The Shadow of Warmth
Planning Thread
Quick Trip Report - The 2018 EGL Winter Hang:
I'm starting to like Niger. It's a pretty little lake with a lovely little island. Access is good, amenities are non-existent, firewood isn't scarce and being on Crown land means park fees aren't necessary. Best of all, trout are said to swim those waters. Yes, Niger is growing on me.
Originally we had planned to camp at Silent Lake Provincial Park, just north of Kingston, Ontario, but an unusually warm spell of weather and rain in late January caused considerable melt of the snow cover. Even though the forecast leading up to the weekend called for a dusting of snow, there wasn't likely to be enough to drag our gear laden toboggans. In the end we thought Niger was a safer bet. Located in the Algonquin Highlands, they area had received more snow and held onto it longer. Ultimately it proved to be the right choice.
Our small motley band EGL regulars would be joined by a new member, MaxB from the Toronto area. 76 Highboy and Iguana would drive up together early Friday morning and scout out a campsite. The rest, ConnieB and her husband Martin, Bubba and myself would meet up at noon at the Huntsville Hwy 60 Tim Hortons. Here we would meet up with Max B and all head to the trailhead together.
Walking into Tim's at noon I found Bubba, ConnieB and Martin sitting around a table. It's always nice to have a few minutes of civilization, even if it's only Tim Hortons, before we head out into the cold. We'd received a text from iguana that they were able to drive directly to the lake, a relief, and that they were searching for a campsite. We joked about not being able to recognize MaxB if he walked in the door and I eyed everyone walking in alone suspiciously. As minutes turned to half an hour ConnieB and Martin decided to head off to the trailhead. Still no sign or message from MaxB. Bubba and I continued to chat about life, family and things but decided to give him until 1pm before we would take off. To be honest, we bailed at 12:55. Sorry.
It was a quick drive from Huntsville to the Troutspawn Lake Road turnoff. Although the road was snow covered, there was a layer of sand that I presume was for the logging trucks that made use of the road in the off season. There were signs warning us to take extreme caution using those roads and I was ready to drive my car into the ditch at a moments notice rather than take on a fully loaded logging truck head on. There are no 20-20's when it comes to battling trucks in real life. Troutspawn Lake Road followed the length of the hill east as it paralled Highway 60, gradually rising until it turned to the south between the split in the hills and down towards Niger Lake. There was a narrow shoulder that Bubba and I pulled over into. Getting out of the car my first impression was cold and quiet. The snow was deep and we still had a few hours of daylight. Perfect.
A couple of weeks earlier, at our "Gearing Up" hang in Valens, we discussed making freighter toboggans out of the UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene). A couple of our fellow EGL'rs used them and they were legendary. As luck would have it, our own Niagara knew exactly where we could find some. The only catch was that the sheets only came in width's of 4 feet, although we could get that in 8', 10' or 12' lengths. That essentially meant three 16" wide strips could be cut from each sheet. Done! 76 Highboy, Iguana and I went three ways and the deal was done. The next Saturday Niagara met Iguana and me at the Burlington MEC and traded cold hard plastic for cold hard cash. It felt like an old fashioned drug sale and I kept expecting Serpico to pop up wearing his old army jacket and toque to bust us.
Given his well stocked workshop, after stopping in at Home Depot to buy a couple of lengths of maple and a handful of screws, I popped by my father's place to build myself a sled. We spent most of Sunday drinking tea and discussing the finer points of sled construction. By the time I left for home that night, parts had been drilled, wood had been oiled and all that remained was for us to let the oils set up overnight and screw everything together the next evening after work. Seeing my newest addition, my wife had a few choice words for me, none of which the moderators will allow me repeat here, but when all was said and done there was a lovely 12' toboggan in my living room. Enter the "Chardmobile"!
As Bubba and I begun unloading our gear, ConnieB and Martin pulled up after stopping by Algonquin Outfitters. Before long all of our gear was waiting beside the trail to the lake and Martin, Bubba and I were driving back towards the parking area beside Highway 60, leaving ConnieB behind to watch the gear. After the cars were parked we enjoyed a crisp twenty-five minute walk back to the lake. As we turned the last corner we were surprised to see an arctic explorer waiting for us in his homemade winter regalia right down to the toque, anorak, mukluks and snowshoes! But it was the award winning beard that gave him away; greetings all around as Iguana welcomed us to Niger.
We climbed up over the roadside snowbank and down the snowmobile trail towards the lake. Our gear was gone! Apparently ConnieB wasn't content to stand around waiting for us bless her soul, so she took it upon herself to haul our sleds out onto the lake for us. A little ways ahead of Iguana, Bubba and me, Martin even took it upon himself to drag my sled to where he met up with ConnieB. Very kind of them both, I must say. I was hoping that the new toboggan would make moving my gear effortless, but this was ridiculous. The valet service on Niger is second to none in the winter camping world!
I took the haul-rope of the sled and dragged it a little way further and off to the right where the trail in the snow plunged into the forest.
To be continued (I reserve the right to rewrite the above section)...
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