>Canada>Ont>EGL Spring 2015 Algonquin: Return to Chicamoula

[entropy]

ggreaves sent me this link: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/ice-out.php There was 60cm of ice on Canoe Lake two weeks ago... They've issued a special advisory for early spring http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/...015_update.php due to the slow start to spring. So lets hope for some hot weather!

[Chard]

One month out!

Role Call:

• Chard (pref. solo)
• Iguana +1 possibly +2
• Ggreaves
• Keg (Sat)
• Entropy
• Jimmay (90%)
• Chenvre (tentative)

I'm hoping to paddle solo, but does anyone need a partner (either bow or stern?)

Also, since we're doing a real portage this time, fixin's for any group meals will have to be ultralight.

[Iguana]

Make that Iguana +1 possibly +2.

One of my buddy's finally broke down and bought a hammock. Now he is Itching to try it out.

[jimmay]

I'll need a bow paddler. Right hand preferable.

[LuvmyBonnet]

I'd like to come back up for another hang. It's a little farther than I'd prefer. 4 hrs each way.
Is anyone bringing a kayak or is this just a canoe thing? As for the portage, is it a path that could handle a molly cart?

[Chard]

4 hours is a long trip, fair enough, but if you can make it, I'm sure you'll be glad you did. Algonquin's a beautiful park.

Kayak or canoe? Without trying to open a can of worms, personally I'd recommend against kayaks for this kind of trip. While they're excellent for rivers and large bodies of water, they're much more difficult to pack and unpack not to mention portage. You might be able to bump a molly cart over a third of the 2400m Thomson-Ink portage, but the rest would be very awkward.

Canoes were born in this landscape.

[LuvmyBonnet]

Ahhh. OK Keep me in mind for any water trips that would be good for kayaks. I don't own a canoe and last summer was the first time I ever paddled in one. They are great gear(beer) haulers but I feel much more at home in a kayak.

[Chard]

Ahhh. OK Keep me in mind for any water trips that would be good for kayaks. I don't own a canoe and last summer was the first time I ever paddled in one. They are great gear(beer) haulers but I feel much more at home in a kayak.

Well, if you're interested, there's always the option of renting or trying to find a bow seat amongst the folks heading in. We'll try for a couple of low portage trips this season. Pen lake worked out very nicely the last couple of years and it's an easy run that could be done by kayak. You just might need a hand on the portage.

The lakes are opening up!

iceout_2015-04-20_tworivers


iceout_2015-04-18_park

[keg]

Ice pics look much better than last week. I might be bringing a buddy on the trip. Will let you know if he gets permission.

[entropy]

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/ice-out.php

Despite overnight temperatures dipping to below freezing and snow, rain, and hail observed numerous times in the past several days, a few small lakes in Algonquin Park have become ice free. Ground observations have confirmed Basin Lake, Park Lake, about half of Mew Lake are now ice free. Other lower elevation lakes are likely open but lingering snow and soft soil conditions are still preventing access to many areas of Algonquin Park. See the current list of what is open and closed in Algonquin Park.

Ice cover on Algonquin Park's medium and large sized lakes is dark indicating deteriorating ice quality. High water levels in streams and rivers continue to be aided by recent rainfall, making travel near moving water potentially dangerous.