» Racoon Revenge
» Memories of Killbear 1960-2000
» The Great Big Bear Adventure
» HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BLUE GOOSE?

» Camping at Killbear

»Racoon Revenge

What keeps pulling us back to Killbear year after year - 28 years for Don, 22 for Ellen. We're from Ohio, a long drive away. People up here keep asking us, aren't there good parks in Ohio? Sure, there are - but nothing like Killbear Park with its magical collaboration of rocky shoulders hemming in sandy beaches, vast bays of ever-changing waters, forested shores, and cool nights. At Killbear we've been through torrential rains, shearing winds, bone chilling weeks when we needed long underwear, hot nights when even a sheet was too much, weeks with too much wind or not enough wind for our sailboat - but we always come back for the smell of hot sun on the sand, the sound of the lap of water, the coffee and bacon scent of the morning air.

And we come back to renew our friendships. We've watched the children of our camper friends grow up, and return to sit on Sunset Rock watching sunsets with their own children. We have hundreds of pictures of Killbear sunsets from the Rock, each on a little different, a few, spectacular.

There is the hint of wildness at Killbear: the bold size of the rocks heaped onto Harold Point, the awareness that there may be bears around, the assurance that raccoons will find food not well stored. We've watched raccoons fight over a loaf of bread stolen from inexperienced campers. We saw a skunk family parade through the campsite next to us. We once saw two porcupines up a tree. And just out of the park, two moose greeted us one morning as we were on the way to town.

Don has his own tale of Raccoon Revenge:

Some 25 years ago, while we were camping at Killbear, raccoons regularly attacked our campsite. Suddenly the raccoons no longer made their nightly visit. We found that a nearly full package of ExLax had been left out overnight on a picnic table. We concluded that there was now a new brown trail through the woods or perhaps one less raccoon.

Contributed by Ellen Karr and Don Karr of Cleveland, Ohio

» Memories of Killbear 1960-2000

Back in the early days of camping at Killbear we remember coming here and what campsites they did have were filled – but just follow this truck and you will be looked after. They had a few rangers, a truck full of dirt, sand and a fireplace. We followed them into Blind Bay and in no time flat they had a spot all cleared, raked and set up with a picnic table. Georgian Campground was used as an overflow campground, you could stay there until a campsite was available – for free - no one was turned away. When we first started camping it was $5.00 for a yearly permit for any park in Ontario. Before reservations came about, it was “first come, first served”. You came in, chose your site, put a couple of chairs on it and went back to the office to pay for it.

We used to get our drinking water from the hand pump wells. Also, there were no flush toilets or no electricity. And showers! What were they? Our daily bath was in the lake. We sure are pampered now. Electric refrigerators and TV’s – this is really getting out of control.

Memories of camping are the sights, sounds and smells – walking along the road in the morning and everyone has their fire going and cooking their bacon and eggs, the aroma would get anyone out of bed along with pancakes and toast. We toasted our bread on the end of a long fork and hoped it didn’t fall off or get burnt. Our special pot roast dinners slowly cooking over a low fire. We did all of our cooking on the fireplace and always had hot water for dishes from the big pot kept on the grate.

I guess the main reason for the constantly, slow burning fires was the mountain high, cut to size, wood pile, opposite the entrance to Blind Bay, It was free - just help yourself. (I know this sounds like a fairy tale – I can hardly believe it myself). Ed Ramsey told us then, “this is not going to last forever.” You know, he was right.

The “Sights” – well I could go on forever. Everyday you see something and different views of the horizon from different parts of this peninsula just breath taking, not forgetting the sunsets. The sunsets are a ritual with everyone who has ever stayed at beautiful Killbear.

Most everyone has had different experiences with the racoons getting into their food – they really know how to unlatch a cooler. My daughter and I were chasing a family of them at 3:00am running off with a double package of cheese slices leaving a trail of plastic wrapping.

Another time, our friends from Windsor had a dining tent that wasn’t very secure. They had been into town one day to that wonderful bakery on the main street. We always came back with lemon pies, butter tarts, etc. You guessed it; the raccoons had a sweet feast that night.

It is amazing how may three generations are still coming to Killbear. We had four children who spent a part of every summer at Killbear and now the grandchildren, over the last 30 years. Our children brought friends with them over the years, and all of them enjoyed many corn roasts and great singsongs around the fire. When we meet their friends – at any time – they talk of the happy times at Killbear with us, which gives us a warm feeling to have been part of their happy memories.

Where would you find a beach as clean, with clear sparkling waters as Killbear? Most wonderful of all are the people who camp here, who are always very friendly and respectful of other campers.

Many lifetime friendships were started here. Wouldn’t you agree?

Happy 40th Anniversary Killbear! Thank you to the staff for many years of friendly and courteous relationships.



» The Great Big Bear Adventure

When we first saw the bear, we chased it away with pots and pans. Then he went to a site with a trailer. He went to the Harold Point little beach.

We thought he was gone, so we started making banana boats for our desert. And the next thing he got around the loop and he came up behind the tents and started sniffing around the picnic table.

Then a whole bunch of things happened.

Daddy and I were at the washroom – but he stole a bag of marshmallows, then he grabbed up the cooler with his teeth and lots of people came by.

Meanwhile the banana boats were on the fire cooking. Some people next door let me sit in the back seat of their car (because Mom had the truck in Parry Sound). Then the rangers shot the bear and we had a street party. And the rangers shot the bear again and it went to sleep. They took him away in a cage. Then we ate our banana boats.

P.S. The bear like our cheese and hotdogs.

(Told by Ian Yanush, age 5. Written with a tiny bit of help from Dad – Jim Yanush, Uncle Bob Yanush and Mom – Lori Waldbrook)

» HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BLUE GOOSE?

I have!

The first time was in 1966.

I had just traveled north from London, Ontario to spend the summer as a Ministry of Natural Resources Junior Ranger. It was a Saturday morning. The sun was shining as only it can on Georgian Bay. Forty-eight prospective Junior Rangers were anxiously waiting at the MNR facility near the Parry Sound dock to see which park we would be assigned to. Suddenly, we heard a tremendous, thundering sound, rumbling across the parking lot. And there it was: "The Blue Goose" in all its glory. A huge, open backed, dump truck painted completely blue. How it got its name, "The Blue Goose", I'll never know, but, I'll never forget climbing into the back of it for the first time with 23 other seventeen year olds; all headed for Kill bear Provincial Park. The road into the park wasn't quite as smooth as it is today. In fact, I don't even think it was paved. The road inside the park certainly wasn't. Needless to say, we were a pretty dishevelled, sore-bottomed bunch of teenagers by the time we arrived at our bunkhouses.

I had some wonderful experiences that summer and made a lot of special friends. One person, in particular, stood out above the rest: Ed Ramsay. You may know Ed; he still works in the park and in 1999 won the MNR PRIDE Award (People Recognizing Innovation, Dedication and Enthusiasm) as voted by his colleagues. In 1966, among other things, Ed was in charge of the garbage detail, and as such was responsible for driving "The Blue Goose". Back then, unlike today, there were metal garbage cans at each campsite, hanging on the permit posts; and garbage pick-up was a daily occurrence. Every week, Ed would hand pick his "crew" and it became quite a competition to try and make the grade. It meant missing the weekly trip into Parry Sound for the Saturday night dance, but it was worth it. Ed always believed it was because of his charming personality that we wanted to pull garbage detail. That was part of it, for sure! But, more importantly, what better way to find out where all the teenage girls were camping than by "cruising" throughout the park in "The Blue Goose"? A little note pad became a fundamental part of your uniform to jot down important campsite numbers for return trips in the evening. But that's another story.

Needless to say the summer of '66 was a memorable one. Thanks to Ed Ramsay and, of course, "The Blue Goose".

Gary Lindfield
Long Time Camper -Granite Saddle Campground

» Camping at Killbear

Our club has camping adventures each year,
For this summer, we’ll set it up at Killbear.
It’s the end of the month, we’ll call for five sites.
Three hours on the phone; the date isn’t right.
March 1st, try again. Four hours to get through.
We’re finally booked, and paid for, too.
Next step is to get out the word;
We camp July 30th to August the third.
Blind Bay is the campground where we will be –
We’ll meet at the main office just about three.

Now we’re here! Let the adventure begin!
Down to the rocks to take a swim.
Six canoes on a shimmering lake;
Twelve eager paddlers create a fine wake.
The logistics of canoeing
Involves much to-and-froing.
Tony and Scott gave a good demonstration
On how to portage and yet keep your station.
When one walks East and the other walks West,
The strength of the boat is put to the test!

The group went for many walks in the bush,
And we were glad to find all the toilets would flush.
Everyone thought that the chipmunks were cute,
Except for one, who gave them the boot.

At Lookout Point, some met a ranger
All neat and suave. Did he sense danger?
The girls all thought he was kind of coy
And wished he could be their own boy toy.

Ernie sweated over sausage and crooned over chicken –
The fire coals were hot and the food was a-cookin’.
The folks brought excesses of salad and dessert,
The drinks were flowing, but no one got hurt.
The party progressed well into the night.
But Bruce was long gone, out like a light.

Tony is snoring asleep in the tent.
Dawn is a-breaking. The ranger just went.
A car parked amiss – what a break, what a joy!
At last, my quota! ‘Twas a long night, my boy.
While in Point au Baril – where we went fro breakfast –
We heard bear horror stories that made us feel restless.
Those stories were rampant all through the night;
Gill, panicked, was ready to flee in fright.

Beyond the park, what delight can be seen!
We took a gorgeous tour on the Island Queen.
The last night of our stay was a birthday feast
At Café Waldhaus. My, what a treat!

We leave Killbear full of memories dear.
Goodbye, toodloo, we’ll see you next year.

by 27 members of the Lambton Outdoor Club