Killarney, Ontario: La Cloche Trail Sept 11-17 '11

[MedicineMan]

Beautiful photos and awesome trip report. Thanks for sharing. Killarney is one of my favorite places in Canada. I've paddle there but sadly only did a day hike on that trail maked with the cool blue blazes In fact on that trip I paddled in the Bruce Peninsula area, the Massassagua PP, the Algonquin PP and of all the places Killarney was/is my favorite.

[Callahan]

Nice, thanks Sturgeon! Yes, the Edge looks like the kind of tarp I've been looking for fair weather coverage, but if it holds up to a good storm, all the better!

Cheers

[bloomgorge]

Thanks for your kind comments.

@Bloomgorge Sorry i don't have a GPS. Just followed the map and the blue trail indicators. But I'd be glad to answer any questions about hiking times, etc...

do they give out paper maps that you can scan to understand the trail/route, camp sites and possible water locations? i've always found it difficult to locate trail maps for ont. parks, makes planning difficult.

[dragon360]

Absolutely great pics! this has been on my to-do list for some time. Too bad it does take the 6 hours to get there from Toronto.

[MAD777]

Wow! Very nice scenery!
BTW, do you think those two trees were big enough to support your hammock?
How long ARE your straps ... anyway??

[redcanvas]

I just finished my first loop of La Cloche in the last week or August. Beautiful loop, challenging but doable, like you said. I want to go again already, and was thinking about doing a couple night the first weekend in October. It would be perfect if I can find someone willing to lend me a hammock to try. Fingers crossed.
Do any of the forum members ever go hanging together? I am always looking for trip partners, rides ares, etc. From Toronto.
Lovely pictures, it's a gorgeous park.

[sturgeon]

Medicine Man, you sure do get around for a guy from Tennessee.

Bloomgorge, I bought the map and trail guide at MEC, but they are available on-line at https://www.friendsofkillarneyparkstore.com/default.asp The map is very well done, 1:50,000, with 10 m contours, and all campsites shown (canoeing and hiking) and is available in regular paper or waterproof version. I took paper and cut it up--it's lighter. The trail guide is nice to read before you go to get a sense of the trail's different parts, but heavy, and the only part you might need to bring is the specific information about accessing each campsite (If you just want to get water at the campsite, it makes a difference if it's 300 metres or 30 metres from the trail! That info is in the guide.)

MAD777 That's what she said...I actually cut a foot or two off my straps recently in a bid to save weight, and that night i thought I might not have enough length (never thought I'd say those words!) but it was just enough. Anyway, that was an uncomfortable hang as the trees were too close together, and the tarp was too long, too, so I couldn't get it taut. Looks awesome in a picture, though!

Redcanvas, I know some Ontario hangers get together spring and fall in Algonquin, and last year some went to Bon Echo, and others to Valens Conservation area. Check out the trip reports and trip planning pages of the forum. Where are you?--your post says Toronto, your sig says northern Ontario.

[FrostyDon]

Hey, glad you got to do the trail! The temperature sure dropped a ton since I was up there a couple of weeks ago. Awesome pics, and a BEAR too. I was sorely tempted to do the off trail stealth thing too, since my campsites were uber far apart a couple of days.

[BlazeAway]

Now that is some awesome beauty.
And you for sure know how to handle a camera.
Thanks for posting.

[redcanvas]

@Sturgeon: I grew up in Elliot Lake but live in Toronto now. I try to get up as often as possible, and even up and around to Thunder Bay when time allows to visit family, although I always hate doing that stretch from Elliot to T-Bay at night because of the moooooose. Ditto your sentiments about Killarney, it's just a spectacular hike.