Illustration
by Hap Wilson. Originally appeared in The
Keewaydin Way by Brian Back
Lake Temagami and environs is one of the great good places to go canoeing. According to the Ottertooth website:
The three-walled heritage fireplace has been a Temagami tradition for over a hundred years and many blackened campsite fireplaces have been in use for decades.
Daily baking, particularly for bannock, remains an essential part of heritage Temagami. Many of the camps have two bakes at dinner, one for dessert that night, and a second for lunch the next day. Who would go canoeing and not expect pineapple-upside-down cake and blueberry bannock?
Tips for building the fireplace:
Build fireplace on a level spot.
Fireplace should be open into the wind.
Place fire irons six to twelve inches off the ground.
Space irons at least wide enough to hold the smallest pot or pan.
Rear wall should be flat, vertical and without holes to maximize heat reflection into the oven.
Set fire irons near the rear wall so heat can’t escape behind the pots.
Walls should be high enough to keep heat from escaping early.
Rock down the ends of fire irons for stability