Introduction to backpacking - A first trip with Tim

Join me for an introduction to backpacking. This trip aims to help those who are new and/or uncomfortable with self supported backcountry travel.

If you already are a capable backpacker please be considerate and make room for people who are new to backpacking as this trip has limited space.

We will focus on gaining the skills needed for backcountry living and travel. The overall pacing will focus on giving time for instruction and demonstrations. Although this is a backpacking trip these skills are transferable to any other trip that requires you to carry your needs for multiple days in a backcountry setting.

I normal years I hold this trip in Algonquin however this year their the park is booked solid for the fall so this trip will be held in Gibson River Provincial Park. This means this trip is going to a bit more "real" as there are no official campsites, trail maintenance, or privies. On the upside, we are headed to a lovely campsite at edge of a beaver dam. This spring I saw beavers and woodpeckers from camp; I heard the calls of coyotes.

There are a several short climbs over it's 8km but over all the difficulty of the trail is moderate. There may be muddy patches and the weather this time of year can a bit unpredictably warm or cool. It is important that you ensure your pack is not too heavy and that your footwear is well fitted.

It is highly recommended you attend the "Introduction to backpacking - Learn what to pack" (https://www.meetup.com/kw-backcountry/events/288288058/) workshop on Sep 15th.

Participants need to be in reasonable physical fitness. Backpacking is a strenuous sport involving carrying weight on ones back over uneven and unpredictable terrain. Participants are required to

• Respond to the email address they have registered with Meetup.com in a timely manner.
• Reading all off the documents linked from this form and filling out the spreadsheet.
• If you have heard from me (Tim Laurence) by Sep 25th, you are responsible for messaging me using the chat on the website, sometimes the MeetUp email silently fails.

The packing list for this trip can be found on the MeetUp site or at this link.

https://tinyurl.com/kwbackcountry-packing-list

Participants who are not packed properly may be asked to remain at the cars for their own safety. Please note, hunting can occur in the area we are traveling, everyone must have a "hunter orange" hat or vest.

You are responsible for providing or arranging for all gear you will need. I (Tim) personally have a fairly wide range of equipment to loan, please consider borrowing some of mine before buying. Additionally I encouraged you to share tents and stoves to lessen the amount you will have to carry.

In the spreadsheet below you can indicate items you need to borrow and or that you have available to loan. Also indicate your car pool details.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fhJfODb1Clz6j7-pZAhQ7YK8qB5vlK2K4aJSvUO6g8A/edit?usp=sharing

To RSVP I am collecting $12.08.
I am calculating these numbers assuming 5 people attend.
$11.00 reservation fee(including tax)
$43.79 Friday night campsite(including tax)
$14.13 Extra car fee(including tax)
= 55.86 / 5 people or $11.17 per person
The final $0.91 goes to PayPal for transaction fees.

Depending on final numbers I may ask for a little more or refund some. Additionally participants are expected to evenly share, with their fellow passengers, the expense of the fuel for whichever vehicle they come in.

The Trip Plan

• Friday at 6PM Carpools will head out to Six Mile Lake Provincial Park. I have reserved campsite 136 which can hold up to 6. If needed we will reserve another campsite nearby.
• Saturday morning there will be a review of everyone's gear and introduction into some of the basic skills needed for backpacking.
  After the review is done we will set out, typically around noon, and drive for about 20 minutes to the baseball field near the park. https://goo.gl/maps/Rx1gT7K2S5Ar32bA7
  From there we will follow the ski and snowmobile trails to our campsite stopping occasionally for instruction.
• Sunday we will return the same way we came in a little wiser. We will aim to be home before 11PM.