Canoeing/Kayaking, Massasauga Provincial Park

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/f/a/f/event_29869071.jpeg

Spider Lake in Massasauga Provincial Park is a gorgeous place to spend a lazy summer weekend, as per photo above. The trick to a successful weekend is getting an early start paddling Saturday. Half the battle is sourcing rental canoes with accommodating pickup and return times.

Note for kayakers: There is only one short portage from Three Legged Lake to Spider Lake. With a cart or a little help from your friends it is manageable with a kayak.

Alternatively, White Squall Paddle Center in Nobel close by has kayak training classes (http://www.whitesquall.com/programmes/12-day-lessons.html) Saturday, June 22. Join the group Friday night for a campfire and Saturday for breakfast, then go for training. This being the longest day of the year, you could probably still get to Franklin Island via Snug Harbor for the night. Hey, setup a twin Franklin Island meetup! Why didn't I think of that?

Itinerary:

Friday, June 21, 5:30 pm, drive four hours to Oastler Provincial Park, Parry Sound for car camping that night.

Saturday, June, 22, 7:30 am, load rental canoes if applicable, head into Parry Sound for breakfast, then to Three Leged Lake access point. 9:30 am start paddling to Site 29 on the south end of Spider Lake.

Sunday, 11:00 am, be packed up and start paddling back to access point. Oastler Lake rental canoes, if applicable, need to be back by 2:00 pm.

Cost:

$8 (Friday night car camping, $40 split between number of campers) + $11.75 (Saturday backcountry camping) + $35 (shared gas) + $42 (canoe rental, 1/2 of two day from rental from Oaster Prov.) = $96.75

$54.75 without canoe rental

Note: Due to transporting canoes, one canoe per car, numerous cars are required adding to the cost of gas.

Car/canoe sharing:

Feel free to use the comment space below to organize. Please record arrangements in the linked shared document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdDZHZW9idzVkZU1zQnJYNENRQTVUenc#gid=0). Generally the 'event host' assists in matching drivers and passengers three days before the meetup.

Difficulty:

First time canoeist welcome. 12 km paddle to site 29 including one 370 meter portage. No motorboats on Spider Lake.

Canoe rental:

Oastler Provincial Park, 705-378-2401, $42/day. They don't deliver to our access point but provide straps to carry rentals on car roofs. Their rental day goes from 2 pm to 2 pm, overnight in other words. They open at 8:30 am. If renting for Saturday, if a canoe is available before 2 pm you can pick it up early. However, if you bring it back after 2 pm Sunday, late fees apply for the first hour late. If late by two hours you'll be charged for an additional day. The office is only open until 4 pm Sunday. These are Kevlar canoes, approximately 50 lbs. It takes a credit card to reserve, no charge is made at the time. No cancelation fee if cancelled 48 hours in advance.

Swift Canoes (http://swiftoutside.com/stores/rentals.php), Waubaushene, 705-538-0881, $35/day, $10 for kit to strap to car roof. Hours of operation could be an issue.

Adventure Guide, Waterloo, 519-886-3121, $40/day ($80/weekend). For weekend rentals you can pickup Friday abd return Monday. They also sell Massasauga Park maps, $10.

note: Last year Adventure Guide, Waterloo, rented heavy Royalex canoes but given their liberal pickup/return policies they may be the best option. With only one portage weight isn't as big a concern.

Sojourn Outdoors (http://sojournoutdoors.com/Rentals.htm), Barrie, (705) 739-9694, from $30/day, tie downs and foam blocks included. Hours of operation, in particular return times Sunday, could be an issue.

Links:

Shared Document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdDZHZW9idzVkZU1zQnJYNENRQTVUenc&usp=drive_web#gid=0) for canoe and car sharing.

Map of our canoe route and sites (http://files.meetup.com/1606190/Spider%20lake%20modified.jpg).

A beautiful series of photos on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zelcam/347618870/in/set-72157594234988366/) of Massasauga Provincial

Massasauga Provincial backcountry site ratings (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111722455438984723797.0004848d28a848ba557a2)

Notes:

Ontario Parks Reservation system (http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/reservations.html)

sun times 5:30 - 9:15, full moon June 23