Sorry for your loss.  My little guy diagnosed almost the same day.  He was in for a random xray to check something else and the vet came back with a look like he had been punched in the gut.  Cancer.  Gave him 1 month.  A beagle to the end.  chipper and wanting to chase the squirrels up to the second last day.  Miss him tremendously.  A big hole in our lives.

Works perfect as a portable camp fire.  I bought one after a fall wet back country trip, trying to get a fire going to get a bit of warmth. Got lots of smoke in a normal fire pit . So I bought a solo stove . Of course every trip since then,  no rain. Very satisfied with mine. They burn really clean.  Still some carbon,  but not that bad.  Most important, you can keep a decent fire, but small. You can use a fraction of the wood.  Less impact on the environment.

Sorry I did not see this post first. Joe robinet was making a video in Algonquin the same night. Many trees down on his site.

Looking at the pics here and the video joe made, it’s important to check for dead trees. Even if they are not widowmakers out right. Ie hanging. Uprouted.

Check joe video out also. Or Doug outsides video.

My brother and I took my niece and nephew since they were really small.  All 4 of us in a 17 footer for day trips. A second 16 footer I rented as required. 1 parent or guardian per boat. It’s all about how you load it. I can remember coming out one time from clydegale it was really windy. Me in the back.  70 pound kid in the front. Couldnt keep the nose to wind. Pulled over put a few rocks in the nose,  shifted a pack to in front of the front seat. All balanced. Dropped the rocks at the next portage.

Been a number of years since we had to do that. Forgot the lesson this summer. Same route 18.5 foot rental. 120 pound kid in the front. Tough paddle to wind.  Boat was unloaded , we were day tripping. I should have stopped for a rock or two or moved to the middle seat. I would have been a lot more productive.

Big problem with squatters. No way the lakes are over booked as many times as I have been burned. Not sure dedicated sites are the solution, but at least you could definataivly say some one was squatting. Have come in more than once with two sites or more on a given lake, only to get the last site at the wrong end of the lake. Called to complain, they basically said they can’t do anything. They need more rangers random checking particularly a portage in.   I think farther back not so big a problem. Also on the lakes they can reach by power boat not as much squatting. Too easy to get caught. A park employee went through twice the last time I stayed on rock.  None on pen this time.

Just got back. Bugs were fine.  Couple at night. Sprayed deet 30 bens. No more problems.  So you don’t have to go nuclear to make them go away. After one of the rain storms in the night I heard a massive buzzing in the forest like they were all awakened at once,  did not hear many close to the tent though. Gone by morning. Great trip despite the rain.

Any updates on the bugs?  Heading in in the next week or so.

Candles are called out in the fireban notice produced by Algonquin park, but not in the provincial rules. Would suggest as some one stated above mosquito coils probably a would be a grey area. I see the province expanded the restricted fire zone , but moved Algonquin to blue. Low risk. Pray for more rain. Was having beers with some one friday night planning either a spring french river trip or spring Frontenac trip. Looks like the fire went right through the area I was thinking about going on the french.