Canoeing, North Tea Lake, Algonquin

Change things up this year. Start the canoe season Victoria Day weekend with a new location, North Tea Lake, Algonquin Park. Meandering rivers, classic lakes, and long beaches await.

It is a couple hours further north than the Frost Center of previous years, but like the Frost Center, an outfitter for convenient canoe rental is located at the start. The added distance requires heading north on Friday already, no problem, the same outfitter provides a field for camping upon late arrival.

The launch, Algonquin Access Point 1, includes a park office for backcountry permits. It doesn't get easier than that.

Itinerary:

Option 1:

Friday, May 17, 5:30 pm, congregate at a central Tim Hortons, most likely the corner of Weber and Northfield, Waterloo. Establish a caravan to commence the 5 hour drive north to South River. Turn east another 22 km until reaching Access Point #1, Kawaywaymog Lake (a.k.a. K'mog or Round Lake).

Stay in Voyageur Oufitting's cabins for the night.

Option 2:

Join the group en route Friday or show up Saturday, 9:00 am, at Kawaywaymog Lake.

Both options:

Saturday, May 18, 8:00 am, purchase backcountry permits and pack rental canoes. 10:00 am, start paddling. Mid afternoon, establish base camp on North Tea Lake, East Arm. Locate firewood, go for a swim, bring out the Frisbees, paddle into the sunset.....

Sunday, serveral options, 1) a long day of paddling heading first into Manitou Lake to commence a challenging loop, see 'Middle Day Trip Plan' below 2) a shorter trip to Manitou Lake in search of geo caches 3) do your own thing. All options return to base camp end of day.

Monday, May 20, pack up camp, return to parking lot by mid afternoon, start drive south arriving in Kitchener-Waterloo by 9:00 pm.

Cost:

$30 (shared gas) + $10 (Friday camping) + $23.50 (backcountry permit $11.75 x 2) + $40.50 (1/2 of three day canoe rental) = $104

Less $40.50 for canoe owners.

Difficulty:

First time campers and canoeists welcome. Two short portages, 135 and 255 meters included in the 13 km paddle to base camp Saturday. Anticipate an 8 hour challenging day of paddling and portaging Sunday (optional).

Canoe Rentals:

Voyageur Quest Outfitting (http://www.voyageuroutfitting.com), (800) 794-9660. The obvious choice, located at launch point, no transporting required, field for customer camping Friday. A basic Kevlar canoe costs $27/day. http://voyageuroutfitting.com/

Swift Outdoor Center (http://swiftoutside.com/stores/southriver.php), South River, (705) 386-0440. Located 22 km from launch. http://swiftoutside.com/stores/southriver.php

If looking for a paddling partner, feel free to rent a canoe and then post 'have rental canoe need partner', whatever, under your RSVP comments (as in change RSVP button top right).

Links:

Shared document (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtI1mHVqaf-jdGVzdFRYQm9OTk9XWXN0S2JQTnFiYXc#gid=0) for canoe and car sharing

Middle day trip plan (http://johanna.wandel.ca/algonquin02/index.html). The tentative, albeit ambitious plan for the Sunday loop is based on the following trip report, 'One Park, Two Girls, Three Days'.

Online map of Algonquin canoe routes (http://www.algonquinmap.com/). You'll find North Tea Lake in the top left of the 'Western Section' (scroll for number 1 in black square).

North Tea Lake, East Arm, campsite.

notes: permit office 7:00am to 7:00pm sunrise 5:30, sunset 8:29