Ski camping, Minnesing Wilderness Trail, Algonquin

Due to demand for cross country ski camping, please give a round of applause for Prospector Pete's cabin, the star of the Minnesing Wilderness Trail.

The only way to get there is to ski backcountry on ungroomed trail. The entire trail is 23 km. How far up the trail and in which direction the cabin is situated remains a secret. Whether one can avail of its comforts for the night remains a gamble. The adventurers in the photo above were not so fortunate. Come prepared to tent it.

Itinerary:

Option 1:

Friday, Jan. 18, 5:30 pm, leave from Tim Horton's, Weber and Northfield, Waterloo. Carpool to the Econolodge, Huntsville.

Saturday, early breakfast at the motel, purchase backcountry permits at Algonquin Park's west gate on Hwy 60, 9:00 am. Proceed to Minnesing trail parking lot, 9:30 am.

Option 2:

Saturday, Jan. 19, 9:30, join the rest of the group at the Minnesing Wilderness Trail parking lot 26 km east of the west gate on Hwy 60 (just west of Canis Bay, 5 km west of Mew Lake campground).

Both Options:

Start skiing clockwise, 10:00 am. Find a place to setup camp (possibly the cabin if available), drop off heavy gear, continue skiing for rest of the day if so inclined.

Sunday, ski some more, pack up camp and return to the parking lot arriving mid afternoon. Commence the drive home. Its approximately a four hour drive to Kitchener-Waterloo.

Please specify which option you prefer, and whether you can drive or require a ride when signing up. The comment box in the RSVP signup process is a convenient place to do so.

Cost:

$25 (shared Friday accommodation) + $11.75 (backcountry permit/person/night) + $30 (shared gas) = $66.75

Less $25 for option 2.

Gear:

Recommended: -20 C sleeping bag. Well insulated sleeping pad. Liquid gas (white gas) stove to melt snow (for example an MSR Simmerlight). Thermos/flask to keep melted snow melted. Tent (any tent will do). Cross country skis. If renting please reserve ahead of time as early as possible.

This is the perfect trail to test out a pulk (toboggan for pulling gear). To build your own check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH4yhC4Gb3s

Ride Sharing:

By default the 'event host' will match remaining drivers with passengers (from the KW area) three days before the meetup, however, feel free to arrange ride sharing on your own in the comment section below if so inclinded.

Links:

Ski and sleeping bag rentals (http://www.algonquinoutfitters.com/rental/5.html) (Algonquin Outfitters, Oxetongue Lake) 1-800-469-4948

Ski rentals (MEC, Barrie) 705-792-4675

Algonquin ski trail conditions (http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/recreational_activites/current-ski-trail-conditions.php)

Difficulty:

Reasonably fit, well prepared, first time winter campers welcome. Previous cross country skiing experience not required to get to base camp. Experienced skiers may elect to split off for a faster paced tour later in the day Saturday.

Inspiration:

Photos from three identical trips last winter

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/5562182/

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6304112/

http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6620842/ (note (http://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/photos/6620842/): high elevation shots are from a second hiking trail)

Notes:

• MEC Barrie rents genuine backcountry skis, a cut above the generic skis normally available. Hours of operation, picking up and returning, may be an issue.

• Algonquin Outfitters rents complete kits for a weekend like this. Last winter members rented top quality -40 C bags from them. Their store is close to the park so picking up and returning isn't an issue.

• On some previous trips we've tented Friday night near the parking lot which saves on motel costs. It is an option if you prefer.

• 'Prospector Pete' is a fiction, the cabin is not. It serves as a warming hut for all skiers and cannot be reserved. Whether the woodshed behind is stocked is anybody's guess. Four out of five times last winter we were the only ones around. The fifth time another group of seven joined us (yeah new friends!) but with all the gear we had to sleep outside.