Paddling Algonquin in November: The Big Trout Loop
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- Опубликовано: 29 фев 2024
- In November 2023 my husband Pat and I went out for our final canoe trip of the year. We chose a popular 80km loop in Algonquin Provincial Park off highway 60 called "The Big Trout Loop". As it was cold and late in the season, we saw only one other person on a route that is very crowded in the summer. We loved it!
Although I pride myself in having fun and being light hearted, in this video I discuss a more serious and personal issue regarding my own health. I want to raise awareness regarding this issue in the hopes that I can help even just one other person who may not have known to ask for testing.
Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Screening:
If you watched this video and want to know more about these topics, I have included the following links to help you educate yourself. The links are from a reputable website recommended by my own genetic counselor/health care team. I had "medical grade" bloodwork done and genetic counseling. My results are NOT from "ancestry" or "23 and me" testing kits which are far less reliable. Sharing sound healthcare information is very important to me as I am Critical Care RN and I believe strongly that people should be using scientific information and expert advice to guide healthcare decisions. Although oncology and genetics are not my areas of expertise, I do have knowledge on where to obtain reliable medical information. Hopefully the following links may provide you with a place to start:
Should you get genetic testing done:
www.facingourrisk.org/info/he...
What is genetic testing:
www.facingourrisk.org/info/he...
My Genetic Screening Backstory:
When I was 26 (almost a decade ago), I asked my former family doctor if I could have genetic testing done. I am not sure what his reasoning was, but he told me I did not need this testing. At the age of 33, I was lucky enough to have another physician do a comprehensive family cancer history and urge me to get genetic testing done. The process was lengthy and I only received my positive results two weeks prior to my 35th birthday.
"My" cancer gene (called BRCA2) means an increased risk of: breast (women and men), ovarian (women only), prostate (men only), pancreatic and skin cancers. Other than my mom having breast cancer, my own family history also includes prostate cancer, leukemia, colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. You do not need a history of just one type of cancer in your family in order for you to test positive for a hereditary cancer gene. The gene can come from either your mom or dad. There are currently over 20 "major" hereditary cancer genes recognized, BRCA2 is just one of them. Research is constantly progressing and "new cancer causing" genetic mutations are being discovered. Approximately 10% of all cancers are hereditary, yet it is estimated that 90% of people carrying these genes are unaware that they have them. If you are concerned, ask your family doctor about hereditary cancer screening (genetic testing). I wish that I had heard a story like my own when I had asked for the testing in my 20's. I would likely have been more persistent in asking for testing if I had. I feel lucky that I became aware that I have this gene before cancer actually developed. I am now on a waiting list and hope to have my mastectomy done this spring. I hope that my story and the links I have provided may give you a good place to start and a bit of hope.
(all above info was obtained from the FORCE website and my own genetic screening results)
#camping #paddling #canoeing #algonquin #adventure #swift #winter #backcountry #wilderness #cancer #geneticcounseling #brca #breastcancerprevention
I camped at the same site you did on White Trout the first week of June, 2023; when you did the Meanest Link! Amazing site. Wishing you all the best. Ted from Maryland….
That’s a beautiful site isn’t it? We loved the “front porch” rock. We spent the whole afternoon there. Thanks for watching Ted!
Just did this route with my 9yo son in September. It was beautiful to relive it through your trip video and sobering and touching for you to share the very personal side of this trip with us. I think a lot of us wonder how we would cope with a crisis like the one you are facing. It's very inspiring to see you finding your peace and clarity in nature. I wish you both all the best and look forward to watching more of your videos as you recover.
I’m glad you enjoyed Matt! I always love reliving a trip through someone else’s eyes as well.
Thank you for your kind words. Being out in nature is definitely my happy place. I will try to be outside as much as possible while recovering. I do also have some old footage to edit while I have a lot of time on my hands 😊 hopefully I’ll have some new stuff out soon!
Thank you for sharing your difficult story. I sense it was very important for you to do so. I know it’s an important message for all the hear. ❤
Thank you so much. It was difficult to share but also therapeutic. I actually almost didn’t even post the video on RUclips but I am hoping that sharing my story can help even one other person prevent cancer. Thank you for your support!
This brought back many fond memories of the Big Trout loop in busier summer months (the Ink portage not so much), and I've always wished to trip in the off-season for it's own charms. Thanks for sharing this. Too many of us know the pain C brings families, friends, and ourselves, so it's a welcome chance to "change the rules" to "get ahead of it". Much Respect and Best Wishes on your journey Stephanie. Looking forward to seeing your 36th birthday vlog under tarp in front of a fire and sipping whatever. Pass the protein powder.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed Brad! That ink to Tom Thompson portage just keeps going on and on eh?! It is beautiful though. You should definitely go off season. We only saw one other guy on our last full day. It was such a treat to have the place “to ourselves”.
Thanks also for the kind words and well wishes. It was scary to share something so personal but the response has been overwhelmingly supportive. I’m hoping my message can help prevent cancer for at least one other person. Cheers to many more birthdays in the back country!
(P.S the protein powder made me laugh 😂)
Good morning Steph. Just came across your channel and ……! Thanks for allowing us to watch this high quality material:)
Cheers 😊
I’m glad you’re enjoying! Thanks for watching 😊
From watching this vid I can see how strong you are! Cancer will lose 100% or the time with you. your love for the outdoors is definitely some strong medicine as well. Thank you for sharing your story and the amazing trip you had!
Thanks for your kind words of support. Being outside in nature is extremely important for me. It sounds like you feel the same way. I won’t be able to trip like this for a bit but I’m hoping that taking all these measures will allow me more years of doing what I love with the people I love down the line. I’m hoping I will recover quickly and get back to it!
Amazing video!!! This trip seems pivotal in your processing and I’m so grateful for you sharing your story! I can hear the emotion in your voice ❤
Also, those wolf sounds 😮😮😮
Thank you my friend! The trip and the creation of the video were both extremely helpful in processing what I’m going through. I’m hoping my message makes it to those who may need to hear it.
Weren’t the wolves howling amazing?!
Today I just watched your Meanest Link video and had a big smile. Two friends not only overcoming an immense challenge, but having fun at the same time. Thanks for letting us follow along.
After finishing this video, I can only say that you are facing your next challenge on your own terms. There is no sympathy, just empathy and admiration for your attitude. Pat and yourself will go through so many emotions in the months to come. But having your favorite person next to you makes it possible to succeed.
Without my wife's amazing support, i would not be here today. Pat, watching your wife go through this, is so painful. Being present and supportive is the key. Your trips to Algonquin will return soon enough.
To both of you, rest and take care of each other. Thank you for sharing and letting others carry your burden.
Wishing you better days ahead and calm water. 😊
Such a beautiful message! Thank you for sending so much love and support to an amazing woman! ❤
Thank you so much for your thoughtful message. I can tell you understand more than most people. I’m so glad you had someone with you through your own challenge and that you’re still here to enjoy life.
I am very lucky to be surrounded by supportive friends and family and of course an amazing husband. They have all already made this much easier than it would have been. I know my eagerness to go out into the back country will be a major driving force in my recovery. I hope to be back as soon as possible.
Thank you for watching and your lovely message
Very brave of you to share. Thank you. Wish you all the best with your journey.
Thank you very much. I almost didn’t post it as I don’t normally share this much. I’m hoping I can spread awareness and help even one other person.
Paddles up to you Stephanie - All the best for a speedy recovery.
Thank you!!
I am so glad to see you posting videos, Steph. I suppose you had the whole park to yourself.
Also, thanks for sharing; I can imagine it's not an easy thing to do for a reserved person.
I wish you all the best and a swift, healthy recovery.✌
Thank you so much. We almost had the whole park to ourselves. We only saw one other person the entire 6 days we were out. It was beautiful. Thank you also for the well wishes. It was a difficult video to create but I’m hoping it can help even just one other person. I will try to recover quickly and get back to doing what I love most ♥️
great story touching really enjoyed this thanks for sharing i hope god will smile on you and things will change for better the voyage was excellent viewing classsssssssssssss
Thanks for your kind words Mike. I’m glad you enjoyed and I hope my story can reach people who may need to learn about this gene for their own health. Im still waiting for my surgery. I may sneak a spring trip in! May as well have some fun while I wait, right? 😊
The excitement to see a paddling trip posted in winter quickly turned into a touching story. Hoping you recover quick and have a future of many more paddling years on the water.
Thank you Jay. I’m hoping it wasn’t too depressing. It’s a heavy topic and I almost didn’t post the video but I think awareness is important. I really hope that the video can help at least one person prevent cancer. I know I am lucky and want to pay it forward. Thanks for your support!
thank you for another wonderful outing stephanie,i hope your friend from the meanest link video has recuperated,i still cringe thinking about a low spine or hip injury in the middle of nowhere could bring about catastrophe,but you two handled it quite well.my wife went through something similar 40yrs ago,thankfully tech has improved diagnostics so there is a fighting chance.take care and thanks again for a great video with beautiful photography and friendship.
Thanks for the well wishes John! Mary is doing much better now. We did a trip together about a week after this one and other than regaining her strength, she was just about back to normal. Glad you enjoyed the video 😊
Not a easy time to paddle, enjoyed it and hope all is well, thanks for sharing..
Glad you enjoyed Jim! It was definitely challenging. Although we have camped in colder temps, I think we felt the most cold on this trip due to all the precipitation. Always worth going out though 😊
❤love Algonquin love the video keep on teucking
Thanks for watching! I’m glad you’re enjoying 😊
Well done, Well said, well filmed, well put together... thank you!
Thank you for watching. I’m glad you enjoyed!!
❤ wishing you a speedy recovery from your surgeries. Thanks for sharing and glad that you were able to make the late season trip to clear your head.
Thanks Chris. If nothing else, all of this makes me even more appreciative of time in the outdoors. I will do everything I can to recover and get back out there asap!
You’ll be there before you know it!
Great Video, thank you for sharing, out thoughts will be with you as you recover from your surgeries, we look forward to your return camping video in the future. Keep the focus on your positive and preferred outcomes, thoughts turn to things, good thoughts, good things. see you here soon, Bob n Lou.
Thanks so much for your kind words. I completely agree, I will definitely be focusing my energy on staying positive and regaining my strength. Focusing on the things I CAN do rather than the things I can’t will get me through. I have lots of old footage to edit while I recover. I’ll be back before you know it 😊
😎👌
What a great canoe trip for that time of the year! Great to have total solitude in such a wonderful setting.
We love tripping in the shoulder season for that reason! This route is very crowded during the summer and we got it all to ourselves.
And no bugs either!@@stephaniefinn488
You and Pat are two very special people. This was an incredible video, such special moments together during a time of anxiety and the anticipation of the upcoming surgery. Best wishes.
Thanks Kristin!! It was a tough 7 months leading up to the mastectomy but I’m happy to say the anticipation might have been the worst part. I am now 5 weeks post op and the recovery has been almost pain free and quite quick! I’ve already spent one night in a tent and been out in the canoe as a passenger. I’m working back up to being able to paddle though! Thank you for the kind words 😊
@@stephaniefinn488 I watched your video last night. I can’t imagine how it must have been to live your life knowing that your Mom died so young and living in fear that when it might happen to you. Being the partner of someone who lived with stomach cancer the waiting for results or surgery it was always very difficult. I’m so impressed that you were able to share your story publicly. I will also look at the information about gene testing. In particular for both of my daughters. I’m so glad you are on the road to recovery
Good evening from the Uk , ( Rizzo a life outdoors ) we came over in august last year paddled there , I wish you well with your up coming operations ,
Thank you! I’m glad you were able to come over and enjoy our beautiful corner of the world. I hope you’re able to come back!
@@stephaniefinn488 100 % il be back there , it is my go to place , I love it and would recommend anyone to give it a go
What an emotional and beautiful trip. I must say, I'd be so nervous about the lakes freezing over mid-trip if paddling Algonquin in November...
Thank you, it was a challenging video to make but also a great creative outlet and an opportunity to possibly help others. I’m glad that I decided to share it.
We were definitely nervous about the lakes freezing! We kept a close eye on the weather in the week leading up to the trip. We also had other routes further south that we could travel instead if the weather looked too iffy. It was definitely starting to freeze in grassy bay. This type of trip requires a lot of careful decision making which we never take lightly.
Looks like a great trip, although a little chilly. Not sure about you two, but we are looking forward to some open water paddling again!
The cold weather was worth it! We got dry suits this year so we’ve paddled at least once a month through out the entire winter. It’s been such a mild year!
@@stephaniefinn488 us to, we are attempting to paddle every month this year
@@Tents.and.Timber awesome! I’ll bet you’ll be successful if you’ve done every month so far!
Thanks for a real nice video, made a little bit less so by the unnecessary cancer talk.
Thanks for watching. I’m sorry if “the cancer talk” made you uncomfortable but it is important for me to raise awareness about an issue that isn’t a well known. I nearly did not post the video for fear of negative comments but I decided to do so in the hopes that I could help others. I know not everyone will understand this and that’s ok.
take another canoe trip@@stephaniefinn488
Just wanted to say it was a pleasure running into you and camping beside you in Frontenac PP. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip and hopefully got some great footage of the eclipse. Wishing you guys an amazing summer on the water. Hope to see you in the Yukon sometime 🏔️ 🛶. Keep the films coming 🎥! Looking forward to catching up on your videos!
It was so nice to meet you! I really enjoyed chatting. The rest of my trip was nothing short of magic! (Especially the eclipse! Wow!). I couldn’t have hoped for a better first solo adventure. Your videos are such an inspiration for me. I can’t wait to see what you got up to on the rest of your Frontenac trip and your eclipse footage! Cheers!