Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands - 2016 Pulk pull

Once ice conditions permit pullling a pulk (a.k.a. sled) over canoe routes can be an effect means of travelling. Although there are pulks specifically designed for this any narrow sled with means of tying your gear down and a low centre of gravity should work. There are also a lot of online resources that can help you develop an appropriate pulk.

Itinerary:

Saturday: 10:00a.m.
We meet at the Devils Lake Access Parking lot, strap on our snowshoes and pack up our sleds, and head out on Devils Lake. We will be following the canoe route over lakes and portages. Our ultimate goal is to camp looking out over Victoria lake that evening, but the hosts will make a decision around Sheldon Lake about the feasibility of the whole group reaching our intended destination. Snow and ice conditions, weather and group speed will all play into this.

Sunday:
Return and head home. Weather and time permitting we may be able to stop for something to eat as a group before making our way back to the warmth of our own homes.

Cost:
There are no park fees for QEW so this should be a relatively economical trip. Shared gas cost is estimated at $20-$30
Snowshoe rentals approx. $20
I am collecting a $10 deposit which be returned to those who attend the trip. Any abandoned deposits will be applied to the upkeep of the MeetUp site.

Gear:
This is a pulk trip so pulks are required. The group pacing will be based on a person wearing snowshoes pulling a pulk.

Before renting gear please consider asking others on the trip if they have any to share or loan. The best way to do this is to note your needs on the spreadsheet linked to below. Also note, given the heavier winter packs, sharing stoves and tents is highly recommend. If you still need to rent snowshoes or other gear there are the following options:

• MEC in Barrie has snowshoes - open Friday night until 9pm closed Sunday at 5pm • Adventure Guide in Waterloo also rents and provides a Friday to Monday time frame.

This is winter camping and you need to be prepared to tent in temperatures of -25 or colder. It should go without saying, NO COTTON should be worn, you will get too cold and wet.

Use the shared Sheet to make ride and tent sharing arrangements.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K4ZWW08HHOQNtIv4na5IZ7B60wVxJljFRKXrQcwzRxo/edit?usp=sharing

Difficulty:
This should not be your first backpacking experience. This trip will be considered moderately difficult and participants should be comfortable travelling over frozen lakes. Our objective is 9km to Victoria Lake. If we are lucky we will be able to pull our sleds in snowmobile tracks but will have to get out of the way if they come flying by. Participants should also be prepared that we may not reach our objective.

Navigation:
If you have a gps consider bringing it. A map can be found at http://www.explorethebackcountry.com/#!qewmap/c5c4

Alternatively if you have a smart-phone consider loading the “Avenza PDF Maps” app onto it. Within the app you can download the 'Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park Backcountry Map' map for free.

Final details:

When you RSVP please remember to answer questions in the spreadsheet. A logistics email will be sent out after the RSVP closes. As with all KW Backcountry Travel meetups, you are responsible for your own transportation, food, gear and personal safety. Gas expenses should be shared evenly between the driver and their passengers.