GLSKA TRIPS
A listing of GLSKA
Trips for the 2012 paddling season
(Updated April 25, 2012)
Trips added since the Spring issue of the newsletter are marked ![]()
[April] [May] [June] [July] [August] [September] [October]
If you prefer a calendar style of trip listing, check the GLSKA Trip Calendar
GLSKA trips are classified using first a letter to indicate the Pace/Endurance, then a number to indicate the Skills required as follows:
In addition, trips are described by TYPE. Most designations are self-explanatory. Trips are designated Wilderness if they involve camping in areas that are not designated campgrounds and/or have no, or minimal, facilities. These trips have lower limits on the number of participants and require minimum-impact camping practices. If a trip is designated Exploratory it means the organizer has not been on that route before. Trips designated Instructional are primarily educational in nature and are for members only.
These ratings are explained in detail in the GLSKA Trip Guidelines.
GLSKA Trips are open to GLSKA members and guests accompanied by members only. To participate in a trip, please contact the organizer at least one week in advance for details and times. If you are interested in joining us on any of these trips but are not a GLSKA member, please join our association.
If you are a GLSKA member and would like to organize a trip, please contact the Trip Coordinator, Ralph Gardave, at gardave@sympatico.ca with all the appropriate information and we will post it right away.
APRIL
APRIL 6: GRAND RIVER CAYUGA - LAKE ERIE ![]()
Organizer: Dave Morningstar dave.amstar@hotmail.com
Type: Day
Class: B 2
We'll push off from the Lion's Park in Cayuga at 9:00am. The day park is located down river from the bridge on the east side. This day paddle is about 25 kilometres long with a lift-over at Byng Island Park (approx. 50 m) ending at my cottage up-river (approx. 2 kilometres) from Lake Erie. The paddle is a one-way trip and
I will leave a vehicle at the takeout for shuttle back to Cayuga. Bring a lunch and let's all enjoy the spring wildlife as we float down the Grand. For more information about the Grand read the book "Canoeing The Grand River".
MAY
MAY 11-13: PICKEREL RIVER
Organizer: Sam Wyss sonsamw@gmail.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: B 2
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
Plan to meet on Friday at 11a.m. at the Lost Channel
Inn and Marina just off Hwy 522. After put in, we will paddle for about 2 hours
to find a suitable campsite in the area of Cincinnati Island on Kawigamok Lake.
We will set up camp for two nights and spend the weekend exploring the area
including Dollars Lake to the north. There is no portaging required. This is
early in the season wet or dry suits and clothing for colder and potentially
inclement weather are a must for this trip.
MAY 18-20: FRANKLIN ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Ralph Gardave gardave@sympatico.ca
Type: Wilderness – Exploratory
Class: B – 2
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
We’ll meet up at Snug Harbour on the morning of the 18th and paddle over to a campsite. Over the course of the weekend, and weather permitting, we’ll have the option of paddling around Franklin Island, over to Snake Island or exploring the islands off of Red Rock Lighthouse. More details and directions will go out to those who sign up.
MAY 25-27: FLOWERPOT ISLAND ORCHID SEARCH BRUCE PENINSULA
Organizer: Rob Muylwyk rob.muylwyk@gmail.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: C – 2
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
We will set up a base camp on Flowerpot Island (4 kilometres off Tobermory), where we will look for the beautiful tiny Calypso orchid (Calypso bulbosa) and other spring wildflowers. We are expecting an early spring, so this should be a good weekend for it. From here we can paddle to the other Fathom Five islands and/or to the cliffs on the mainland. Distances over 25-kilometres per day, including 14-kilometre crossings. The waters are still very cold at this time, so a wet or dry suit is a must. (An alternative destination may be selected if the weather conditions would raise the classification.) (See Bruce Peninsula Paddling
Destinations Fathom Five National Park for a description of the
route.)
JUNE
JUNE 8-10: BEAUSOLEIL ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Victoria Best victoriaahb@yahoo.ca
Type: Wilderness
Class: B – 1
Enjoy Beausoleil and area islands and bays. We will launch from Honey Harbour at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 8; set up our tents and then head out for an afternoon paddle. Daily destinations will depend on wind strength and wave height. Paddlers must have the necessary skills to comfortably paddle in small waves; be capable of self and assisted rescues; and be experienced campers. There are a number of fine hiking trails on the Island to enjoy. Information on parking, camping fees and directions will go out to those who sign up.
JUNE 9-10: LYAL ISLAND LAKE HURON
Organizer: John Dewancker calypso5@rogers.com
Type: Day
Class: A 2
This is a pleasant spring paddle starting at Sandy Beach on Myles Bay. Enjoy a variety of attractions including the limestone rock formation of Lyal
Island. (See the Bruce Peninsula Paddling Destinations Lyal
Island for a description of the route.) On Sunday, an additional paddle on
Georgian Bay can be organized if there is interest. Weekend camping or stay at a
Barrow Bay cottage is available.
JUNE 9-10: MASSASAUGA PROVINCIAL PARK GEORGIAN BAY
THE GLSKA VIRGINS TRIP
Organizer: Keith Rodgers keithrodgers@bell.net
Type: Wilderness
Class: B 1
A “GLSKA Virgin” is any member of our club who has not yet, for whatever reason, been on a posted GLSKA trip. These trips, which have been running for 6 years now, have attracted a wonderful collection of paddlers of all ages and skill-sets. In spite of this (or is it because of this?) the trip offers a very enjoyable experience for all and for new members especially, a great introduction to the club.
Once again we will be paddling in the Massasauga Park, on Georgian Bay just south of Parry Sound. Saturday morning we will put in at Pete’s Place and enjoy a sheltered paddle to Sharpe Island, stopping en route for lunch. We usually have the island to ourselves. After setting up our tents we will paddle on to explore the trails on Wreck Island (or not, depending on your energy level) then back to Sharpe for dinner and socializing. The paddle from the put-in to Sharpe Island is a leisurely 10 kilometres. If you join in the afternoon’s outing to Wreck Island then you will enjoy a slightly more vigorous 12 kilometres (there and back) for a day’s total of 22 to 25 kilometres (depending on whether I get lost or not). On Sunday we return to Pete’s Place and usually we are off the water by mid-afternoon.
There is no limit to the size of the group – all who apply are welcome and we add additional group organizers and campsites as needed. You must have (or rent) a sea kayak, camping gear and food. I will supply gear check-lists and tip sheets and lots of other help is available. So, is this the year you get tripping?
(See Trip Reports pages in the Archives for articles about past trips.)
JUNE 16: FISHING ISLANDS LAKE HURON
Organizer: Sandy Richardson sanrich2010@yahoo.ca
Type: Day
Class: B 2
The Fishing Islands are an archipelago of over 70 dolomite islands off the western shore
of the Bruce Peninsula. They are rich in history, with a number of shipwrecks and remains,
interesting geology and nesting areas for gulls. cormorants, herons and bald eagles. We will put
in at the beach in Howdenvale and explore the northern islands, returning to
Howdenvale. The length of the
trip will depend upon the weather and peoples interests, but will probably be about
15-20 kilometres. (See Bruce Peninsula Paddling
Destinations Fishing Islands for a description of the route.)
JUNE 22-24: RENDEZVOUS 2012 – PARRY ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY
Contact: Laura Matthews laura.matthews047@gmail.com
Our main annual get together, a weekend of paddling, workshops, talks and fun, is open to all club members, their families and friends.
(See Rendezvous 2012 for
details.)
JULY
JULY 7: THE PINERY – LAKE HURON
Organizer: Dorothy Van Esbroeck kayak@cyg.net
Type: Day – Instructional
Class: A– 1
Meeting in the afternoon at Pinery Provincial Park we will spend a couple of hours helping each other practise rescues and rolling skills. (The trip may need to be postponed and rescheduled due to weather.)
JULY 16-19: McCOY ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY ![]()
Organizers: Vivian Wade
vwade@rogers.com
& Paula Huber tillertwix@rogers.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: B – 2
We will leave Dillon
Marina Monday July 16 at 11:00 and set up camp on the southeast side of Big
McCoy Island, approximately 14 kilometres from Dillon Marina (GPS co-ordinates:
17541116E/5032288N; Topographic map: Parry Sound 41 H/8 & 41 H/7). Participants
should be capable of self and assisted rescues as there is a fairly long open
water paddle (5.7 kilometres) to the island. We will paddle out from a base
camp on the island and return to Dillon, Thursday July 19.
JULY 24-26: FRANKLIN ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Dorothy Van Esbroeck kayak@cyg.net
Type: Wilderness
Class: B 2
Group Size: Max. 6-8 participants
Leaving from Snug Harbor, this mid-week trip will give a chance to explore Franklin Island and/or the Minks and McCoys if the weather is good. There can also be some time to work on skills such as bracing and rolling. (Other similar mid-week trips may be planned on short notice when the forecast looks promising.)
AUGUST
AUGUST 13-17: CHURCHILL ISLANDS – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizers: Tom Bruin tomandpat@cogeco.ca
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER 14-15: LION'S HEAD – GEORGIAN BAY ![]()
Organizers: Vivian Wade
vwade@rogers.com
& Arend de Boer
oldqayaker@gmail.com
Type: Weekend
Class: A – 1
Group Size: Max. 14 participants
Tent sites have been reserved at the Lion’s Head Campground for Friday and Saturday night, so essentially this is car camping. (Cost per tent site is $25; 2 tents per site are allowed.) We
hope to paddle into Barrow Bay along the beautiful shore of the nature preserve,
but weather conditions will dictate paddling routes. If you haven’t paddled along this shore of Georgian Bay, this is a great opportunity to see some fantastic scenery.
OCTOBER
NO TRIPS POSTED AT THIS TIME
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