Ski camping, Minnesing Wilderness Trail, Algonquin

Due to demand for cross country ski camping, please give a round of applause for Prospector Pete's cabin, the star of the Minnesing Wilderness Trail.

The only way to get there is to ski backcountry on ungroomed trail. The entire trail is 23 km. How far up the trail and in which direction the cabin is situated remains a secret. Whether one can avail of its comforts for the night remains a gamble. The adventurers in the photos above were not so fortunate. Come prepared to tent it if necessary.

Itinerary:

Friday, Jan. 17, 5:30 pm, head north. If needing to rent skis, stop at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Barrie (closing time 8:30). There are two options for Friday night. The default is camping at the Minnesing Wilderness Trail parking lot. Alternatively, use the Econolodge motel in Huntsville.

The Minnesing Wilderness Trail is 26 km east of the park's west gate on Hwy 60 (close to Canis Bay and Mew Lake campground).

Saturday, 9:00 am, purchase backcountry permits at Algonquin Park's west gate on Hwy 60. Return to Minnesing trail parking lot.

Start skiing clockwise by 10:00 am. Find a place to setup camp (possibly at the cabin if available), drop off heavy gear, continue skiing for the rest of the day if so inclined.

Sunday, ski some more, pack up camp and return to the parking lot arriving mid afternoon. Commence the drive home. Its approximately a four hour drive to Kitchener-Waterloo.

Please specify which option you prefer for Friday night.

Cost:

$12 (backcountry permit/person/night) + $40 (shared gas) = $52

Add ski rental, $20, if applicable, .

Gear:

Recommended: -20 C sleeping bag. Well insulated sleeping pad. Liquid gas (white gas) stove to melt snow (for example an MSR Simmerlight). Thermos/flask to keep melted snow melted. Tent (any tent will do). Cross country skis. If renting please reserve ahead of time as early as possible.

Links:

Ski and sleeping bag rentals (http://www.algonquinoutfitters.com/rental/5.html) (Algonquin Outfitters, Oxetongue Lake) 1-800-469-4948

Ski rentals (MEC, Barrie) 705-792-4675

Algonquin ski trail conditions (http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/recreational_activites/current-ski-trail-conditions.php)

Algonquin weather (http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/canada/ontario/algonquin)

Difficulty:

Reasonably fit, well prepared, first time winter campers welcome. Previous cross country skiing experience not required to get to base camp. Experienced skiers may elect to split off for a faster paced tour later in the day Saturday.

Inspiration:

Photos from identical trips winter of 2013

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/12710232/

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/13108362/

Photos from three identical trips winter of 2012

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/5562182/

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6304112/

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6620842/ (note (http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6620842/): high elevation shots are from a second hiking trail)

Notes:

• MEC Barrie rents genuine 'backcountry' skis, a cut above the generic skis normally available. Hours of operation, picking up and returning in particular, may be an issue.

• Algonquin Outfitters rents complete kits for a weekend like this. Last winter members rented top quality -40 C bags from them. Their store is close to the park so picking up and returning isn't an issue.

• 'Prospector Pete' is a fiction, the cabin is not. It serves as a warming hut for all skiers and cannot be reserved. Whether the woodshed behind is stocked is anybody's guess. Four out of five times the last two winters we were the only ones around. The fifth time another group of seven joined us (yeah new friends!) but with all the gear we had to sleep outside.