Returning to Pukaskwa

As a young boy we visited Pukaskwa National Park one summer on a quintessential family road trip.

My parents had rented an RV and we stopped at these remote parks along the Trans Canada. We pulled into the Puk for a one night stay. Once setup we headed down to the beach to explore. It was littered with a huge assortment of driftwood, massive trees that has been tossed up onto the shores. Soon enough the sky turned a sickly green and my Dad ushered us back to the campsite as the rain started to hit. The storm grew to a frenzy with high winds and strong rains outside.

There was a tremendous noise and a tree next to us fell onto the RV, poking branches through the roof. There wasn’t much we could do but wait for the storm to blow over. Park attendants arrived with chainsaws and heavy equipment. Dad patched the RV up with duct tape. Afterwards walking around the park and seeing damage caused by what we now learned was a tornado.

I remember thinking it was a good thing we hadn’t been camping in a tent and wasn't as scared as I should have been. I was quite young at the time and the story has become part of the family lore.  

So when researching hikes the Pukaskwa Coast Trail caught my eye. Here we go!