Comments
Type your comments into the form on the right. Don't include your email address, though, as it will appear on the site and could be harvested by screen-scraping spambots. You can always contact me privately. I won't send you spam.
Please note: if your comments contain hyperlinks they will be dropped automatically.
Another update: about the author(s)
I have some fans, some detractors, I see. But just to be clear: I didn't write any of the comments below, either for me or agin' me. See the link in the para below if you want to know what I think.
Update: response posted
I have posted a response to some of the fairly critical comments on my regular web site. In short: some good points, some bad points, and one thing nobody mentionned.
Posted Friday, December 3rd, 2004 09:24 pm
Be the first to include a comment. Include your name if you want but don't include email.
Posted Monday, December 6th, 2004 09:49 am
Madness! The hike was a good fallback position, maybe it should have been the original plan? What if you had been able to get into the hinterlands, but the ice had set up over the weekend? Were you using rugged whitewater boats to negotiate the ice? Glad everyone got back safely. Scott
Posted Monday, December 6th, 2004 06:36 pm
a surprise trip catches the mind off guard. it is here that you are subject to the unknown, thus, it is here that random emotions run wild, like a colorful splash of paint. it is here, that adventure is pure.
Posted Monday, December 6th, 2004 08:13 pm
Has any one suggested that all of you should have your heads examined. This is beyond dumb!
Posted Tuesday, December 7th, 2004 12:17 pm
...Midget bears! hahahaha that was classic! Thanks for the laugh.
Posted Tuesday, December 7th, 2004 09:24 pm
The winter camping and hiking...great. Ice breaking in a canoe.....dangerous .Glad you all enjoyed and GOT OFF THE WATER SAFELY.
Posted Wednesday, December 8th, 2004 03:53 pm
Been there done that!!! Next time invite me, i am just as crazy as you, and i have a red civic to match yours!!!
Posted Thursday, December 9th, 2004 12:34 pm
I think your title "winter camping by mistake" is appropriate. One thing to plan for a late fall trip another to do a winter camp. I honestly think you guys got lucky with the weather.( turning warmer) yes hypothermia would be a real threat ..carrying canoe packs in the snow wearing rubber boots is just plain stupid.The amount of sweat you would generate regardless of the temp and very slippery footfalls on the hiking trail Im surprised no-one fell. Also your food packing was not what winter campers would plan since you burn off 1000's of more calories in the cold.Also your route choice was very silly for that time of year ...guaranteed ice.I think the comments from the park information officer said it best . I would consider you guys as pretty lucky to have had no serious problems. Im even surprised you even bothered putting in your canoes to start. You could have made it to your destination have freeze up and have to stay weeks before you could leave when the ice would be thick enough to hike out...
Posted Friday, December 10th, 2004 10:48 pm
suppose one canoe had tipped over while ice breaking.would you have the abilities to rescue your selves or your friends?think on that before you do something else a sblatantly stupid will ya.!!
Posted Monday, January 3rd, 2005 09:12 pm
Glad you got back safe. But you really are nuts. It looked like a great challenge. Where do I sign up.
Posted Friday, January 7th, 2005 12:26 pm
Looks to me that the four of you really injoy canoeing and cmaping in the interior of Algonquin Park. Have you ever thought of planning a trip when the weather is warmer and that there is no risk of ice forming on the lakes. Here is a website that might help you plan your next trip: www.theweathernetwork.com
Posted Saturday, January 8th, 2005 08:42 am
I just came across your website and I find it hard to believe that people who live in Ottawa, so close to Algonquin Park, did not see ice on the lakes while driving to Canoe lake. If you would have tipped the canoe you would have died of exposure. If you would have made it to the next lake and camped and the lake would have frozen over any further you would not have be able to get out. Algonquin Park athourities would have sent in a search and rescue team knowing that you did not check out of the Park after your caming fees expired. At the cost of the taxpayers they would have sent in a helicopter to air lift you to safety. Your quipment would have been left behind until the lakes were frozen enough to skidoo in and tow your canoes out with the gear inside the canoes. You could have died from exposure while camping on the hiking trail. Again a search and rescue team would have had to come and get the body or bodies. Who ever made the decisions from the camping party has got a brain the size of trout, (pea size). It is scary to think that anybody in this group is associated with children and young adults at the YM/YWCA. I hope you teach them about responsibility and good decision making and not went back and laughed and joked to them about this "trip". I would hate to think that any of these children and young adults would try to do what the four of you did. The message to them is that they should never try something like you went through. If they do try it and anyone dies the four of you would have to live with that person's death for the rest of your life. It is people like you that will ruin it for the winter campers if you would have died. Do all of us responsible interior campers, (winter, spring, summer or fall) of Algonquin Park a big favour and not book a trip in there again. Do not ruin it for the rest of us.
Posted Tuesday, January 25th, 2005 05:22 pm
What fun! That doesn't look any more dangerous than than the hundreds of trout fisherman that go into the park at the end of April each year. We often encounter frozen lakes many days after opeongo opens up in the springtime.
Posted Saturday, February 5th, 2005 10:50 am
Frozen lakes in the fall are much more dangerous than in the spring. In the fall the cold temperatures will keeping falling and thicken the ice, where in the spring the warm temperatures keep rising and will melt the ice quickly with the help of wind and rain. I have seen ice on the second lake I came to in the sping that was a foot thick but it was white and soft. You could not canoe through it. We set up camp and in the morning the ice was gone because of the warm temperatures and wind.
Posted Wednesday, March 23rd, 2005 05:01 pm
EVER TRIED PORTAGE- OBOGGANING ? ALWAYS BRING ALONG SEVERAL PAIRS OF BOB SKATES. PORTAGING ACROSS A LAKE BRINGS A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION TO WINTER CANOEING. ON A LIGHTER NOTE-THE UNEXPECTED OFTEN CHALLENGES US AND MAKES LIFE WORTH THE ADVENTURE.
Posted Wednesday, March 23rd, 2005 06:50 pm
mmmm ghee
Posted Thursday, April 21st, 2005 09:00 am
On your regular web site your response to the fairly critical comments were justified. What your response showed is that you are irresponsible. Your comment and I quote you "People drown, fall from cliffs, die from exposure, have fatal heart attacks every year in Algonquin Park and still the park continues to welcome tens of thousands of visitors each year, almost all of whom come home safe. The number of fatalities is statistically insignificant." My response is that you really do not care about safety. Only about yourself! "We pay taxes too. Arguably an airlift might have given us our money's worth - finally, after all these years. But I question your assertion that "the taxpayers" would pay for it. In Ontario we pay if we need an ambulance. I can't imagine that an airlift would be free either. The Killarney Canoe Camping guide suggests that costs for airlifts are billed at a minimum of $1000." My response to this quote is that you are going to get your taxes back somehow. Even if you have to injure or kill yourself to do it. You sound like a little child. Why don't you grow up you self centre self goof!
Posted Wednesday, May 11th, 2005 03:21 pm
"...It is people like you that will ruin it for the winter campers if you would have died..." Wow, sorry mom!?! i guess the person who wrote this has a lot of winter camping experience. if something had happened to you, sorry, i wouldn't feel any different about going winter camping in algonquin myself. Hopefully i could learn from your mistake, but the fact that a group of winter campers dies in the park would not stop me from doing a trip myself. To whomever wrote that: get off the high horse my friend. we all need different challenges!
Posted Wednesday, May 11th, 2005 03:29 pm
"... You sound like a little child. Why don't you grow up you self centre self goof!" Wow, sorry again Mom!! was this written by a retired school teacher by chance...elementary school perhaps? sounds like adventure for you is putting on your seat-belt on when you've reached the end of the drive-way rather than when you've started the vehicle eh? Besides "winter camping by mistake" leads me to believe this is not a manual to be distributed to novice winter camping enthusiasts!
Posted Wednesday, May 11th, 2005 08:40 pm
Lots of respect to you guys for keeping up all comments.
Posted Tuesday, June 14th, 2005 10:50 am
I was just reading the last few comments and I believe that you are avoiding the point by critizing the person that is e-mailing you. Being an experienced camper in all four seasons I would have to agree with the person e-mailing you that it is you that should not be camping in any season. You have no responsibility and do not respect the outdoors.
Posted Wednesday, June 15th, 2005 09:35 am
You are having fun with my grammer and spelling. I am 78 years old and left scholl in grade 8 to work at the mines and in the bush for lumbering, but I am more educated than you will ever be especially when it comes to respecting the outdoors and nature. you make fun of me just to avaoid your stupidity. Grow up and leave the bush to the peole that respect it!
Posted Tuesday, March 7th, 2006 12:45 am
Great site; love the presentation, and the content brings back many happy memories. Keep posting! Thanks :)
Posted Thursday, April 6th, 2006 10:27 pm
Dang, there's alot of haters in the world! Do you feel chastised enough yet for living your life and being willing to share your experiences with others? Wow...granted, it's may not have been the wisest trip, but at least you had some great camp cooking and some memories!
Posted Friday, December 15th, 2006 04:42 pm
Wow, that looks intense! But the pre-rain photos are stunning - thanks for putting the full-sized version of the sunset over Maple Leaf Lake up, it's now my desktop background!
Posted Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 04:55 pm
You guys are amazing!! I love the fact you guys didn't give up after canoeing. And hey, what is better than having the chance to do things you like. While I do believe safety is as important but I can tell you guys already have developed strong skills and capable to survive in the bush, and in the winter?? I think you guys were quite lucky :) I love your stories and keep us posted :) Thanks!! Daniel Pan
Posted Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 05:15 pm
Just read some comments above. Well folks, fist I want to say every person are different, you can't get everyone to agree on one thing. Second, do show some respect when making a comment. Be constructive. Think how much time and effort spent to post all these stories. I do agree with some and disagree with others too. This is not recommended for novices. With all the gears available today, many would think they are not prepared. But how do people before do winter camping?? Probaby much less than what they had. The key is the willingness of the people, not what gears you own. Daniel Pan
Posted Friday, July 4th, 2008 11:31 pm
Winter Camping is common in British Columbia. They have deeper snow in the moutains.
Posted Monday, March 22nd, 2010 03:31 pm
I too have made the mistake of going "Winter Camping by Mistake" in Algonquin, about 15 years ago. In your defense, it's an easy mistake to make, since the altitude makes Algonquin significantly colder than one might expect for the latitude. I had even asked the rangers before driving up from Windsor what the conditions were like and got no warnings. We hiked the Western Uplands trail in May, and the river at the head of the trail was flooded. We walked through the first KM of the trail with water up near our waists (boots off of course, to stay dry) and there were iceflows bopping between the trees. LOLz. Good times. At least it was memorable. :D