Algonquin Treks & Images: Day 7

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

Osler Lake

We survived

Heart Attack Hill

(sort of)

Day 7 – AUGUST 16 - Skuce to Osler (hardest day of the trip)

450m into Little Nadine – steep

995 into Little Osler – extremely steep (heart attack hill)

700 into Osler - downhill
Day 8 – AUGUST 17 - Rest Day on Osler

click on any photo or map for full view

Dramatic Clouds

Misty Afternoon

Campsite Rating:

Water Access: excellent
Tent Sites: One flat tent pad, a possible second site for a tent
Fire Pit - Okay - Norman reconstructed it with the rocks; no grill
Firewood: Tons
Kybo - Brand new - obviously Rangers have been through recently
Swimming - Clear and deep once you get past the large underwater boulders
Scenery - gorgeous

Surviving a very hard portage!

By design we have been taking it slow. Norm's sore shoulders and my increasingly sore knees need all the rest they can get between portaging days. While moving from Skuce to Osler doesn't seem like much of a distance it was really rugged terrain. Thank god the food barrels were lighter! I was feeling stronger as well, which is good as the portages on this day were difficult for one reason or another.

The 450 out of Skuce was extremely steep and rocky in the beginning and then a long decline down to Little Nadine. It was a really pretty walk and an acceptable trade off for having to double carry. I could sense the wild remoteness of where we were.

The landing into Little Nadine was deep bog, at least 10 feet of bog from grassy edge to water deep enough to float a boat. Rickety skinny floating dead wood provided some foot support to move packs out to the boat. I went down once, up to my knee, and almost lost a boot. Not knowing any better the dogs jumped in to cool off and disappeared under the black swill. I had to drag them out by the collar and they stunk! Norman dropped his point and shoot camera which the bog quickly ate up. Except for the strap we would have lost it. I find these types of portages hard on the back -- all that lifting on angles and perilous walking with weight.

Little Nadine is little more than a pond and a puddle jump to the portage into Little Osler. The most anticipated portage of the trip.

A boggy put-in at Little Nadine. You can see the next Portage across this tiny lake.

We were pumped and ready to attack heart attack hill. What can I say --- it lived up to its hype. There is an extremely steep and extra long section that gets you to the top of the ridge and from there it is very steep up and downs into Little Osler. I do have to brag and remind myself that I carried both barrels at the same time the entire length of the portage. But it didn't really do me any favours as the second load, my light load, was excruciatingly hard. My calves and hamstrings were burnt out and I basically crawled on all fours in places.

I think this portage is when Norman ruptured a tendon in his rotator cuff (he will be receiving surgery to repair.) Anyone who has done this portage knows that there is a large sitting rock at the top of the longest steepest climb. You can see it for awhile and use it as a goal marker. He got to the rock with the heavy pack and as he tried to get it off his back the strap caught on his collar bone and pulled his shoulder out of whack. This was day 7 of a 19 day trip.

Norm at the sitting rock after longest hardest climb. Lots more ahead.

My shoulder hurts!

I was happy with my accomplishment.

(I should mention the 6 little boys carrying massive packs and the three young councillors carrying cedar strip canoes that we met on this portage. They couldn't understand why someone would write Heart Attack Hill on the sign.)

At the landing into Little Osler there was a nice rest spot for lunch, after which we pushed off for the 700 meter into Osler. The portage had a steady climb for a bit and then levelled out into a very nice trail.

OSLER LAKE - In Photos

I loved it here. Our campsite was small and flat. The old notched-bench furniture had a lovely window-like view of the lake. There was a tent pad and a tarp site and enough firewood to last a lifetime. It was truly wild and remote. I felt in sync with the landscape as it dictated movement and speed. The world had slowed down and expanded.