Algonquin Park Solo Canoe Trip Day 1: Magnetawan to Grassy Bay

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My spring 2016 solo canoe trip

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On May 6, 2016, I set out on a 7 day solo canoe trip to Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. I planned to start at Magnetawan Lake on the west side of the park and paddle and portage all the way to Cedar Lake and Radiant Lake in the northeast side of the park, looping back down through a different set of lakes and rivers until returning to Magnetawan 7 or 8 days later.

If I complete the loop, I’ll have travelled 203 kms, portaged 40 kms and visited 42 unique bodies of water. Among those water bodies are several that offer great fishing for Lake Trout and Brook Trout, and catching fish is one of the goals of my trip. The other is to capture the beautiful scenery on film, and there’s certainly no shortage of that on this route.

It’s a trip I’ve been planning for awhile, so I’m really hoping I can pull it off. What could go wrong? Since this route crosses a number of larger lakes, my biggest obstacle is sure to be wind. Burntroot Lake, Big Trout Lake, Cedar Lake, Hogan Lake, Lake LaMuir and Burnt Island Lake all have the potential to whip up into frenzy if significant wind speeds develop for any length of time. Of course, I may reach my physical limitations as well since my desk work doesn’t exactly prepare me for 7 days straight of all day exertion. We’ll see.

Tags: algonquin park,canoeing,canoe trip,my self reliance,self reliance,bushcraft,camping,survival

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