Canada > Ont > EGL Winter 2017 - Gearing Up and Backcountry Hangs

[LuvmyBonnet]

I'd love to join you gentlemen but I know better. Hopefully ready by March. Can't wait because sitting inside a house for months with a credit card can be dangerous. I got some nice kit to try out. I got a RidgeRunner at the Black Friday. From UGQ I got a 13ft Winter Dream with internal poles in MARPAT and also got a 0* Ambush w/3 oz of over stuff. Also looking forward to playing with the Kelly Kettle. Then the final item, to help with wood processing I got the Bob Dustrude 24" buck saw.
Be safe and if you can't be safe at least have fun!!!

[WalkintheWoods]

Firesong, funny coincidence...I just bought an UQ from you last week. Tested it one night...very nice. Cheers.

[Firesong]

Firesong, funny coincidence...I just bought an UQ from you last week. Tested it one night...very nice. Cheers.

Excellent. Pictures!!

[Chard]

Site Recon
Cedar328 (BTW: A huge thanks for Cedar for taking time out of his day to bring us his crucial information)

So I made it to Troutspawn Lake Rd this morning (Wed Feb 1). Not all bad news but here is what I have to report.

On Hwy 60 there is no parking for 10 km in either direction that is not private or retail. (There is a snowplow turn around about 2 Km E of Troutspawn Lake Rd but not somewhere I would park in the winter, it is well used)

I also drove East looking for any shortcut in and could not find one, snowmobile or otherwise.

As for Troutspawn Lake Rd; It is plowed but not by a road plow, so plowed means hard pack snow/ice with 4-6 inches of snow messed up by logging vehicle tracks. I was able to drive on it with 4WD but day to day it would be sketchy (not impossible) for your average front wheel drive car. I didn't make it very far before I came to a clearing where there were a few vehicles parked but I think they work for the loggers. This is where the road splits. I tried to follow the fork headed to Niger Lake and was able to go about 200 meters then it got pretty soft and deep (also tonight here in this area it is snowing heavily). The conditions combined with the sign I passed at the fork caused me to turn around.

The good news is that past the fork the road is easily snowshoeable up to Niger lake as it is wide and cleared by logging equipment.

I am not sure what would happen if you parked at the fork on a weekend? If you are uncomfortable with parking at the fork...

There you have it. I'm going to make a another call first thing tomorrow morning to try to find some "alternate" parking I alluded to before, but the fork might be fine. Bring a shovel. I'm game to give it a try. This's the challenge of Crown land camping I guess.

I'd be remiss not to suggest a backup plan of winter hanging in Algonquin Park. If the first guys to Troutspawn don't feel good about the situation at the forks, they can bail, register at the West Gate, leave a note for the rest of the crew and post an updated location.

Let's hear some feedback please!

[Lofty]

One of the reasons I've never crown land camped - parking
I worry about leaving my car on the side of the road.

As a thought we've had good luck up the mizzy lake trail
Lots of parking at the trail head , fairly easy hike in
Just a suggestion .......


Also work has been so busy
But if all goes as plans I think I can make it for Friday night :-) it's not 100% but I'm hoping !


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[76 highboy]

Firesong, funny coincidence...I just bought an UQ from you last week. Tested it one night...very nice. Cheers.

Ahh your killing me! I just bought a topquilt from James last week! Untested,just got it today.
There are pics posted in "other vendors / services" under "had enough of flectarn?"
I'll post some pics from this weekend.

On to the parking: Im ok with parking at the fork. If people want your stuff,there going to take it no matter where you park.
I leave nothing worth stealing.
Thanx for the recon Cedar

[Iguana]

Hi all,
I am sad to say I will not be able to make this one. REALLY bummed out. ��

Lifes responsibilities got in the way.

[Bubba]

Iguana, too bad you can't make it. We'll see you next time.

I think having the alternate parking available is a good idea. The question is how many vehicles can we fit into the alternate parking? We''ll probably need space for 6 or 7 cars. I'm heading up with 76highboy, Mark and Jayson are coming up together. I think there are at least four (Chard, ggreaves, Quiet, ConnieB) more people coming (five if Lofty comes out for Friday) but I don't know who is carpooling. The fork can accommodate many cars according to Cedar but we'll have to see when we get there.

Planning for an alternate location in the park is prudent. Mizzy Lake sounds like a good option based on Lofty's experience. There looks to be some mobile phone coverage in the Niger lake area so we should all exchange numbers.

[76 highboy]

Too bad you cant make this one Rob.
Its no fun missing a hang youv'e been looking forward to
Winters not over maybe late feb or early march we'll get another hang going.

[Jayson]

Hi all,
I am sad to say I will not be able to make this one. REALLY bummed out. ��

Lifes responsibilities got in the way.

Next time fella.