Algonquin Backcountry

Post-mortem 2007

• Posted on October 3, 2007 at 4:35 PM
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I've hiked the short loop of the Highlands hiking trail twice this year (March and June) and the 2nd loop of the Western Uplands trail twice as well (June and September). Here are a few of the lessons I've learned along the way:

1. Plan your longest trip during the summer. I planned to hike the longest loop of the Western Uplands trail in September in order to avoid the insects, but I seriously underestimated the effect of a heavier pack. Longer hikes require more food in any season, but when undertaken during cooler weather, also require more "contingency gear"--additional clothing, a heavier sleeping bag for potentially colder nights, and perhaps some additional fuel and repair kits. During June I was able to complete 20 km in a day with a lighter pack; during September and with a heavier pack, I was fried after a daily hike of only 13 km. Also, I forgot that I had lost 1-2 hours of daylight since June, so I had less time for dinner and camp chores before sunset.

2. In late winter/early spring, plan to hike through a combination of water, snow and ice. On the Highlands trail in March, my biggest challenge was not water or snow on the trail--though I had plenty of both--but long stretches of sloped ice, often times with water running underneath. Crampons seem like overkill for the periodic stretch of ice, but I might get a pair if I can't find an alternate solution. Perhaps a small pair of snowshoes with ice teeth would be best. Trekking poles saved my bacon, but it was still a little tenuous.

3. If you use an inflatable mattress (eg. thermarest) during cold weather, expect to lose pressure during the night as the temperature drops. This is particularly true if you inflate your mattress by mouth, as the air inside the fully inflated mattress begins near body temperature, and cools to below freezing while you sleep. To compensate for this, I have begun to use a light, three season inflatable mattress on top of a thin foam mattress. This combination guarantees that I will not make contact with the cold ground if my inflatable mattress is punctured or losses pressure. Also, it allows me to use my foam mattress as a trail seat, while still having a clean and dry inflatable mattress against my sleeping bag. In March, the temperature dropped to -22 one night and my sleeping bag was only rated to -9, but I still managed to stay comfortable using this combination.

4. Never underestimate the damage that a red squirrel can do to your gear and your trip plans. Whenever rain looked like a possibility, I would throw up a tarp for shelter using inverted trekking poles to support the corners. One morning, I woke to find the high-density-foam hand grip on one of the poles chewed clean to the bone. I suspect that peanut oil was absorbed into the foam grip from my hand after munching trail mix all day. On another day, I left a bottle of liquid soap hanging in a draw string bag off the corner of my tarp before I retired for the night. The next morning, I found the bottle on the ground with a few pairs of toothmarks at the precise spot that allowed it to completely drain of soap. Unless you bring freeze dried food for all of your meals (the kind where you just add boiling water to the bag), no soap = smelly dishes = bear bait.

5. It is not critical that you hike the "recommended" direction around the loops, but there are a couple of reasons why you might choose to do so. First, many of the campsites are accessed via short side trails that branch off the main trail, and these side trails are marked in a manner that is only visible if you are hiking the recommended direction around the loop. If you hike the other way around, you may have keep a closer eye on your map and be a bit more alert to spot your campsite. Second, on the Western Uplands trail, the last 10 km is easier to hike than the first 10 km if you are traveling in the recommended direction. This could be a nice treat if you're nursing a blister.