A Quick Dose: Highland Trail, Algonquin Park

A couple weekends ago I was able to cobble together enough time off to get out for a weekend hike with my buddy Dylan.  We were about to head back to school following the autumn 'independent learning' (ie. avoid anything to do with school) week, and headed north to Algonquin Park for some backcountry adventure.

We stopped en route in Huntsville for dinner at a local watering hole, and to grab up some supplies at the grocery store.  Being late October, it was already dark by about 6:30pm, and we had to set up in the dark upon arrival at Mew Lake campground.  It got surprisingly cold that night, and sometime in the early hours it began to rain lightly.  Actually, once it began to get light out we realized it was actually snow.  Eager to get on the trail we heated up some breakfast and packed up camp.  Unfortunately for us, the permit office wasn't open and wouldn't be open until 10am.  Somewhat disappointed, but with little option, we drove down slippery roads to the visitor centre to kill some time and enjoy a hot chocolate.

Once 10am rolled around we quickly picked up permits and got on the trail.  Our route gave us several options in terms of what kind of mileage and time we could put in.  Our permit was for the east end of Provoking Lake, which is on the first loop of the Highland Trail.  We could travel counter-clockwise, circumnavigating most of the lake and hiking 15+km on the day, or travel clockwise and total about 8km.  We opted to take the short option and enjoy the scenery with no pressure to make time on the trail.

Along the way we stopped at the bridge that crosses the Madawaska River.  The snow on the trees and ice around the rapids below were beautiful, and an interesting contrast to previous times I'd been to the same spot. 

Madawaska River

Madawaska crossing: Dylan and Panzer

Further along the trail, we took a short side-trail to a look-out on a cliff high above Starling Lake.  Further to the south we could also see Lake of Two Rivers, and the old Mew Lake airfield.

Above Starling Lake

Left to Right: Starling Lk., Mew Lake Airfield, Lake of Two Rivers

Moving on, we arrived at camp in time for a late lunch.  After refueling and setting up camp, we explored further down the trail to the east of camp.  In a nearby campsite someone had left a massive pile of hemlock boughs on top of a pile of dry pine needles raked up from all over the site, essentially leaving the most of the area bare.  Now I can see someone raking up all those dead needles to supplement their mattress for comfort and warmth, especially with the below-average temperatures we were experiencing, but cutting live boughs old-school bushcraft style was shocking to see in such a high-traffic area of Ontario's busiest park.  Sure, trees are a renewable resource, but if everyone made their beds this way at each site they visited this part of the park would soon be stripped bare.  Let's work on those LNT practices people!

Home for a Night

After returning to camp we collected some firewood (fallen deadwood, as per the park regs), took some photos of the lake and our home for the night, and got some dinner going.  While puttering in camp a couple of hikers arrived, having taken the side trail to our site and missing the main trail.  We pointed them in the right direction, explaining that the next site was across a small bay from where we were.  Somehow the 'bay' portion didn't seem to register, and they headed straight for the shoreline.  A little clarification got them on the right path again.  Following dinner that night, these new 'neighbours' had a full-blown domestic dispute with their R-rated argument traveling clearly through the night air over the lake.  It was tough to piece together the actual conversation, but we were given plenty of opportunity to make our own jokes at their expense.  We clearly had little recourse as it was just a really loud argument, and trying to confront them about the noise would likely only give them a mutual target for their anger. Things eventually settled down, possibly with an amourous conclusion if the last sounds we heard from them were anything to go by.

A Cold Evening

Our other neighbours on the lake, out of site around a point to the west, were having a good time from the sound of things, but they too got quiet as the night air got colder and colder.  With most of our firewood used up, we called it a day too.  Dylan took a hot rock into his sleeping bag, while I benefited from the auxiliary heat provided by Panzer.

Cozy dog

In the morning we packed up fairly quickly and headed for the trailhead.  Panzer had been limping around for much of the previous evening, so we took a little shortcut via a portage which connected to a nearby 'rail trail' in order to keep the terrain a little less demanding.  I'm not sure that it mattered in the end, as Pan seemed to have recuperated over night (what can I say, he is a tank), but it did cut a bit of time off our hike.  With classes resuming the next day, and several big assignments and tests in the following days, getting back to Lindsay seemed like a good idea.  All in all it was good weekend adventure and a nice way to wrap up our break week.

Misty Dawn

Independent learning: Acer saccharum