Funding made possible in part by Blind Institute of Technology.

Blind Institute of Technology supports companies that invest in people with disabilities.

Providing Salesforce employment training, staffing, services and accessibility consulting.

The talent is there.

More at blindit.org Funding also made possible in part by Choice Magazine Listening.

Choice Magazine Listening is a quarterly collection of magazine writing professionally recorded for the blind and print disabled, a nonprofit on the web at choicemagazinelistenening.org or 1-888-7CHOICE.

Funding for Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends made possible through Creative Saskatchewan's feature film and TV production grant.

Canadian film or video production tax credit Anthony J. Towstego Philip Doerksen, EWest International Distribution Film one.

RON: There's nothing better than the great outdoors.

I'm a blind person that likes to get out.

I don't get stopped very easily.

I do what I can to work my way around the blindness.

I can participate just like anyone else.

Whether it's fishing, canoeing, cross-country skiing, backpacking all year round.

I love it all.

People that are blind can do a lot more than they think.

The biggest thing is people hold themselves back.

Don't get in your own way.

My name's Ron Walsh.

I'm completely blind.

Get ready for Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends.

This morning, we're heading to Prince Albert National Park.

It's got lots of moose and bears and there may be otters in the river.

So.

We're heading up the Kingsmere River.

This should be another adventure and I'm here with my friend and guide, Ashlyn George.

Morning, Ashlyn.

ASHLYN: Morning.

I'm looking forward to this adventure.

Nice to get on the water.

So we're going to have a lot of daylight, so tons of time to adventure.

I think the sun rises about 4:30 in the morning and its not going to set in until 20 to 10 tonight.

RON: What is the weather like?

ASHLYN: So we got a bit of mixed clouds.

Um, they're lighter on top with a bit of a grey underbelly and some scattered showers here and there.

But the sun is trying to peek through and lighten the day up for us.

(doors open and close) ASHLYN: Alright.

RON: Alright.

We are here.

I will come around, give you my arm.

And ah John McClean, hes here already (RON: Alright) ASHLYN: Hes just in front of us in his SUV He ah beat us here.

Is he in the vehicle?

Oh, yes, there he is.

He's got the two canoes loaded up and ah... RON: How are you doing, John?

JOHN: Not too bad.

ASHLYN: Hey, hows it goin?

Excellent.

Hi.

I'm John McClean In the backcountry.

We're out of cell service here.

Ah we try to be as careful as we can, um but you never know when when an emergency can happen so we have a satellite communication device so we can text or email anybody in the world, ah just the click of a button.

And it also has an S.O.S.

button.

How was the drive up?

It was good.

Did you did you see the elk?

JOHN: Yeah ASHLYN: on the road?

JOHN: A couple elk there, maybe years old?

ASHLYN: Yes.

JOHN: Lots of velvet on the antlers.

ASHLYN: It was pretty nice to see they're right there, too.

Super close.

Oh, my gosh.

That's amazing.

He just poked his head out from around the bush and he's just... eating some some of the little shrubs there Ron.

JOHN: Did you guys see the bear?

ASHLYN: (scoffs) RON: No.

JOHN: I saw a bear cub just off side of the road, kind of climbing up the hill, eating some grass and flowers I dont know ASHLYN: Really?

Just the cub?

No mom?

JOHN: Just the cub, no mom.

But it didn't seem to interested in me so thats good.

RON: Well that's one Yeah.

One.

You're going to see many, many, many more.

If you get attacked by a black bear, you want to be big, noisy.

Fight back.

Make yourself as big as possible Grab your bag, hold it, yell and scream, and hopefully you have some bear spray with you as well.

Fight like crazy.

And actually, Ron, I just want to set the scene for you here because this is pretty stunning.

So right behind us, we've got the KingsmereRiver.

It's winding through the forest.

We've got a grey overcast day but its kind of a little bit foggy and hazy as the rain comes in and out.

And I mean, you can smell the green of the forest right now.

Cant you?

Absolutely.

It smells really good.

And yeah, so we're going to just hop in the river behind us and work our way upstream here.

And it's ah it's pretty beautifu We are we are in it.

Its pretty gorgeous.

We are in the boreal forest.

Yeah.

We are ready for another adventure.

So we're going to paddle upstream here a bit, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

We got to to go upstream for a little ways and then we get to the railway track.

There's ah-- a spot where the rocks are just impassable.

Late twenties, early thirties.

They built a railway track.

So the railway track now you can boat up to it, put your boat on the railway track, haul it up over the hill, back down the other side, back in the water.

So I'm looking forward to throwing the boats in the water and ah get to that railway track How long is that portage.

I think it's around a kilometre, something like that.

And you go up a hill and down a hill-- so.

But I mean that's pretty unique to have a railway to portage your boats.

I mean you don't see that everywhere and saves a little bit of effort from hauling it, especially John youre solo canoeing.

Yeah.

Haha.

So yeah, that should save trips Yeah.

And-- be a little nicer on the shoulders Yeah, except that uphill.

But we'll see.

Well, the uphill and then yeah, hopefully at brake works going downhill!

Yeah.

(laughter) Don't want to run away cart and our canoe and gear I maybe solo myself.

Yeah.

(laughter) Bye Ron... Yeah.

Well we are at the Kingsmere River.

Let's get these boats in the water and do some floating.

Awesome.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Okay, Ron, can you get both hands on that?

Ready, yes Lift the back.

Okay, I'll just let the front up here hand it over to Ashlyn.

Going to the other way Ron.

There you go.

Other way... Other way... This way.

JOHN: There you go.

RON: Gotcha.

JOHN: Okay, Ashlyn, you got it?

Yeah.

And then we're going to take a left, and we're going to walk down the concrete boat launch.

RON: Okay.

ASHLYN: Ready?

RON: Yeah.

ASHLYN: One, two, three.

Here we go.

Okay... ASHLYN: Oh, and then here comes John with the whole canoe on his head (laughter) RON: Okay.

RON: That is warming right up.

ASHLYN: Easy.

Beautiful.

Sun's coming out eh?

ASHLYN: Yeah, this is.

Honestly, this is turning into a perfect day.

I'm ready to go.

I know.

I am, too.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Let's start paddling.

I know.

I'm excited.

And honestly, like, coming up here other times like, I've never actually spent time on the river here.

I know.

We're going upstream.

It'll be nice to be on the river and paddle up it.

And as are lots of twists and turns?

Yeah, Even.

Even from here... So, we cant cant see around the corner?

Yeah.

60 metres down, it curves to the left.

RON: Yeah ASHLYN: And then behind me here, there's a bunch of S curves.

As you can see further out, it links up to Waskesiu Lake, but it S curves out to there.

It's really scenic right here like its absolutely beautiful.

So you come around a corner and see a moose or bear, who knows!

ASHLYN: Right, maybe.

I mean... There's otters in here too.

In here on this one?

RON: In the river.

Yeah.

Oh, yes, yes.

ASHLYN: Okay and I'm going to pull it back.

Can you feel the seat in front of you?

Yes, right here.

Want me to jump in?

Yeah, but right in the middle, because I don't have a great hold on the boat so RON: Okay, no problem.

ASHLYN: You're good?

RON: I'm good.

And I'm floating.

Wave goodbye to civilization.

We are floating.

And we'll be right back with more Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends.

RON: Learning about Grey Owl, in preparation for the hike into his cabin was fascinating.

And I didn't know that he'd filled many town halls telling stories about the environment and telling about his life all across United States and all over the world.

We learned that Grey Owl, whose real name is Archibald Delaney, became a renowned conservationist and author.

Grey Owl presented himself as a man of indigenous heritage, even though he was in fact an Englishman.

He conducted a lecture tour of the United States in early 1938, visiting nine cities.

He delivered a total of 28 lectures across the country over a period of three months.

He focused on the importance of wilderness and wildlife conservation, particularly the protection of beavers.

He became arguably the first celebrity conservationist drawing big crowds to his talks.

His tour was part of a broader North American and British lecture series that made him a famous author and speaker in his day.

Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends.

Wave goodbye to civilization.

We are floating.

JOHN: You guys do a 180 and we'll be on our way.

ASHLYN: There we go.

We are off!

ASHLYN: And you feel the bottom?

Yes.

So we're only in about I don't know.

Two feet of water here.

And I mean, the river's only 20, 30 feet across too so really shallow, really narrow.

JOHN: If you're on a river that's very narrow or shallow, you dont have lots of float plane landings then youre in helicopter only territory, basically.

That's more of a risk both from safety and also the financial point of view.

If you do have to get a rescue.

Head up to the portage.

Head on over this hill, around these rapids, drop her back into the river.

ASHLYN: I mean, we got these dark clouds ahead of us again.

Weve got grass on either side of us, and it rises up into the forest and then gets whats around that first curve?

RON: Whats that?

Another curve.

RON: Alright.

Yeah.

Well, that way we can kind of sneak up on stuff.

Yeah.

Pretty sinewy S curves in here so far.

So um, pretty old growth forests out here, I'd say.

I don't know, 60 foot tall trees maybe even a bit more.

RON: How close to the water do they grow.

ASHLYN: Probably 15 feet on the left side, there's a little more grass down here.

I think it's more swampy there.

And then on the right, the trees go down right to the river here so... Where's that moose?

ASHLYN: Right?

And around this corner we see a bridge, a nice, (RON: really?)

white bridge across.

Oh, yeah.

There's the take out point Series of wood boards that we can roll the canoe right up on.

RON: The ramp up for the railway tracks?

ASHLYN: Yup.

RON: Okay, we're getting there.

ASHLYN: Yup.

We're pretty shallow here, so we can hop out and just walk in the water and drag-- drag the canoe up towards him.

And it's ah sandy bottom.

There you go.

Yeah.

Ron: Okay.

Yeah, it's a little cool now.

RON: A little cool and just starting to rain.

ASHLYN: Just one second Ron here JOHN: Are you good Ron?

RON: What's that?

JOHN: Are you guys good there?

ASHLYN: Yeah, We're just gonna throw our our jackets on.

RON: Yeah.

JOHN: Ok Ill get my boat out of the way Ashlyn: It's raining, so it might be a little bit slippery, too.

Okay.

And then you want to watch the rollers that you don't slide on the rollers.

So about two feet to your left and one more foot and to your left.

JOHN: Be careful and step on the roller yourself.

RON: Yes.

ASHLYN: Pull the canoe up.

Ready?

One, two, three.

JOHN: Going-- going.

Get right up to the front of the boat there Ron.

Ron: Now we're at the ramp that us up and over the hill ah around some rapids that are not enough water in there to boat through.

ASHLYN: So Johns just loading it onto-- RON: The cart?

ASHLYN: Yeah, it's a smaller cart Its about width of the canoe.

RON: Yes ASHLYN: Small green cart and the carts positioned on the railroad tracks.

So it's got it's-- RON: And theres two wheels on this?

ASHLYN: There's two wheels on this.

RON: These railway tracks ah-- in the thirties I think they put these up.

ASHLYN: Oh okay.

RON: It's been around for a long time.

(ASHLYN: Almost 100 years old).

RON: Yeah, yeah.

ASHLYN: Okay.

RON: so you load your boat up on there and push it up over the hill and down the other side And there's a little break so it doesn't get out of get out of hand and ah-- Yeah, that should work out good.

ASHLYN: Sounds pretty cool.

I mean, pretty iconic to be able portage your boats up a rail track.

RON: Yeah, a railway track in the middle of nowhere.

ASHLYN: Yeah.

This track, they've literally just cut a swath of forest out.

RON: Yeah.

ASHLYN: Put this track in and so right and left of us.

We're surrounded by the trees and like, you can hear that river to the right of us.

It's not too far away.

Just on the other side of probably 20 feet of bush.

RON: Definitely not easy to do this.

And you do kind of have to know what you're doing to be able to do this safely.

But there's lots of people to do So find them, join clubs, And get that ah couch glue off your butt.

Oh man, it's getting warm.

I had to take my coat off.

Those uphills are hard.

They get you sweating.

Life is just a series of problems (laughs) basically, that you overcome and work your way onto the next one.

This is a lot of work and it's tough to do, when its raining but I'm enjoying this.

This is fresh air-- Its You know, here with friends, Its ah-- boy theres alot.

This is the best place to be right today, right now.

Get a plan, You pack your stuff, you put it by the door and you leave on a certain date ASHLYN: And you go for an afternoon RON: Yeah-- not every adventure is super expensive and dangerous and there's adventure everywhere.

It's whatever you consider adventure.

JOHN: So you're stepping on the gravel.

It's a little less slippery.

Oh, it's harder for me to pace.

JOHN: And then every so often they change the spacing.

(looses footing) ASHLYN: We got an uphill here Ron.

RON: K. RON: Were at the end of the trail, just about to launch a canoe back in the water and do a little more paddling.

Nice to get back on the river and get out of these mosquitoes for a minute.

Wow, they're brutal.

Now we got maybe another half kilometre or so to paddle up.

into the south end of Kingsmere Lake So we're ready to launch the boat, then get in it and keep on going.

Set some tents up and get some food cooking.

Okay.

Heck of a Plan.... move the boat?

John: Yep.

All right, I got the boat Ron if you want to stand up.

Ron: Hang on to the rope?

John: Ah just keep walking down.

If you want to.

Stay on.

ASHLYN: Ron here is the rest of the rope.

John: The back side of me, just go around me and go right down to the end of the boat.

ASHLYN: And just be mindful of the rollers.

JOHN: Just feel with your cane-- and your-- keep going.

Keep going another 10 feet RON: Oh ok.

JOHN: Keep going, Okay.

Come over to the boat.

There you go.

Just hold the boat there.

Okay.

RON: Let her go?

JOHN: Let her go.

RON: Woo hoo!

(splashing) And we'll be right back with more Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends.

We got rocks here to navigate around as you hike.

Okay, so, Ron, we've got another obstacle on the trail ahead of us.

And a little to the left.

Left.

RON: Am I low enough?

Yeah, youre low enough.

Left-- left, left.

How do you feel when you're like, Oh, man, this is hard.

And I don't know-- I'm struggling in this moment.

But then when you push through.

What's it feel like on the other side?

RON: Fantastic!

The idea that you got a goal and you can actually do it, if you're blind!

I'm completely blind!

And I'm 64 years old, and I'm in here.

I'm struggling and fallen and-- but I'm getting back up.

I am going to make it to the end.

And that's all there is to it.

ASHLYN: Are you feeling tired, Ron?

I'm not too too bad.

I'm-- I'm ah going to make it!

But I am tired.

Life is just kind of a series of problems.

You know they'll pass.

You know you'll solve them.

Youre-- if you're unemployed, you'll get a job.

It's ah at the time it seems impossible, overwhelming, and you just can't do it.

But-- you take a deep breath, you read some instructions, learn how to do it, and just keep going.

Life's not a problem to be solved, it's adventure to be lived.

So-- you got to have that enthusiasm for life.

And I think I do have that.

ASHLYN: Yeah RON: I love doing this.

I love being out here.

And it is tough.

And that is part of it.

It's ah it's not easy Or I wouldnt be here.

(laughter) This is who I am and what I do.

I'm not a person that went blind.

I'm an outdoor person that went blind.

So I didn't suddenly become an outdoor person after I went blind.

Got it!

ASHLYN: There we go.

RON: This is who I am, I've done it my whole life and I'm going to continue to do it my whole life.

till the end!

Life shouldn't be a downhill slope.

Life should be a cliff.

I heard this quote the other day, and the guy said he just go, go, go, go, go.

till youre done.

But you don't stop in between.

Except for snacks.

Except for snacks.

A little bit of chocolate.

(laughter) Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends.

JOHN: Let her go.

RON: Let her go?

JOHN: Let her go.

RON: Woo hoo!

JOHN: So we're going to launch the boat and then get in it and keep on going.

(splashing) Well, that was tough.

Its a-- the boat's not that light when you fill them up with that much stuff.

JOHN: Want to do a crossbow draw there Ron?

No a crossbow.

There you go.

There you go.

And perfect (canoes bump together) ASHLYN: Wooo JOHN: And forwards.

ASHLYN: Okay-- and forward.

There you go.

Pretty shallow here.

Only a couple of feet deep.

It's more rocky here Ron It was sandy on the other side of the portage and here there's a lot more kind of gravel in the water.

The river's pretty narrow here.

Like, I mean, only 10, 12 feet across.

Pretty shallow gravel bottom.

And there's lots of reeds.

So I think just because of the time of day and the location, I mean, there's a good shot.

We might be able to see some moose here So I'm going to keep my eye out, especially as we go around the corner up ahead.

We're about 80 metres from a left curve I mean cross our fingers we may see some wildlife.

Yeah.

Well, it's ah getting to be that time of day.

Coming in through the river.

JOHN: Yup It was really calm and beautiful in there.

I like to narrow it was, but it was a really cool moment when we came around that last bend and you could see Kingsmere Lake It just-- it just totally opened up and you know weve had these crazy clouds going over us all day long and coming out into the lake.

You can actually see what's happening out there now.

Ron, you are officially on Kingsmere Lake.

All right!

Here we go.

Okay.

Yeah.

Nice!

ASHLYN: The sun is shining-- It's a good day!

And the wind is even reasonable.

Yup RON: So far.

ASHLYN: Yeah.

Yeah.

So the lake opens up here, and you can look across and see the tree line rising kinda above the horizon and meeting the clouds and looks like there's one pelican way far out.

So Ron, to the left of us here about I dont know 50 metres.

We got a big sign that says Southend and ah the campsites here.

There's a bunch of reeds around though, so I think John suggested we paddle a little further down the shore um.

JOHN: For the canoes, if we can land there, (ASHLYN: Yeah) I think.

Well should we make a left turn here?

But yeah, coming in to shore here.

So there's like a little opening in the reeds and we're going to come straight into that triangle sign with the Southend sign to the right of it.

And you can stop paddling.

We're just going to drift in here.

RON: Whats this shore look like?

Is it rocky-- sandy?

ASHLYN: A little bit rocky?

And then it goes straight up into the trees.

Pull the canoe up.

Whoa, there we go.

I'll try and lift it so we don't scratch it.

JOHN: Basically, Kingsmere Lake, it's 12 kilometres or so north south and about six kilometres east and west.

So big lake, big expanse of open water to the north of us here.

ASHLYN: I'll give you my arm here.

RON: Sure.

ASHLYN: And we're just going to kind of slowly go up.

There are some roots, but nothin sticking out too far and there's some pretty good paths here.

Obviously.

I see through the trees here.

There's a big ladder going up to the bear cache, too.

Okay.

Very important.

Very important.

ASHLYN/JOHN: Yup.

RON: That's where Im going to sleep.

(Laughter) We're just coming up to the bear cache here.

So it's basically a wooden platform with two posts and a ladder leaning up against the platform.

Would you say 12 feet up?

RON: The bear count to here is extreme.

So when we do set up the tents, we're going to be taking everything we have and putting on a bear cache.

It's a platform up off the ground that we go up a ladder, put your stuff on this platform, take a ladder down bears cant put the latter up.

So everything from water bottles to everything, everything, everything goes up on there and hopefully keeps them down and ah keeps us alive.

And I did bring my bear spray.

So we have that as well, so we can have it around camp.

And even while we're canoeing.

Okay, well (ASHLYN: Just to be safe) I'll tell you what, Dont save it.

If we really need it, we'll go buy more.

I'll be ready.

RON: No problem.

I keep it close.

so I'll be ready in case in case something does happen.

Cause I mean, you never know.

JOHN: On the post, there's ah steel stovepipe, just like what you'd have in a-- RON: Non-flammable.

JOHN: A wood stove-- ah in your house to make it slippery.

So it's a little bit harder to climb.

I'm ah thinking it's just about dinnertime.

ASHLYN: Yeah, I think so too.

Lets get some fire going and let's get some cooking.

Awesome, okay.

Yeah, we are here.

Yeah.

Let's go find a campsite.

Pick that out, and then we can kind of start pulling out our stuff.

ASHLYN: You still doing okay there Ron?

RON: Wooo ASHLYN: We got a nice big axe.

We could go back down to the beach where we pulled the canoes in and I mean, the whole sky is open to us.

Ron: Yeah.

Okay, so we're just down on the beach right in front of the canoes, and we got a really beautiful sunset happening.

Really cotton candy pinks and like lemon sorbet, orange, wispy clouds.

It's only a little slice of the sky, though.

We've still got those big grey clouds that have been hanging over us all day.

Um-- Up just to the left of all the clouds there's like, the tiniest crescent of the moon.

and just beneath it you can see Jupiter starting to shine.

And the time is?

It is almost 10 oclock.

Time is 9:52pm 9:52 There you go.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, longest day of the year and we get to spend it out here.

It's pretty magical.

RON: This was amazing.

And I'm getting eaten.

ASHLYN: Yeah.

(Laughter) RON: Let's head back to the fire And, ah-- get out of these mosquitoes a little bit.

Maybe a little less there.

ASHLYN: Sounds good.

RON: Give it a shot.

JOHN: Okay.

ASHLYN: Get ready for tomorrow.

Well, that was quite the day.

I'm just exhausted.

Yeah.

It's ah kind of nice to sit around this fire, though.

I mean, it was well earned, right?

And if you don't have that exhausting day, you don't get this fire.

You got to do that to get this.

What's our next adventure?

Where are we going?

What are we going to do?

I mean, let's transition from canoeing to hiking.

I think we have a really good opportunity here.

Being able to hike into Grey Owls.

NARRATOR: Grey Owl a Canadian backwoodsman who turned from trapping wild animals to become their protector and champion.

His father was a Scot who married a full blooded Apache Indian in New Mexico.

Grey Owl selected Canada as his country of adoption and became in turn, a trapper, fire ranger and guide.

From that time on, the saving of the Beaver from extinction became his life's job and he is carrying on this work in the great national parks of Canada.

The Beavers are his friends now and welcome his visits to their colony.

GREY OWL: Woo hoo (calling the beaver) RON: How would you like to go backpacking to Grey Owls cabin?

Were on Kingsmere Grey Owls cabin is just north of here on Adjawaan Lake about 20K at the east side of the lake.

RON: So we got to go check that out.

It's a pretty perfect opportunity, like to be this close.

I mean, we're here.

Let's do it.

JOHN: We are already on Kingsmere.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah.

Its a long ways in there, but it's definitely worth the trip.

Yeah, And I think we could do it Well ah, take the canoes over to the trail.

Lets walk into Grey Owls cabin.

It's ah 20 some K. ASHLYN: Okay.

It takes us all the way into Grey Owls cabin.

It's kind of wild the cabin has a hole in the corner for his pet beavers to come and go.

I mean, is that not the most Canadian thing ever... RON: Inst that cool?

WelI have to get up bright and early, ASHLYN: Okay.

and head in there.

Because it is a long ways and the only thing thats going to slow us down is bears!

ASHLYN: Hmm Over there, theres lots, lots and lots.

Theres lots here too, but we've got to take the bear spray and there are bear caches over there as well.

So whatever we take, we can put it up on the bear caches and stay away from them.

But-- I just know theyre going to be here And they're fast.

They are real fast.

They can outrun people can't they?

Oh yeah.

RON: They can outrun a horse, cant they?

JOHN: Over a short distance, yeah.

They can out climb you, like Youve got to be careful.

Well, last time I was here, we had bears brushing against the tent.

Did you?

Yeah.

Id be so scared!

Thats close!

That's too close.

That's way too close.

There's not a lot of material there on that tent.

They're going to be here.

I'm sure they're going to be here.

I hope not I mean I don't want them roaming through the campsite.

Put the camera up.

There might be dozens of them in here.

Who knows?

(ASHLYN: Oh man.)

Let's get our bear stuff put away.

ASHLYN: Yeah Head for that tent.

Okay.

That sounds good to me.

Another early one, planned tomorrow more adventure.

Yeah.

Our next adventure.

Always an adventure with Ron.

Yeah.

(laughter) I take having fun, serious!

(laughter) Funding made possible in part by Blind Institute of Technology.

Blind Institute of Technology supports companies that invest in people with disabilities.

Providing Salesforce employment training, staffing, services and accessibility consulting.

The talent is there.

More at blindit.org Funding also made possible in part by Choice Magazine Listening.

Choice Magazine Listening is a quarterly collection of magazine writing professionally recorded for the blind and print disabled, a nonprofit on the web at choicemagazinelistenening.org or 1-888-7CHOICE.

Funding for Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh and Friends made possible through Creative Saskatchewan's feature film and TV production grant.

Canadian film or video production tax credit Anthony J. Towstego Philip Doerksen, EWest International Distribution Film one.