Thanks to everyone that contributed to my questions on my first trip to Canada. It definitely helped make the trip a success.
After the 8 hr drive from home I stayed in Huntsville and headed to pick up my pass in Kearny early Sunday morning.
When I picked up my permit at Kearny the young lady said she really didn't expect to drive to work in whiteout conditions, even if it was Canada.
Day 1
After the 8 hr drive from home I stayed in Huntsville and headed to pick up my pass in Kearny early Sunday morning.
When I picked up my permit at Kearny the young lady said she really didn't expect to drive to work in whiteout conditions, even if it was Canada.
Day 1
Put in at Magnetawan Lake. Snow squalls were the theme for Sunday.
I met quite a few people coming out after the weekend.
Petawawa River
For the first time, except for some short portages in the past, I had to double carry on the way in. I changed some of my equipment and with the colder weather comes bulkier clothes, I could not fit my day pack into my large pack. Plus I admit, it was early in the season and I was out of shape. The extra 4 miles double carrying added to the length and time for the trip in. I vowed to eat as much as I could so the trip out would not be doubled.
Little Misty Lake, but that's not mist. It's another snow squall. Better snow than rain became my mantra. When I did the portage from Little Misty to Misty and came back for my boat it had a couple of inches of snow drifted into the bow.
My home for the week on Misty Lake.
Day 2, Monday turned out to be a wind day. I ventured out and decided that maybe it would be a good rest day.
I did a little paddling leeward of the island and enjoyed the view from camp.
Where ever I went the presence of moose was everywhere. Over browsing was evident everywhere I traveled.
Tuesday dawned calm and sunny. Time for an adventure!
Misty to Little Misty to Queer Lake. Down the Tim River to Shah Lake to Pandion Pond and back to camp on Misty.
Just over 14 miles. It was a beautiful day. Just before leaving camp a lone canoer paddled by going toward the portage to Little Misty. I caught up with him at the portage and come to find out he's member of Canoe Tripping and as well as a member of MYCC. He started asking about my boat so I offered him my paddle for a test run.
Pretty much everyone I met was interested in my 12', 14# canoe.
The portage from Little Misty to Queer Lake would be the longest of the trip and one I was planning on doing on my way out so I wanted to see what that was going to be like. Much to my delight, after a short steep section from Little Misty it followed an excellent road bed.
Queer Lake
The bay where the portage from Queer Lake to Tim River is very fjord like, narrow with steep walls.
Still some ice clinging to the cliffs.
The portages in general are much better than the carries in the Adirondacks.
Ephemerals such as spring beauties, trout lilies, dutchman's britches, etc. covered the ground in the hardwoods.
There was some mud, but not the up to the knee kind I have endured in the Adirondacks.
Fresh moose track. They're around here somewhere!
The Tim River.
Along the Tim the trout lilies ran back as far as I could see into the forest.
The terrain varied considerably along the Tim.
Moose on the left, Wolf on the right.
Thankful for the boardwalk.
As I moved across the portage I saw where some one had hung something bright red in the tree next to the trail.
Then it flew and I realized it was a scarlet tananger!
Some of the portages were surprisingly steep. This one from Pandion Pond to Misty Lake.
Wednesday was another beautiful day so an trip south of Misty was in order.
After a quick hike to Pandion Pond looking for my lost camera case it was off to Timberwolf and McIntosh Lakes.
Outlet from Timberwolf Lake to Misty Lake.
Obligatory boat shot.
A beautiful day on Timberwolf Lake and
McIntosh Lake,
On my way back across Timberwolf Lake I made a side excursion to Timberwolf Creek.
Really beautiful area, but before long I had hit my turnaround time and had to turnaround. Here Moosey, Moosey, Moosey....
Did I mention how beautiful the creek was?
Thursday was to be the day I broke camp and journeyed about 9 miles to Little Trout Lake so as to get off the water before the afternoon winds on Friday.
I had a good day for it. Misty Lake,
After single carrying into Queer Lake, It wasn't long before I was on Little Trout. The rain clouds and a few sprinkles help propel me toward my last campsite.
A nice site in the bay of the portage to Ralph Bice Lake
As I set up my water filter I glanced down and what to my wondering eyes appear but a moose molar. Well after not seeing the living thing I guess this was going to have to do it for my moose siting of the trip.
One more perfect night in the park.
Last day! 5 mile trek back to the car.
I saw few people during the trip, but on the way in and out I met quite a few. Ralph Bice Lake.
The winds did pick up some as I crossed Ralph Bice Lake and there was a bit of a traffic jam at the start of the portage but I managed to make it back to the car by noon and home (even with an hour hold up on the interstate) by 9:30.
I left the Friday of Victoria Day weekend so there were many people coming in. It was then I realized how important the canoe culture is in Canada as compared to the states. People of all ages, shapes and sizes were heading into the park for the weekend. One fellow at the put-in had me video him and his two sons, estimated ages of 3 and 4, heading out for the weekend to fish. High school kids out on an adventure, young couples and older men that had been coming since 1957.
It was a trip I won't soon forget.
More pictures Here
I met quite a few people coming out after the weekend.
Petawawa River
For the first time, except for some short portages in the past, I had to double carry on the way in. I changed some of my equipment and with the colder weather comes bulkier clothes, I could not fit my day pack into my large pack. Plus I admit, it was early in the season and I was out of shape. The extra 4 miles double carrying added to the length and time for the trip in. I vowed to eat as much as I could so the trip out would not be doubled.
Little Misty Lake, but that's not mist. It's another snow squall. Better snow than rain became my mantra. When I did the portage from Little Misty to Misty and came back for my boat it had a couple of inches of snow drifted into the bow.
My home for the week on Misty Lake.
Day 2, Monday turned out to be a wind day. I ventured out and decided that maybe it would be a good rest day.
I did a little paddling leeward of the island and enjoyed the view from camp.
Where ever I went the presence of moose was everywhere. Over browsing was evident everywhere I traveled.
Tuesday dawned calm and sunny. Time for an adventure!
Misty to Little Misty to Queer Lake. Down the Tim River to Shah Lake to Pandion Pond and back to camp on Misty.
Just over 14 miles. It was a beautiful day. Just before leaving camp a lone canoer paddled by going toward the portage to Little Misty. I caught up with him at the portage and come to find out he's member of Canoe Tripping and as well as a member of MYCC. He started asking about my boat so I offered him my paddle for a test run.
Pretty much everyone I met was interested in my 12', 14# canoe.
The portage from Little Misty to Queer Lake would be the longest of the trip and one I was planning on doing on my way out so I wanted to see what that was going to be like. Much to my delight, after a short steep section from Little Misty it followed an excellent road bed.
Queer Lake
The bay where the portage from Queer Lake to Tim River is very fjord like, narrow with steep walls.
Still some ice clinging to the cliffs.
The portages in general are much better than the carries in the Adirondacks.
Ephemerals such as spring beauties, trout lilies, dutchman's britches, etc. covered the ground in the hardwoods.
There was some mud, but not the up to the knee kind I have endured in the Adirondacks.
Fresh moose track. They're around here somewhere!
The Tim River.
Along the Tim the trout lilies ran back as far as I could see into the forest.
The terrain varied considerably along the Tim.
Moose on the left, Wolf on the right.
Thankful for the boardwalk.
As I moved across the portage I saw where some one had hung something bright red in the tree next to the trail.
Then it flew and I realized it was a scarlet tananger!
Some of the portages were surprisingly steep. This one from Pandion Pond to Misty Lake.
Wednesday was another beautiful day so an trip south of Misty was in order.
After a quick hike to Pandion Pond looking for my lost camera case it was off to Timberwolf and McIntosh Lakes.
Outlet from Timberwolf Lake to Misty Lake.
Obligatory boat shot.
A beautiful day on Timberwolf Lake and
McIntosh Lake,
On my way back across Timberwolf Lake I made a side excursion to Timberwolf Creek.
Really beautiful area, but before long I had hit my turnaround time and had to turnaround. Here Moosey, Moosey, Moosey....
Did I mention how beautiful the creek was?
Thursday was to be the day I broke camp and journeyed about 9 miles to Little Trout Lake so as to get off the water before the afternoon winds on Friday.
I had a good day for it. Misty Lake,
After single carrying into Queer Lake, It wasn't long before I was on Little Trout. The rain clouds and a few sprinkles help propel me toward my last campsite.
A nice site in the bay of the portage to Ralph Bice Lake
As I set up my water filter I glanced down and what to my wondering eyes appear but a moose molar. Well after not seeing the living thing I guess this was going to have to do it for my moose siting of the trip.
One more perfect night in the park.
Last day! 5 mile trek back to the car.
I saw few people during the trip, but on the way in and out I met quite a few. Ralph Bice Lake.
The winds did pick up some as I crossed Ralph Bice Lake and there was a bit of a traffic jam at the start of the portage but I managed to make it back to the car by noon and home (even with an hour hold up on the interstate) by 9:30.
I left the Friday of Victoria Day weekend so there were many people coming in. It was then I realized how important the canoe culture is in Canada as compared to the states. People of all ages, shapes and sizes were heading into the park for the weekend. One fellow at the put-in had me video him and his two sons, estimated ages of 3 and 4, heading out for the weekend to fish. High school kids out on an adventure, young couples and older men that had been coming since 1957.
It was a trip I won't soon forget.
More pictures Here
Attachments
Last edited:
