Canoeing and Hiking Killarney Provincial (Johnnie Lake/Silver Peak)

You will need a canoe to get to Killarney Outfitter's outpost on Johnnie Lake, Killarney Provincial Park.

From there whether you hike to Silver Peak the highest point on La Cloche Mountains, continue canoeing through storied Ontario Lakes like Bell and Balsam, or some combination of the above is up to you.

Either way enjoy some of Ontario Park System's prime real-estate on a primary long weekend of the summer.

Speaking of a real estate, the outpost was once the corporate camp of a mighty US company, accessible only by float plane. Who knows what schemes to dominate the interstate highway system came from within its paneled walls. Because of its historic significance, complete with gas lighting and a two story barbeque, we'll tent-it on the grounds leaving undisturbed the ghosts of bygone corporate boards to plan their futures past.

Itinerary:

Friday, Aug. 29, leave after work. Drive six hours from KW to the town of Killarney. Tent in Killarney Outfitter's 'back forty'.

Saturday, Pick up rental canoe gear. Purchase day passes at Killarney Provincial Park, George Lake office. Proceed to Johnnie Lake parking. Paddle to the outpost. Setup tents. Carry on day tripping, swim at the sand beach or read a book.

Sunday. If hiking Sliver Peak, canoe to the closest trail access. If paddling a longer loop, then loop-di-do-da. Return to the outpost for the night.

Monday, Sep. 1, reverse gear, leaving Killarney for home at 3:00 pm.

Cost:

• vehicle parking for three days ( 3 x $14 = $42 divided by persons per car)

• shared gas for vehicle driver (it is 477 km from north Waterloo, estimate $80 gas return for average sedan)

• three day canoe rental (3 x $37 = $111 / 2 = $55),

add $10 for canoe delivery to Johnnie Lake.

Sample cost, two persons sharing a car and rental canoe

per person, $21 (parking) + $40 gas + $55 canoe + $5 canoe delivery = $121

Difficulty:

The hardest part is resisting this trip.

Canoe Rental:

Please use Killarney Outfitters (http://www.killarneyoutfitters.com/canoe-rental.php) for obvious reasons.

1076 Hwy 637, Killarney, Ontario 1.705.287.2828 or 1.888.222.341

Consider using the $10 canoe delivery to optimize ride sharing and reduce parking fees. Four people can share one car but one car cannot carry two canoes without difficulty.

Signup process:

Other than sending rambling 'logistics' emails closer to the date, there is little the organizer of this meetup does for you.

You rent your canoe, figure how to get to Killarney, and purchase parking for your vehicle.

To facilitate ride and canoe sharing please use the Google shared document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdE02ejlmbnVjVzI3REllNVhvajZNU1E#gid=0). Indicate whether sharing a canoe or ride, or needing either of the above.

Then use this information to contact others. Emailing members via the 'send mail' option on their meetup.com profiles reduces the amount of broadcast email sent to non-interested others. (Oops, meetup.com has changed things to 'message').

Please update the document once arrangements are made.

Cool:

Lets do it. And thank you Ted.

photos from previous Killarney meetups