​Huron Fringe Field Naturalists welcome adventurer Adam Shoalts

The Huron Fringe Field Naturalists were excited to welcome renowned Canadian explorer and author Adam Shoalts to their annual dinner meeting, Tuesday, May 28, at Camp Kintail.

Shoalts is a trained cartographer, archaeologist and historian but perhaps is best known for solo expeditions that have resulted in several bestselling books.

He began his presentation with some personal background, tracing his interest in nature, exploring and canoeing from a young age through his formal education to his designation as Westaway Explorer in Residence for the Royal Canadian Geographic Society.

Shoalts continued by recounting the early parts of the expedition depicted in his 2023 book, “Where the Falcon Flies: A 3,400-Kilometre Odyssey From My Doorstep to the Arctic.”

With humour and humility, he described the many challenges of canoeing east from Long Point through the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and north through Labrador and northern Quebec, braving wild weather while navigating formidable natural and man made obstacles, shipping lanes and finding places to camp in inhospitable places.

The 145 members and guests were entranced by his tales of endurance punctuated with beautiful photos of landscapes and wildlife. His quick wit had the group laughing throughout his talk.

Many in attendance were fans who were delighted to meet him in person and took the opportunity to have their books signed. The group’s speaker co-chairpersons Jayne Miltenburg and Jane Neilsen count themselves among his biggest supporters and were responsible for the arrangements that resulted in an outstanding event for a record crowd.

The dinner meeting followed the group’s annual adventure: the Bruce Peninsula Explorer Trip, which took place May 21-23. Nineteen participants departed from Kincardine for three days, exploring the trails and treasures of the Bruce Peninsula.

Year-after-year, organizers Donna Murray and her parents, Steve and Jeni Pepper, find new places to visit in addition to perennial favourites. This year’s stops included the Oliphant Fen, Singing Sands, Halfway Log Dump, Shining Rainbow Deer Reserve, with observations of a great variety of birds, native plant species and a Massasauga Rattlesnake.

The last regular meeting of the season takes place Tuesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at the Point Clark Community Centre when guest Don Scallen will share his love and photography of salamanders with the group. Visitors are welcome; bring a mug for refreshments.