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

**Jayson** · 01-09-2017, 14:14

Ok thanks Chard.

**underserviced** · 01-10-2017, 15:41

It was great meeting all you crazy Ontarian winter hammock campers. So glad to know I'm not alone with my addiction! I've added a few of you as friends, but I can't connect member names to real names so don't know who to add. I came with "Concussion Guy"... Please add me if you remember who I am.

**LuvmyBonnet** · 01-10-2017, 17:24

Keep me posted on the Niger Lake trip. I always Want to go, lets just see if I can.
Questions so far. Is this a polk outing? About how far we talking in distance from the car?
I can't wait to get out.

**Bubba** · 01-10-2017, 23:03

Trip report is up.
https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...30#post1726630

**Jayson** · 01-11-2017, 12:23

Originally Posted by LuvmyBonnet

Keep me posted on the Niger Lake trip. I always Want to go, lets just see if I can.
Questions so far. Is this a polk outing? About how far we talking in distance from the car?
I can't wait to get out.

Dont quote me but I think it is 3 or 4 km to the lake but I am pretty sure there is an established snowmobile trail most of the way to walk on.

**Bubba** · 01-11-2017, 13:14

Originally Posted by LuvmyBonnet

Keep me posted on the Niger Lake trip. I always Want to go, lets just see if I can.
Questions so far. Is this a polk outing? About how far we talking in distance from the car?
I can't wait to get out.

From hwy 60 where the cars would be parked it looks to be around 2.5km (1.55 miles) if you follow Troutspawn Lake road to the most northern tip of Niger lake. The lake itself is around 1.5 km (0.93 miles) long so figure 2.5 km (1.55 miles) plus whatever distance to where the camp is going to be.

**Chard** · 01-11-2017, 14:00

Originally Posted by Bubba

From Algonquin Outfitters where the cars would be parked it looks to be 2.5km (1.55 miles) if you follow Troutspawn Lake road to the most northern tip of Niger lake. The lake itself is around 1.5 km (0.93 miles) long so figure 2.5 km (1.55 miles) plus whatever distance to where the camp is going to be.

Hopefully we can call on one of our own to do a quick recon a week or two before the trip, but the actual hike in will depend on a couple of variables;

Will Troutspawn Lake Road be plowed to support local and logging traffic (looks likely)
If not, will there be an established snowmobile trail (looks extremely likely)

Best case scenario, if the road's plowed and accessible to 4x4's, then we can literally unload some of the gear a couple of hundred metres from the lake, drive away to park and walk in unencumbered. If not then we can follow the sled trails in.

I'm still working out the details about parking, so hold off on that. Suffice to say that we're going to try to be in the area. It would be very helpful if we could carpool on the way up to reduce, as much as possible, the number of cars we need to park.

**LuvmyBonnet** · 01-11-2017, 18:01

Do we have an estimated date on this trip.

Should have read before posting. Feb 3 might be too soon for me. I'm thinking March would be a bet start date for me if anyone wants to organise a hang for then that would be cool.

**Bubba** · 01-12-2017, 19:40

Originally Posted by LuvmyBonnet

Do we have an estimated date on this trip.

Should have read before posting. Feb 3 might be too soon for me. I'm thinking March would be a bet start date for me if anyone wants to organise a hang for then that would be cool.

I think Feb 3-5 is pretty much set.

**Chard** · 01-13-2017, 13:22

Hi Gang,

We're three weeks out from the start of the EGL Backcountry Hang on Niger Lake (Hwy 60 east of Algonquin Outfitters), and I thought it makes sense to get the logistics out of the way. Can I get a roll-call of everyone planning on coming out, to/from dates and which town you're coming from. Because of the parking (TBD), I'd like to see if it's possible to carpool more than usual this time.

Food is a "Bring Your Own" affair, unless otherwise planned, and of course bring your axe and saw to help with firewood processing if you have them.

Niger's a Brook Trout lake so if you're an aspiring angler, take note. I'll be bringing my hand auger, but it will be mainly for sourcing water from the lake and popping a few holes for fishing. If you have your own hand ice auger or chisel, please consider bringing it along.

At the time of writing this note, the snow looks to be over 3' deep in the park, which is a good thing. The following webcam image from the Algonquin Snowmobile Association's website should refresh automatically and give us a sense of the conditions.
.

Weather

More information to follow