Minnesing Trail winter camping

I love winter camping! Do you love winter camping?

This trip has been one of my favorites the last two years. Come join me and explore Algonquin in the winter.

On this trip we will travel on the Minnesing Ski/Bike Trail.
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/recreational_activites/minnesing-wilderness-ski-trail.php

This trail has gentle hills and bridged river crossings making it accessible to snowshoes, backcountry skis, and pulks. We are going to take advantage of this by making a mixed trip. You choose how you carry your stuff and how you travel.

You, however, will not get to choose the pacing. We will be go how fast I’m traveling. I will hike on snowshoes at a modest pulk/backpacker pace. The whole loop is 23 km with options to adjust the length depending on conditions. Be prepared for about 10KM a day in fresh snow but depending on conditions I may add more to make for a challenging but not punishing trip. Additionally there may be small periods of ice travel.

We will meet at the west gate permit station at 9AM. I recommending spending Friday night in a Huntsville hotel to make for a easier start on Saturday.

By signing up you are asserting you are in good condition. If you have never carried a full pack 5KM on snowshoes you should consider yourself not to be in good condition. Winter often makes everything much harder.

You should be prepared to fully self sufficient (own gear and food) unless you have made other arrangements.

The weather conditions are hard to predict. At this point I advise preparing for a temperature range of -30 - +5 C. I also recommend being ready for a foot of fresh snow and/or freezing rain. When I send out the logistics email the week before we leave I should know much more about the conditions and we can all adjust as needed.

There are privies along the trail but they are far apart and I have found them sometimes frozen shut or rotted away. If you look on the map you will also notice mentions of cabins. Overnight camping is not permitted in them and they are subject to closure without notice (I saw this last couple years). I will not make any efforts to locate our camps near a cabin or privy; you must be prepared to camp without these.

Logistics:
You must update the following spreadsheet with your details. Failure to do may result in removal from the trip and a lost of your spot without notice.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ltp7_Lt61GMo7Ogu1qSApOWgS2zTU3X7jKmTSKErm-s/edit?usp=sharing

Costs:
Permits are $12.43 a day or $24.86 per person. PayPal charges $1.05 which means I require $25.91 for a reservation.

Cars should split the fuel costs evenly among all of the passengers and drivers. You may also want some cash for food along the way.

Itinerary:
Saturday
9AM Meet at Algonquin West Gate permit station to register.
9:30 AM, leave for Minnesign Trail
10:15 Start hike on trail
4:30 PM Make camp
5:47 Sunset

Sunday
Hike out, grab late lunch/early dinner in Hunstville, and head home.

Please note: Winter conditions increase risk for all participants. Persons who are under-prepared not only risk harming themselves but also risk harm others through the extra demands they place on them. For that reason, based on my judgement, I may ask those who I am concerned are not adequately prepared to not to come along at any time, even at the trailhead. If you are concerned about your level of preparation, please consider the Introduction to winter course (class and trip). I also welcome questions, the earlier the better, and will do my best to help ensure you are adequately prepared. Let all make this a challenging, fun, and most importantly, safe trip.