Travel Log #10

Our last winter camping experience in Algonquin was in a yurt—comfy, warm and dry. As promised to ourselves, we planned out yet another winter camping trip but this time we opted for trying out our tent with what we hoped would be the same results—comfy, warm and dry. 

It’s all in the planning... mostly.

I really believe that pre-planning is the key to any successful camping trip—thinking about potential routes, debating equipment (what is truly essential gear to take with us), carefully selecting pieces of clothing (for some reason I was focused on underwear and socks for this winter camping trip), and of course, sleeping bags and blankets. Though we are just starting to invest in some hi-tech gear and clothes, we are really seeing the value of them.  For example, while in London visiting my parents, we stopped in to see what the renowned Novack’s store had to offer in the way of underwear and hiking socks (no, not thongs or tighty whities but the real long, almost full-body coverage long johns and matching long-sleeve top). 

Packing for a winter camping trip isn’t much different from other season camping aside from the sheer bulk of some of your stuff.  Of course, you end up wearing (rather than carrying) your coat, snowpants and boots most of the time, so maybe it makes more sense to not think of them in the traditional stuff sense.  When selecting items, the thought “I have no desire to be cold” resonated in my brain somewhat like a mantra or anthem.  Will these pants protect me from the wind?  Will this shirt provide enough breathability/warmth?

Car Camping versus Interior Camping

Car camping provides for many luxuries that you can’t afford on an interior trip.

Since this was a car camping trip, we had the luxury of packing an extra bag to put between us and air mattresses and yet another to put over us.  Not to mention, an additional blanket to act as a barrier between our faces and the crisp winter air.  I am fairly certain that an interior trip this time round would have prompted Rob and I to buy artic sleeping bags to replace our measely but still good until the mercury falls to -7C bags.  We are thinking that will be next year’s investment.  It seems that with every passing year, we get a little bit more adventurous and a little more likely to invest in the “good stuff” to support our outdoor addiction.

A traditional 2-burner camp stove, puffy pillows, and miscellaneous items are not things that would be dragged into the interior of Algonquin Park .  When we plan our upcoming interior camping trip, I am sure that a serious discussion about downsizing our equipment will occur.  Rob has actually already ventured into the interior with friends and they usually just bring the bare minimum rather than opting for smaller or technically advanced and light versions of equipment.  I guess a solid argument can be made for either style of camping! (See below for some of the equipment that I have been drooling over recently…)  As for this trip, we were conservative in our choices for clothes but allowed for the aforementioned sleeping luxuries. 

While car camping involves unloading your equipment right from your car (that is parked right beside where your tent will be erected), interior camping usually means snowshoeing on a backpacking trail while towing your equipment on a sled behind you.  Check out an example of how winter camping is done in the YouTube videos posted below.  In the end, we are gradually gearing up (both mentally and in more literally in terms of getting more gear), for an interior experience.  Stay tuned!

Setting Up Tent (and learning first-hand what works and what doesn’t)

Of course, this trip was more about seeing how cold it got in our tent overnight.  When we arrived at the Mew Lake Campground, the only campground open during the winter season in Algonquin, we searched for the perfect site to set up our little tent.  Most sites were still covered with a layer of pretty thick ice, some of which was starting to melt, making for a fairly wet place to lay down a tent. Other sites had a partial thaw, but most of them were quite mucky, also not so attractive in terms of setting up sleeping arrangements.  Finally, we found a site at the farthest point from the campground entrance that had an area that had thawed and was

only half mucky.  So, we claimed the site as our own and got to work on setting up our tent.  First things first, we positioned the ground sheet over the patch of ground that was still somewhat dry.
  Next, we got to the task of getting the pegs to go into the ground.  We had recently purchased extra sturdy pegs just for this occasion (in comparison to our skinny, little metal ones).  With a little help, they hammered into the semi-thawed ground nicely. Once the tent was up, we put yet another ground sheet inside the tent, blew up our air mattress, placed the spare sleeping bag on top of the mattress, placed our individual bags on top of that, then one more big blanket for on top of that for good measure.  Of course, we had brought another blanket on top of that just in case we needed it.  Other than a flashlight and a little canteen of water, that was all we needed for the night. 

Despite our best efforts to not drink too much water before bed, our dinner of noodle soup caught up to Rob at about 4 in the morning.  Of course, when you are snug inside knowing full well how frigid it is outside, the last thing you want to do is to leave your comfort zone.  Rob swears that the next time we do this, he is going to follow some advice a good friend of his gave him—to bring a pee bottle into the tent overnight. Of course, with no available alternative, we decided to take the wimpy way out of this situation and hopped into the car to the comfort station (a heated washroom) where we wouldn’t loose our body heat and would be able to get back to sleep for a couple more hours.

Hiking Trails in the Winter

In terms of clothing, we followed the golden rules of layering for maximum warmth while hiking the Algonquin trail system. 

The rules go something like this—you should wear:

1- A base layer (or the layer of clothing closest to your skin) should wick the sweat away from your body so that you can stay dry while being active and staying warm at the same time.  The most effective fabric is made from synthetic fibers or wool.  This layer should fit snugly against your skin.

2-An insulating layer or warm fabric should be worn on top of your base layer.  This layer is usually made from wool, polyester, down and fleece. This layer should fit more loosely but not be baggy.

3-An outer layer that will protect you from weather elements—notably wind and water.  Some outer shells are designed for breathability so that you don’t need to take them off.  For example, some shells have zippers that open to a mesh under the arms so that your body can air out if you are engaged in some heavy aerobic activity (or if it is particularly humid and you want to stay dry inside your coat).

Even though many shirts and clothes are made from cotton for comfort, in terms of wearing this fabric for activity, it’s not very effective.  As a matter of fact, cotton will work against your body’s efforts to stay warm and dry.  Cotton absorbs and traps moisture against your skin.  So, beware of cotton when planning your winter attire!

While out on the trails in March, we typically had our coats wrapped around our waists or wide open, despite the sub-zero temperatures. We were both wearing hiking socks (like Smartwool, or other stay-dry fibers) inside our well-insulated winter boots. The layer system works like a charm!

We were up at walking about quite early on our second day… just before dawn as a matter of fact!  We were hopeful that animals would be out at such an early hour but after driving and roaming about the park and along the Highway 60.  The trails were relatively people-free at this time of year, with only the occasional family or small group of hikers to say “hello” to along our way.  Unfortunately, we can say the same for any kind of wildlife on our hikes too.  Though we did come across a few chipmunks and a variety of friendly birds, no other animals were to be seen.  Of course, park rangers offered us some trustworthy advice—if you want to see moose in Algonquin, then you’ll have to visit during the months of May and June.  The moose really love to sip from the salt-tainted puddles that form during the spring thaw along Highway 60.  So, if you are in the mood to see some moose, set your alarm for the crack of dawn and drive up and down Highway 60 to check them out!

Rob and I hiked along the trails which are all very well-adorned with signs and trail markers.  Although, we did get caught up on a non-trail created by hikers who had come before us who had crunched out their own trail in the snow!  Rather than going straight ahead, we were attracted by this seemingly official side trail.  Of course, after about five minutes of going in circles, and sinking into some pretty deep snow, we opted to retrace our steps and head back to where we feel we made our initial detour.  Snowshoes would definitely be an asset when hiking in Algonquin, even on packed down trails.  Due to the uneven weather this season, there have been many thaws and freezes over the winter months, causing for some trails to be nicely packed, while leaving other trails a little inconsistent.  Rob and I sunk into the snow quite suddenly a few times, up to our knees (or even a little higher).  Renting snowshoes from a local outfitter might be in the plan for our next trip.  Of course, some of the trails go up some steep hills and since the trails are not maintained in the winter, you also have to navigate your way around fallen trees and overgrown brush.  So, in the end, snowshoes may still only get you so far!

The Visitors Centre and the West Gate

If you’ve never been to Algonquin Park before then we definitely suggest checking out the Visitors Centre (located at KM40 along Highway 60).  Watch the movie, enjoy the exhibits and spend some time on the observation deck out back.  I really appreciate the honest advice and personal stories that park staff readily share with visitors.  When checking in at the West Gate for camping or just spending time in the park for the day, we like to ask for advice on the best trails to hike at the time we’re there, if the park is hosting any special events or where the best place to spot animals is—not matter what our question, they always offer up great stories and specific instructions. 

While at the Visitors Centre (or any trailhead and at various points throughout the park for that matter), be sure to admire Algonquin’s recycling system.  The MOLOK system deals with 4 different kinds of waste: Paper, container, organics and garbage. The system is installed partially underground and is virtually odour-free and resistant to wildlife—perfect for Algonquin!  We got to see exactly how big the receptacles were as we approached the Centre (see photo).  If you want to learn more about MOLOK Deep-Collection Technology, visit the SITE.

More Information About Trails and Equipment when hiking in Algonquin Park

• Trail Hiking in the Winter at Algonquin Park :

http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/mustrails/daytrails.html

Lightweight equipment that peaks our (Nancy's really... she loves the gadgets) interest:

Lightweight, Hi-Tech gear for the modern backpacker:

Jetboil- a one pound, one litre personal cooking system

SteriPEN Aventurer- A 4 oz pen-style UV light water purifier that can sterilize 16 oz of water in 48 seconds.  You can also get a solar charging case if you want to opt out of battery use!

Freeze-dried meals-  A lot more tasty than they sound and soooo much lighter than hiking around with the would-be ingredients of such meals.

Ray Jardine quilt- A make-it-yourself bag-like sleep quilt.