Ice canoeists on Oxtongue Lake

A couple of hardy young  men from Port Sydney did an overnight trip down the Oxtongue River, ending at our dock like many people do. Unfortunately for them, the last 100 metres or so was the hardest part of the trip, since they chose to take the direct route across the remaining ice. It took them about 30 minutes to get from the bridge to the shore, pushing and shoving their aluminum canoe across the slushy surface. It probably didn't help that one set of parents and I were offering them suggestions from shore, as in, "why didn't you take the long way, and paddle around the ice?" Oh well, sometimes the spirit of youth cannot be denied.

Almost.... There.....

There is not much news in the ice department. Algonquin Park has extended the "no water access permit" restriction until April 28. Things will start to change quickly given the current weather forecast. We are currently experiencing heavy rain and thunderstorms and milder weather in the next five days should really get things moving.

Easter Sunday Algonquin update: ice, moose and fish.

Now that the Opeongo Store is open (even if the lake isn't) our roving reporter Jerry Schmanda can send us reports on conditions as they evolve:

Yesterday's report...

A quick update as to fishing results on opening day, April 23, 2011. Very few fisherman's cars were parked along Hwy 60 and the day hiking trails were empty. It was a windy raw day that made you think that underwater would be a better place to be. None of the smaller lakes are ice free.

Everyone we spoke to that went out fishing caught fish! One party fished from out on the ice and caught a few. The others all caught some from shore. So far so good. Nobody was skunked!

Today's report....

Algonquin Ice Out? Not yet.  All the lakes along Hwy 60 are still ice covered with some areas opening up due to the currents from small creeks and rivers. Lake of Two Rivers shows the most progress so far. Canoe Lake looks as though it might open by June! Lake Opeongo now has two resident loons, both are in the only open water, near our docks. The first wood ducks were seen on the creek that parallels the Opeongo Road today. Upon arriving at the store, I was greeted by the unmistakable calls of an Eastern Phoebe from a nearby pine tree. Two wolves were seen yesterday near the Visitor Center and a Pine Marten was spotted sniffing around on the Opeongo Road early this morning.

Algonquin Park's Annual Easter Moose Jam took place today near the intersection of Hwy 60 and Rock Lake Road. It was the least the two moose could do for all the people that drove hours to see one.

TAF (that's all folks) from Opeongo,

JS

Pictures from today, April 24, 2011. All photos by Jerry Schmanda .

Looking east on Tea Lake from Hwy 60

Cache Lake boat launch

Lake of Two Rivers. There's a big crack between the island and the point

Easter Moose Jam on Hwy 60

Costello Lake - people were walking on it today

Male and female wood ducks on Costello Creek

There is enough open water to launch a water taxi!

But not quite enough to go very far...

If you are visiting Algonquin Park this weekend, bring your hiking boots. And maybe your snowshoes...

It's a little snowy up here in the woods!

The Algonquin Park website has been updated with a special announcement:


Due to unsafe ice conditions and winter weather persisting within Algonquin Park, no backcountry water access camping permits will be issued until circumstances are reassessed on April 26, 2011. In the interest of public safety, all day use activities on Algonquin Park waterways are strongly discouraged. 


The full report is here:
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/news/2011-04-20_special_announcement_backcountry_access.php

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.

A little doggerel to pass the time

Trusting that you will forgive my self-indulgence, I thought I would share a bit of free verse on the topic of canoe tripping in less than ideal conditions. It seemed appropriate, given the theme of recent blog posts.

Three degrees and raining

That is the weather today -
add in wind: gusty and blustery,
patches of snow in the woods,
lakes and ponds covered with ice.

Put another log on the fire,
make a cup of tea,
settle down with a good book:
it’s that kind of day.

I’ve been on canoe trips on days like this,
including the frozen lake part:
I highly recommend it,
if you need some character-building.

There was Temagami in October:
I was a bit embarrassed that the tent I loaned my friends
leaked like a sieve on a windbound rainy cold day.
At least that gave us a project.

Or the James Bay Lowlands in June,
on a river with an unpronounceable name,
camping on nature’s largest sponge.

After carving out a hideout in a spruce thicket
we blew up one stove
and the spare didn’t work.
That night the river rose a foot:
now I always tie my canoe to a tree.

Years ago, on the barrenlands in July
(Yes - rain, snow and frozen lakes)
with wind so strong you could lean into it
and not fall over.

Eventually the sun comes out.
You revel in it, dry out,
and make light of how uncomfortable you were
the day before.

It all gets stored in the memory bank
and you will inevitably do it again.

Even in Algonquin, mild-mannered Algonquin,
one day in May,
I drove into Magnetewan Lake,
with a vague plan to meet some friends
already out there.

There was snow on the ground and it was raining,
the ice had been out for a couple of days.
I got out of the car, and let the dog out.
The solo canoe stayed on the roof.

We walked down to the dock and had a look around.
I stuck my hand in the water.

I looked at the dog, already wet and doggy-smelling.
He looked back, in that soulful way that dogs have.
This time I had a choice:
I went home and made a cup of tea.

Gordon Baker, April 16, 2011.