61 here, I share your experience.😎

At 79, I am no longer able to take part in the "love" of my life. I was born in the Appalachian Mountains of Central PA in February of 1943 during a blizzard, so the story goes. My dad had to go down the mountain to our closest neighbor and bring her up to our farmhouse to help with the delivery as the roads were all snowed shut both going down the mountain and all the way to the hospital in Harrisburg. I have certain memories of my life which will always be with me, and the smell and taste of the Wintergreen berry is one of them. When they mentioned the 3 leafed wild wintergreen in the video, I had a flashback to all of the Sunday afternoon walks my parents and I would take up into the mountain paths and, at 4 years old, I had already had a background in the forest and its treasures which my dad passed along to me on those walks. I would run ahead and find what we called "teaberry" plants, a low growing ground plant which bore a bright red with snow white flesh berry in the Fall, and I knew that it was OK to pick that berry and munch on it. I also knew which kind of birch bark was good to chew from the end branches of the twigs and small limbs, it reminded me of the old-time soda of the same name, "birch beer". Little things like these were important to a 4 year old boy who idolized his dad and learned much of what had instilled in his soul a lifelong love of Nature and the outdoors which is still alive in his heart today, in those memories of times gone by. I spent 7 summers of my life guiding for an outfitter outside of Ely, Mn, mostly in the Quetico Wilderness of SW Ontario during the early '70's, and this documentary of Frank Kuiack brought back so many memories of those few summers I spent in a canoe traveling throughout the vast area of lakes and portage trails, used by the Voyageurs, the "Runners of the Woods", over 200 years ago as they traveled across the north country setting their traps from the Great Lakes west to the Pacific coast and then retrieving their furs and traps on the return trip back to the different fur trading companies such as the Hudson Bay Co. and American Fur Co. to name a few. I felt so honored to have paddled and portaged over the same lakes and trails on which these brave outdoorsmen had traveled and trapped their way into history and had pioneered those areas of vast wilderness, which are still pretty much as pristine as they were when the trappers had blazed their way through unmarked trails and left "lob" trees as a signal of a trail head for those who followed in their footsteps many years later. I have witnessed signs of the last of the very few remaining "lob" trees still standing in sheltered areas of the Quetico park and the Boundary Waters area of Northern MI and MN. Yes, I too felt the "emotion" of Mr. Kuiak as he remembered his times in the outdoors living a life which was physically hard but so very worthwhile in its beauty and independence, for one who loves being where few have been before him. My only prayer now is to someday be able to hoist my kayak on my shoulders and take off across a wilderness portage one more time. I feel in my heart that I am destined to do this again, once a few other problems are sorted out concerning my lack of physical capabilities to make the trip. Until that time, I still have my memories to carry me on and those will follow me forever. And I can watch films such as the "Last Guide" and feel a companionship and a connection with people, like Mr. Frank Kuiak and angels on earth like "Knife lake" Dorothy Molter, who lived for 56 years in the Eastern part of the BWCA and was credited with saving the lives of more "adventure" seeking campers and canoeists throughout the "Man Chain" series of lakes during her lifetime of living on her little island camp that, after her death, the town of Ely, MN had moved her homestead from the wilderness of the BWCA down to a park in Ely and rebuilt it as it once was for a lasting monument to the brave and daring woman whose door was always open to strangers in need of assistance or help. And one of my paddles stood with many others, left there from those she helped or from visitors like myself who simply stopped by for a home brewed "root beer" and a chance to say hello and to thank her for being there for others.

Thoreau once said "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." I read this in grade school but never understood it until I was a grown man. This video is the embodiment of that statement.

@@oldoutdoorsguy1157 That story is wonderful and great to read. Thanks

@@oldoutdoorsguy1157 Love your story. Thank you for sharing with us.

were have i seen you before??? my name is Calvin i believe i met you somewere

it seems we are somehow linked i believe i saw you on omegle and we talked for quite a while im the one who loves permaculture and gardening i hope you see this

I understand the way you feel, I have been there. I now have a beautiful marriage to a wonderful woman. I prayed everyday that God would let me cross paths with a prayerful woman. He blessed me. I hope and pray the same happens to you.

I’m just 21 yrs old trying to figure out the world and I totally agree. I don’t see stuff like this very often in our modern world.

I'm with ya Don.

Keep dreaming there’s a wonderland after this life, you’ll disappoint yourself, but i mean hey, it’s always good to have hope in something or maybe a little bit of peace of mind

@@creamythroat the only thing disappointing is people like you… But hey there’s always redemption!!!

They gonna make an AI of him aatch.. .

Beautiful photos!!!

Legends are made not born

This documentary is so good!

I'm an old crippled farmer that lives out in the country mostly my entire life. It's sad to see how our country has become the past.

♥️♥️♥️♥️

Amen 🙏🏻. My feelings exactly.

Isn't that called nostalgia

Me too Steve, god bless ya. Have a great day.

Reminds Me of a Fishing Guide in Hayward Wisconsin named Muskie Bill. Legends Die Hard.

You said that all so well, so poignantly put Steve; those same feelings precisely resonated in the same ways with me too. I am so thankful to have come across this documentary as a recommended video, and learn of and from Frank Kuiack. He is a true inspiration in learning how to live a peaceful life that is chock full of meaning, on one's self, family, and in giving so much to others, possessing the special kind of ability to teach in ways that can't be taught at universities, but only from life experiences and having a kind and nurturing heart. Frank knew how to live in the ways that so many of us long for but are afraid of taking the plunge to do. He knew how to live peacefully and and at the same time was chock full of meaning…in his own words - “There’s nothing more relaxing, I don’t think than sitting out there in the boat. I don’t care if I get a bite or not, it’s just I’m out there enjoying life.” - Frank Kuiack

Isn’t there still the fella up at trieg? Greetings from Edinburgh pal👍

Beautiful.

Eye.

You are the continuation of the chain. Your children, hopefully, will be the further continuation of that chain.

L LLP olp

What stories do you have

Very intriguing statement trevor... I have ideas of writing books that our grandparents/elders were so secretive about... thing is once you become too secretive no one knows the real story!

I hiked that with my son one year during Spring break. I was 51 or so, not a easy trail at all. Your grandpa is "The Man" no doubt.

Same here

What an awesome comment Erik. Yes Frank was a true champion guide

I whitewater/fly fish guide on the Gunnison from the Black Canyon down to Grand Junction. It's the life!

I'm 65. My parents took me to Bob' Lake 50 years ago a few times. I loved it. I understand what you are saying completely........

@@everettfarr8036 Thank you,memories from that time I cherish. Mortars camp is where we stayed and sometimes at Howard's. The log cabin at Morters where awsome.

amen kind sir

I relate to the same feelings of you felt too, some of my best childhood memories are of remote summer fishing trips in Southwest Quebec and near Timmins, Ontario. The family memories, pristine wilderness, lessons learned, and removed from all of the negative and harmful aspects of society, was just priceless. Nothing can replace those kinds of experiences, and the value of that peaceful kind of living, like how Frank said: “There’s nothing more relaxing, I don’t think than sitting out there in the boat. I don’t care if I get a bite or not, it’s just I’m out there enjoying life.” - Frank Kuiack Frank knew how to live in the ways that so many of us long for but are afraid of taking the plunge to do. He knew how to live peacefully and and at the same time was chock full of meaning, for himself, family, and those he taught, and had the great pleasure of being guided by. Those are the kinds of experiences that can't be bought.

My grandparents owned Buck Bay Canteen and Marina where Bob's Lake and Buck Bay meet .....I will always cherish the life they taught me

A lot of wonderful history there, How about a book about his life?