You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

Trip Planning » Portages Off Opeongo » 3/01/2023 11:57 am

APPaul
Replies: 13

Go to post

Not to much to it other than to say I really like the park in the winter! …and long days!


 

Trip Planning » Portages Off Opeongo » 3/01/2023 8:06 am

APPaul
Replies: 13

Go to post

I snowshoed the portage into Baldwin mid Feb last year. It was easy to follow even in the winter when it can sometimes be hard to find the path without being able to see it worn into the ground. I don't remember any significant blowdown. Portage was super easy to find and follow. 

Catch-all Discussions » Frequently Asked Questions About Algonquin » 8/25/2020 11:33 am

APPaul
Replies: 17

Go to post

trippythings wrote:

When I have some spare time I was going to do something similar except focus more on the leave no trace aspect. "First time tripping in Algonquin? Before you read any of my trip reports / campsite reports, read this about Leave No Trace." 

I would emphasize LNT as well.

Maybe also add an etiquette question. Example:

Is there any canoe camping etiquette I should be aware of?

Yes there is! Remember that Algonquin is a shared space and as such there are some things to keep in mind. At a portage don't leave your equipment in the way. If you fish, don't clean your fish at an empty site, somebody may camp there later. Leaving some firewood for the next campers is always nice! Don't store your axe in a tree. Although a nail in a tree from a previous camp may come in handy, don't add anymore nails. Ditto with camp "furniture". Remember that noise carries across a lake very easily. Double carrying a portage and heading back one way empty handed? If there are people heading in the opposite direction offering to carry a something may be appreciated, even carrying a fishing rod or paddle can make a difference...(and so on, giving people a bit of general dos and dont's)

(OK that last one doesn't seem to be common etiquette but I think it should be )


 

Trip Planning » Wow, the backcountry is overrun! » 7/12/2020 8:17 pm

APPaul
Replies: 14

Go to post

Steve E wrote:

Come onnnnnn winter camping season

Steve I second your comment. Winter camping has become my preferred camping season for this very reason. I tried booking some hiking trips earlier in the summer in APP and it was impossible. Ended up on paddling trips from lesser used access points. 

Trip Planning » West to East. I go one way, you the other, we swap keys in the middle » 11/18/2019 12:49 pm

APPaul
Replies: 21

Go to post

I have often thought of doing this too. Even doing a north south version, or corner to corner (Kiosk to Booth). If i didn't already have next summer kind of booked up I would have done it. 

Instead of driving each others cars back to a meeting point at the end, maybe doing it before leaves it open so you don't have to coordinate the finish, just the start: 

Meet in the middle somewhere, switch cars and then drive each others cars to the put in/take out points. That way your car is just waiting for you at the end. Keys handed off mid trip or geocached as mentioned.
 

Equipment » Jeff's Maps - Can they be loaded on Garmin GPS or Samsung S7 (Android) » 4/24/2019 11:57 am

APPaul
Replies: 22

Go to post

Hey. Sorry I just realized that the versions in the link look like the wall maps, which are not geo referenced files. 

I just checked my Avenza, to see if I could export the map from there, but you can't. Turns out it was available through their store as product # 94357, which is no longer available. 

So...unless somebody has some way to get it out of Avenza for you, you could also download kmz files from an archived version of Jeff's old site at:
http://www.algonquinmap.com/">https://web.archive.org/web/20180817171423/http://www.algonquinmap.com/

Go to the downloads section check out the Google Earth, or Garmin downloads. (navigation of the site and downloads will be slow.) You can find kmz files there. Not sure if they will work in Avenza, but there are many apps that can read kmz files, so hopefully, you should be able to find one that works and provide you with a version of the map that you can use to navigate on your phone. 

I tried the Avenza map option, but it was a link to the Avenza store, so it won't work.

Jeff: I hope you don't mind me pointing all this out?!
 

Equipment » Jeff's Maps - Can they be loaded on Garmin GPS or Samsung S7 (Android) » 4/23/2019 12:01 pm

APPaul
Replies: 22

Go to post

I believe that you need to first need to get the file, then load it to Avenza. It doesn't appear to be on Avenza, don't remember if it was before either.

You can find them here
http://www.markinthepark.com/downloads.html


 

Equipment » Rubber Boots for tripping - any recommendations? » 4/02/2019 12:08 pm

APPaul
Replies: 26

Go to post

If you are using them for shoulder seasons and want a warm pair, the Kamik ones from Canadian Tire are great.They are usually 60 bucks, but regularly go on sale for 40-50. They are the ones with a removable liner. I gave up on rubber boots without liners a long time ago because your feet just get damp from sweat, then cold and clammy.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/kamik-insulated-rubber-boots-black-boys-men-s-0872668p.html#srp

I use them for ice out trips, late fall trips and even as backup winter camping boots. The key is to get them slightly oversize, and put a felted insole in the bottom or wear big wooly socks. 
 

Trip Planning » Weather radio » 2/15/2019 12:28 pm

APPaul
Replies: 8

Go to post

Just to clarify the weather stations,

There is the weather band, which if it is a true weather radio, should work anywhere in the park. I have never had an issue picking up a station. It is 162.400 in Algonquin, but should be preset in your radio. 

There is also the 100.1 and 101.3 FM stations that FOAP use to re-broadcast the weather band for people that only have FM radios. This I have never been able to pick up.  

Don't forget Moose FM. There is stations all over Ontario, and you can essentially always pick up one of the close by stations. Between the top 100 Ontario cottage hits of all time, you can pick up the weather report. 
 

Trip Planning » Weather radio » 2/13/2019 8:58 pm

APPaul
Replies: 8

Go to post

If it has the seven pre-set Weatheradio Canada stations on the weather band, it will work in the park (and out).

I use one all the time on longer trips. Just turn it to the weather band, then scroll through the stations till you pick one up. You can only pick ones up that are in range, so it means you always get the appropriate one no matter where you are in Canada.

Backcountry » Western UplandsTrail in Winter » 2/04/2019 12:53 pm

APPaul
Replies: 8

Go to post

Snowshoes? Yep.

Different trail but, I went around Provoking Lake, on the Eastern Backpacking trail two weekends ago as a day trip. Without snowshoes it would have been futile. Actually, I would go far as to say, even with the wrong (small) snowshoes it would have been difficult. I used some pretty big traditional ones. It was untouched fresh snow the whole way around (from the warning sign counter clockwise to the LOTR portage). Even if it was packed, there is so much snow this year that unless the trail is very heavily packed, it would be hard to walk on without snowshoes. 

Plus, if you are camping, soon as you get to camp, stamping out a tent spot, gathering wood or water and going to bathroom will all require snowshoes. 

Catch-all Discussions » 2018 highlights » 12/31/2018 10:58 am

APPaul
Replies: 18

Go to post

-A abnormally loud lake in the winter. The temps dropped fast overnight. The lake had a thick layer of ice, covered in a thin layer of slushy water. Something about the conditions were just right, it sounded like a thunder storm under the ice all night. The constant noise was oddly soothing.
-Canoeing Whitney to Ragged Lake and back in two days. 100klms in two days!

Trip Planning » Planning a winter hot tent trip » 11/27/2018 12:46 pm

APPaul
Replies: 21

Go to post

Gord,

You raise a lot of points on why it's hard to rent the tents and gear that it comes along with. As an owner of a hot tent, if I think about lending it, there would be so much to explain.

I think the pre-setup at a pre-determined location may be they way to go, but it does change the "vibe" of a trip. There is something nice about being able to move around and pick you own spots.

Maybe winter guided hot tent trips would be an option. Or, for any first time renter maybe they have to go through setup and take down with a staff member before hand. Printed instructions and hot tent tips would be a must.  

 

Trip Planning » Canoe or Toboggan: Nov 23? » 11/26/2018 1:02 pm

APPaul
Replies: 12

Go to post

After keeping a close eye on the weather, MODIS imagery and some phone calls to the park, we at the last minute ditch the canoe and took toboggans...and happy we did! Opeongo was showing the southern bay frozen over on MODIS. 

Went up to Sand Lake gate, up the the Achray Road to the gate, then tobogganed into the area between Grand and Stratton. Stratton had two inches of ice, except for the center.  

Only stayed one night though because they had actually plowed right to Achray, which meant very thin snow, which would have melted soon as the temps rose Saturday night into Sunday morning. Even going in we were dragging on a bit of rocks. We got nervous we would have to "portage" out in multiple trips. 

Didn't see any other campers or day trippers. However, for the first time we have ever seen it, there was a "harvest count" check point  on the way out for hunters. 





 

Trip Planning » Planning a winter hot tent trip » 11/22/2018 1:29 pm

APPaul
Replies: 21

Go to post

Hey, just some rapid fire answers:

-Not sure where to rent a tent. I thought Algonquin Outfitters did, but it is not listed on their site. There may be a place in Huntsville last I saw. The tent is the hard part. Sometimes people will rent privately, or you can try and find somebody who wants to go that already has one, and cold camp for sleeping with a hot tent communal space there is a couple people.

-We snowshoe, just find it easier, especially when pulling a toboggan on anything but perfect conditions. Although skis for a day trip would be awesome.

-Google SnowWalker Toboggan. They are pretty standard for winter trips, but there are lots of other options. The key is to pack whatever you use as a sled low. Packing more of a pulk style sled high with bags will result in having to right the sleds a lot. Some people have a backpack and a small sleds too. Some people even rig crazy carpets in sleds.

-Everything is just slower in the winter. Conditions can mean speedy movement or crazy slow slog like movement. If it is your first time, I would recommend hiking in somewhere, then day trip out from there. Or if you are going for more than a long weekend, move every day or two. You will spend more time getting to enjoy the hot tent and get some unencumbered winter travel in on a day trip. Keep in mind that in the summer a 5-10klm paddle from any put-in will feel like your barely into the park, but in winter, when the park is pretty empty in many places, that can feel pretty “away from it all”.

Check out www.Wintertrekking.com it is dedicated to boreal forest, toboggan, hot tent style trips.

Trip Planning » Canoe or Toboggan: Nov 23? » 11/20/2018 12:39 pm

APPaul
Replies: 12

Go to post

Thanks for the heads up Rob. Didn't think about that.

I did call the park yesterday afternoon and asked about ice conditions saying that I would be up next weekend and they said "Opeongo is expected to be open". But now that I think about it, I was only really talking about ice, not permits. Will call Thursday afternoon now, just to make sure. Can't call Friday morning before leaving, we will arrive for when the permit office is just opening  since November has such short days.

When I called AO in Dwight, they said basically the same thing. 

Maybe I should just head for a self permit area! It's just that Opeongo may be one of the few viable paddling options. 




 

Trip Planning » Canoe or Toboggan: Nov 23? » 11/19/2018 12:42 pm

APPaul
Replies: 12

Go to post

Thanks for the info everybody.

Now have a pile of semi packed gear sitting on a table...waiting to be stuffed into duffel bags or dry bags. Really hoping dry bags.  

Board footera

LNT Canada is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.