Journey to Anahareo and Grey Owl's Cabin - Kristin Gleeson

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Anahareo

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Journey to Anahareo and Grey Owl's Cabin 9/28/2014 2 Comments I was honored this year to be asked to speak at a tribute weekend to Anahareo and Grey Owl in Waskesiu, Sasketchewan in Canada. As I travelled from Ontario (Toronto) to Saskatoon, in Canada, the last week of August, I thought about Grey Owl and Anahareo’s journey all those years before with the beavers, after leaving Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba in November,1931. I was flying, but their journey was by train. More restful you might think, on a train. Nice and gentle, no squashed seating with knees around your ears as you try to manage a hot beverage and a plate of food on a flip down table the size of child's hand, as is the case with the plane nowadays. But then I realized they had the beavers with them, packed in their wood stove, and all the food and baggage they’d need for the coming winter. Not so easy. Once in Saskatoon, I was met at the airport by my wonderful host and Waskesiu resident, Doreen Kerby, who packed me into her car and we drove the 3 hour journey to Waskesiu, in Prince Albert National Park. The highway was smooth, straight and clear cut through the Sasketchewan prairie land filled with ripening crops in a car with plush bucket seats and modern shock absorbers. Back in the thirties, I could imagine this journey would have been much longer, made on rough dusty roads in the back of a truck that would rattle the teeth out of your head and coat your throat with dirt. The prairies eventually gave way to a more rugged landscape and the trees rose higher and more majestic as we entered the arboreal forest. Tall pines, black spruce, white birch, and aspen. By the time I arrived in Waskesiu it was dark. Exploration would have to wait until the next day. The next morning I was able to have a short walk around the point, the place where the old cottages from the early days of the park are located. Among them was the oldest cabin in the park, a trapper’s cabin, now renovated into a lovely home full of whimsy. I thought about how it must have been in the days when Anahareo and Grey Owl were here. I’m sure they would have been to the old cabin and could only imagine what they would make of it now. After the walk it was time to begin the journey to Anahareo and Grey Owl’s cabin. We drove to Kingsmere Lake, parking in the designated area, and then made the short trek to the edge of the lake. Grey Owl and Anahareo would have had to carry the beavers and all the supplies and gear in stages back and forth from the clearing where they would have unloaded the truck. For me, it was a short trek. For them, one of a series of portages they were to make to get to their new home at Ajawaan Lake. Once at the edge of the shore I climbed into a small motor boat along with 4 companions and the guide. There was another boat of 6 others on this trip as well. All part of the tribute weekend celebrations. The journey across the lake was about 25 minutes and fairly smooth for a place that can get choppy in a heartbeat. Anahareo and Grey Owl made the journey by canoe and with the beavers crated up and loaded with all their supplies, it was neither fast, nor easy. They were expert canoeist, though, but still I appreciate their strength and stamina. When we reached the other side, there was another portage to journey across. This one though, well marked and had boardwalks in areas where the muskeg was too wet to walk safely and comfortably across. No boardwalks for Anahareo and Grey Owl, and it was a long portage. Now they have a track with a little carriage to push up and down for easier porting. Still, it would wear out many people going back and forth for canoe, supplies and luggage. Once at the lake’s edge, the canoeist can lower his boat in the water and paddle his way across Ajawaan Lake to the cabin, but we trekkers walked around the edge of the lake to the cabin, peeking through the trees to catch sight of it. The plantlife was really in full bloom, as it was late August, with loads of bunchberries and other plants. The bugs were in retreat for the most part, something I much appreciated. Mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, noseeums and anything else that would eat me alive in June and July were thankfully gone to ground now. It was November when Anahareo and Grey Owl moved the beavers to Ajawaan, but other times of the year, in any part of the bush, it must have been a real challenge with all those bugs. The main cabin was in a small clearing. I could recognize it at once, of course, after seeing so many photos of it while researching the book. It still felt so special to actually see it in person. The day was grey, but at least it wasn’t raining (that sounds like I’m back in Ireland). I bounded up to the upper cabin-- the one Anahareo stayed in after Dawn was born and she needed a place for the baby away from the beavers. I wanted to look at that alone, to have some moments just with the cabin and my own thoughts. It was empty and quiet and I stood there for a little while and just took it in, imagining how it was to live there day after day, hauling water, cooking, washing clothes. Not easy. From there I went to the graves: Grey Owl, Anahareo and Dawn. I picked some wildflowers and put it on Anahareo’s grave and said a few words to her. A few moments more alone with the three of them and then I went back down to the lower cabin where the rest of the trekkers were. I reached the lower cabin and went inside, e the lower cabin, wondering how much of it would be like the photos I poured over for hours. The corner of the cabin devoted to the beavers was still piled high with the branches and twigs. Near it was the wooden frame of the bed and the table. Even a shelf above it had a few items on it and on the other side hung an oar that Grey Owl inscribed, hung on the wall. A wood stove took up some room and I imagined them huddled round it in the dead of winter, Anahareo reading her geology books and Grey Owl scribbling away. There was a guest book on the table and beside it postcards for cabin visitors to take away. I sighed and soaked up the atmosphere a bit and then joined the others outside to sit a while, take in the lake view and think of the hours Grey Owl and Anahareo spent in this spot. All the years that have passed and still their environmental message is as important today as it was then. Even more so. 2 Comments Sophie McCall 10/2/2014 03:31:05 am Thanks Kristin for your thoughts on this special journey. It was so great to meet you at Waskesiu this past summer. Thanks also for your excellent presentation at the Gala. Reply Fran Weidner 1/19/2016 02:00:53 pm I'm excited to become acquainted with your work. I am a "Read and Review" participant at Choosy Bookworm and selecting ‘The Imp of Eye.’ Please forgive my using this way of contacting you, I could not find a contact option. Please resend your email. I read with a Kindle app. I am not able to download your file. Thank you, Kristin. Reply Leave a Reply.

9/28/2014

2 Comments

Once at the lake’s edge, the canoeist can lower his boat in the water and paddle his way across Ajawaan Lake to the cabin, but we trekkers walked around the edge of the lake to the cabin, peeking through the trees to catch sight of it. The plantlife was really in full bloom, as it was late August, with loads of bunchberries and other plants. The bugs were in retreat for the most part, something I much appreciated. Mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, noseeums and anything else that would eat me alive in June and July were thankfully gone to ground now. It was November when Anahareo and Grey Owl moved the beavers to Ajawaan, but other times of the year, in any part of the bush, it must have been a real challenge with all those bugs.

Thanks Kristin for your thoughts on this special journey. It was so great to meet you at Waskesiu this past summer. Thanks also for your excellent presentation at the Gala.

I'm excited to become acquainted with your work. I am a "Read and Review" participant at Choosy Bookworm and selecting ‘The Imp of Eye.’ Please forgive my using this way of contacting you, I could not find a contact option. Please resend your email. I read with a Kindle app. I am not able to download your file. Thank you, Kristin.

Author Kristin Gleeson is a writer, artist and musician who lives in the west of Ireland in the Gaeltacht. Her historical novels, Selkie Dreams , and Along the Far Shores, and Raven Brought the Light , are available on Amazon. Her biography of a Canadian First Nations woman, Anahareo, A Wilderness Spirit , is published by Fireship Press. Recieve a free novella prequel to Along the Far Shores when you sign up for the mailing list on the homepage homepage Archives February 2018 October 2017 August 2017 December 2016 June 2016 May 2016 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 September 2014 August 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 December 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 December 2012 November 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 Categories All Alaska Anahareo Anam Cara Art Class Assassin's Wife Bee Keeping Blog Hop Breath Of Africa Brehon Laws Catching The Eagle Company Of Liars Conservation Courtesans Cynithia Neale Devil In Deerskins Devil In Deersksin Duchess Of Gloucester Duke Humphrey Of Gloucester Early Writing Eating The Bible Edward IV Estoria De Espanna Falcons Of Fire And Ice Five Points Frances Kay Grey Owl Henry VI Hollywood Stereotypes Of Native Americans Imp Of Eye Ireland Jane Bwye John O'Donohue Karen Charlton Karen Maitland Lalibela Macroom Macroom Cloak Measuring Chains Medieval Ireland Medieval Spain Micka Misspelt Names Moonyeen Blakey Norah NY Prester John Prince Henry The Navigator Princes In The Tower Publishing Book Pumpkin Pie Rena Rosner Richard III Sean Keane Seven Noble Knights Social And Economic Deprivation Sophie McCall St. Aban St. Brigid St. Gobnait St. Patrick's Day Thanksgiving The Vanishing Witch Tim Weed Tlingits Tonto Venice Veronica Franco Witchcraft Witch Of Eye World War Ii Writing Inspirations RSS Feed

Kristin Gleeson is a writer, artist and musician who lives in the west of Ireland in the Gaeltacht. Her historical novels, Selkie Dreams , and Along the Far Shores, and Raven Brought the Light , are available on Amazon. Her biography of a Canadian First Nations woman, Anahareo, A Wilderness Spirit , is published by Fireship Press.

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All Alaska Anahareo Anam Cara Art Class Assassin's Wife Bee Keeping Blog Hop Breath Of Africa Brehon Laws Catching The Eagle Company Of Liars Conservation Courtesans Cynithia Neale Devil In Deerskins Devil In Deersksin Duchess Of Gloucester Duke Humphrey Of Gloucester Early Writing Eating The Bible Edward IV Estoria De Espanna Falcons Of Fire And Ice Five Points Frances Kay Grey Owl Henry VI Hollywood Stereotypes Of Native Americans Imp Of Eye Ireland Jane Bwye John O'Donohue Karen Charlton Karen Maitland Lalibela Macroom Macroom Cloak Measuring Chains Medieval Ireland Medieval Spain Micka Misspelt Names Moonyeen Blakey Norah NY Prester John Prince Henry The Navigator Princes In The Tower Publishing Book Pumpkin Pie Rena Rosner Richard III Sean Keane Seven Noble Knights Social And Economic Deprivation Sophie McCall St. Aban St. Brigid St. Gobnait St. Patrick's Day Thanksgiving The Vanishing Witch Tim Weed Tlingits Tonto Venice Veronica Franco Witchcraft Witch Of Eye World War Ii Writing Inspirations

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