TREKKING WITH CHEV: Bon Echo's Abe’s and Essen’s Trail

Bon Echo Provincial Park located north of Napanee is renowned for Mazinaw Rock. This 1.5-kilometre sheer rock face rises 100 metres above Mazinaw Lake, one of the deepest lakes in Ontario, and features over 260 native pictographs - the largest visible collection in Canada.

This is going to be a 17km trip split between 2 days, with the majority of the hiking to be done on the Saturday, on the Abe’s and Essen’s trail. I am not going to recommend it for beginners, mainly because I have not hiked the trail before, so I’m not exactly sure what to expect.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/4/a/c/event_129305292.jpegThere is a 6 person site limit in Bon Echo’s backcountry sites!

We’ll be leaving Kitchener on Friday July 27th 2012 and returning on Sunday July 29th. Friday night we’ll be car camping in Hardwood Hill’s campground then we’ll pack up our things and head to the trailhead on Saturday morning! We’ll be camping on Essen Lake on Saturday at site 526, with a beautiful view of the lake!

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/e/4/event_129303812.jpeg

The camping cost of the trip will be – $21.50/person - Which includes reservation fees, camping fees for both nights, 2 vehicle parking and the $1.00 Meetup site fee (This is for Tim who pay’s to have our wonderful meetup site up and running!)

Please remember that you will also need to have cash for:

*Gas Money

*Food

*Firewood contribution for Friday night!

*Anything else you may require

Because this is an intermediate trip, I would recommend that you have at least some backpacking experience, and be able to supply your own gear. That being said we can always try to share the pack load by buddying up and sharing stoves and gear etc…

Also as a treat this weekend is the Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale – if we get out of the backcountry early enough on Sunday I wouldn’t mind checking out this event at the park!

The Friends of Bon Echo Park are celebrating their 17th annual Art Exhibition and Sale July 27, 28, and 29 with the work of 48 juried artists. This exhibition and sale has something for everyone including paintings, stained glass, jewelry, pottery and photography. Live music daily at 1 pm will feature local groups. Come and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Oktoberfest sausages, burgers, hotdogs, baked goods and drinks.

TO RSVP FOR THIS TRIP:

What I have found works best for me in the past, is that, I am requesting that if you want to attend this trip that you email transfer your camping payment to myself at happy_hiker@live.com (or feel free to use paypal) the $21.50 camping fee.

I just find that this tends to encourage people who pay upfront to not cancel last minute, and seriously commit to attending.

You can also pay in person - but as this is a small attendee limit, it could fill up fast.

Once I have received your payment I will change your RSVP to a yes! :)

Travel Arrangements

For 6 people I'd like to arrange us to travel in 2 cars! Once the RSVP's are full, we can start to figure out who can drive and who lives close to where for pick ups!

I can most definitely drive and take 2-3 more people + gear!

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me, I'm happy to answer any questions I can!

Thanks

-Chev