AO presents Warren Miller's PLAYGROUND Nov. 16

Algonquin Outfitters is proud to present the latest installment from Warren Miller Entertainment at the Algonquin Theatre on Friday, November 16, starting at 8 pm.

Warren Miller's PLAYGROUND is the 58th annual movie from Warren Miller Entertainment, leaders in action sports film-making. These films attract a cult-like following and mark the official start of winter for skiers and snowboarders everywhere. This year's production is saturated with deep powder, incredible cinematography, technical lines and massive air.

Showcasing stunning global destinations from Sweden to Canada, Alaska to Japan, and several others, Warren Miller's PLAYGROUND also exposes a most unlikely winter sports destination, a resort in the Arabian Desert called Ski Dubai. Olympic Gold Medalist, skiing innovator and pop icon, Jonny Moseley, adds a new title to his resume as he serves as the film's narrator.

Visit the PLAYGROUND with Algonquin Outfitters on Friday, November 16 at 8 pm, at the Algonquin Theatre. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for students. Tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office at 37 Main St. E. in Huntsville, by calling the box office at (705) 789-4975 or 1-888-696-4255, ext. 2352 or on-line at algonquintheatre.ca

For more info on the movie, visit skitheworld.com

Watch the trailer for PLAYGROUND by clicking on the screen below.

Happy Fall!

The first day of fall at Oxtongue Lake - beautiful colours and morning mist.

I was right about the fall colours

As a follow up to the previous post, I waited a few days and checked the satellite image again. Actually, I was forced to wait, since up until Monday we had very little blue sky. Check the image for September 17 - there is a definite, visible red tinge on the west side of Algonquin Park. Who needs to look out a window any more!

If you want a more definitive perspective, check out Ontario's Fall Colours Report.

Track fall colours by satellite

Regular followers of this blog will remember that we recommend the NOAA satellite image for the Great Lakes region for following ice-out progress. It occurred to me that this could be a useful tool for checking on the advance of fall colours in southern Ontario. Since the colours in this image are true, the green forest cover shows up clearly. Check the image for Sept. 3 and you will see that the western area of Algonquin Park is showing a bit of reddish tinge (or is this my imagination?). This corresponds with what we can see on the ground - mostly green but some early flashes of red coming through. Fall is here!

If you haven't looked at these satellite images before, here are a few tips. When the image first opens on your screen, you will find that you are looking at the upper left-hand corner, somewhere near Thunder Bay. Scroll right and down until you can recognize landforms and lakes of the Algonquin Park area. Bigger lakes like Opeongo, Cedar and Burnt Island are easily distinguishable. If you look carefully, you can even make out the thin line of Hwy 60 stretching across the region.

Summer 2007 highlights

Sorry, long time no blog and I must thank our loyal readers for their patience. Algonquin Outfitters had an extremely busy summer, which is good for business but doesn't leave much time for blogging.

Here are a few pictures featuring some notable groups and happenings at our Oxtongue Lake store since May (at least those I have pictures of!):

Our new outfitter, Jen McFarlane, takes two European travel operators
for their first canoe ride in a three-seat Swift Quetico.

Local high school teacher Marty Scarlett helps launch a kayak made by his students, while the CTV reporter gets right into Bracebridge Bay to get the shot! (For the full story on this great fundraiser, go to this link and scroll down to Operation Kayaks)

No roof? No problem! Two kayaks securely tied into a PT Cruiser convertible.

Pastor Tom Corbett and the gang from Pearce Memorial Church in upstate New York, ready to go on their annual Algonquin Park canoe trip.

If you have a roof on your car, there are many options for tying down canoes!

Empty canoe racks on the August holiday weekend. Reservations are highly recommended!


Campers from the Machal program at Camp Stone ready to paddle, even though they are still on the bus! Machal is a Hebrew acronym that stands for Machane Chalutzi, or pioneering camp.


The Sidell family after their 12th annual father/twin sons canoe trip. Slogan on Dad's shirt: "I'm the boss."

Glen Weber and friends ready to hit the road in the ultimate canoe tripping van, complete with Captain's chairs.

Kevin Birch of Salisbury University and our own Wendy Swift. Wendy is holding a plaque presented by Kevin, commemorating SU's 25th annual Algonquin Canoe program for new students. Check out the new "Salisbury Wall" in our outfitting room.

The "Kohn Expeditionary Force" poses after their 25th annual canoe trip.
This group of men met when they were campers and staff at Camp Tamakwa and have been going on canoe trips ever since. Every now and then a son comes along or a new member is recruited but the core group remains.