Algonquin Treks & Images: Day 13 & 14

Heart of the Park - Kiosk to Opeongo - Algonquin Park Canoe Trip Report

Burntroot Lake

civilization advances

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Day 13 - AUGUST 22 - Robinson to Burntroot

1285 into Burntroot (easy, mostly downhill)
Day 14 – AUGUST 23 - Rest Day on Burntroot

The 1285 from Robinson to Burntroot was a walk in the park!

Beach Landing into Burntroot

The Hilton

Perfection!

An old pulley off an Alligator makes a great table.

Campsite Rating:

Water Access: three rock piers out to deeper water - sandy/pebbly beach
Tent Sites: 2 flat sites "out front" -- several other sloped possibilities -- one large hidden flat tent site up the slope from fire pit and off to the right
Fire Pit - really nice, built up for the wind, good furniture
Firewood: had to walk way back in the forest to find dead wood
Kybo - satisfactory :)
Swimming - typical beach walk out to deeper water - terrific site for kids
Scenery - Gorgeous

Two nights on Burntroot

There is a a shift taking place, both in sense of place and sense of self. We can feel the downhill momentum toward our destination Opeongo, even though we still have a week's worth of days to bask in the wilderness. The lakes are larger and windier. The portages are wider, more travelled and flatter. The campsites seem huge and well furnished after all the little hole-in-the-wall places we have stayed till now. And there are people.

We arrived at Burntroot very early on the Thursday. The wind was whipping and catapulted us to the end of the lake where we found a gorgeous spacious campsite. We were the only people on the lake at the time.

We made camp, ate lunch, swam, gathered some wood. Norman and the dogs napped and I sat on the beach with my book. I can recall this moment in time with such intense feeling it is like I am still there.

We are on a point site, furthest south on the east side of the lake, looking across to Anchor Island. We are expecting our friend Doug to show up today as planned. I keep watch. It wasn't till much later in the day that a couple of canoes showed up fighting the waves and heading north. It was painful to watch their slow progress against the wind. As evening approached we had seen 4 parties of boats pass by and a running joke of the "not-dougs" had set in.

That night as we settled down in the tent we heard canoes arrive in the dark. They took the site across the lake and we watched their flashlights flicker back and forth from the water, and then like fire flies in the night as they set up camp. It was around 10:00 pm when they arrived and in the morning I was just sitting down on the beach with my coffee when they set off again, before 8 am. It was a mixed camp of teenagers. The Councillor spoke to us on his way by. They were travelling from Canoe Lake to Cedar Lake in 10 days. They had only freeze dried rations and no coffee (much to the councillor's dismay.)

Our rest day on Burntroot was enjoyable. We took the cameras and explored the shoreline and woods. We were treated to another great sunset. But on that Friday afternoon Burntroot turned into what felt like the 401 at rush hour. After seeing practically no one for 12 days a steady stream of canoeists (all not-dougs) arrived to stay on this pristine lake that I still consider quite remote and difficult to get to. It turns out the wind was so wicked that our friend travelling solo only made it part way.

The rest of our stay in photos.