John - If I may... Successful IT solution implementations serve to streamline processes and reduce costs - not to simply provide additional options to would-be users. That said, despite being a (very hands-on) director of IT for a manufacturing company, I have never been able to use the self checkout counters deployed at certain stores without some help or intervention. And so, to apply the philosophy of Mr. Miyagi - do IT "yes" or do IT "no". Do IT "I guess so" - squish, just like grape. In other words, crappy IT solutions can easily be worse than none.

My message and response:

Hi,
I was checking out the new reservation system and was disappointed that one can no longer see the number of existing reservations per lake. This is crucial information - I will not book a trip without it. As such, it will be necessary for me to use the call-in option for making reservations. As an IT professional, I commend the effort for the roll-out of a new reservation system and understand that there are always unforeseen aspects that will need addressing. I do hope this one is high on the priority list.
Sincerely,

Thanks so much for your feedback and information!

Hearing from those who use the new reservation service will help us make improvements. We understand the value that the "sites remaining" feature adds to the backcountry trip planning experience. We have flagged these details you note below to our reservation service team and can confirm that we are actively looking into including this pertinent detail on the new reservation website.

Thanks again and happy camping!

Sincerely,
Ontario Parks

I rented an SR 16 and forgot my yoke pad - no issues.

As for upgrades, after more than a couple of disappointing flow problems with my BeFree, I dished out for the Katadyn Pocket.

TripperMike wrote:

In case geo wants to continue, facing south-ish from Campsite #2/the bay with the trail into Gem lake. 

You have to paddle around that side of the island as it is not passable on the western side.

 

Bingo! The site itself isn't great, but zero traffic.

You should have quit at Pen Lake. Yes, Pen, but not from that location.

A tip of the hat to dcmcelroy for the donation of her turn...

This should be quick:

I don't know many, but the ones I do know have been adequate for my needs. Bowline, trucker's hitch (with a slippery half), taught-line, and prusik. I set up my tarp with a bowline/carabiner at one end, trucker's hitch at the other. It has 2, permanently-attached prusik loops each made from short pieces of cord tied into a loop using a fisherman's bend. These loops slide on the tarp rope and I spike my tarp to them using the tarp's loops and short sticks I find on site. I then slide the prusiks to position and tighten the tarp.

My experience is that as a child, time is protracted. I find it hard to reconcile that those experiences took place over a relatively short period of time when my recollection is that they made up most of my childhood. My point is to make it fun and to have things to do for them while making sure they are comfortable. And by comfortable I don't mean bundling them up to the point that they can't move.

I think what you are describing is known as a pitch stroke. If you are slowing down when completing your J, I would first want to make sure that you are not actually performing a goonie (goon stroke). Thumb down for a J, up for a goon. If conditions are making for unstable progress, I will vary my technique as needed and this might be as frequent as every stroke - J, J, pitch, pitch, pitch, power, power, goonie with an extended pry, and so on. Otherwise, I J all the time with the odd Canadian thrown in.