Canoeing, Big Porcupine Lake, Algonquin
Details
Do you want to answer the call of adventure?
Do you want to carry a canoe on your shoulders for pure fun?
Do you want to jump off of a cliff into the crystal clear waters of an Algonquin Lake?
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This is a shout out for the truly adventurous folks who wish to escape the hot burbs for the cool northern serenity. Our destination Big Porcupine Lake in Algonquin Park south of Hwy 60. The mode of travel, by canoe of course!
Difficulty:
This trip involves a mix of big open and small quite lakes. In perfect conditions this will be a "paddle in the park"! but should the winds stir up on the big lakes we could be hugging the shorelines. Of the two portages on this trip, all of which relatively short, one offers a fair inclination between lakes and is aptly named "The Devils Staircase". Conquer that portage and you'll be an honorary voyageur eh!
The Plan:
Meet up at Arrowhead Provincial park at the Lumby North campground on Friday night for one night of car camping. Saturday morning we pack up and make our way to Smoke lake in Algonquin park while making several stops along the way: Huntsville for breakfast (optional), Algonquin outfitters for picking up life jackets and possibly transportation of canoes, and Algonquin entrance office for acquiring our park permits. The last I heard we can have free transportation of our canoes from Algonquin Outfitters if we get 11 botas reserved ahead of time under one name, but we'll see what we can arrange when we get there. The paddle in and out is fairly manageable and can be completed in two days. Sunday, pack up and head back home. Possibly we can stop on the way to have something to eat.
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Rentals:
Both the Portage store 705-633-5622 and Algonquin Outfitters (http://algonquinoutfitters.com/contact/store-locations/oxtongue-lake/) 800-469-4948 are located in a fairly close proximity to Smoke Lake.
The Portage Store offers Kevlar Standard (15ft) canoes for $35.95 per day and you can easily portage them from the store across to the launch point at Smoke Lake.
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Algonquin Outfitters, however, offers Expedition Kevlar (16ft) canoes for $28.50 per day but have to be either picked up from their shop in Oxtongue Lake or if enough canoes are ordered in the past we have had them delivered to the launch point for a nominal fee (if people wished to go with the delivery option rates can be provided).
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If you prefer to arrive Saturday morning, you can. I will send out a message soon about what time to meet and where if you decide to do so.
Please fill out the Shared Google Doc (link below). It will make things much easier and will allow me to call Algonquin outfitters ahead of time with an accurate number of how many people are renting that weekend.
Click here for Shared Google Doc (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Avo2XTjVx1xxdGRhV0JJNE1KOEllbW1vMzR1Ti1jNFE&usp=sharing)