| Trip Planning » Would these campsites be considered Crow Bay or Lavieille? » 7/28/2016 9:44 am |
The online booking system gives 6 reservable campsites for Crow Bay and 12 for Lavieille. That means, at the very least, the two leftmost of the cluster of sites I've circled must be Crow Bay, but are the other three also considered Crow Bay or are they considered Lavieille? 
I confess it's a pretty lame reason why I'm asking. I have a copy of Jeff's wall map, and I have a pin in every lake I've ever camped on. I camped on the top-right site in my circled bunch ,and that's the only time I've ever been to Lavieille. So if that site is actually considered Crow Bay, then I have an excuse to plan a trip to Lavieille!
| Trip Planning » Water Levels - High Falls to Nadine Lake AND Catfish Rapids to Sunfish » 7/28/2016 9:30 am |
I haven't been on the stretch between High Falls and the Gauthier's Dam portage, but from there to the Nadine portage is wide, mostly lazy current Nipissing river. You'll have no worries about water levels. I was through there last July.
Catfish Raps to Sunfish (assuming you're heading for the Newt portage?): I was through there in July of 2014 and while it's a narrow track through weedy water for much of it, there were no issues with water levels at the time. Jeff's map does warn it can be difficult in lower water conditions though so hopefully someone's been through there recently to give you more up to date information!
| Trip Planning » First Solo tomorrow. Short but sweet. » 7/19/2016 9:19 pm |
Good luck and have fun!
| Campsite Cooking » Dehydrated and dry food vs real food » 7/18/2016 12:11 pm |
Like others, I bring burgers or a steak (frozen, kept in a cooler for the drive) for the first night. After that I'm entirely dehydrated. I confess to be utterly boring with my food. I mostly solo camp and the work involved in doing real back-country cooking is beyond what I'm interested in. Breakfast is oatmeal and coffee, so all I have to do is boil water. Lunch is trail snacks (gorp, energy bars, etc) as I'm generally on the move almost every day of a trip and don't want to stop to cook. Dinners are whatever "just add boiling water" meals caught my eye at MEC (lately that's been AlpineAire food - I've yet to find one I didn't like).
I used to hang bear bags but found it was a chore I didn't enjoy. This was mostly because I obsessed over hanging the perfect bear bag, and finding a good spot to properly hang a bear bag - high enough and far enough from the trunk and other trees - was time consuming. So, many years ago I switch to a 'bear proof' barrel - the BV500. I put 'bear proof' in quotes because I guess some smart bear in the Adirondacks figured out how to open them. I take a walk into the woods behind my site and toss the barrel somewhere - easy peasy.
As a kayaker I pack my canoe pack multiple times per day (once for each portage) so the consistent size and shape of my food pack allows me to keep a consistent packing method (both in the pack and in the dry hatches), which is really important. So for me, "not crushable or pliable" is an asset, not a hindrance.
| Trip Planning » Big Trout to Shippagew - which portage route is better? » 7/11/2016 10:29 am |
I'll be heading into Shippagew from Big Trout on an upcoming trip. I can either go Big Trout --> Longer --> Shippagew or Big Trout --> Blue --> Shippagew. Distance-wise they're pretty much the same. Has anyone portaged either/both of these routes? Is one a better option than the other, or are they more or less the same?
| Trip Planning » Anyone been through Lavieille recently? » 7/11/2016 7:35 am |
Hey folks,
My next camping trip is sadly a few weeks away still. I haven't been to Lavieille in years and I'd love to go back, but as Hardy's Bay and Dickson have already been shut down for weeks due to blue-green algae, I'm expecting Lavieille to follow suit any time now.
I'm wondering if anyone's paddled through Lavieille lately and if so, does it look like the 'infection' is spreading? I know nobody can give me a definitive answer on whether or not it will be open for camping in early August, just wondering if there are any signs pointing one way or the other.
Thanks!
| Trip Planning » First timer advice - 3 day trip from Canoe into East Arm 12th July » 7/04/2016 11:09 am |
If an outfitter is renting you everything else, surely they must rent water filters as well, no? Save your money on buying one for now if you can. As you've said - you're trying camping out. Would be a shame to buy a $100 water filter to use it once.
For that matter if you're in the Toronto area I've got one you can borrow.
| Trip Planning » First timer advice - 3 day trip from Canoe into East Arm 12th July » 7/04/2016 9:29 am |
Welcome Dave!
Renting is smart when you're just getting started. Good camping gear can be quite expensive and it's a lot to spend for something you don't even know if you're going to enjoy yet!
Hanging a bag is just fine - that's what most people do. You're definitely going to want a filter. Purification tablets take time and don't leave water tasting the best.I haven't been to the park lately so I won't comment on the current state of the bugs, but generally speaking by now the black flies are low in numbers, the mosquitoes and deer flies will still have healthy populations. Deet and a head net will be fine.
Are you travelling from Canoe Lake to Opeongo? Or are you just paddling up Opeongo to the east arm? In case you're not aware, Opeongo is a big, beautiful lake, but it's one that allows motorboats. Not sure you care, just as an FYI. And as it's big - the biggest in the park - it can also have some adventurous paddling conditions at times.
| Trip Reports » First Solo, first trip report. » 6/27/2016 6:16 am |
Solo tripping is hard to give up once you try it. Congrats!
| Equipment » MSR guardian water purifier » 6/21/2016 10:21 am |
Bumping this old post because I've actually used the MSR guardian on a camping trip now and I absolutely love it.
My previous filter was the MSR MiniWorks. I never had any issues with it, but then I'd never had any other filter to compare it to. Water filtering with it was always, in hindsight, a chore. I'd have to get in the kayak and paddle out from my site, because any attempted filtering from shore would have its flow rate drop to the point where I'd have to clean it before I'd pumped a liter. Filling a 4 L container with the MiniWorks was a *chore*. It took at least 10 minutes of constant pumping. Longer if I needed to stop and clean the filter. As a result of the time involved, and the fact that I'd have to go out on the water to pump, I was always semi-subconciously rationing my water intake. And as a result I was always mildly dehydrated on my camping trips, because I wasn't drinking as much water as I would have otherwise.
Enter the MSR Guardian. It filters everything that's filterable, it has a very fast flow rate, and it doesn't need cleaning, because it cleans itself on every pump stroke. On my camping trip I did all my filtering from the shoreline, as in 'drop it in two inches of water and pump' shoreline. I noticed no drop in the flow rate from the first liter I pumped on that trip to the last. Being able to just walk down to the water's edge and pump 4 liters of water in about a minute and a half was an incredible luxury I didn't know I was missing, but now there's no chance I could do without it. I drank more far more water on that trip, and felt better for doing so.
Still - it's a silly amount of money for a water filter. It's hard to justify the cost, but I'm happy I bought it nonetheless!
| Trip Planning » Suggestions for 8ish day canoe trip? » 6/17/2016 7:40 am |
Remoteness in August can be challenging. Remoteness in August while on a route that avoids long portages is probably a pipe dream. But on the other hand you've got a long trip planned, which will help!
With a 7-9 day trip you have many possible loop trips, but here's one to get you started.
Access Point 3: Magnetawan
Night 1: I'll assume you likely won't have much time on the first day, so camp on Hambone or Daisy Lake.
Night 2: Work your way down the Petawawa River to Misty Lake. Longest portage 935 meters
Night 3: Continue to follow the Petawawa to White Trout, then paddle into Big Trout. Longest portage, 850 meters
Night 4: Stay on Big Trout again. You've got a long trip so a rest day is a good thing, and it's generally a good idea to bake such a day in in case of inclement weather that throws off your schedule. Lots to check out around Big Trout - it's a gorgeous lake. You won't be bored.
Night 5: Backtrack to White Trout and set up camp. Very short easy day, no portaging.
Night 6: White Trout to Timberwolf Lake via McIntosh Marsh and McIntosh Lake. Longest portage 745 meters. Mostly paddling, but you're now heading West so you could be paddling into the wind all day.
Night 7: Timberwolf to Queer Lake. This is mostly to avoid back-tracking a stretch of the Petawawa you've already paddled, but in order to do that you've got a 2435 meter portage. But hey, it's now the 7th day of your trip, your food barrel is almost empty, and you'll have lots of portage experience by this point. No sweat. Or you can just paddle back up the Petawawa if you'd rather.
Night 8: You can paddle out this day no problem, or you could camp on Ralph Bice and then head for the car the following day.
This, basically. Map is Jeff's map, which Dan already linked you to. 
| Trip Reports » New trip report: Shall - Booth - Shirley - McKaskill » 5/14/2016 6:48 am |
@kellycamps: Thanks! Yeah, I've been pretty happy with the stove for sure.
@Lonestroker: I'd heard good things about that site so it was definitely top of my list. This was actually my first time on Booth Lake so I was exploring as I went.
@token: Thanks! The stove is a Bushbuddy. I went checking not that long ago and it looks like the dude who used to make them has retired, but he passed the business on to someone else. The original site is , the new site is
| Trip Reports » New trip report: Shall - Booth - Shirley - McKaskill » 5/13/2016 6:49 pm |
Thankfully I didn't have to rescue anyone from a capsize, but I'm home from my first trip of 2016 and have written up a trip report with lots of photos. It was a relaxing and peaceful trip, and as a bonus I actually bumped into Martin from these very forums while out there!
Incidentally Martin, I might have your bear mace.
The trip report can be found here - I hope you enjoy the read!
| Trip Planning » Bug Report » 5/13/2016 1:22 pm |
Stayed on Booth Lake on the 9th, Shirley on the 10th and McKaskill on the 11th. Few bugs around (some swarms while out on the water), none biting. But with the warm temps it won't be long.
| Trip Planning » Best backcountry campsites with canoe » 5/04/2016 2:16 pm |
You book a lake, not a specific camp site but yes - that link will get you there. Or you can call 1-888-668-7275
They'll want to know your access point for starters, so make sure you know the answer!
| Trip Planning » Bug Report » 5/04/2016 2:00 pm |
Out already? Seriously? I'm heading into Algonquin in 5 days and it hadn't even crossed my mind to bring the bug jacket.
| Trip Planning » Best backcountry campsites with canoe » 5/04/2016 12:32 pm |
Hi Mathieu,
If you get ten answers you'll get twelve opinions 
My answer is that all of Algonquin is beautiful, but with only two nights and young friends you're not going to get far into the park. And in mid-June your priority might be finding a wind exposed campsite to keep the bugs down over one that offers a good view.
That being said, with only two nights to play with I'd take the Opeongo water taxi to the Proulx portage, then paddle your way to Big Crow and set up camp. Hike the trail behind the ranger cabin up to the old fire tower and enjoy the amazing view from the cliff's edge.
