Name: Morgan
Role: Trip Planner, Gardener and Naturalist
Favorite Camping Food: Hot Chocolate and Instant Coffee
To celebrate the end of summer and a great season here at Land’escapes, I decided to plan a camping trip for myself. I invited my sister, Kate and her partner Tyler to come with me. They made the drive all the way from Montreal! After two years of hearing about my adventures here, they were excited to finally visit.
Day One: The Hike
On the afternoon of September 27th, I met Kate and Tyler at our new gatehouse to welcome them to the park. After a tour and look around at our restoration work in the yard, we began to prepare for our trip.
For this trip, I borrowed the ENO One Link Hammock System, a light weight 60L backpack and sleeping bag. Right away I could say it was much lighter than my usually two person tent and traditional backpack
The weather was absolutely perfect—warm and sunny, with just a hint of fall colour beginning to emerge. Spirits were high as we drove out of the parking lot and headed into the park.
After a scenic drive to the Blue Seas Parking Lot, we set out on the Four Lakes Loop, heading north-west towards Chain Lake. This section of trail is about 5.5 km long and rated moderate. The hike had some ups and downs, a few scrabbles and a very remote feel to it. You are quickly immersed in the Maple forest on the upland sections, and cedar groves in the lowland parts. We crossed one beaver dam, which we managed without even one wet foot! During our hike, the trail gave us glimpses of the creek we would paddle tomorrow.
Upon arriving at our campsite (Site 87), we celebrated with a swim in the lake at dusk! Some kind previous guest had left firewood so we build up a cozy campfire to warm up. After setting up camp, we had diner watching the sunset fade and the stars come out.
Day Two: The Paddle
We awoke to a stunning sunrise, which we greeted with a warm breakfast and a small campfire to shake off the morning chill. Over coffee, as many campers do, we discusses all the sounds we heard overnight—most notably, a Barred Owl hooting in the distance.
After breaking down camp, we retrieved canoes from the nearby cache and set off down the creek. The weather remained sunny and warm, with a light breeze that kept us cool. The recent rains had raised the water level, making paddling easy and enjoyable. We took our time, and were quiet enough to see a painted turtle basking on a log.
When we reached the first portage, we left our canoes behind, but took our paddles and life jackets with us and hiked to the next canoe cache. From there we picked up two new canoes and continued south-west on the creek. For lunch, at about 1pm, we stopped at Pinerock Pond campsite. The island was alive with Dragon Flies in the afternoon sun.
We left our canoes, life jackets and paddles at the final cache on the south end of Pinerock Pond, and hiked to the canoe cache on Dixon Lake, crossed the lake and reached our campsite (#131) we couldn’t resist another swim after a warm day. We set up camp, enjoyed a hearty dinner, and took to the lake again for a stunning sunset paddle.
That night, all three of us were woken up suddenly to something that not many people can still hear in Southern Ontario. A wolf howl went out somewhere across the lake. Soon another and another joined in. Until there were 6 or 7 wolves calling out in joy at reuniting after a long night apart. After two summers work on this property, I’ve found tracks, scat, and hear one lone wolf howl before, but never a whole pack. We were awed and humbled.
Day Three: A Bit of Both
The next morning began shrouded in mist. We gathered around the campfire for late-morning coffees, relishing the tranquil atmosphere. After the mist lifted, we hiked to Site 133, which is atop a small cliff, for a breathtaking view of the lake.
As the sun emerged, we got back on the water to finish paddling the creek. It was another perfect day, calm and serene. We stopped for lunch at Campsite 145, taking advantage of the sun to bask in its warmth and look at some aquatic vegetation in the clear water.
After returning to our campsite, we packed up, completed the hike back to our vehicle. On our drive out, we took our time, enjoying the stunning wetlands adorned with beautiful fall colours. Already talking about next years trip.
