Fri, Apr 18 2008 - Backpack Highland Trail - Algonquin (View Original Event Details)
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The good mood, the sun accompanied us from Toronto to Huntsville where we enjoyed a light and healthy dinner before heading to Mew lake camp site. After the usual surprise of finding so many car campers at any time of the year, we set up the tents on this doorstep of the interior park. Larry slept in his car, likely because he can not do that at home. Some of us are quite sure to have heard a bear getting out Larry’s car around 3:00 am, which was our closest encounter with the wild life during this week-end. The chilliness had waked the happy campers before 6:00 am, helped by the comforting sound of a powerful stove set to maximum heat before sunrise. We were on time. We packed on time. We arrived on time at the trail head (Julian was few minutes late but nothing worth to mention.) The camp was 20km ahead of us. We stormed the trail, full of enthusiasm, confidence and naivety. After 200 meters, some doubts started to appear. Were we too early for the park? The trail was flooded, the mud was everywhere between the still icy sections. The snow, fast melting under the unusual high temperature, was rushing downhill. We back tracked, tried on the left, tried on the right, built bridges, laugh and took a resolute cold bath with backpack. What a hike: 5.2km in 4 hours! By one o’clock, the camp was set; the socks were drying on the ropes; the wood piling up for the camp fire. Later, with the warm orange sun slowly expiring at the horizon and, in the mix of wood, wine and sausage smoke, the full moon, also orange, rising from the lake, created again the eternal décor for the ephemeral visitors. We will be back, promise.
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.