Canoeing, Biggar Lake, Algonquin
Details
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/f/1/e/600_239352062.jpeg
Welcome to Plan B for canoeing Lake Temagami, Victoria Day weekend, 2014.
Temagami proved problematic due to an early Victoria Day this year coupled with a record cold winter. There was still ice on the larger lakes last weekend.
So, substitute a more southern, tested and true, Biggar Lake canoe loop starting from Kawaywaymog (Round) Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, access 1.
Friday, May 16, head north after work. Car camp at Arrowhead Provincial Park, Huntsville. Join up with another canoe meetup for a campfire.
Saturday, May 17, Head out early for Algonquin's Park's access #1, a meandering 23 km east of South River through birch and beech forest.
Pickup rental canoes at Voyageur Quest Outfitters, 20 feet from our launch. How hard can it be?
Paddle on down to Biggar (and better) Lake for the first night.
Sunday, Continue on at a leisurely pace to Three Mile Lake for the second night.
This is where the leisurely part ends. You were thinking of hiking this weekend? Welcome to the 2.8 km portage into Manitou Lake, an invigorating way to start the next day.
Monday, paddle back to access #1 via Manitou and North Tea Lakes. Reach parking lot by 3:30. Commence drive home.
Cost:
$30 (shared gas) + $10 (Friday camping) + $23.50 (backcountry permits, $11.75 x 2) + $40.50 (1/2 of three day canoe rental) = $104
Less $40.50 for canoe owners.
Difficulty:
First time campers and canoeists welcome, but beware, it will take elevated effort to reach Upper Kawa Lake with a canoe on your head.
Canoe Rentals:
Voyageur Quest Outfitting (http://www.voyageuroutfitting.com), (800) 794-9660. You read the part about a 3 km portage. A light if not ultra-light Kevlar canoe is highly recommended. Check out http://voyageuroutfitting.com/ and reserve online.
Links:
Shared document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdGdXMGJsdmpYcmFrcmJKdC04elotRXc#gid=0) for canoe and car sharing. After RSVP-ing, please create an entry for yourself indicating your ride and canoe details, when you can leave Friday, etc.
Photos (https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/15030492/) from near identical trip last year
Middle day trip plan (http://johanna.wandel.ca/algonquin02/index.html). Credit where credit is due. This loop is based on the trip report, 'One Park, Two Girls, Three Days'.
Online map of Algonquin canoe routes (http://www.algonquinmap.com/). To locate access #1 look for a '1' in a black square, in the top left of the 'Western Section'. Biggar Lake is to the east.
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/5/d/1/event_48909681.jpeg
North Tea Lake, East Arm, campsite.
notes: permit office 7:00am to 7:00pm sunrise 5:30, sunset 8:29
ontario parks reservations 1-888-668-7275