About

About Me

Hey there! So you probably want to know who I am, and why I created Algonquin & Beyond, right? 

Well, I’ll start from the beginning. 

My name is Cody, and I try and spend as much time as possible in Ontario’s backcountry. The vast majority of my trips are in Algonquin Park, a place that feels like my second home.

A picture of me canoeing on Burntroot Lake in Algonquin Park beside Anchor Island
Canoeing on Burntroot Lake in Algonquin Park, in front of Anchor Island

An Introduction to Canoe Tripping

Growing up, I went to an overnight summer camp that took us on canoe trips to Algonquin Park (along with some other parks in Ontario). I only went on two of these canoe trips, and I absolutely hated them.

Yes, as a camper I didn’t enjoy the canoe tripping experience or appreciate the beauty of Algonquin Park. You’re telling me I have to sleep on the forest ground, wake up super early, carry heavy packs for several kilometers, paddle in the rain, and get eaten by mosquitos all day? Where’s the enjoyment in that? Can’t I just stay inside with my game boy and walkman?

Fast forward a few years… I no longer go to camp, and my canoe tripping days are behind me. Or so I thought. One day, my friends suggested we do a canoe trip. Four guys, two nights, one campsite. I decided I would give canoe tripping one more chance, so I tagged along. And to my surprise, I realized it’s not all that bad.

I continued going to Algonquin Park and Killarney with different groups of friends, but with each passing year I realized that I enjoyed tripping much more when I was with a smaller group. In 2014, I decided to do something way out of my comfort zone and go on a trip by myself. My first solo canoe trip. But that’s a story for another time (or you can just read my trip report).

Now, with each passing year I try and spend more time in the backcountry, more time exploring Algonquin Park, and more time immersed in this beautiful park that we’re so privileged to have in Ontario’s backyard.

Smiling while sitting in the back of a canoe
An early morning paddle on Clydegale Lake in September 2018

Why create Algonquin & Beyond?

Well, I’ve always written trip reports after coming home from my canoe trips. I write these reports mainly so I have memories and information to look back on, but also to help other people plan their own trips. I try and give as much detail as possible about the canoe routes, the lakes, the campsites, etc. 

All of my trip reports are hosted on the MyCCR and Algonquin Adventures forums, but I have so much content scattered throughout those sites and I decided I wanted to bring it all together into one cohesive, user friendly platform. A place to view all of my trip reports, all of my campsite reviews, and all of my other knowledge that I share throughout my blog.

So eventually, after months of heavy procrastination, Algonquin & Beyond was finally born.

Now I finally have a place that I can manage all of my content myself. But more importantly, I now have a single URL that I can send to all of my friends when I start getting phone calls in the springtime asking “Hey Cody, have you been to Big Trout Lake before… what’s the best campsite on the lake?” 

Now I can just say “go to www.algonquinbeyond.com, everything you need to know is there” and get back to planning my own trips for the season 🙂