AO visits the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre

The big cheeses of AO went in to the park yesterday for a meeting and a special cheque presentation, so I took a few shots along the way. Sorry for the bad quality of the lake ice photos but we were running a little behind schedule and didn't have time to stop!

On behalf of the Friends of Algonquin Park, superintendent John Winters accepts a cheque for $750 from AO's Rich Swift. The donation is portion of the proceeds of the Huntsville showing of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, annually hosted by AO in Huntsville in January. AO has used proceeds from this event to support wildlife research projects for many years. This year the donation will support wolf research being carried out by Dr. Brent Patterson and PhD candidate John Benson. For information on the wolf project and to learn how you can support it, click here.

Park superintendent John Winters is retiring soon, so the AO old-timers gathered for a group shot. We are very proud of the positive relationship we have with Algonquin Park staff and wish John all the best on his next adventure. From left: me, Opeongo Store manager Jerry Schmanda, John Winters, Brent Store manager Jake Pigeon and AO General Manager Rich Swift.

Lake of Two Rivers from Hwy 60. There is a sliver of open water by the roadway.

Even I was surprised how much snow is left in the woods. All north-facing slopes are snow covered (knee-deep in some places) though south-facing slopes are mostly bare. Park staff reported that they are still using snowshoes to do interior trail maintenance in many places.

Hangar Bay on Smoke Lake. A little bit of open water in the sunny, sheltered bay but all the lakes you can see from the highway are mostly frozen right up to the shore. Nothing in the rearview mirror. Only saw one moose - many people people are reporting seeing five or six when traveling between the East and West gates.