Indian pictographs at Rock Lake, Algonquin Park

So, really, are they a myth or what?  I've seen a photo of a pictograph at Rock Lake but truthfully, it didn't look much like a real drawing, more like something you can imagine out of patterns in the rock.  it was a nice little adventure so to speak trying to find the pictographs.  Maybe they are really there, but next time I go there, maybe I'll bring some rouge and start drawing something on the rocks so people visiting Rock Lake don't get disappointed.  Sheesh.

May 2 camping in Algonquin

This is an FYI for myself for next year.  Though early May is probably the best time to go interior camping to avoid the mosquitoes, early May is still usually too cold to paddle on the lakes on Algonquin Park.  Perhaps one year when global warming shifts the season up far enough that maybe we will be able to go, but this year is no exception.  There is still ice and snow up there.  Some friends and I were planning to head up to Algonquin on May 2 but a couple of weeks ago, our reservation got cancelled by the park due to weather conditions.

This is the second time our May plan got cancelled.  I knew it from the start.  Well, I've got a couple of days off work.  I gotta find something else to do now.

Multitool Leatherman Wave

The Leatherman Wave is one darn useful tool to carry around for everything from camping to home use.  I have been quite happy with it that over the last 5 weeks, having used it numerous times.  I used the pliers, the knives, the scissors, the flat-head thing, the screw driver, and the wire cutter.  This is one useful multi-tool.

My only complaint about it (and it probably goes to any multi-tool) is that it's not as sturdy as a dedicated tool, like a real screwdriver or some real pliers.  The metal can bend and might break if you apply a fair amount of force.  It's not made for heavy-duty work.  It's for light-to-medium type of work.  It has gotten me out of trouble and has made my work so much more enjoyable, without using the real tools.  Wear it on your belt and you'll be able to put this to use many times more than you might think.

Mosquito nets

Ok, I went camping last weekend and it was horrible.  The mosquito net I bought from eBay from some Chinese seller must be meant for asian mosquitoes, not the North American kind in the boonies.  I was camping in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park and I tell you, these mosquitoes crawled right through the holes of the mosquito net!  My net ended up a mosquito hotel and I was their meal.

So, I know not to bring that mosquito net the next time I do hammock camping.  I need to find something like those nets used in tents.

Camping in May

Well, I am preparing to go camping on the second weekend of May.  My trip to take me into the interior of Algonquin Park for three days.  It will be cold but at least, the mosquitoes and black flies would hopefully be dormant still.

I will take the opportunity to try hammock camping once more and to use some of survival tools.  I will also try dehydrated food and will try making bannock again--the last time did not work out too well.  I hope it will rain hard but only after I have gathered enough dry wood to make fire, or I won't be a happy camper.

Nothing much to say at this point except that the excitement is mounting.

Winter camping

Last weekend, we had a fair dump of snow.  As I had been tied up virtually every weekend over the last couple of months, I decided to pitch my tent in my backyard to test out my winter setup before actually heading out there.

Ozark Trail Scout Junior Dome 2-person tent

The setup was simple.  The tent is by no means a winter tent but it was enough to keep most of the wind out.  I had two foam mats, one -30C mummy synthetic sleeping bag.  I was wearing a cotton t-shirt, a thermal shirt, a spring windbreaker, thermal underpants, wool socks, fleece gloves, and a fleece toque.  I placed my ski jacket under the sleeping bag to add more air between me and the ground.

The first night, the temperature went down to -6C inside my tent.  I was warm but my feet were cold so my sleep was not too comfortable that night.

The second night, I decided to insert in between the two foam mats a space blanket and made a bootie out of a fleece sweater for my feet.  Also, to protect my face from the cold, I wore a neoprene/fleece mask.  The temperature dipped down to -12C inside the tent but I was toasty warm that night.

I think I am ready for real winter camping.  I've got what I need to sleep comfortably in below -10C.  Now, I need to pick a place to go to.

P.S.  The cotton t-shirt is no way for winter camping (and it did get soaking wet after I finished shoveling our driveway) but as long as it's dry, it should be ok to sleep with.

Tent repair

After my last camping trip with friends to the Bruce Peninsula, I opened up the tent and dried it out on the patio in my backyard.  I accidentally punctured the floor of the tent.  I was thinking of simply using duck tape to patch the bottom and top side of the floor but it's probably not going to last and it would be messy.  The dust tape will pick up dirt and will probably not last too long.

I found a website that has a bunch of repair tips for tents:  http://www.mcnett-outdoor.com/repair-guide/tents/220.aspx

I'll sure try my seam sealer that I bought for the Ozark Trail tent to patch up the floor of this Outdoor Works Summit tent.

I will wait until spring to do this.  I won't be using this tent for winter camping and it's kinda wet and cold outside now.