(Updated May 10, 2008)
Trips added since the Spring issue of the newsletter are marked
GLSKA TRIPS
A listing of GLSKA
Trips for the 2008 paddling season
(Updated May 10, 2008)
Trips added since the Spring issue of the newsletter are marked
[May] [June] [July] [August] [September] [October]
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, Bert Millar, at commonstriped_yakker@hotmail.com with all the appropriate information and we will post it right away.
MAY
MAY 2-4: SMOKE LAKE – ALGONQUIN PARK
Organizer: Sam Wyss samwyss@earthlink.net
Type: Wilderness
Class: B – 2
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
Plan to meet on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Access Point Office at Canoe Lake for
registration and permits. After registration, we will put in at Smoke Lake and paddle to a
suitable campsite in Parkside Bay, then set up camp for two nights and spend the weekend
exploring the area. Please note this trip requires a 240-metre portage at the south end of
Smoke Lake. This is early in the season so wet or dry suits and clothing for colder and
potentially inclement weather are a must for this trip. (Rain Date: May 9-11)
MAY 3: POINT ABINO TO SHERKSTON BEACH – LAKE ERIE
Organizer: Bert Millar commonstriped_yakker@hotmail.com
Type: Day
Class: A – 1
Join us for an early season paddle on the east end of Lake Erie to explore the shoreline
including an exotic lighthouse, rocky points, sand beaches and a shipwreck. Bring your
lunch and a smile.
MAY 31: MOON ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Melissa Hachkowski somewhere_out_here@hotmail.com
Type: Day
Class: B – 2
We'll make it a long day trip (about 30 kilometres) around Moon Island in Massassauga
Provincial Park and out to Wreck Island to hike the interpretive trail. Expect the
occasional swimming break along the way. We’ll depart from the marina at about 9 a.m.
and expect to finish up back at the cars around 4 p.m.
JUNE
JUNE 6-8: RENDEZVOUS 2008
Contact: Dawn Lawrence andrew-dawn@rogers.com
Our 20th annual Spring Rendezvous, a weekend of paddling, workshops, talks and fun, for
GLSKA members will be held at Shawanaga Landing on Georgian Bay north of Parry Sound.
Friday evening will feature a presentation on kayaking and photography by Glenn Abuja, and
Saturday evening will feature a concert by Dala. (See Trip Reports 2007 and Trip
Reports 2006 for articles about past Rendezvous.) Complete information and a
registration form were mailed out to members with the Spring newsletter.
JUNE 14: FISHING ISLANDS – LAKE HURON
Organizer: Sandy Richardson sanrich@canada.com
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 cormorants, herons and bald eagles. We will put
in at Red Bay and explore the northern islands, returning to Red Bay. The length of the
trip will depend upon the weather and people’s interests, but will probably be about
15-20 kilometres. (See Bruce Peninsula Paddling
Destinations – Fishing Islands, for a description of the route.) This trip can be
combined with the Rankin River day trip on Sunday (below) for a Wiarton-area weekend.
JUNE 15: RANKIN RIVER – BRUCE PENINSULA
Organizer: Rob Muylwyk robm@rkmengineering.com
Type: Day
Class: B – 1
A leisurely spring paddle along part of the historic Rankin River route, a voyageur
shortcut through the Bruce Peninsula. We’ll check out the osprey nests on Isaac Lake
and and find out who the current occupants are of the bald eagle nest on Boat Lake..
Suitable for beginners but rated B for the 17-kilometre length. (See Rob’s article Paddling the Rankin River in the Spring
2007 issue of Qayaq, for a description of the route.) This trip can be combined
with the Fishing Islands day trip on Saturday (above) for a Wiarton-area weekend.
JUNE 14-15: SNAKE ISLAND – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Ron Coulson coulson@zeuter.com
Type: Wilderness – Instructional
Class: A – 2
With an early start on Saturday morning, this weekend will be spent on self and assisted
rescues, efficient forward paddling strokes, low, high and sculling braces, stern rudders;
possibly we will get into the balance brace and anything else you would like to practise
in open water. Wet or dry suits are a must at this time of year. We will camp on Snake
Island, approximately a 5-kilometre paddle southwest from Snug Harbour. (See topographic
map 41 H/8.) We will be crossing over to the Snakes a day early, on Friday June 13 at
10:30 a.m.; anyone who wants to join us, is welcome. Looking forward to seeing you there.
JUNE 20-22: MASSASAUGA PROVINCIAL PARK – GEORGIAN BAY
THE NEVER-BEEN-ON-A-TRIP-WITH-GLSKA TRIP
Organizer: Keith Rodgers keithrodgers@rogers.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: B – 1
This is the third year in which we are offering a trip for members who have not yet been
on a GLSKA trip. Perhaps the trips that interested you were always full, or you are not
sure about your skill level, or perhaps you are an experienced kayaker but have never
tried camping out of a kayak. Whatever the reason, this trip has something to offer you.
It’s open to all GLSKA members who have never been on a formal GLSKA trip and
everybody who applies gets to go - we recruit additional leaders as needed and can break
the group up into sub-groups by interests and skill levels. So far it’s worked very
well and all who have been on these trips report having a good time. (See Trip Reports 2007 and Trip Reports 2006 for articles about our
previous trips.)
Join Johanna Wandel and me for a long weekend paddling in Massasauga Provincial Park. We
aim to be on the water by 11:00 a.m. Friday morning, coming out around 1:00 p.m. on
Sunday. The park, which is located south of Parry Sound, is well suited for this kind of
trip, offering a wide range of paddling experiences. We will put in at "Pete’s
Place" on Blackstone Harbour Lake and paddle out to Sharpe Island with its deeply
sheltered bay. There we will camp for two nights. On the Saturday we will make a day trip
farther west to Wreck Island, beyond which lies the open water of the Bay.
There is a modest per-night camping fee charged by the Park. To help those new to kayak
tripping in general, or GLSKA tripping in particular, a Tips sheet will be sent to you on
signing up to give you an idea of what to expect and what to bring.
JUNE 21-22: LYAL ISLAND – LAKE HURON
Organizer: John Dewancker calypso5@sympatico.ca
Type: Day
Class: A – 2
Circumnavigate Lyal Island off the west coast of the Bruce Peninsula. This will be 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 this trip.) There will be an opportunity for additional
kayaking along the shorelines of Barrow Bay or Isthmus Bay on Sunday morning and
accommodation (or camping) is available at a Barrow Bay cottage for anyone interested.
JULY
JULY 9-19: PUKASKWA COAST – LAKE SUPERIOR
Organizer: Ron Coulson coulson@zeuter.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: C – 3
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
We will paddle from Michipicoten River to Cascade Falls and back. Paddlers should be
comfortable with rough seas, wind, fog and cold water, with possible launching and landing
in surf. Trip distance approximately 215 kilometres. (Vehicles will be left at Lake
Superior Outfitters in Wawa.) TRIP FULL
JULY 12: GRIFFITH ISLAND – COLPOY’S BAY
Organizer: Rob Muylwyk robm@rkmengineering.com
Type: Day
Class: B – 2
Griffith Island is the easternmost of the three Colpoy’s Bay islands. Apart from
spectacular views of the Niagara Escarpment, Colpoy’s Bay and Georgian Bay, the main
point of interest will be the 55 foot tall Imperial Tower lighthouse (built in 1858), one
of six such limestone lighthouses on Lake Huron/Georgian Bay. Since Griffith Island is
owned by a private hunt club, we will need permission to land. (We will visit one or both
of the other islands, White Cloud and Hay, instead, if permission is not granted.) Trip
distance is 20 kilometres and includes crossings of 4 kilometres each way. (See Bruce Peninsula Paddling Destinations – Colpoy's
Bay Islands for more information about this route.)
JULY 21 – AUGUST 1: THE SLATES AND THEN SOME – LAKE SUPERIOR
Organizer: Melissa Hachkowski somewhere_out_here@hotmail.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: C – 3
Starting at the town of Rossport, we will travel eastward through an island chain and
along the stunning north shore of Superior, exploring wilderness and ghost towns. Paddling
distance will range from 20 to 30 kilometres daily, followed by exploratory hiking at
campsites. Wildlife viewing is expected. Two open water crossings from 7 to 14 kilometres,
as we travel to the Slate Islands, Pic Island and finish off at Hattie’s Cove in
Pukaskwa National Park. (NOTE: change of dates from original listing.)
AUGUST
AUGUST 2-10: BYNG INLET TO KILLARNEY AND BACK – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Dan Falk datapro007@yahoo.com
Type: Wilderness
Class: C – 3
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
This is the prime fillet of Georgian Bay. Experience the amazing waterways of the Bustards and the rugged mountains of Killarney, with spectacular scenery, a multitude of diverse wildlife and the best camping on the planet. With 30,000 islands to explore, how can you go wrong?
Expect to paddle 20 kilometres per day with possible base camping and exploration, depending on the weather. Since this is an out and back trip, possibilities exist to truncate the trip to suit your needs – for example, you could shorten it to a 5-day Byng Inlet to the Bustards and back. The choice is yours, short or long.
We will be launching from the campgrounds in Britt. Parking costs approximately $5 per day, but no shuttle is required. For the inspirational report about this trip, please see the
CASKA web-site.
AUGUST 16-17: CATHCARTS AND UMBRELLA ISLANDS – GEORGIAN BAY
Organizer: Sarka Lhotak lhotaks@mcmaster.ca
Type: Wilderness
Class: C – 3
Group Size: Max. 8 participants
Starting from Wasauksing marina on Saturday morning, we will paddle to the Umbrellas for
lunch, and then to Cathcarts for the night (25 kilometres). On Sunday we can paddle to the
Pancakes or Snake Island, or take it easy and enjoy the Cathcarts. We will return to the
marina by late afternoon.
SEPTEMBER
NO TRIPS POSTED YET – PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER
OCTOBER
NO TRIPS POSTED YET – PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER
Home | Membership | News | Newsletter | Trip Reports | GB Committee | Resources | Links
email: glska@canada.com