Fri, Apr 22 2016, Sat, Apr 23 2016, Sun, Apr 24 2016 - Camping for beginners in Algonquin - Yurt style (View Original Event Details)
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Camping for Beginners – Yurt Style. April 22-24 2016 – Mew Lake, Algonquin Park
The theme of the trip was to introduce members to different styles of camping, while taking full advantage of the easiest of all: Yurts! Eight of us shared two yurts (in order of sign up): myself (Stacy), David, Doug, Imran, Chris, Steve, Samanda, and Deepa.
This is my journal entry / event write-up. I like to put lots of details so that years later I can (and the rest of you, if the TOC web site still exists) re-read it and enjoy the memories of the trip.
It was late April. Two weekends before it had been hovering around the freezing mark. One weekend before it was in the high ‘teens. This weekend was smack in the middle of the two, around 8°C high for both days. Definitely below normal temps, but no snow or rain in the forecast. I had reminded everyone multiple times that icers (aka crampons) were mandatory. I’m pretty sure most of you thought I’d lost my marbles; after all, there was no snow in Toronto anymore! And it was to be a sunny weekend.
We arrived at the car pool and sorted out gear and cars and got on our way. David, Steve and Chris were the drivers. Arriving at Kelsey’s in Huntsville for dinner, we almost had to make other plans since they were packed, but David arranged for a great spot for us all in the back where it was relatively quiet and we could chat and get to know each other better. (And we definitely arrived in the nick of time, while we were waiting for our table another group of 8 arrived and were told it would be an hour wait!)
We arrived at the yurts in the dark, and luckily they were both unlocked and waiting for us. We unpacked and it wasn’t long before everyone had passed out after the long day and drive.
Saturday started as nice as could be imagined. Cool but sunny with crows.
Once everyone was up and about, we had our communal breakfast of “potatoes packers plus” and scrambled eggs. It was at the Mew Lake permit office where we discovered that the trail leading to the back country sites on Provoking lake was flooded. Apparently the words “hip waders” crossed the ranger’s lips. The alternative was the Western Uplands trail, but having been there years ago on a previous April trip and experiencing first-hand the ice-cold flooding there as well, the prospect of making it at all to a back country site had vanished. But the lovely day would not be wasted! We rallied and conferred and agreed to go on a day hike to Bat Lake. Imran was pretty sure that the aforementioned icers were not needed, but 5 minutes of hiking convinced him that it would be a good idea after all to strap them on. There was SNOW in Algonquin! The trails get packed down all winter with snow shoe-ers hiking on them, and then, when the warmer days melt the top layer and the below zero nights freeze them up again, they turn into ice trails! But with everyone now well-equipped, it was a great hike. We walked along a stream for a while and got to see some small waterfalls, which made for great viewing this time of year with the spring run-off. Turning a corner, we found a huge wall of blue ice hanging off a cliff. Photo opp anyone?
After Bat Lake, it was still early enough to enjoy another hike, this time we chose Hemlock Bluff trail, which is a lot shorter, but just as pretty. Most of the group forged ahead, with me, David and Deepa acting as the “sweep”. Really, I just didn’t want it to end, it was cool but sunny and warm in some spots, and Algonquin just tugs at my soul. When we did reach the end, we found the group laying out on the smooth, sun-warmed rock, and we joined them without hesitation for a quick nap in the sun.
We returned to the yurts to discover no power! No heat! A SWAT team was sent to the office to find out if it would come back on at any time, and the good news was it was expected back in only another ten minutes. It took about 15. We have no idea how long it was out, luckily we had been out enjoying the park and not worrying about it.
After settling back in, it was decided to get the fire going. Here was the chance to demonstrate some camping skills. David organized a team to go find some wood and kindling from the surrounding area. We did buy firewood so didn’t need to gather much, it was more for the experience and practice. Pretty soon a nice fire was blazing and we had brought the chairs out and were all sitting around keeping warm.
That night’s dinner was an incredible lentil stew prepared by Doug (thank you!) I don’t think a scrap was left, it was so good. I am anxiously awaiting the recipe :)
Some of us got to see the resident fox after dinner, but she didn’t stay long. After the dishes were done, we all had a nice fireside chat, and little by little, tired out by the hikes in the snow and all the fresh air, we headed to bed. The last ones standing, David, Samanda and I spread out the coals before going inside.
The next morning we had a short break while Chris drove Steve to get some gas for his car. Note to self: not everyone knows that there are no gas stations in the park! While they were gone, Deepa, Samanda and I got to play with the chickadees, and I even had one land on my hand to take some raw oatmeal from my palm. When the guys got back, the communal breakfast of chai tea breakfast cake and oatmeal with do it yourself toppings was ready. Food brought the blue jays around, looking for anything that might have fallen off the picnic table, or was offered to them! And then… it was already time to pack up and clean up the yurts. These trips always go by too fast. After packing everything up, we headed to the visitors’ centre for the tour, snacks, gift shop, and the lookout. We then did the short Spruce Bog hiking trail, and got to demonstrate two methods of hanging food (a bear hang). After a quick stop at Mew Lake to pick up Steve’s car, we were on our way back to Toronto. But wait! Not without the perfect, final touch to our Algonquin camping trip. We spotted a moose (to be fair, we spotted a car pulled off to the side of the road, and after following suit...) We spotted a moose! We carefully pulled over giving lots of room between us and the other vehicle, and moose, and walked over for some prime moose viewing and photos. Moose love to come to the Hwy 60 ditches in the spring to lap up the water that contains salt from the winter road salting. As long as everyone is slow and safe, it's a win-win situation.
We really enjoyed hosting this trip and hope to see you again!
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.