Paddler's Guide to Happy Camping

This is Kevin Callan's blog about his trips, his (mis-)adventures, and his favourite gear.

Wabakimi: Wendell Beckwith's Center of the Universe

Wendell's Snail cabin

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Back in 1993 I traveled with film producer Kip Sidell, paddling through Wabakimi to film Wendell Beckwith's hermitage on Whitewater Lake. We shot a short film about the trip and I thought it was due time I placed the darn thing on You-Tube for everyone to watch (more "River Rat" filmes will be posted on You Tube soon as well).

The story of Wendell Beckwith is very unique. In 1955, after producing several patents (one being the Ball-point Pen for the Parker Pen Company), Wendell left his home and family in Wisconsin and began a solitary life on Wabakimi's Whitewater Lake. He acted as caretaker for a number of cabins owned then by Harry Wirth, a San Franciso architect and developer (who rarely visted the place).

During his time there (he died of a heat attack in 1980) the eccentric onventor worked on a number of theories, ranging from the idea that the mathematical "Pi" was constantly reoccurring in nature to the idea that Whitewater Lake was in complete triagulation with the Great Pyramids and stonehenge (hence the "Center of the Universe" premise).

Check out the video for more details and my books "A Paddler's Guide to Ontario's Lost Canoe Routes" or "A Paddler's Guide to Quetico and Beyond" for more info. on the route and history behind the hermitage.

Doug Hippe (September 6, 2008 at 9:08 a.m.)

Kevin,
I don't know what made me search the internet for Wendell Beckwith yesterday, but it brought me here. I made this same trip back in 1983 so THANK YOU for posting this video. This is one of my fondest canoe trip memories, and seeing the rivers, portages, lakes and Wendell's "Snail" again allowed me to relive this "fantastic voyage" of my youth. Your humor only added to
the video experience! (Living in the U.P. I can attest to the peskiness of black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies and horse flies.) Anybody considering this trip will thoroughly enjoy the solitude and beauty that the"Canadian Shield" has to offer. Thank you again!

michael camp (October 3, 2008 at 12:46 p.m.)

i canoed and fished alot in the late 50's in lake of the woods many places had indian names i was too young to understand. i was fishing with my uncle lynn marshall we hired a plane and flew in sometime in 1959.but close to thunder bay. wendell beckwith got an idea then about coming back and was real friendly with indians[whoever they were]. i was not up there again until 1964 and wendell beckwith and i fished, slept in a small trailer near lynn's cabin at cable, wisconsin. i caught
a muskie that was 52 inches long and about 24 ilbs. wendell had a red beard. he was amiable, fun to be with and always carving wood big and small. i thought being with him was a great experience. i taught him to tie knots and camping skills because i was an explorer scout. i love canada but canoeing portage to portage is a tiring experience. my uncle lynn died in 1981. he is buried in the cemetery in whitewater, wisconsin[wendell is from whitewater too.] i heard alot about
the snail from my aunt[lynn's wife] and tales of wendell and the indians she died in 1994 at the age of 85. i am sorry to hear it is in disrepair to the snail and probably other structures too.

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