Algonquin 3-Nighter Itinerary Set

“The fee is CAD $27 per person. Pay and pick up permit at West Gate.

Monday July 31: Maggie Lake East 8.6 miles
Tuesday Aug 1st: Tern Lake 9.4 miles
Wednesday Aug 2nd: Lupus Lake 9.4 miles
Thursday Aug 3rd: Hike out 7.3 miles”

“Have a great trip... I'm headed into Algonquin on the 4th of August (car camping at Cannisbay Lake that night and then 10 days of canoeing to Lake Lousia - just below highway 60)... if any of you are still there I'd love to meet you.”

“bump”

“we just got back from 3days in Frontenac.
if the Western Uplands trail is anything like the southern part of Frontenac, we are all doomed.”

“cant be any worse than the AT, and i did 20 mile days on that. course, that was 2 years ago”

“my litle midget legs had a hard time scrambling up and down all the granite cliffs this weekend.
hopefully the algonquin trails take vertical gain & loss into account when posting trail mileage.
last edited: 6/12/06 7:37:30 AM”

“i thought she did great. I'm 6'2" and had only a slightly easier time going up then down then up and up then down, up......

PUDS!!!!!!!

great trip, we'll post a trip report soon as i am sure alot of TT'rs would love this park”

“youll be fine, helly. we can take all day if you want”

“bump bidda bump”

“Hey CB, what route are you taking through MI?”

“getting anxious CB?”

“nc, ill still be in london at that point and riding up with helinka and celtic canuck

h, not really, just trying to drum up interest”

“I keep trying to find a way to attend this trip but time is just not on my side...”

“bidda bidda bump bump bump

someone please go on this trip with us.

im afraid to enter the woods alone with helinka and cc”

“OK, I am going to ask for the week off. I don't know what the schedule looks like but I'll ask. I really want to go... have always wanted to go that is... but blocks of one week are hard to get and I need more than three for the JMT next August.”

“"on the park's west side, in its mountainous western highlands, is the aptly named 'western uplands trail'. this is an extremely rugged trail that should not be tackled by beginners, unless accompanied by an experienced trail guide. it consists of a series of loops ranging from 32km to 88km on hilly terrain over rocky ridges, around lakes and through bogs."”

“woohoo! buttkickin time!”

“Did someone say bogs? Oh man I really want to go now...”

“me too. =(”

“There are no mountains in Ontario.

I have done the trail three times now.
It is rugged, with some minor hill climbing.

The trail map you buy at the trail head sucks the contour interval is so big the hill don't show up.

By the way the mileage is in Kilometers.

1.6K to the mile”

“hi p-63
where are you at? i'm guessing ontario, since you're on rogers too. i'm in sw-ontario

that description above was from the book 'hiking ontario's heartland'. it's not the most detailed or accurate guidebook out there, but i'm betting they got the bog(hahaswamp) part correct.
i think crash already did the m-km conversion on the trip planning thread...13-15(aprox)km/day.”

“hey hellstinka!”

“hey crash
packed & readytogo yet?? you have only a couple more days of peace&quiet left
hahahahahahaha”

“Yeah I am from Barrie Ontario.

I will be in Algonquin this saturday running in a 10K race. The HBC race starts at the 30 K point on highway 60.”

“I just got back from a solo backcountry hike into scenic Maggie Lake in the Western Uplands of Algonquin Park. It was quite a busy 24hrs (sort of a weird take of 24 with Jack Bauer but I digress.) I had planned for a short outing, do to time restaints, and usual recovery required over the Canada Day weekend. These trips are always harder then one thinks.

The Saturday drive up the 400 was quick, short of some slow downs around HWY 89. I had arrived at a more leisurely hour of noon, making the 3hr drive on cruise control, after sleeping in till 8:00am! Anyway it was a beautiful start at the HWY 60 parking entrance to the trail, just east of the West Gate Ranger station (where they open at 8:00am sharp for those keeners). There were people going in at the same time so one is never totally alone unless you go deep into the uplands.

The 3.75hr hike in took one up and over several of the tallest 'hills' in the park, through mixed forests, fir & maple, some of it regrowing as there was forestry practices in the distant past. I hiked on a well travelled trail, passing many lakes, crossing streams, creeks and a couple water falls, at about an average elevation of 1650' starting from 1450'. There were two 'major' camp sites along the way, Maple Leaf Lake only 4-5km in and SteepRise Lake some 9km in.

Just after Maple Leaf Lake, I and some backpackers who I had just met, encountered what I thought was a black bear (who was growling and snuffling in the woods letting us know he was there and not to bother him. I took one look back and decided to keep moving. Sometimes the best option is not to stop. The others actually sat down besides the trail! Never did see them again! Haha.

The target camp site was the 'farthest' west on Maggie Lake (go figure) as most hikers would go only as far as necessary. The lake was really quiet & nice. The camp sites come with central fire pit, seating, a latrine (no kidding) a private beach for swimming, firewood and isolation and privacy from others as the nearest site are 0.5km apart and across the lake. Quickly through up the tent and gathered some firewood and started a fire. I indulged a bit and brought in a half litre of Santo Carolina strong Red Wine from Chile which was a very good choice. [Oh yes, don't forget the cork screw]. Had a really good view of the lake, as all the sites seemed to be set in just the right locations, and an island opposite; and the sunrise the next morning. There were no stars overnight as it was too cloudy. Sigh.

Rain came early. The showers expected, turned into a full on deluge with lightning & thunder making for an event full evening. Most things in the tent ended up getting somewhat wet due to some ground level issues and the location of the tent allowing water to pool beneath. This was annoying since my sleeping bag got wet and water ended up pooling in the tent. Sigh. Remember to bring plastic bags.

Stayed only a day due to getting rained out first night and lack of bear spray. I woke up in the morning around 5:00am to the sound of footfalls through the bush. A bear had come by the tent in the morning and growled his displeasure at my presence and tromped off. Decided that not having the spray was a major factor.

The morning dawned clear over a hot breakfast and presented a beautiful moment to take in a swim and just forget about everything.

Animal Critter sightings:
Marmoset, dear tracks, falcon/hawks, crows, Loon, unknown small bird, some sort of green snake, dragonflies, spiders, & bear poop (mind your step).

I had packed my essential gear the previous day, some of the lightest and not so light backpacking items known to man. Mesg me for the list.

Might consider going back for the loop.

AdventureRacer”

“due to some silly git at LLI wanting canada day off and therefore pushing my schooling back a day, this trip may be pushed back a day: start on tuesday and hike out on friday. stay tuned”