Thanks for the comments.
Re: trees: If Algonquin were a Wilderness park, then I'd say don't mess with the trees. But it's not, so cutting a few trees and making a few vistas here and there would be nice, especially at Stammer Lake, where you are up so high and can see McCraney Lake shining in the distance, sort of, behind that branch, maybe.
Re: Pacer Poles: I ordered them online from pacer pole dot com and had them shipped from the UK. They were not cheap (L 79). A birthday present for myself a few years ago. They are definitely different. I like not having to deal with any straps. They fit the hand really well (dedicated left and right poles) with a base under the heel of the thumb that you can press on for support.
Re: monotony: Yea, some sections were boring, like the whole east side south of Thunder Lake. I also found that parts of the trail that were former logging tote roads were annoying because they have less grade to them, and usually have more muddy sections. Where the trail veers away from the old tote roads it becomes naturally drier and more interesting.
@Algonquin Tripper That's too bad. I think the leaves are peaking now. It was still a bit green when I went. But hey, there's always next year. The trail aint going anywhere.
