Winter Caretaker’s Blog Volume 4
Dec. 8- Dec.31
Hello again from the subarctic of Manitoba!
Christmas has come and gone & nearly another full month has flown by. As I write this, it is December 31st, and I am patiently waiting for the clock to roll into a new year!
The original plan was for my stay up here to end between Christmas and January 1st; however, the logistics of arranging a flight up to such a remote location this time of year have proven to be a challenge. As such, I happily remain the sole inhabitant of North Seal River Lodge until further notice.
Christmas was quiet and pensive for me this year. A beautiful Christmas tree, hand-picked from the woods not far away, decorated with treasures I’ve found during my time here, made it feel a little more like home for the holidays.
A few days before Christmas, I was paid a visit by some hunters travelling through. They had been successful on their hunt and harvested a few caribou that will be shared with their community. It was obvious they had travelled a great distance in the freezing temperatures, so I gladly brewed them a fresh pot of coffee and shared with them a few other supplies. In return, they graciously gifted me a full Caribou backstrap, which is a prime cut of meat.
Being that I have never tried Caribou, this was a nice treat and a welcome gift. Within minutes of them giving it to me, I had some slices in the frying pan. A little bit of salt and pepper on thin strips, slowly fried in butter, was how I was instructed to cook it- and I sure did enjoy it.
I consider this gift a great privilege, knowing that Caribou has been a staple for their people for many generations. Long before fly-in fishing lodges, their ancestors were travelling these same routes following the Caribou up and down the eskers, across the frozen lakes and into the barren lands that lay north- these gentlemen continue to provide for their communities in much of the same fashion as their forefathers did- only now with a few modern tools such as snowmobiles.
Aside from that experience, my days have been uneventful as of late. The weather has consistently been below -30 °C, even reaching -40 °C. Christmas Day and Boxing Day offered a nice break in the frigid temperatures when it rose to -22 °C, which felt almost tropical in contrast. I took advantage of that slightly warmer weather and got a long hike in, as well as topped up my water and fuel supplies.
Lodge ski-doo bringing back barrels of water for caretaker’s cabin
Staying on top of my supplies has proven to be a little more difficult in such cold, but I have managed to do so regardless. Being creative and having sufficient problem-solving abilities is an important skill up here. I’ve learned that time is my greatest asset while I am here and that when things aren’t working as planned, it pays to slow down and think about an alternate approach.
I have been informed that I am scheduled to head home on the 14th of January, meaning I will have been up here for about 114 days by the time I leave. I believe this to be one of my biggest adventures to date, and one of my most testing accomplishments so far.
In today’s world, I do not know of many people who are offered such an experience. As I reflect, I cannot help but feel gratitude for the experience as a whole. Amidst its challenges, it has been a marvellous journey to say the least.
I am now looking forward to my next chapter, which includes heading home, spending some time with my loved ones and planning more adventures. I am excited to document the details of the changeover when Ryan arrives here to swap me out!
Stay tuned to hear more about the changing of the guard!
