Paddling in QEW

This will be another exploration trip in QEW. It should be less rugged than the last one I did but there still are number beaver dams and short unmaintained portages to contend with. Think moderate bush-whacking with a canoe.

Itinerary:

You can find a map of the park here http://www.explorethebackcountry.com/#!qewmap/c5c4 (http://www.explorethebackcountry.com/#%21qewmap/c5c4)

I am aiming to hit the water around 10:30 AM Saturday which means the best boat rental option is 'Swift Georgian Bay'. They are not too far off the track and open at 8AM giving plenty of time to get boats. You can also rent from Boatwerks but they are out of the way and open later making it hard to get to the trail head on time.

The plan is to push off from the shore of near the Head Lake Trailer Park (access 'H2', $10/day parking). The 'H1' access point is closed (see

http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=107&t=41761). (http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=107&t=41761%29.)

We will head up Smudge Creek. Depending on what the group looks like we will either head for Smudge Lake or head up Gold Creek (2.4km portage).

The plan is to travel far as we can before sunset or reach the end of the river.

I have heard reports that the water and wind on Head Lake can be challenging and sometimes too dangerous to paddle so be prepared.

Sunday is returning the same way we went in.

Participant expectations:

Participants are expected to have done multi-day paddling trips previously and be in good physical condition to get through this. You should know a least a couple of steering strokes for both front and the rear of a canoe. The are no official and or maintained campsite on the route so be prepared for catholing, unimproved campsites, and a general lack of of any comforts in camp.

The weather should be mild as we are still in September, lows in the single digits, highs in the 10's-20's. I am hoping for very few mosquitoes but given the recent rains I am not so sure.

Logistics:

Please put your details in this spreadsheet if coming on this trip and use if if you need to coordinate rides, gear, boats, etc.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13PThdznFO585xYfaa8g8x8UzINAFJNP8-KQx5fnlL4c/edit#gid=0

Please consider bringing a map (paper, printed, or digital). The last trip saw my iPhone as the sole map on the trip.

The 'Avenza PDF Maps' app is what I use. It can download the park map and works very well.

Money:

If car pooling you should split gas with all the other passengers and driver evenly.

Parking at the trail head is $10/day ($20 total).

I am taking a $1 deposit for the trip which I will return to you at the trail-head.