Island Lake

  Island Lake...we really lucked out last week-end on our canoe trip.

  By the time we went past the hunting cabin on Farm Creek, dark clouds were looming around us; we could hear thunder in the distance.

  We made it to a camp site on Island Lake without any rain. We could see all kind of active weather around us. Not a drop till the next morning, but even then it didn't last.

               Signs of wildlife...

               Second day... too bad we had to return.

              Farm Creek, nice place to paddle.

  Four portages and six beaver dams later, we are about to reach Wahwashkesh Lake. Of course the big lake was windy so we used the Indian Portage to cut some distance. We took a last break on the beautiful sandy beach. Now back to the city life!!! but I really like the simplicity of the backcountry tripping.

Big East River

  Too many good plans, so many factors to interfere with them... All I could pull this last long-week-end was a day trip on Big East River. Other than the drive back, everything went pretty smooth.
  I put in at the bridge on Williamsport Rd. After a short paddle up-river I turned around and continued downriver.

                                    Nice sand banks...
  The water level was very low, I had to wade a lot. It helped I was solo and on some low water areas I could still pass.

  The river had a very remote feeling, taking a break on a sand bank I was looking for signs of bears.
  At some point I took a sharp turn and I was really paying attention on the course, the river being very low in that area, when I saw it: a young bear,maybe two years old, very healthy looking, at the water's edge.
  In few jumps he climbed the very steep face beside the river,and off he went into the forest. Everything happened so fast, no time for pictures, but I was kind of giddy for a while.

Arrowhead P.P. has a viewpoint on top of the bank (in the back).

 Nice day to be outside...

Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands - solo

  I started my trip at Head Lake. Quite a boring crossing. Once on Head River it started to look more interesting.

  When I stopped at the first portage(into Fishog Lake),the bugs were on me.
  On Fishog I kept to the left shore,exploring.

   From Fishog Lake I was planning to reach Crooked Lake, spend the night and return same way.
   I crossed the small lake north of Fishog, I took the portage to the second small lake and here something went wrong. Instead of taking the portage to Long Lake which is quite obvious (there is even a dock), I was looking for a way into the series of beaver dams to the left (West).

   Having read some info about this park I knew that at some point I need to cross some beaver dams so I thought - this is one of them. I wandered in this intricate multilevel marsh until I reached the stream which was navigable for a while.

   There was no portage around some rapids so I bushwhacked my way, moving forward. Another portion was navigable for a short distance. Then more bushwhacking to the dam that keeps the level in Long Lake.
   So far so good. I was tired but I thought that since this park is not very popular,the portage is not so obvious. Canoeing on Long Lake, to my stupefaction I am passing the real portage on my right. How could I miss it?
   I just stopped on the first island on Long Lake. Now I was feeling exhausted. Mental toll I guess.

   During night beside the big full moon I had a concert from a Whip-poor-will. Interesting.
   Next day I paddled across Long Lake to the portage into Crooked Lake. Just because I knew my way back will be much easier and to satisfy my curiosity.

Happy trails!

Big Otter Creek in April

  Second time on Big Otter Creek. Waiting for my friends I got a chance to take some pictures around the put in.

  Very nice creek with clear water. Level was very low though.

  This time we started at the bridge on Richmond Rd., just south of Richmond. My friend and me on my canoe,his son on a kayak.
  About a 1/2 hour on the river we encountered a log jam that needed to be portaged. I thought the left side was the way to go. Big mistake.
  When my friend and his son carried the kayak, the trail gave in and his son dropped towards the river on an almost vertical wall. He stopped about 1.5m below the trail on a ledge, holding also on the kayak. Very bad trail.

         Now the other side really looks like a walk in the park.
   After getting on the other side of the log jam, the adventurous kid tried to get into his kayak but flipped and dunked in the river. Water was cold, early spring temperatures and after a while also started to rain. It became clear that the plan has to change.
  When we got to the next bridge on Richmond Rd.(about 5 km on river), we stopped for lunch and seeing him shivering I asked them to run and get the car back to this location (2.8km on road). My car was in Port Burwell where we were supposed to finish.

                   Lift over just before the second bridge.
  While I was waiting for them I thought about what should I do next. It was too early to get back but not enough time to get to Port Burwell. They decided to go home but not before helping me to get my car closer, at the bridge on Calton Line.
  It took me 2 hours to complete this second portion solo.It went pretty smooth,with only one more lift over and few navigable obstacles. I think this route, Richmond to Port Burwell, can take 6-7 hours to complete.
  The highlight of the trip: a big bird flying away seemed to be a crane. On a second occasion I saw it's a bald eagle. Third time it was perched on a tree next to the river. As I approached, it flew away. Majestic bird.
  It could have been better, but also worse. We made it safely home, ready (at least myself) to tackle the next trip, now that the season is open.

Happy trails!
  

Algonquin - Highland Backpacking Trail

  First camping trip for 2012 and also the last chance for winter camping. Saturday temperatures were hovering around -5C. Windy but not too bad.
  I started walking on Highland Trail which took me to the bridge over the Madawaska River. I was heading for a site on the North side of Provoking Lake via Old Railway Bike Trail,followed by the portage. When I got there it was too windy and I didn't feel like staying. Instead I opted for the depression just bellow the Lookout (for Starling Lake).

                        Many stars accommodation for the night.

  I packed the snow with my snowshoes and I started setting up the tent. The snowshoes were bothering me. I took one off and the moment I put my boot down my leg went all the way through the snow. This place was quite protected from winds but also accumulated a lot of snow blown from higher grounds.
  For dinner I boiled some pasta with sauce and cheese. My new cooking system includes a Hobo stove. It weights a mere 180g, you don't need to carry the fuel and once you get it started it gives you a hot fire.

                      Quite effective and burning just small sticks.



  During the night I heard the wolves howling quite far. I never heard them very close.

                        Sunny morning on top of the Lookout.

                        Starling Lake

                         Waterfalls on Madawaska River.
  Snow won't last long with these temperatures and the trails will be muddy soon.

Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park

  I have recently recovered pictures taken in September while on a solo week-end backpacking trip.
  The plan was to reach Victoria Lake, camp for a night and come out the next day.
  I entered the Ganaraska trail close to the boat launch north of Deep Bay. The trail is remote, pretty well marked but seemed to me more energy demanding when compared with the backpacking trails in Algonquin and Killarney.

           Typical scenery along the trail.


  Around 4:00 pm I reached a trapper's cabin on the shore of Victoria Lake. There was a campfire pit right beside the lake, and a small flat area to fit my tent. I decided to stay.
  During the night I heard noise that seemed to come from the place I left my backpack. I came out of the tent to realize that a beaver was chewing a tree far from my site.
  Next day was a perfect fall day. It was well worth the effort.

            Sunday morning on Victoria Lake

  This Park can also be accessed by canoe, but that will follow...

Poker Lakes in winter

 I have been waiting for a chance to get back in this area.Finally I got one.
 The plan was to travel on ice,bushwhack if ice was thin, explore a little bit.
 The ice on Bentshoe Lake didn't look to good so I opted for ice travel but close to the shore.

  On the way I found these tracks,probably wolf.

 
 At some point I bushwhacked my way to East Bentshoe Lake. Just to extend the trip I took the portage to Lower Crane Lake. There isn't a lot of snow on the ground, very odd winter.

 This must be a nice campsite in summer time,East Bentshoe Lake.

 I think I am done with ice travel this winter,looking forward to the March backpacking trip in Algonquin.

 Happy trails!