Canoe Camping, Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands
Details
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/3/c/event_98161852.jpeg
Canoe from Head Lake to Wolf/Victoria Lake
(click for video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVubYkpfHxA&feature=related) and route (http://files.meetup.com/1606190/QEWIIWMap2.pdf))
Itinerary:
Friday, May 11, 5:30 pm, carpool from Tim Hortons, Northfiled and Weber, Waterloo, to Balsam Lake Provincial Park and camp for the night.
Saturday, proceed to Head Lake and canoe up the Head River as far as we get. The entire route one way is 30 km. Setup camp.
Sunday, May 13, return, arriving in KW around 9:00 pm.
Cost:
$15 (campsite Friday night) + $25 (shared gas) + $35 (shared canoe rental) = $75 (estimates before tax)
Saturday night we camp on 'crown land'. There is no cost for doing so. Pick your favorite flat rock.
Difficulty:
There is a reason this area is labled 'wildlands'. Anticipate numerous, minimally maintained portages. Imagine yourself potentially carrying a backpack and heavy canoe across terrain such as below.
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/9/e/a/event_98159882.jpeg
Water temperatures are still cold this time of year, the bugs are persistent, there are no facilities Saturday and Sunday. Pick your favorite dogwood cluster.
Gear:
Please reference this generic packing list (http://files.meetup.com/1606190/Backpackers%20Bootcamp%20Packing%20list.pdf) (thanks Tim).
The following web site provides an enlightening video walkthrough (http://www.maddythegoose.com/Home/gear) of canoe camping gear.
There are endless camp food logistics videos. Case in point (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghtpo3Wfhe8&feature=relmfu). Want a great meal for short trips? Try omelet in a bag (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fytQdXByY7g&feature=related) or steak on a rock (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA167zf6GFY). Got a crowd? Supersize your bailer bucket, try turkey in a trash can (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVxNFlqwTYw&feature=relmfu).
Canoes:
Two participants per canoe. Please indicate in the comments below whether you have a canoe to share. Alternatively, please volunteer to rent one if so inclined. Rental canoes generally include paddles and safety gear. Closer to the event, the event host will finalize details, matching remaining paddlers to available canoes, figuring out how to transport canoes etc.
Rentals:
Sojourn (http://sojournoutdoors.com/index.php?p=Rentals) in Barrie (705) 739-9694
Balsam Lake Provincial Park (http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/bals-facilities.html) where we spend Friday night rents canoes but they may not permit their gear off site.
Swift Canoes (http://www.swiftoutside.com/stores/rentals.php) or Paddle Shack (http://paddleshack.ca/muskoka/rentals/) in Gravenhust.
Footnotes/Links:
Logistics email 1.0 (https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/messages/boards/thread/22941152#73204332) Logistics email 2.0 (https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/messages/boards/thread/22974892#73287292) Logistics email 3.0 (https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/messages/boards/thread/23155982#73734502)
Ontario Parks Reservation system (Balsam Lake) https://reservations.ontarioparks.com/BalsamLake?List