Welcome to LATITUDES! My name is Pete, and I have been a long time outdoor adventurer, and more recently an amateur filmmaker. My desire for all of the people who stumble onto my channel is to be motivated to explore; to break away from the mundane norms of society and technology, and embrace the simple, endless, and bountiful beauty of nature. Escape for a while to the ambient, remote wilderness.
Easyist river I’ve ever been on its good for you first trip not even close to the Northern French don’t go there you’ll get hurt unless you know what you’re doing
Very well done gentlemen. It's a prime example why Ontario is an amazing part of earth. Spent most of my 68yrs on Lake Nipissing and Georgian Bay. Your historic references are a valuable addition to your trip. 2,000 years ago the river ran the opposite direction all the way down the Ottawa River. Another amazing river for tripping. Be well fellow explorers. "lets go around one more corner"
I grew up spending summers at Harley Bay and worked at Kamp Kaintuck and a few lodges as a fishing guiding. Just a note that where you turned left to cross the very open Wanapitei Bay at Kamp Kaintuck... If it's windy and you're not staying at SIte #618, which we call The Bad River Turn", the Wanapitei River is a good protected alternate route and often you'll see lots of wildlife (turtles, deer, herons, eagles, etc.) along the shores. You could also turn left before that, the first channel on your left after leaving Hartley Bay, and head towards the French River Lodge (FRL) via the :S-Turn" as it's protected from the west winds. Then, once you pass the FRL head south toward the main channel at Eaglesnest Island and hug the west shore to avoid the west winds.I highly recommend touring the Bad River and south towards The Fingerboards through the many stunningly beautiful "inside channels". Afternoon (2:00-4:00PM) bass fishing on the inside fringe of the south Fingerboards can be rewarding. Lindy Rig with hook and worm ;-)
I hope You'll do the North Channel. You'll go right by Green Bay Lodge. The North channel also has some Difficulties, but I'd love ❤️ to see you conquer it.
Pete amazing journey thank you! I spent many years at our cottage on Bragdon Island at the narrows just below the previous Keystone Lodge. We came across Nippising on the original Chief Commanda arriving at the lodge then taking a boat called the Aletis to our island dropping off cottagers along the way. Living in nature catching minnows for fishing, shore dinners to eat the fish we caught eating fresh blueberries for dessert was an experience of a lifetime. It was truly my heart space. You two were so courageous to take this journey. Thank you again!
Thanks so much for the encouraging words! I love hearing from folks like you who have spent time on the river creating memories like what you did. Thanks for sharing!
My wife & I built our home and have been raising our kids here on the French for the last 15 years now. I just stumbled on your film now and wow! well done! I am a professional commercial videographer so I can appreciate the effort needed to capture this trip. Thank you for showing me parts of this amazing River system that I had never seen before and for inspiring me to also want to plan a trip to paddle it.
Why did they have to stick the word “canoe” on the side of the boat?🤣🤣. I suspect 99.99 % of the population know it’s a canoe 😂. Nova Craft would suffice
Thank you so much! I haven't posted anything since this one, but there's lots of work going on right now towards another big film that will come out in the future. Keep your eyes open! Thanks for the support!
Spoke to Steve at Novocraft yesterday and he set me up with White Rose Canoe in Newbury Mass., my home state. I ordered a Bob Special in Blue Steel and I couldn't be more excited. Can't wait to pick it up in late April. I first bought a Bob 40 years ago in London, in Kevlar, with cherry trim all around. That boat is a bit beat up but still going strong; this new one is for my son- gotta keep the Novocraft legacy going in the family. Oh, and Algonquin PP is only about 800 kilometers from home; nothing like it.
Not quite. This material does have a couple of the same components as Tuff Stuff, but with the addition of carbon fibre. The result is a canoe that is a bit lighter and a bit tougher than Tuff Stuff.
I lived at French River Lodge from 1041 to 1958.. My parents owned French River Lodge. Thanks for letting the World kow about the beauty of that region.
Amazing journey. Love the historic stories and the filming is beautiful. Thank you, I have watched a lot of canoe and adventure vids, this is by far the best!
I really liked your video about the Nova Craft Prospector 15. I am considering buying a new canoe. I currently have an Old Town Explorer, in Royalex, which has been a great boat, but it's just too heavy anymore. I would like a versatile canoe that I can paddle double or solo, and load on the top of my car by myself. It seems like the Prospector 15 could be a good option, but I am also considering a Nova Craft Pal, which I have heard was a favorite of Bill Mason. Any thoughts on this choice? Steve Weed
Hi Steve! I apologize for the tardy reply. If you are still deliberating between the P15 and the Pal, I would suggest to go with the P15. Some of the main reasons why are that the boat will remain much dryer in choppy conditions with the higher walls, the cargo capacity is greater, and the draft under load will be more. Bill Mason did paddle a Pal, but he also paddled several Prospectors. I think the Pal is better suited for lazy river weekend trips, but for anything beyond that, I'd recommend the P15. Let me know what you chose! Peter
Hi Pete I just rewatched your amazing trip on the French and, wanted to give a shout out, for taking us along. I got to spend a week on the headwaters of the French many years back and loved it. I had often wondered how beautiful the lower French must be, and thanks to you and your fantastic video, I now know what I've been missing. The ports seem quite manageable even for older guy like me. Thanks for this. Maybe if I'm really lucky, I can get back up there again 😮. Great story telling in addition the wonderful videography.
Hi Michael! Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed comment. I apologize for not getting a response to you sooner than this. I hope you can explore a new section of the river in 2024. The 550m port is easy, and any carry that you would need to do in the Delta section is short. I wish you amazing paddling adventures in this new year!
Thanks for getting back with me and, I'm excited to read that you're working a Missinaibi video. I'm really excited to see this one in the works. Some of my best friends were fortunate enough to run it as their Senoir HS class trip and, they never stop talking about it, haha!!! Sadly, I missed out as my family moved away in my junior year, so I wasn't eligible, drat. You vid will make up for it! CHEERS 🍻 👏
Great video, it inspired us to do the same trip last week. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to create offline maps/navigation to the campsites and portage locations that you can use on your phone. I have made instructions and map pins available here in case anyone else wants to use them for their trip, was very handy to have. drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eQ-XlB7_aOFkT07BYvN5N8lx3uo0Ar4M?usp=sharing
This area has some of the most beautiful landscapes Ontario has to offer. Thank you very much for sharing your journey and congratulations on completing the same amazing trip so many explorers and pioneers have made over the last few hundred years, it's something very special
Hello Pete. My family watched your fabulous video numerous times in the last 18 months. It sparked something in us. As proud Canadians with some paddling experience, four of us plan to exactly retrace your route starting in 10 days on September 6, 2023 at Lichty’s Marina. We hope you can clarify a question we have. The official Ontario Parks French River map shows both an Old Voyageur and a Voyageur Channel. In light of this, could you explain: • which channel(s) you and Bill followed to Georgian Bay, • where you turned around, and • exactly the route you took back. Thanks so much and best wishes for your future videographic adventures. Paula Cryderman
Hi Paula, I really appreciate your kind comments and I'm so happy to hear that you have been inspired to complete the entire route! To answer your questions..we paddled the Old Voyageur channel, which is the smaller of the two that you mentioned. We paddled it downstream to the end of the channel and turned west, and then south into the mouth of the Bay. Keep paddling south until the Bay opens up to its seemingly endless horizon in the distance, and turn around wherever you please. We took the channel directly east of the Old Voyageur channel back upstream. That channel has no official name, but there is a small waterfall on the northern end of it called Boston Falls. You will be paddling upstream in this channel so some lining might be required if levels are high. We then retraced our steps back up the western arm and made camp near Hartley Bay Marina for the final night. I hope I have answered your questions, if you have any thing else you'd like to ask, feel free to email me at latitudesfilms@outlook.com All the best to you on your trip! Pete
@@LatitudesWildernessFilms Thanks Pete. You answered all our questions perfectly. "Boston Falls" was the breakthrough piece of information for finding your return route. All good to go now! We look forward to your future video releases. Warm regards, Paula.
Just got back from my first multi-day solo kayak on the old Voyager route, partly inspired by this documentary so thank you. It was a majestic experience so much history following in the footsteps of Étienne Brûlé, The Jesuits and The Huron.
