Up A Creek Without A Moose!
FLOATER’S LOG: Bridle Lake Date - May 27th, 2026
Last year most of us found our annual boys canoe trip in Algonquin Park a wee bit too arduous, as can be read in my blogisode from 2025, May Daze. I will re-iterate I loved paddling the white water rapids and gaining bragging rights as the only boat that didn’t capsize but the portages were ridiculous!
This year, our primary planner submitted to our general consensus that an easier trip was in order, even if we didn’t go with the ‘houseboat’ option. The decided upon paddle trip worked out perfectly with a tail wind from our launch point across a couple of short river segments and small lakes to a base camp site on Bridle Lake which required only one relatively easy portage. As it turned out during our stay the wind changed directions by 180 degrees which meant we had a good tail wind for our paddle out too. We also managed to be on site with tents and tarps set up before the expected rain arrived most of which actually fell overnight.
Knowing we would be at a base camp I considered bringing a small float with me but the cool spring temperatures meant the water would be colder than comfortable and thus I would have to pack a wet suit as well. Also as I have gotten away from lugging too many heavy cans of beer in favour of the liquor is quicker routine, a float, other than in our canoe, was not going to happen.
However instead, inspired by a logo on a can of Cracked Canoe from Nova Scotia’s Moosehead Brewery, of which I was enjoying the contents of a few days before our trip began; I set out to plan an alternate and equally enjoyable pastime – moose riding.
If you’re not from Canada or not even a Canadian who ventures into the wilderness then you may not know of this rare and unusual activity. It is rare because there are not many parts of the country where humans and moose interact and, of course, moose are wild animals unlike the tamed horses and camels we see humans upon far more often. But don’t forget horses are wild by nature too and yet they allow us to ride them with ease.
The same applies to Africa where you don’t see it very often but on occasion you can find people riding zebras. Zebras however have weaker flat backs which means a rider atop is not very pleasant for the animal and because of this most countries have brought in laws to hinder riding the striped creatures.
I did some quick research as to what I would need to accomplish my goal. This included gathering information from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve regarding food which might help me attract a mighty steed. As it turns out you can lure them with treats like lettuce and veggies which is a nice departure from their usual diet of twigs and aquatic plants.
Having seen moose in Algonquin Park many previous times (it has one of the highest moose population densities anywhere) I knew what signs to look for such as tracks and chewed willow branches, in regard to where to lay out my delicacies.
The main problem with riding a moose is finding one that will let you approach near enough to form a bond as they are quite skittish. They also have a fantastic sense of smell so you have to stay upwind for good viewing (or hunting – not my thing). As I learned from my research this keen sense could also work in my favour.
Another thing I learned was that in Sweden during the reign of Charles IX (1604–1611), moose or elk as they call them in Europe (we have another member of the deer family called elk in Canada), were employed to draw sleighs.
By the time of Charles XI (1660–1697) attempts were made to replace the horses in one of his cavalry regiments with moose, to avoid the need to import horses as was the contemporary practice. For multiple reasons, things didn’t work out but I give them an ‘A’ for effort.
Getting back to my attempt to ride a moose; on our first day at camp, I was easily able to find an animal trail between our lake and a nearby much smaller body of water made substantially larger by a very industrious beaver.
I located some hoof prints and chewed branches and chose this as my feeding spot. To introduce the prospective stallion to my scent, I rubbed the lettuce and carrots against my skin where I had not applied any sunscreen or insect repellant – my beer belly.
On the following morning I returned to find my offerings had been taken and didn’t see any other animal tracks which gave me hope.
Late that same afternoon I returned with more belly rubbed treats and retreated to a distant viewing spot. Moose are most active at dusk and dawn so I wanted to see when this location fitted into his feeding routine. No sighting that evening so I set myself an early wake up alarm and traipsed through the dark back to my lookout locale and as luck would have it, my timing was almost perfect. After just a few minutes of watching mosquitoes and black flies settle on my mesh head gear I heard the approaching steps of a young bull moose cracking small branches under his half ton weight. Although appearing somewhat wary he went to the feeding locale very quickly after his arrival and gobbled up the goodies I had placed out.
I had more veggies handy which I pulled from my bag but the rustle of the bag I was using startled the moose and he moved on rather rapidly, however I still held out hope that tasty munchies would win out in the end.
Before setting off to our camp position I prepared the feeding site to the best of my abilities to have everything in place for my ride attempt. I rolled a big piece of log into position beside where I had placed the food which I could use as a step for mounting. Next I created a much closer viewing locale where I was only partially hidden and when I was back at camp I transferred my foodstuffs into a soft fabric bag to eliminate the noise issue.
Early on the third morning I went back and after placing my goods on the ground I went to my watching spot. This time I had to wait quite a bit longer but it was worth it. When the moose approached he was much more hesitant, probably because he could see me, but never-the-less he did eventually come for his grub. While he was head down eating I pulled out more food and clearly displayed it in my hands. Once he had finished what was available he looked at me for a long time before taking one tentative step in my direction. Next, it was my turn. First, I raised my arms a little to better display the rest of his meal, and then I took a small gentle step towards him. This didn’t go over too well as he backed up a couple of steps. I was not to be deterred; after a long pause I took another step which he watched but remained in place. I waited again then stepped and waited once more. After a snort which I took as him sniffing the veggies and possibly me as well, I took another step in his direction. I was quite close now and could actually smell his earthy animal scent too. This time I only paused briefly before making two more gentle paces towards his position and when he moved I thought it was going to be a retreat but he actually returned to the original feeding spot again sniffing at my handful of green and orange vegetables. With one more step I placed my bounty right in front of his mouth. Ever so gently he took a helping from my hand.
If I wanted to attempt to get on his back I was going to have to put the food down and move around to his side, so, calmly I bowed to place the food on the ground before edging around his antler to his flank. Very lightly at first, I placed my left hand against the bristly fur of his front left shoulder which caused a quick glance around but he was far more intent on the food laid at his feet so he went back to that. Next I stepped up on the log and reached over to his other shoulder with my right hand before softly laying my chest over his back. Still working at his fresh meal I lifted my right leg up and over to straddle his back then reached down with my left hand to grab my paddle which I figured I might need to knock branches out of the way if we headed into the bush - and there I was moose riding!
I was so elated that my memories of the ride are just flickering images but that is pretty much the way it started I think – then again we had taken a lot of mushroom gummies!
Ride on, Corliss
beer float.calm =beerfloat.netnot beerfloat.com
