This event is now full and MeetUp does not support a waitlist for this type of event.

Adventure anyone?

When ice conditions permit, pulling a pulk (a.k.a. sled) over canoe routes can be an efficient/awesome means of traveling. That is what this trip is about. Although there are pulks/sleds specifically designed for this, any sled with means of tying your gear down and a low center of gravity should work. There are also a lot of online resources that can help you develop an appropriate pulk; it is easy to do.

Organizers will be monitoring ice conditions in the week leading up to the trip. If they are not suitable to travel we will leave the pulks at home and backpack along the trail.

Itinerary:

Saturday: 10:00a.m.
We will 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 towards our ultimate goal is to camp just past Wolf Lake (10 KM) if conditions permit.
Sunday:
Return to parking lot by mid-afternoon and head home.

Cost:

There are no park fees for QEW. I will collect $10 to make a reservation which will be refunded if you attend the trip or drop before Jan 10th.
Don't forget to have some cash to split the cost of gas with your car.

Gear:

Pulks are highly recommended, and pacing will be appropriate for them.
You must have snowshoes.
You should have a sleeping bag that is rated to -20C or colder.
You must wear NO COTTON, this should go without saying. It puts you at much greater risk of getting too cold and wet.

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.

Given the heavier winter kits, sharing stoves and shovels is highly recommended. If you still need to rent snowshoes or other gear there are the following options:

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

Use the shared Sheet to make ride and tent sharing arrangements.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_qh3hm2LC0Kbs-1bCpkt9BqUON1ehWwk9oYLJPb7qwM/edit?usp=sharing

Difficulty:

This should not be your first backpacking experience. This trip will be considered moderately difficult and participants should be comfortable traveling over frozen lakes. Do research into travel on frozen lakes if you don't have prior experience.

Navigation:

If you have a GPS consider bringing it.
Here is a rough trace of the route.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7628831

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.
Here are the details on the map but it will need to de downloaded from your phone.
https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/75028/queen-elizabeth-ii-wildlands-provincial-park-backcountry-map-v09

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.

Covid

Although this event is a outdoor event advise anyone in a carpool to be fully vaccinated. If you are not please message me privately and I will ensure you are not included in a carpool plans.

As the situation changes this event may need to be modified or canceled, possibly with little notice. I will try to give you as much notice as I can if that happens. You will receive a refund if the trip if it is canceled or a change has made it impossible for you to join.

If you are feeling unwell, have Covid, or have been exposed please don't come, I will issue a full refund, just get in touch.