Algonquin Park: Camping Trip Logs: 004 - White Partridge Express - Access Point #A29

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Day 2

When I woke up the next morning it was cold and raining, with the rain turning to snow. Our teamsters organized their wagon and horses for making the trip out, MacGyvering a tarp covering as best they could to stay dry and warm. Shortly after they left the snow really started coming down and we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. Abandoned in the middle of Algonquin Park, freezing temperatures and two inches of snow on the ground already.

We made a snow woman.

There goes our ride, see you in a week.

Classic Algonquin Park spring tripping.

The WPX 2010 crew and Ilene.

And a couple of those crazy Americans, the same ones that wore toques on the ride in, went for a swim.

After a bit of fun in the snow we hit on the idea of going for a walkabout along White Partridge Creek, no sense sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves and wasting an afternoon in the park. So we headed off, first wandering along the shores of the creek where Markus and Julian tried their luck fishing. They did get some bites and even pulled out what I think was the world's smallest Brook Trout. But then we carried on, walking the portage to White Partridge Lake and just generally exploring.

All in all not a bad day. The weather was a challenge but we managed to get our exercise before huddling around the fire to keep warm the rest of the evening.

An uninviting White Partridge Lake.

WPX 2010.

Day 3

The next morning was still grey and chilly, but you could sense a change in the air, things were going to get warmer. With the first portage out of White Partridge an almost straight up climb - which was likely wet and slippery, we knew we weren't heading out today. So we came up with a game plan of hiking into McNorton Lake to pass the time.

Down the portage, across the semi-removed bridge, down the overgrown road and a sharp left into the bush. Then just keep going (tip: follow Jeff with the GPS) until you hit water. Sounded simple, but you've already seen the state of the unmaintained P2315m. For reasons known only to themselves, John and Pete thought they would take their canoe across the portage. And I guess it's true, you can save yourself 8 minutes of portaging if you do this.

John says,"I'll take the next one Pete."

Wolf tracks were all along the portage.

View along the bushwhack to McNorton Lake.

McNorton Lake.

It was a great hike and we enjoyed a quick lunch on a point about half way down McNorton Lake. On the return trip you could feel the day warming up and the sun coming out. Markus and I followed the portage all the way to White P Lake with the idea of maybe following the shore to get back to camp. This would chop off a bit of time and avoid jumping the creek and climbing a hill. Probably not a good idea, there was no shore to follow with the spring water level. I ended up taking off my boots to keep them dry and walking to camp knee deep in the freezing cold water, my feet were without any feeling by the time we got to camp. Markus kept his boots on since they were just rubber boots without liners like mine, but he did discover that one of them had developed a hole!

Beaver dam with White P. Lake in far background.

Good night Ilene.

It was a good day, especially since most of the snow got melted and as we talked around the fire we knew we could head further into the interior. The goal for tomorrow was to head to North Branch Lake.

Julian was the only one to go out fishing this day, he headed out late in the evening and it was dark when he returned - triumphant with the landing of a nice Lake Trout.

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