Canoeing, Massasauga Provincial Park, Three Legged Lake to Clear Lake

This canoe trip starts at the Three Legged Lake access point, then travels via Spider Lake and Frog Pond to a campsite on an island in Clear Lake. It will be a smaller, more intimate, meetup, with a maximum of 9 participants.

Itinerary:

Friday, drive four hours to Oastler Lake Provincial Park, near Parry Sound, for car camping that night.

Saturday, 8:30 am, after breakfast at camp, load rental canoes if applicable and head for Three Legged Lake access point. 9:30 am start paddling. Paddle through Three Legged Lake, Spider Lake and Frog Pond into Clear Lake to campsite 34 on an island in Clear Lake.

Sunday, 8:00 am, be packed up and start paddling back to Three Legged Lake access point. People renting boats from Oastler Lake will need to get away in good time to have boats returned by 2:00 pm or pay for another day. A group lunch at a nearby restaurant (Parry Sound?) is a great way to finish the trip. Arrival time at KW will be approximately early-to-mid evening.

Difficulty:

First time and solo canoeists welcome. See Tim's Backpackers' Bootcamp Packing List (v2) (http://files.meetup.com/1606190/Backpackers%20Bootcamp%20Packing%20listv2.pdf) for a list of what to pack. The route is approximately 13.5 km of flatwater paddling each day plus portages of 370 m, 90 m and 165 m (total 625 m) each day. No motorboats are allowed on Spider Lake, Frog Pond and Clear Lake.

Cost (estimate):

$8 (Friday night car camping) + $22 (two nights backcountry camping) + $35 (shared gas) = $65

Add 2 day canoe rental if required (half of 2 x $42) = $42

Canoe rental:

Oastler Provincial Park, 705-378-2401, $42/day. They don't deliver to our access point but provide straps to carry rentals on car roofs. Their rental day goes from 2 pm to 2 pm, overnight in other words. They open at 8:30 am. If renting for Saturday, if a canoe is available before 2 pm you can pick it up early. However, if you bring it back after 2 pm the next day, late fees apply for the first hour late. If late by two hours you'll be charged for an additional day. The office is open only until 4 pm Sunday. These are Kevlar canoes, approximately 50 lbs. It takes a credit card to reserve, no charge is made at the time. No cancellation fee if cancelled 48 hours in advance.

Swift Canoes (http://swiftoutside.com/stores/rentals.php), Waubaushene, 705-538-0881, $38/day, $10 for kit to strap to car roof. Hours of operation could be an issue.

Adventure Guide, Waterloo, 519-886-3121, $40/day ($80/weekend). For weekend rentals you can pickup Friday and return Monday. They also sell Massasauga Park maps, $10.

Note: Last year Adventure Guide, Waterloo, rented heavy Royalex canoes but given their liberal pickup/return policies they may be the best option. With only three short portages each day, weight isn't as big a concern.

Sojourn Outdoors (http://www.sojournoutdoors.com/about-us/rentals-services/rentals/), Barrie, (705) 739-9694, from $35/day, tie downs and foam blocks included. Open until 5 pm on Sundays.

Car/Canoe/Tent Sharing:

Carpooling is encouraged. Feel free to use the comment space below to organize. When RSVPing "yes", please indicate whether you can offer or need a ride, whether you are bringing or renting a canoe or need a paddling partner, and whether you have a tent to share or need a spot in someone's tent.

Please record arrangements in the linked shared document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Av_P0uL39agvdERQQ0hkQno0UndmN1JWQ1JwQjN6NGc#gid=0). The event host will assist in matching drivers and passengers during the week leading up to the trip, after registration is closed. Participants are welcome to discuss arrangements and modify them.

A beautiful series of photos on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zelcam/347618870/in/set-72157594234988366/) of Massasauga Provincial

Massasauga Provincial backcountry site ratings (http://www.angelfire.com/blues2/bcaron/campsite.html)

Ontario Parks Reservation system (http://www.ontarioparks.com/reservations/)