Noticed on the FOA webcam that a lot of the snow melted today.

I don't think there's any way you could be prevented from day tripping. 

Kevin wrote:

I’ve been watching Simcoe. Have heard it’s usually out about two weeks before Opeongo. Still looks pretty white on the satellite images.

 
It is yes but it wont be long now until Simcoe is wide open.  There are big areas of the southern and south/eastern part of the lake that are fully open in marinas and bays.

There is a pretty amazing temperature differential between Windsor and the park east gate right now.   The east gate is a zero degrees while Windsor is at 22 degrees -- the hottest spot in Canada right now and 9 degrees warmer than normal.
 

DanPM wrote:

trippythings wrote:

I'm considering a trip around May 16-20 but not sure if that's too late if I'm trying to avoid the bugs

I often go on trip in the park Victoria Day weekend and usually don't get hit too hard by the blackflies. Sometimes they're starting to come out but not yet at peak. It's not bug-free but it's as good a time to go as any summer weekend.

PaPaddler wrote:

Agreed with DanPM - I'm always amused at how freaked out people get about bug concerns in May.  All of my experience has been that they don't get bad until the last week of May in almost every year and even then can be manageable. 

Sure, as you get later in May your risk goes up but I have rarely seen the bugs as "horrible" any time in May.  Worst I've seen are short blasts of annoying bugs that a smokey fire or good breeze or DEET can keep at bay with ease.

Thanks for the info. I see such conflicting things about when the bugs come out and when the bugs start getting intolerable. I've never done a spring trip but like I said I'll probably just plan tentatively and play it by ear based on weather and bug reports. I've got plans that I can't change for every weekend in May, so I'd have to do a mid-week trip and take extra vacation days from work... so I really need the stars to align. Otherwise I'll just save the vacation days for more August/September tripping

Ice conditions 30 minutes North of the park yesterday.
Nothing in the North Bay area is even starting to break up on shore. All the locals are saying Nipissing is going to be later this year than the previous record of May 18th.

Last edited by ATVenture (4/13/2018 7:34 am)

Given the photos, the forecast and the word on the ground from locals - I think even May 4th is optimistic. I wouldn't base any planning on this date, might be disappointed.

Haha I don't think Peek was being prophetic, he was responding to AlgonquinGuy's announcement of the May 4 opening.

There is a significant warming in temperatures coming next week with rainfall. As someone who has worked multiple seasons throughout the park, I can tell you it all happens very quickly. If the park management didn't think there was a realistic chance the ice would be out May 4th, 2018 they would not have announced that date. All it takes is 5-7 days of the right weather conditions to send lake ice to its demise. I wouldn't be entirely negative and push back your plans just yet everyone.

Sean