Introduction to backpacking - A first trip with Tim

Join me for an introduction to backpacking. This trip aims to help those who are new and/or uncomfortable with self supported backcountry travel.

If you already are a capable backpacker please make room for people who are new to backpacking as this trip has limited space.

We will focus on gaining the skills needed for backcountry living and travel. The overall pacing will focus on giving time for instruction and demonstrations. Although this is a backpacking trip these skills are transferable to any other trip that requires you to carry your needs for multiple days in a backcountry setting.

This trip will be held in Algonquin Provincial Park. This section of trail is exceptional easy to travel and offers a lot of view along the way.

There are a one big and couple short climbs over it's 9km but over all the difficulty of the trail is moderate. The can be muddy patches along the wait but nothing careful footing can't avoid.

Given the somewhat usual weather bug conditions are hard to predict but I expect mosquitos to be present and possible some other summer "biters". I am deliberately scheduling this later in the year to avoid black-fly's.

I expect the weather to be warm.

It is important that you ensure your pack is not too heavy and that your footwear is well fitted.

It is highly recommended you attend the "Introduction to backpacking - Learn what to pack" (https://www.meetup.com/kw-backcountry/events/300461608/) presentation on Jun 17th.

Participants need to be in good physical fitness. Backpacking is a strenuous sport involving carrying weight on ones back over uneven and unpredictable terrain. Participants are required to

• Respond to the email address they have registered with Meetup.com in a timely manner.
• Reading all of the documents linked from this form and filling out the spreadsheet.
• If you have heard from me (Tim Laurence) by Jun 30th you are responsible for messaging me using the chat on the website, sometimes the MeetUp email silently fails.

The packing list for this trip can be found on the MeetUp site or at this link.

https://tinyurl.com/kwbackcountry-packing-list

Participants who are not packed properly may be asked to remain at the cars for their own safety.

You are responsible for providing or arranging for all gear you will need. I (Tim) personally have a fairly wide range of equipment to loan, please consider borrowing some of mine before buying. Additionally I encouraged you to share tents and stoves to lessen the amount you will have to carry.

In the planing spreadsheet below indicate items you need to borrow and or that you have available to loan. Also this is where to add your your car pool details.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fhJfODb1Clz6j7-pZAhQ7YK8qB5vlK2K4aJSvUO6g8A/edit?usp=sharing

To RSVP I am collecting $12.93.
I am calculating these numbers assuming 5 people attend, I may ask for a little more or issue refunds on the trip depending on what our final numbers look like.
$11.00 reservation fee
$38.75 Friday night campsite
$10.17 Extra car fee
= $59.93 / 5 people or $11.99 per person
The final $0.94 goes to PayPal for transaction fees.

Additionally participants are expected to evenly share, with their fellow passengers, the expense of the fuel for whichever vehicle they come in.

Friday @ 6PM. Carpools will head out to Arrowhead Provincial Park. I have reserved campsite 123 in "Lumby South Campground" which can hold up to 6. If needed we will reserve another campsite nearby.

Saturday morning there will be a review of everyone's gear and introduction into some of the basic skills needed for backpacking.
After the review is done we will set out, typically around noon, and drive to Rain Lake trailhead. https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZGUQHmJ27xjNSDCt7
From there we will follow the Western Uplands trail to our campsite on Islet Lake (Campsite 3) stopping occasionally for instruction.

Sunday we will return the same way we came in a little wiser. We will aim to be home before 10PM.