have a buddy who doesn't use his hut in the dead of winter...


Mark

[SimonV]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Thanks for the good ideas. PMs sent.
Still looking for more ideas too

YOU ARE NUTS give yourself an uppercut and stay warm.

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[deblen]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Mark,
I think I might be able to help if you are flexible. My neighbor has a beautiful wilderness cabin on the North Shore Of Lake Superior. The closest town is 10 miles by gravel road. There are numerous inland lakes, ponds and streams within walking distance and the wildlife is spectacular. Although it is a small open cabin with one bed, there is a beautiful fieldstone fireplace, running water, indoor toilet and a great old cook stove. The cost will be free with one small catch: you'll have to share it with another person. Let me know if you're interested. Your roommate's picture is below. The cabin can be seen in the distance. Good luck and may your Winter be warm!!
Rognvald

Can she saw,split,pile & carry wood & keep a wood fire going??
Send picture of axe & chainsaw.
/Len

[deblen]

New Brunswick only has 700,000 population. Lots of wilderness & game.
Adair's Wilderness Lodge Snowmobiling

I don't know your level of survival skills,but I would caution you about getting too far from "civilization",especially if you are alone-regardless of where you camp.
Minor accidents become very serious if you are immobilized & not able to drive/trek out for help.
Celphone communications will be nil for locations beyond 10mi. or so of major highways or towns. Satphone may be necessary.
Regardless of the time of year,it is serious business.
Cold weather & animals are a negligible danger compared to a simple fall, illness,or getting a vehicle stuck.

Canada is so thinly populated (35million) with at least 75% living within 300 mi. of US border on a strip 4000 mi.long.
You only have to go 10mi. off the main drag in most areas to be well isolated.
The rest of the country,north of that strip,is very,very thinly populated.Think Aussie. outback.

If you've been to northern Mich. in winter,you have seen "Canadian" type winter conditions,as long as you stay in the "strip".

Apologies for sermon. Just making you aware.

Use Google Earth & Maps to research areas of interest.

/Len


This man was an ass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIgvCUXxh1Y

[Mike OReilly]

Mark, I hope you're not doing some "Into the Wild" fantasy experience .

Here's a couple of pics from our last house. It was on the north shore of Lake Superior. We had real winter, chock full of wolves, fox, moose, caribou, along with deer, bear (not in the winter) and mouse tracks everywhere. It was glorious ... and dangerous. There were many days where we were unable to get outside our door, (due to snow build up), let alone get into town. Heated with wood, which gives you an appreciation for how much energy it really takes to stay alive in a cold climate.

Winter is not something to be taken lightly. Just like an ocean, cold will kill you if you disrespect it. But I'm sure you know this.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Winter is not something to be taken lightly. Just like an ocean, cold will kill you if you disrespect it. But I'm sure you know this.

The house looks great!

You missed my post about doing Siberia in winter and doing Everest Base Camp in winter

Originally Posted by deblen

Apologies for sermon. Just making you aware.

]

Read post re winter in Sibera and Everest Base Capm in winter.

But thanks for your thoughts

I know i come accross as an idiot. Its been something that has stuck with me all my life. But those who have always called me an idiot have never done any of the things I have done, let alone all the things I have done.




Mark

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by deblen

New Brunswick only has 700,000 population. Lots of wilderness & game.

Yes, but he wants to be eaten by seen by wolves, and they are few and far between in NB, otherwise a Restigouche fishing camp might work. I think it's Northern Canada or Alaska. Why Canada and not Alaska, Mark? Just curious.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Brob2

Why Canada and not Alaska, Mark? Just curious.

Visa issues.
Us foreigners only get 6 months on the USA side of the fence. I want to stay to see the US election and that takes me a bit close given also I need to have waiting time for a weather window to sail south.

I dont want to get a visa extension this trip. So its all a bit of forward jigsaw puzzling with visas.

I will ask for better visa conditions for Australians when President Trump takes the Throne.



Alaska would be wonderful. But it may not be for a while

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Visa issues.
Us foreigners only get 6 months on the USA side of the fence. I want to stay to see the US election and that takes me a bit close given also I need to have waiting time for a weather window to sail south.

I dont want to get a visa extension this trip. So its all a bit of forward jigsaw puzzling with visas.

I will ask for better visa conditions for Australians when President Trump takes the Throne.



Alaska would be wonderful. But it may not be for a while

Righto. I thought perhaps the fine local authorities of New York City were deporting you after your last boat party. But apparently it wasn't that good.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

The house looks great!



You missed my post about doing Siberia in winter and doing Everest Base Camp in winter







Read post re winter in Sibera and Everest Base Capm in winter.



But thanks for your thoughts



I know i come accross as an idiot. Its been something that has stuck with me all my life. But those who have always called me an idiot have never done any of the things I have done, let alone all the things I have done.









Mark

I would never call you an idiot Mark. A lot of other adjectives come to mind, but never an idiot ;-).

I'm sure your time in Siberia and the Himalayas will serve you well. Sustained weeks of -30C will be different, especially if you're living remotely. I'm sure you're up for it, but don't treat it lightly.


Why go fast, when you can go slow