6 Day Solo Hike In Algonquin Park Canada - Western Uplands Trail
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- 75KM around the Algonquin Western Uplands in November was tough goings alone but supremely rewarding. I recommend hiking poles on this one since there are a lot of ups and downs and swampy water crossings.
The Western Uplands trail is the longest in Algonquin park and is broken out into 3 loops offering a variety of hiking options from 32 - 88 kilometres long. A quick in-out can be done as short as 7.8km but summer time is busy time so it is recommended to make a campsite reservation.
Special note! I never knew that cans are banned in the park so if you're making bear bread make sure you bring your beer in a plastic reusable bottle.
Algonquin Highlands Campsites:
Maggie’s Lake North 1:19
Pincher Lake North 5:12
Ishkuday Lake 9:09
Rainbow Lake 13:17
Thunder Lake 16:46
Ramona Lake 17:11
Music!
Philanthrope & Flitz&Suppe & Omaure - Solitude vindig.bandcam...
Mary Lattimore - Otis Walks Into the Woods ghostly.bandca...
Pierre Schryer - Northern Ontario Set itunes.apple.c...
fragile - stem fragile-touch....
leave - within chillhop.bandc...
This brings back memories. I hiked this loop when I was 17 in 1985. Cheers.
That’s the real beauty of this nature. It’s truly timeless here! Glad you enjoyed!
Wow, props!!
Great video. Done the trail a few times myself. It's beautiful out there.
Awesome video. Greetings from the United States. I love your creativity. I was a soldier in the United States Army for 24 years. I got into hiking and camping by spending time training with the Canadian Army. On weekends when we were free I went camping with them in the mountains in the state of Washington. You are the most polite people. So my brother from the great north you have gained a fan.
Hey Eric, thank you and nice to hear from you! That's a great story about how you got into camping, amazing that you were able to find the time. Maybe a lot of people would want to do nothing on those free weekends. Glad you found good company in Canada, not usually hard to find haha!
it;s really Great Videos of solo hike in Algonquin
I backpacked the Easten Highlands trail with a young lady, over three days. Got some very nice photos in my album. Some of a very large turtle laying her eggs on the shore. I also snowshoed the several days on the Western Highlands on day trips, with a group. There is a very impressive waterfall in there somewhere. Both times, and others; I used Lord Baden Powell's Scout staff.
It was essential for me to keep my balance and was useful several times to get out of difficult terrain. I have two staffs with records of all my hikes marked on them.
In addition to Algonquin Park, I solo backpacked four Major Trails end-2-end, and I only once made a campfire. I used either, a Coleman 505B, or a Svea 123. (Which I sold when I retired, and later regretted. That Svea was a lovely little stove.)
I figured that making a fire was too much like work!
By the way, those split logs used to walk on are called "Punchions" in the States. When wet they are very slippery to walk on.
Great video, mate! I'm headed to Maggie Lake late October. Really looking forward to it.
This is very enabling to a lot of people like me who want to be outside most of the time but always find a way to screw it up. 😳🤣 Absolutely hilarious to me bc even though some issues have been problematic like condensation etc lol, it's hard to imagine the preparation and organization to achieve peace in that place. It looks so easy to lug around all of that for days but doing it is easier said than done. Then I go and try it lmao it would be nice to see how you would teach one-on-one like how you would answer a citiot's questions. Some of the dumb things I've done have been so obviously dumb but I learned the hard way.
Thanks for the really nice comment! When I first went out alone in the woods I thought of all 1000 things I saw on RUclips, specifically a channel called MaddyTheGoose and my car camping experiences and prepared with that knowledge. The reality was: I got out to Lake Superior in a rain storm in October, had to turn back half way on the first day hiking and camp near my starting point, forgot any utensils to eat (had to make some chopsticks), gas stove didn't work in fall not 4 season mix, put a tarp up to block wind that did nothing but blow up like a sail. I went to sleep shivering in a summer sleeping bag waking up each hour to thundering waves crashing on the shoreline, cold doing sit-ups in my sleeping bag to warm up, scared and finally waking up in the morning to a tent covered in snow. I walked out that day and had planned three days! What a let down, I felt defeated.
I returned next year at the same time and got to my goal campsite in similar weather. Nothing teaches better than experience, like you said, the hard way. In the woods there is a certain amount of dealing with it that inspires ingenuity and appreciation for the little things. It's the appreciation for the little things like the tranquility of an empty trail, the baking of fresh bread and even lighting the fire each night that take away the pain of your knees hurting, the cold in your bones and puts a smile on your face. Every time I go into the woods I learn something new. Nature itself is a great teacher even if you can only get out there properly once a year from the city like me.
You are just a young guy. A little pain isn’t going to kill you. I’ve lost over 30 lbs on canoe trips over 150 miles on Lk Superior including Rivers. The last one I was in my early 40s it was the White River. Great memories. Thanks 🇨🇦👍
planning to this hike with my family thanks for the vid!!
Great job with the video. I'm not even a hiker/camper but that was interesting to watch and has me more interested now.
Keep up the great videos.
Oh wow, I’m honoured! The best way to get started is to go car camping at a local campsite. Bring all the comforts like a duvet, blow up mattress and cook some nice campfire food! From there to get going backcountry start to go car camping with less and less until you can fit it all into an 80L backpack :)
Just typed in backpacking in Canada and your channel came up 👍 great video and just subscribed looking forward to watching more of your videos , we are backpackers from Wales 🏴 🏴 take care Twin Peaks wild camping
Awesome, enjoy the wilderness! Hope to have a hike in Wales some day, it's beautiful there.
Thanks for the video, it gives me hope. We may move to DC and l'm desperately looking for places where l can find solitude. This seems like a great area to go and visit!
Great video! I just very recently hiked the shortest loop (37km) of the western uplands as my first backpacking trip ever over 3 days and 2 nights with someone. It was super fun but much more difficult beyond what i ever expected, Our bags were way too heavy but also the constant mountain climbing made the trail very tough! Would be so awesome to do the full loop like you did here but i feel so far from being physically capable at this point lol, got a lot more to learn and train for first!
Hey Chris, that’s so awesome you did that loop for your first full on trip!!! For me it has taken many seasons to work up to the strength and knowledge to go on that hike (even in this case I injured my patellar tendons in my knees). What helps with pack weight is that every time I go out I keep a list of things I didn’t use or didn’t properly need. The nice to haves add a lot of weight. The key is to take it slowly and plan for a longer trip each season in between your other outdoor activities. Try snowshoeing in the winter if you’re near snow. Be careful and don’t injure yourself it takes a lot more commitment to properly rehabilitate than to complete a trail.
Wannabe ? Your doing it sir.Nice Vid , the music is subtle and has not made me leave yet. ty for sharing.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
I hit the like button at the beaver impression @4:45
Mr. Beaver approves!
Good show! Really inspiring.
Thanks Rob!
how does this channel not have more subs. Amazing quality work and great adventure.
Thank you Haviick!
Great video. Very informative and helpful. Just subscribed.
Clean simple honesty beautiful God has created. And we get to play in it this beautiful natural world. Awesome video looking forward to Moore
Thanks!! Have been posting about my round the world travels on a new channel ruclips.net/video/F7k6czc8Zmc/видео.html
Great video and an enjoyable watch! I'm looking forward to doing a 3-day up in Algonquin in Spring 2020 after many years away from camping. Thinking of the slightly smaller Western Uplands loop or the Highland....tbd. Thx for making this video. Super helpful and inspiring. Cheers!
Thank you! You’re going to have a great trip this spring. Always better to start out smaller then save the larger one once you know you can put the kms on your body with your pack. I also find hiking slower and shorter is more satisfying because I get more time at camp.
Excellent video. I just finished my 75km hike of the Western Uplands. I spent a night on the same spot as you on Rainbow Lake. It was a beautiful spot. The trek from the Trailhead to Maggie Lake was one tough haul. Fortunately the water levels weren't as high for me as compared to your trek. You're video was a great representation on what to expect the trail.
Congratulations on finishing the hike Adam!! I'm so glad you got that spot at Rainbow, I have such fond memories of it. Glad you liked the video.
An amazing hike, very well done Sir. Five Star film ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you! I will be making another one this fall in Superior Provincial park and comments like yours really get me excited 😁
yeah bud, nice hike!!
Wow amazing!!
Really enjoyed this. We've done this trail a few times, but only 3-4 day loop. Cheers
Excellent video, well done!
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Very beautiful country you're in. My areas in east Texas don't have all that clear water lol. Very nice video.
Thanks Gary, I was just hiking in a place without clean water. Lucky to have it when we do!!
Love the narrative- especially the Dick Proenecke reference. Well done Sir!
Glad you caught that!
Blå band meals! I didn't realize that was exported. Fun to see someone hike in Algonquin.
Great video sir! You have a new subscriber. Cheers
Welcome aboard!
Dude this is great :) really enjoyed the video!
That bread looked so good!
Thanks for the kind words! The bread was an incredible morale boost.
Great video man gained me as a subscriber. Looking forward to the next one 👍
Thanks Nature Bound!
Interesting, well done. We mostly hear about canoe trips in Algonquin.Often thought that when I can't portage a canoe any longer I could hike and camp. Something I have observed with this and other RUclips postings, people are displaying cans, mostly beer cans. These are prohibited in the park. Leaving them out of your video would present the proper message. Not being a prude, just like it when everyone follows the rules.
Thanks! I actually didn't know about this. Here is the official statement from the park for anyone else reading these comments: Cans and bottles are prohibited in the Park's backcountry. The backcountry is everywhere except organized campgrounds and picnic grounds where there is regular garbage collection.
Under the ban, no person shall possess any non-burnable food or beverage containers other than containers and eating utensils that are specifically designed and intended for repeated use and for which no deposit is charged; and containers that are specifically designed for dehydrated foods. Metal foil is permitted, as are containers of fuel, insect repellent, medicine, or other items that are not food or beverages.
Man.... That looked like a blast. Nice job👍👍👍👍
Thanks Bernie! I still think about that hike a lot and have such good memories of it. Can’t wait to go back but next time I will learn the ways of the canoe!
Really enjoyed this video .... I was going through my subscriber list on my channel and found your channel .... don't know how I missed it ..... Looking forward to seeing more of your hikes
Hey Steve, nice to hear from you thanks for the sub! Move videos soon :)
You need to make more hiking videos like this one. Funny stuff!
Thank's Kevin. I really need to get back out there!
Awsome solo trip, This is what its all about, funcrafting!
Thanks, funcrafting is the most satisfying part! Good word haha
It restores your sanity and makes you appreciate what we have in this country. Then take a trip up to the Yukon sometime and hike the Chilkoot Trail--I've got my itinerary done for this June 2018. BTW, do you remember how much your backpack weighed when you started?
You’re spot on, a week like that and all sanity is indeed restored. That trail sounds awesome I wish I could make it. Perhaps in 2019. Make sure you bring hiking poles!! And take videos :) My knees were so injured after this it took 4 months of rehabilitation to be able to walk with a load again. I’m guessing it was around 40lbs to start. I could barely lift it on my back. I was stupid though, 3L fresh water and 2 large battery packs (only needed one). The chair was definitely worth the weight. Things I wish I had more of: bandaids and gummy sweets!
Should really put some mink oil on them boots :)
That’s a great idea!!
Not too shabby Ari! Way to go.
Great video, It's nice to get away on your own sometimes. I was impressed that you carried a steak with you.
Thanks!! Interestingly, I was only eating about 1500 calories per day and sleeping 8-10 hours. It was strange so when the steak was ready I could barely eat it!
Ever think about just getting "new knees"? Would be easier to hike, jump, and climb with "new knees". And as for weird ankle problems, you could get "gnu ankles". IT'S JUST AN IDEA, DON'T GET MAD LOL
Hahah! Robot knees as soon as they’re available on Amazon!!
@@wannabewoodsmen7622 If I ever see you in buying them for you.
Hey brother, great vid. What month of the year were you there?
Very nice video, thanks!
Nice vid. Steak would be a little rare for me but to each their own.
He other half went back in the pan I was definitely disappointed when I cut it open!
the shot at 13:13 was 👌
Thanks!! The faint sounds of the forest at that moment we’re beautiful as well.
I like your tarp! Where did you get it from?
Great video man very well done, subbed. Cheers.
Thanks!!
hey buddy, hello from Scotland. nice vid. I've been to Algonquin along the main highway 60 camp sites a few times with my gf when I lived in Toronto.
Credit to you for doing that whole hike alone.
I remember having a bear visit us through the night and heard wolves howling.
What kind of animal encounters have you had? Sounds in the night sound ten times louder man.
Hey, thanks! I saw some moose on the first day but nothing else and no one else until the last night.
The night turned out to be pitch black with very thick cloud no wind and complete silence. I was wrestling with the wet wood and the crackling fire when I heard this shrill cry come up through the valley and across the lake. It sounded like some larger animal was killed but nothing I have heard before.
I got up away from the fire and looked around with my headlamp and turned it off to see farther but everything was so still and quiet just like the Blair witch project, it scared the crap out of me! Then going to bed the problem with silence is the anticipation of hearing that sound again. Woke up in the morning and everything was fine as usual haha.
Anywhere to swim, say if it were summer weather ? :)
Wow nice ear covers.
Thank you. These technical earmuffs are the best. Unfortunately they don’t make them like this anymore!
What did you have on you for bear care?
or other critters
Thank you for the wonderful and informative hiking video. I am from the country of the world's highest peak Mt. Everest Nepal. I do lots of trekking in my country where you will find lots of unique and amazing landscape and lots of challenging trekking route which ranges from easy to hard. #hwwtreks I strongly recommended it to hike and trek lovers.
We love Nepal! You have an amazing culture as well as landscape! I have trekked Gokyo Lakes and next we will do the upper mustang :D
@@wannabewoodsmen7622 Wow! You are always welcome to Nepal.
very nice hike thanks
Thanks Garry!
Great video! I watched this a bunch of times before I went out on my Western Uplands hike. I made it to Maggie West without stopping and it killed me. I should have rested at Maple. Im curious how you made it to the Maggie sign and weren't out of breath XD The difference with me was that I had my dog on the leash with me, my bag was over 50 pounds and I had a second bag on my chest of about 70 pounds. Way too much. My goal was to go Maggie lake - Pincher North - Loft - EU. How much weight was in your pack?
My knees were completely obliterated after the first night because I had a hamock tent, that with my dog sleeping on my legs hyper extended my knees - walking out from Maggie to the car with both injured knees was a LOT OF FUN. I was able to stop at Maple and spend the night there, however a thunderstorm rolled in so I had another great night. I learned so much and won't dare go back into the bush with more then 25 pounds. Can't wait to go again, Im hoping to go next week if my knees are healed, to do the same trail.
Wow you are a champion for going out there with an army load of weight!! It’s good you got out, unfortunately, never a great feeling to turn back. I’ve banana’d in a hammock and that would be a brutal sleep for sore knees!! My pack weight was about 35LBS but I was an idiot and filled my 3L water bladder full off the bat (mistake) each litre is 2.2LBS. The key for reducing pack weight is to write a list of things you didn’t NEED when on the trail. A lot of contingency items get tossed in that process. The thing to remember is your own bushcraft skills will help you in an emergency and you really only need a knife and a way to make fire. There is good traffic on these trails. Canoeing out a good deal of km is a different story though. Remember to always share your route plan with a family member!
@@wannabewoodsmen7622 Yes, some great info. I did the trail again just overnight as I had to work the next day and had a much better time after the first go around. Im just still so surprised you did so well! It was a great video and lots of help. I cant wait to get back out there!
Yea the weight killed me but it was my birthday so I brought some drinks which were sooo heavy and I didnt even drink them because I was too exhausted XD
great video!
Nice trip. Regarding from overseas...Stay healthy. Alex
Thank you! Doing great now on a trip around the world for 14 months. Hiking the Gokyo lakes trek in Nepal currently :D
Lucky you had the colder temperatures to keep that steak cold!
Definitely, the temp kept all my food fresh and my drinking water cool, some of the bonuses with being out in the shoulder season!
Absolutely stunning what a place Algonquin is in Canada .I'm from the U.K. and film most of the Scottish highlands and Canada is somewhere i haven't visited YET.
Very professional edit well done.
SUBBED YOU......
Thanks for sharing ATB ALAN GREGORY P ATB ALAN GREGORY ADVENTURES 🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺
Thanks Alan much appreciated. If you ever need some help planning a trip just let me know!! Will check your channel out. Looking forward to one day getting to the highlands!
@@wannabewoodsmen7622 Thanks that's very kind of you and if you're ever in the highlands I'll return the favour ATB Alan Gregory Adventures 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
@@wannabewoodsmen7622thanks I hope you can subscribe it would be nice to have some overseas viewers 😀😀😀😀😀😀
How didnt you get cold and get sick? I do all the time :(
I was lucky! Just stayed barely warm enough on that trip. Washing your hands with hand sanitizer often before cooking helps a lot!
@@wannabewoodsmen7622 Thanks for respond. Have good time, be safe. God bless.
how heavy was your backpack and how do you physically prepare for so much walking?
I'm not sure the weight of the full backpack on this one but I guess it was about ~35lbs. Really though, your body will settle in as long as you have the will to move on! They key is avoiding injury so basic running/squats/shoulder press and focus on core stability works well.
any concerns for bears or moose, do you have any bear mace or protection?
There are moose and bear but encounters are uncommon (in my time up there). I carry bear spray.
Amen brother I go to the forest to lose my mind and find my soul.
Solo hiking is a great discovery of yourself. We spend our time around Lake Superior...if that catches your interest check er out. Look forward to supporting your channel!
Hey Brothers Dunne! Oh boy I know Superior well, at least the provincial park. I did my first ever solo hikes there (woefully unprepared and scared) on the costal trail off gargantua road. I was planning to upload some of the videos soon. Certainly a beautiful place, I love it there and went three thanksgivings in a row. I have a camp north of Sault Ste Marie.
Where did the firewood come from?
I cut it all and chopped it :) In the park you have to find dead dry wood. Sometimes it becomes difficult near popular sites because people scavenge for wood so thoroughly. Sometimes you will find wood there ready to use!
You dont see bigbfoot
This trail is absolutely beautiful! What kind of tent do you have?
Hey Laura, the tent is a Tarp Tent Moment DW with the solid interior option. They have a more open mesh interior option as well. Made in Seattle and seems to be very good quality so far!
What would you do if there was an emergency and you didnt have cell phone reception?
The first thing you always have to do before going out is send your route plan to a family member or friend. Tell them when to expect you back. If you don’t they will raise the alarm. Also the park knows your route because you have to register your sites for safety. Late in the year I didn’t see anyone for a long time until the last day when I rejoined with the first loop. Worst case I would have had to shelter up by the main trail and wait. These days they have SOS satellite transponders that you can send I’m ok messages and help by pressing a button. I may get one of those as I get deeper into the bush, I know my mom would appreciate it hah!
@@wannabewoodsmen7622 Good to know that it's not so scary after all. It's great that you are educated!
Nice video! When's your next Algonquin camping trip?
Hey Okan, no plans yet but may try to get out in a canoe in the spring for 3 nights or so. Have to work on my canoe skills.
Where can I get a map like yours? :)
Years ago I bought it at algonquinmap.com it’s called Jeff’s map. Not sure if you can still find them. There may be an online version you can plan and print.
Maybe you should patent the tent squeegee
Hahah!! Good idea.
Beaver vandals
Heheh
Would you do winter camping again?
Yes for sure! I would like to go in deep winter as well with snow shoes or skis. Instead of having a backpack pull my gear on a sled. I have the gear for it just need to find the time to do it. My knees have recovered now and soon I will actually hike the W trek in Patagonia!
Pitter Patter, 5:55
🤣 you got it!
How did you make your bread beer and how long did you cook it?
Hey Amanda! Baking time over this fire was about 1h15m. You can check if it's ready by tapping it on the bottom, if it sounds hollow it's done. Beer bread is fairly dense so I prefer to cook it a bit longer with frequent rotation. Putting the coals on top is essential. I purchased this particular beer bread mix at a farmers market. But, it is super easy to make yourself and only requires 5 ingredients: regular flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and beer + spices to taste. There are a lot of recipes online, make sure to test a loaf in your home kitchen before you go out! The best thing was warm bread the next morning.
Wannabe Woodsmen thank you so much for letting me know. I will definitively check out some recipes and try this next time I'm camping out!
4:40
Thought I lost it on that one!
Hi 👋 new friend 🥰
Awesome videos.
Newbie adventurer from the Shuswap.
Let's grow together.
And support each other.
Hugs 😍
maybe its corona lol
Hey thanks for subscribing I came over and checked out your channel and repay the favor I like what I see dropped a like while I was here looking forward to supporting thank you for your support
Thanks!! No problem, found your channel form a Flying Squirrel Outdoors vid!
Looked like a great trip. New sub, invite you to drop by my channel as well - doing similar stuff around the mid-Atlantic.
Can’t see any nature & if we did, can’t hear it because I’d the damn music.
Sounds like you need to get outside! ;)