I packed up and left before the other campers were up this morning. Lily Lake was calm as I padded to what looked like the entrance of the portage, which was logged with lily pads and reeds... https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/50203107858/in/dateposted-public/ Not really packraft-friendly. I padded to the beach nearby, partially deflated my packraft and bushwhacked through the …
Anticipating shallow waters on the Bagwa Canoe Route, I positioned my backpack behind me in my packraft today to better see over the bow. The route heading SOBO begins with a paddle down the Bagwa Channel, which had beautiful scenery, calm waters, many weeds and some water lilies to push through. https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/50203931377/in/dateposted-public/ Bagwa Channel https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/50573343016/in/dateposted-public/ …
As usual, I got an early start today. The sunrise was beautiful over Bladebone Bay. https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/50203126158/in/dateposted-public/ Remembering how quickly the packrafting went yesterday, I was in no hurry as I started down the west side of Kingsmere Lake, and I stopped for a long break at a solitary beach. https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/50203159038/in/dateposted-public/ Beach #1 I left, paddled …
30 July 2020 My first day of packrafting! I woke up early and left camp by 7:00 AM, skipping breakfast to take advantage of the early morning period when Kingsmere Lake is beautifully still. Packrafts don't track nicely like a canoe or kayak does, but adding weight to the front of the boat helps, and …
29 July 2020 I ate breakfast on the beach this morning to avoid the mosquitoes. I never ended up meeting the people camped in the other site - they returned to the campground after I went to bed, and were still in their tent when I left. The walking between Chipewan Portage and Sandy Beach …
28 July 2020 Backcountry campsites around Kingsmere Lake and the Bagwa Canoe Route are reserved first-come, first-served on the day of departure. Never having booked sites in Prince Albert National Park before, I didn't know how crowded the campgrounds might be, but since most are small (some only have two tentsites), I was hovering outside …
26 July 2020 I'm ready (?) and raring to go on my first packrafting trip! A recount of me announcing this trip to my mother: Me: So I'm going to buy a packraft and go packrafting this summer... Her: THAT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA. Me: Do you know what a packraft is? Her: NO. Me: It's …
Continue reading Prince Albert National Park (2020): Introduction
BANE OF THE TRAIL 