The official word on the G8 lockdown

This just in from Calum Rennie, of the G8 ISU Community Relations Group:

Residents of Huntsville can expect security measures to protect the G8 Summit to be put in place on the morning of June 23. They are currently planned to stay in place until June 27. This includes restrictions on traveling on a portion of Highway 60 and roads leading to the  Deerhurst Resort. See the map of alternate routes on our website (www.g8isu.ca). (editor's note: see my recent blog post with map and Google Map of alternate routes).

Additional security measures could be put in place in other specific areas a few days prior to June 23. This includes restrictions on marine activities on Peninsula Lake that will begin on June 20.

There will not be any security-related parking restrictions in the downtown core of Huntsville during the G8 Summit. The Integrated Security Unit will have additional police officers in the area to help with the flow of traffic.


Residents can contact the Community Relations Group at 1-888-446-4047 or via email at crg-grc@g8-g20isu.ca or g8.isu.communityrelations@ontario.ca for more information or to relay concerns.

 Here are a few shots I took recently of the security corridor on Hwy 60, around Deerhurst Resort:

Waiting our turn to drive through the fence construction zone

 Entering the security zone. 

The fence to the left goes right through my friend's property

 Inside the fence. Eastbound traffic waits it turn, 

including the mysterious white van with the satellite dish on top.

 

 Next morning, I was first in line and got to follow this guy. 

Note fence still under construction.

 If you are lucky enough to live along this section of the road, 

this is what your driveway looks like.

Rich Swift on Breakfast Television

We had better be careful or they might make him the host! Our fearless leader, Rich Swift, made another appearance on CityTV's Breakfast Television last Friday. He was helping our friends at Ontario Parks with the festivities in Toronto's Dundas Square, celebrating the start of Tourism Week in Ontario.

Rich and Jennifer discussing the rules of the competition. 

Click here for the full video segment. 

Rich got to assist BT host Jennifer Valentyne and did a great job of coaching the three teams engaged in a tent-setting-up competition. The team led by Michael Chan, Onario's Minister of Tourism and Culture, was the no-contest winner, followed by Linda Jeffrey, the Minister of Natural Resources and BT host Jennifer Valentyne.

Getting to Algonquin Park during the G8 Summit

Unless you have been on a canoe trip for the last year, you have no doubt heard that our fair town of Huntsville is hosting the G8 Summit from June 25-27. Hot on the heels of that event is the G20 in Toronto. Needless to say, there will be some major security in place and disruptions to everyday life in both places. My suggestion? Leave town! Go on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park!

Having said that, you will need to think about a slight detour if you are traveling from southern Ontario to our Oxtongue Lake or Opeongo Stores and popular Hwy 60 access points like Smoke lake, Rock Lake or Opeongo Lake. The G8 meeting is at Deerhurst Resort, just east of Huntsville off Hwy 60, and there will be traffic restrictions in that area. While the official word is a bit vague, it is safe to assume that the normal route along Hwy 60 to Algonquin Park from Huntsville will not be accessible from June 21 through the 27th. Downtown Huntsville will be very busy as well, with traffic control points at various intersections (yet to be revealed) sure to cause slowdowns.

The map below shows various road restrictions expected to be in effect. Roads highlighted in red and pink are the ones to avoid. You can download the full-sized version here. If you do need to drive in or around Huntsville, there is a good outline of the various restrictions and alternate routes here.

The best route for traveling to Algonquin Park, from Hwy 11 to Hwy 60, will be to take Muskoka Road 117 east from Bracebridge to Dorset, then Hwy 35 north to Hwy 60. According to my calculations using Google Maps, using this very scenic route adds only seven km of extra distance, and due to more winding roads, maybe 20 minutes of extra driving time. Not a big deal. And the best part is that it is a really pretty drive, you can stop in the charming village of Dorset, take in the fabulous view at the Dorset Fire Tower Lookout and see new sights along the way.


View Larger Map

"Leave No Trace" in Algonquin Park

The Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists have partnered with the Leave No Trace organization and produced a well-done document outlining how back-country users can adopt Leave No Trace camping principles in Algonquin Park. Not only does this document give excellent tips and tricks on how to camp in a low-impact fashion, it also helps create a mindset that will help both novice and experienced canoe trippers think about careful planning, responsible travel and safety.


The basic principles of Leave No Trace camping are simple:


  - Plan Ahead and Prepare
  - Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  - Dispose of Waste Properly
  - Leave What You Find
  - Minimize Campfire Impacts
  - Respect Wildlife
  - Be Considerate of Other Visitors


Putting these simple guidelines into practice takes commitment, careful planning and constant vigilence. 


You can download the PDF version of the document here. If you are not in a mood to download, read more about Algonquin-specific low-impact camping tips here.

There's snow time like the present...

OK, so I know that I was blabbing on about the nice weather in the post and luring all you unsuspecting canoeists up to Algonquin Park. Today, we in the middle of a cold snap and winter has made a (hopefully) brief return.

What you might have seen along the trail this morning 

(dog not included)

There are still many people out in the park on canoe trips. This type of weather only underscores the need to NEVER UNDERESTIMATE Algonquin Park weather. If you are prepared with proper clothing and gear, make sound travel decisions and have a flexible plan, there is no reason you cannot enjoy a safe, reasonably comfortable trip, even in inclement weather. On the other hand, inexperience, poor judgment, overly ambitious route plans and inadequate gear are a recipe for an unpleasant experience.

A somewhat chilly forecast for the season