This is the final part of a 2-part series on my first winter camping experience in Canada. Part 1, with the gear list, is here.
With the gear all set, I was excited to experience Canadian winter first hand. I've skied (never beyond green slopes!) for 4-5 seasons but I always had a roofed shelter to get back to - this was the first time I'd be sleeping out on my own. My previous winter outing was in Ladakh (India) when, at ~-25C, we walked on a frozen lake and camped out in the open. On that trip, I had the support of a hiking group and also logistical support. I was on my own here in Arrowhead Provincial Park...
Since my driving (<12 months since I got my license) is not winter-ready yet, I decided to make this into another car-less adventure. There are a few car-less adventures on this blog.
Day 1 (Jan 14th 2024)
Ontario Northland to Huntsville
- Toronto Union Station to King City station - GO train
- King City GO station to Huntsville - Ontario Northland Bus
The pickup at King City station is at the transit shelter at the intersection of Keele St and Burton Grove. There is one more identical transit shelter, near the GO train station and a couple of hundred feet away from the intersection - that is NOT the pickup location.
There was active weather all through the journey. Check out this 15 second video from the bus:
Once I reached Huntsville, I called one of the local taxis (no uber available), Al's taxi, to take me to Arrowhead Park which was a 15-min ride. Once I reached the site and setup the tent, I got started with clearing snow and setting the site up for dinner.
Once all the snow (well, let's call it as much as possible) was cleared out, we started a fire with the firewood we purchased from the Park. The wood was damp (surprise!) and it took an effort to keep the fire going. At dinner, my MSR Whisperlite stove malfunctioned - it couldn't give me a steady flame. So, I reverted back to my tried and tested MSR PocketRocket Deluxe, which I carried for emergency use. There was a minor hiccup with the canister sticking to the table after use but we were able to work around it. Overnight, we had ~4-5 inches of snow - not bad at all but it did give us a good feel of what to expect.
Overall, here is how the gear fared:
Sleep system: My wife used the Nemo Sonic -20F, I used a couple of summer sleeping bags - we both were warm throughout the night. The tent (MSR Access 2) insulated us well and shielded us well from the snow and cold. There was condensation inside the tent (obviously) overnight - I'd like to try a couple of different configurations to find the perfect setup for this weather.
Kitchen: I returned the MSR whisperlite on my return to the city. Not a great experience with the stove but I saw a lot of good reviews of it. I might have been just unlucky. On my next trip, I intend to use my summer kit, with some precautions on Canister (like storing it inside the sleeping bag to prevent it from freezing).
Clothing: I have seen a few Canadian winters, so, I was well prepared with the layers. I wouldn't change anything on clothing for the next trip.
This was a great experience and another "first". I realized a few things:
- The gear, described in Part 1, fared very well and it made the experience very enjoyable. The sleep system, in particular, was perfect.
- I am not ready for back country in the winter yet. I need a couple more "accessible" winter camping trips to learn more. I have always respected mother nature and will continue to do so - I'll wait until I feel ready for the back country.
More coming soon!!!
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