Fri, Jan 4 2008, Sat, Jan 5 2008, Sun, Jan 6 2008 - Winter Camping at Rattlesnake Point (View Original Event Details)
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Due to a long stretch of inactivity, I fear my write-up skills have waned due to lack of practice. Nonetheless, Lillian was actually not at this weekend, and so I am forced to observe the honest responsibility of a lone volunteer, and do it myself.
We arrived to fresh, clean, even light fluffy snow on Friday evening, and set about to sully it with our tramplings. Soon enough a winter camp was set on site #5, complete with a hot hardwood fire. The wardens locked us in as they left and we had the entire park to ourselves, though our travels were still limited to a tight circle about the campfire.
Keren surprised us with her suitcase of food which yielded many treasures. The hours passed quickly as we talked late into the night, and sleep was a little challenging for some, due to the seasonal cold.
Saturday, the great January thaw of 2008 began. After breakfast we set about hiking around the area trails. It wasn't long until the air temperature rose above freezing, and it never retreated. Though some had rented snowshoes, they were shortly unnecessary as the snow softened and melted. We covered the extent of Rattlesnake Point, including all her lookouts, and ventured a bit onto the Bruce Trail, but the short day prevented much more. For the early evening, we set about to a great festival of eating, over several hours, with great variety. As usual, Mark seems to have spent his weekend budget on stove fuel, with long periods of cooking and melting snow. We managed quite well cooking over the fire as well. I had my first experience with Alex' now famous pork meatballs, which I hope are seen many times again in the future. By 10pm eveyone was surprisingly tired. It goes to show how much energy it can take to keep warm for long periods outside. The firewood was spent long before midnight and we all retired perhaps a bit early.
Sunday morning the weather had really set in with heavy fog and unseasonable warm. Many of us had very wet tents. The snow which had been crisp and white, had settled low and heavy into melting slush. We packed up and headed out, surely to to an afternoon of drying articles around the house. Yet another repeat performance for Alex came with his rented Hyundai being stuck on the roadside ice and snow. We pushed him out.
Many new friendships were formed, stomachs were filled, and good times had by all.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.