| Equipment » Portage Pack » 9/13/2015 4:52 pm |
We just got back from a weekend with our Granite Gear Superior One.
I bought it used - 100$ US plus 20 USD shipping - with paypal fees it was 170 Cdn all in - so expensive but still a bit cheaper than new.
Anyway we got it because we want one equipment pack for our long trip next summer - on our 23 day this year we started triple portaging and don't want to do this next summer.
It is huge and lovely - we will stick with the Mason on weekend trips and this for longer trips.
| Equipment » 4 person backpacking tents » 9/10/2015 6:12 pm |
If anyone is looking for an inexpensive summer tent we bought a 4 person Asolo velocity. It is all mesh. We paid 170$ for it. It did well on our 23 day trip.
| Equipment » Portage Pack » 9/10/2015 10:05 am |
I agree Soutergriz. I have the Woods Mason Pack and it's pretty similar. There are also a few other knockoffs - Chinook has one now too (). I've seen it in a few stores near the park. I bought mine used but the new ones I think are under 100$.
| Trip Planning » Clemow Lake » 9/10/2015 6:40 am |
HI Peek,
I know a lot of you guys are big fans of Jeff's maps but I'm really quite okay with the Friends map. I used it on my 7 day solo this year and we used it on our 23 day trip as well. I was perfectly happy with the info. That being said, the online system being wrong was something I thought worthy of note for others. We chose to stay on the top end of Grand and had a lovely time.
| History » whiskey rapids name? » 9/10/2015 6:35 am |
The info is also in the information booklet for the day walking trail that passes the rapid.
| Catch-all Discussions » Heading up in Sept for my solo! » 9/09/2015 8:14 pm |
We are heading in this weekend too - have not decided where exactly.
| Trip Planning » Clemow Lake » 9/09/2015 8:06 pm |
Hi Everyone,
Just an FYI - this weekend my OH and I went to do a last minute overnight. We planned on staying at Clemow - but both the Park map (Friends) and the online booking site are wrong. There are 2 not 4 sites on the lake. The Park staff say they have been trying to grt it fixed but have had occassions where more sites are prebooked than are on the lake
Christine
| Equipment » Best Buy » 9/09/2015 7:56 pm |
Before leaving for our big trip this summer, I got a great tip on an affordable piece of gear. I'm interested in your finds. Here are the parameters:
- something you bought that was good value
- something not on sale (This isn't a 'I'm so lucky I scored this' thread)
- it can be an inexpensive item or it can be a more expensive item worth the money
My find was recommended on myccr. Home Hardware sells a round basin that is 2.95 made by Great Value. It fits in the top of a 60 L barrel. We used 2 of them for dishes and for baking. They were awesome.
| Equipment » Portage Pack » 9/09/2015 7:45 pm |
AO has some at Oxtotongue. Sierra Trading Post often has them at discount. I just bought a used Superior One used - it looks great.
| Catch-all Discussions » Paying for Public Wolf Howls » 9/09/2015 7:20 pm |
John,
I think doing something like bussing would definately change the dynamic - but having worked in the whitewater industry I don't see any difference between parents signing a liability form for Suzy and Billy to go rafting (which many parents do even though it says the company is not liable for death) and going down a road with a sign - that said the road I live on has that sign and maybe parents who take their kids rafting are a different demographic from kids who go to wolf howls. Basin Road is probably way too far for most southeners but who knows - eventually the Park may open up this corner and connect it to the rest of the park via canoe routes so it can serve as a real exit point. Then again this is a fully hypothetical argument 
which is probably irrelevant because the park is probably just going to keep paying the OPP.
Christine
| Catch-all Discussions » Paying for Public Wolf Howls » 9/09/2015 3:47 pm |
Scoutergirl, I'm not sure what the industry is like in your neck of the woods but I can only speak to my personal experience in Renfrew County. I've got quotes/rented busses/worked with bus drivers for probably 4 or 5 of our County's bus companies.
In my experience, school bus drivers typically do not work in the summer in Renfrew County unless they work driving for someone like Wilderness Tours. So when they are offered a gig they aren't concerned about their hours the day before or the day after. If they take the wolf howl, they are doing it because it isn't their normal routine, it's some money they wouldn't normally get and they figure they'll get to meet some cool people. Moreover, there are always less summer contracts than there are drivers who want this work so I really don't see a company having trouble getting drivers for this type of event. Even during the school year, drivers want these contracts. Say a school is taking kids from Barry's Bay to Southern Ontario. The bus driver doesn't drive his normal route Friday (when the kids are super hyper) because he is picking kids (with probably 2 supervisors who look after their behaviour) up at noon. He or she then gets work Friday and Saturday, takes Sunday off. Typically they make more than they do driving their regular route.
Bus companies on the east side of the park are itching to get their buses on the road in the summer. The way they look at it, even if they are making a minimal amount, it is more than they are making sitting in the yard. I am pretty sure that you could get a bus company in Renfrew County to take this contract. In fact, I'm sure at least 3 or 4 would bid for it.
I'm also unsure why there is an assumption the buses would come from Huntsville. According to the info about the wolf howls, the starting point is 76.2 km from Barry's Bay.
| Catch-all Discussions » It finally happened... » 9/09/2015 6:59 am |
I'm glad you chose to share this story. I think it is through dialogue that we all improve.
This summer my partner and I stopped at the Brent store on our trip. While I was waiting outside with our dog a cottager and I started chatting and he invited us back for coffee. Over the course of the conversation, they told us that they had rescued a group the day before. The situation was a bit more serious than flipping so close to an exit point but probably would have concluded without serious injury.However, it did lead us to discuss how important it is for us as a community to encourage everyone to seek ongoing training and think about things like PFDs and weather conditions.
I worked in whitewater for years. I still teach a bit. I also guide a few flatwater trips and teach basic canoeing from time to time. So I have a bias. However, going out into the park, I often see things that make we wish more people would take lessons. On the same trip we saw a soloist with very little boat control. I love to solo. I get the appeal. I just think as soloists we need to continue to work on technique. Lessons really are not cost prohibitive. Everytime I take a course even after all these years, I learn something.
And I agree with the above postings that everyone should certainly practice flipping their boat and getting back in.
| Catch-all Discussions » Paying for Public Wolf Howls » 9/09/2015 6:49 am |
I do think if the Park went to busing the whole event would change, but perhaps its something they are considering. I think busing would require preregistration and a fee (just like backcountry camping does), so they might limit numbers to 1000 or 500. What this will probably come down to eventually is poltical will. Ultimately, is this a critical part of Algonquin's mandate?
| Catch-all Discussions » Paying for Public Wolf Howls » 9/09/2015 5:32 am |
I have no interest in this event personally as I would never choose to an event in the Park that is this crowded. However, I do understand that this is a way to draw people to the Park so challenges to running it are concerning.
I do see both sides of this. I can understand the rationale of using OPP officers. I can also understand the costs. Schools have to hire OPP officers when they run dances. I understand the thinking to be that it should be the school not the OPP that eats the cost. I agree with others who say the Ministries involved need to work together on this to resolve the issues.
As for buses, I suspect it would be school buses. Having booked buses for 1 hr to 1 day trips, I would suggest the buses would not need to cost 1000 plus per bus.
