Canoe Trip Log #1: Algonquin Park, Aug. 26-29, 1994 

Route:

Round Trip -- Canoe Lake to Sunbeam Lake, via Joe Lakes, Burnt Island, Jay and Treefrog Lakes; back via Vanishing Pond and Creek, Blue Jay, Littledoe, Fawn and Tepee Lakes
 
 

Sketch Map of Route(Adapted from a map produced by The Portage Store)
 
 

Participants:

Lucie, Margaret, Sandee, Lucie's Cocker Spaniel
 
 

Canoe:

17' Grumman Lightweight Aluminum Canoe (60 lbs.)

DAY 1 (Friday)

Travel: Portage Store, Canoe Lake to Burnt Island Lake, via Joe Lakes

Time: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. = 4 hrs.
(NOTE: Times in this Trip Log are based upon two trips across each portage -- one with canoe and food; one with gear)

Weather: Rain, rain, rain!

Canoe distance: 13 km

Portages: 3

Portage distance: 100m* + 235m* + 200m = 535m (* with river shortcuts)

Camp: Island on south-west arm of Burnt Island Lake

Supper: Hamburgers cooked over campfire, corn, oranges, cookies, coffee, hot choc., herbal tea

Camp events, evening: Rain lets up as we set up camp!

Overnight: Skies continue clearing

DAY 2 (Saturday)

Travel: Burnt Island Lake to Sunbeam Lake, via Jay and Treefrog Lakes

Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. = 4 hrs.

Weather: Sunny and warm

Canoe distance: 5 km

Portages: 4

Portage distance: 680m + 495m + 110m + 390m = 1675m (NOTE: the 680m from Burnt Island to Jay is the toughest of this entire route... straight up and then straight down & very slippery after a rainstorm!)

Camp: North Shore of Sunbeam Lake

Supper: Kraft dinner, bannock with jam, coffee, hot choc., herbal tea

Camp events, evening: Swimming; Sunning; Evening paddle to check water level in Vanishing Pond (looks high enough for travel tomorrow); Margaret trips in the dark, hanging the food pack, and sprains her wrist BIG-TIME...had to splint it with tent pegs and a tensor bandage in order to finish the trip (it took several months for the wrist to heal); Campfire

Overnight: The all-night light and sound show!!! (Lightning, thunder, rain and wind)

DAY 3 (Sunday)

Travel: Sunbeam Lake to east end of Littledoe Lake*, via Vanishing Pond and Creek, Blue Jay Lake

Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. = 2 hrs.

Weather: MAJOR wind storm!!!

Canoe distance: 6 km

Portages: 2

Portage distance: 120m + 405m = 525m

* Intended destination for the day was Lake Tom Thomson; ended up wind-bound at portage entrance at eastern end of Littledoe from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. due to high winds and rough water; by 4 p.m. still no relief from wind in sight -- made a mad dash to a campsite visible from portage entrance

Camp: Point at east end of Littledoe Lake

Supper: Boil-in-bag dinners, scalloped potatoes, gatorade

Camp events, evening: Tied everything down; went to bed at 8:30 p.m.

Overnight: Wind eased-off somewhat toward dawn

DAY 4 (Monday)

Travel: East end of Littledoe to Portage Store, Canoe Lake, via Fawn and Tepee Lakes

Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. = 4 hrs.

Weather: Windy, sunny

Canoe distance: 14 km (taking into account zig-zagging to compensate for wind on Littledoe and Canoe Lakes)

Portages: 1

Portage distance: 100m (with river shortcut)

TRIP TOTALS (over 4 days)

Travel time: 14 hours

Canoe distance: 38 km

Portages: 10

Portage distance: 2835m (2.8 km)

Overall distance traveled: 41 km (93% water travel; 7% portages)

Another Canoe Trip Log for this route:

Marg's Park Page Return to Margaret's Algonquin Park Page Table of Contents