Well, with the Canoe Lake "ice out lottery" well in effect, all the snow and ice gone in Toronto, and the first of my Crocuses in bloom, I figured it was time to start planning at least one of my park trips for the 2010 Canoeing Season. Having spent a fair amount of time in the parks east end last year, I thought I would spend a bit of time traveling some of the smaller lakes off from access 3, as I have heard so much about them. (Adding to the fact that I love access 3, makes it a logical place to plan a trip from.)
This year I am planning a 6 day trip out of Magnatawan, and am planning the following route:
Day 1: Magnatawan - Hambone - Daisy
Day 3: Little Misty - Queer (2 night stay)
Day 5: Queer - Little Trout - Ralph Bice (2 night stay)
Day 7: Ralph Bice - Hambone - Magnetawan - Out
This will be my first 7 day trip in the park, and while I am contemplating doing it solo, I'd rather do it with a partner, so as to single carry all the portages. I'm already re-evaluating some of my gear, and planning on going ultra light this season, limiting all my gear to a single Eureka SS115 Canoe Pack (I currently use the SS 75, but need a second pack for food) if solo, or my SS75, if I'm with a partner.
To help lighten the load on food, I'm planning on getting a dehydrator this March Break, and will start getting my meals together soon (what better way to "speed up" time then with food.)
In the mean time, I welcome suggestions/thought/past experiences/photos about my plans, and ask the following questions:
1. Should I do the loop in my planned direction, or the opposite?
2. Is Queer Lake worth 2 days?
3. How is the Little Misty - Queer P2435? (To date my longest portage was a P1500 of which I double carried, and hence my desire to lighten my load this year with a P2435.)
Thanks for any input, and heres to an early ice out, for I will once again be attending , the AA Rock Lake "Opener" in April, and will write about those details as soon as the solidify!
