Hello all,
Thanks Bcaron and Brian for your reports. Unfortunately the forums have been having issues over this last important weekend, but I wanted to finalize the location for the EGL 2012 Winter Hang.
I'd like to start by saying that the original discussion for this trip began during our Algonquin trip last fall. Several of us had just finished a fantastic weekend of canoeing and it was clear that we were eager to return and explore the backwoods of Algonquin, this time on snowshoes and in the depths of winter. Early January, the EGL organized the Valen's "Gearing up for Winter" hang as and more people became interested in signing up. We had the good fortune to meet many new people, among them several guys with considerable experience winter camping in the Park. Good information was shared, stories were told and gradually we begun to get a better picture of what we were getting into. Within a few days of Valen's, I had this "Snowshoes across Algonquin" thread going.
One of the recommendations from Valen's was to take advantage of the network of old railways that were converted into bike trails and connect many of the large campgrounds on highway 60. Pog/Whitefish Lake was mentioned as a possible site, as was Source Lake. Looking for other options, I contacted numerous local outdoor outfitters, tourism offices and the MNR around Algonquin. Although I personally wanted the trip to include some ice-fishing, most of the locations I discovered outside the park were either too remote, too "unproven" or prone to excessive snowmobile traffic. While that may have been fine me, it wasn't the right choice for a mixed group heading up for the first time together. So Algonquin, bless her soul, waited patiently. But still, to this point, the final location for the EGL Winter Hang remains undecided.
Suprisingly, a separate but parallel event was launched on WinterTrekking.com shortly after the "Snowshoes across Algonquin" thread for the same weekend at Whitefish Lake. Although I learned about this other thread only recently, I was more than a little disappointed to find that HammockForums' participation was buried as little more than a footnote in their planning and that the EGL didn't even make the final roll call.
Now, like most of us, I really enjoy the idea of getting outdoors and meeting new people; it's one of the main reasons I joined HammockForums and why I've participated in and helped organize these EGL hangs. If the couple of WinterTrekkers I've met are any indication, I'm certain that they're also a great bunch of like-minded guys and gals and their gear's sure to be a marvel. However before we resign ourselves to pack up our sleds and "crash" the WinterTrekker outing, I feel it's important to ask the HammockForum members one last time whether they want to reconsider the original goal of this trip and perhaps carry out a smaller, quieter hang on our own.
For my part, on this occasion, I think I would rather to have a more sedate weekend in the bush. A chance to get out, field test my gear, practice some bushcraft and perhaps even see some wildlife. Honestly, the WinterTrekking outing looks like it could be fun, in a Valens kind of way, and I'd encourage anybody who wants to go to still attend, but it's just not the type of weekend several of us envisioned back in the fall. I think there'll always be time for big jamborees, and I hope that with better communication and planning we'll be able to join with other like-minded people from HammockForums, WinterTrekking and even Canadian Canoe Routes to happily stamp our feet around a roaring fire.
To that end, I want to put out two alternate routes, Source Lake or Swan Lake, off Hwy 60 by Canoe Lake. The terrain might be a little rougher and there'll likely be some trail breaking, but that's what we originally were hoping for anyway.
Source Lake
Access Hwy 60: 2.6 km east of Canoe Lake
1.9 km to Source on snowed over access road
0.5 - 2 km to campsite (North shore, hike until we find a spot)
Terrain: Unplowed access road, flatter terrain, some bushwhacking/lake travel
Comments: Confirmed review of access and site, lake hosts Camp Pathfinder in summer
Swan Lake Research Station
Access Hwy 60: 2.1 km west of Canoe Lake
1.7 km to Swan on snowed over Swan Lake Timber Research Station road
0.5 - 2 km to campsite (North shore, hike until we find a spot)
Terrain: Unplowed access road, hillier terrain, some bushwhacking/lake travel
Comments: No confirmed review of access but road services an established research facility. Lake not normally accessed by public (more wildlife?)
Finally, because this is some people's first time winter camping, I'd hope that the novices err slightly on the side of too much insulation, and that they don't cut too many corners just to save weight. That being said, I'd also hope that those of us with ultralight outfits be open to helping distribute the load to make sure everyone has the equipment they need to enjoy a safe weekend. After all, we're all in this together.
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