Snowshoe camping, Killarney Provincial Park

Feb. 20. Due to forecasted weather conditions, this meetup is now headed for Killarney Provincial Park (instead of Algonquin) leaving Friday, Feb. 22. The concept is still the same as the previous Algonquin description below but only using snowshoes.

Late February the frozen lakes in Algonquin are endless. Connect these lakes with snow covered canoe portages and the horizon is the limit.

The perfect mode of transport is a combination of ski and snowshoe. Ski the level lakes and snowshoe the undulating portages connecting the lakes' next of kin.

The only restriction? Where to find a plowed parking lot for the weekend.

Itinerary:

Friday, Feb. 22, 5:00 pm leave KW via Fergus, Orangeville, and Barrie for Killarney, 480 km or 6 hours drive. Tent at Killarney Provincial, George Lake campground for the night.

Saturday, 8:00 PM start hiking the La Cloche Silhouette Trail. Setup base camp, continue hiking for the day. Return to camp for the night.

Sunday. Hike back to parking lot. Mid afternoon, return to KW arriving at 10-11 PM.

Cost:

$50 gas + $10 Friday camping + $12 Saturday camping = $72

Add $25 if renting snowshoes.

Gear:

The usual winter gear, tent, winter sleeping bag and mat, snowshoes, winter boots. Hiking poles and traction devices for boots (such as 'MicroSpikes') a good idea.

If renting snowshoes please use Adventure Guide, Waterloo, 519-886-3121. For a normal weekend rental they allow Friday pickup and Monday return so we're not encumbered by pickup/return times. Please specify a technical snowshoe such as an MSR Evo, Denali, or Lightning. Also ask for one with the 'ascent' heal feature if available. The 'event host' can pickup and return your snowshoes if you prefer.

The Hike:

La Cloche Silhouette Trail is a premium hiking trail in Ontario. A popular crevasse in the rock, the 'crack', leads to an iconic view of the park. It will be our first hiking destination.

Killarney Provincial Park, Silhouette Trail.