Lake Superior Goodness

The following is from Carol Dersch, the Natural Heritage Education Leader at Lake Superior Provincial Park:

“What could be more compelling than a hike along the shore of the world’s largest freshwater lake? Combine Lake Superior vistas with fall colours, few biting insects, uncrowded trails and fall becomes a pretty attractive time to go hiking. No need to book campsites ahead of time.

September and early October are best; the peak of fall colours is generally between the 3rd week in September and first week in October. Later in October and November are more variable weather conditions; some years it can be quite nice into November. Although the colours have faded, this is fall storm season on Superior. The park officially closes on October 21, however Hwy 17 goes right through the park, so people can still access trails and areas along the Lake Superior shoreline (just no services or facilities provided at this time of year); we do close the Agawa Rock Pictographs September 23.

Some suggestions for fall hikes (from shortest to longest trail):

Nokomis Trail
Moderate; 5.0 km; 1½  - 3 hours
Highlights: great vistas of transition forest (between mixed and Boreal forests; especially noticeable in the fall); nice views of iconic Old Woman Bay
 

Orphan Lake Trail
Moderate; 8 km loop; 2 – 4 hours
Highlights: very diverse scenery; a favourite trail; medium length and difficulty; vistas over Lake Superior; beach on Lake Superior; waterfalls; transition of forests; great fall colours; burn area; could make a longer hike by linking with a section of Coastal Trail

Awausee Trail
Demanding; 10 km loop; 4 – 6 hours; first lookout – 45 min. return
Highlights: great fall colour, dominated by maple and Yellow Birch; several lookouts up to 200 metres above Lake Superior and Agawa River Valley

Towab Trail
Very Demanding; 24 km return, linear trail; recommended as overnight trip for entire trail, but could do shorter hike in and out
Highlights: Agawa River; Agawa Falls (if hike complete trail); fall colours
(no view of Lake Superior from this trail; regarding the train option – people would have to know where they were going or go with a hike organized by a local outfitter as the trail is not well marked at the railway)

 
Coastal Trail
Moderate to very demanding (depending on the section); total distance 65 km linear trail; 5 – 7 days for whole trail; several access points allow shorter hikes (go in and out same way, so could hike for 30 minutes to several hours)
Highlights: Lake Superior; beaches; great vistas; interesting geology; campsites”

Images thanks to Carol Dersch, Bob Elliott & Joel Cooper

White River Route (4-6 days) intermediate

Note: White River – Temporary Canoe Route Closure May 1st 2012 to May1st 2015
Commencing in late April 2012, Pic Mobert Hydro and Regional Power will be constructing two Hydro Projects on the White River below the existing MNR dam located within White Lake Provincial Park. The sites will be cleared of trees in late April 2012 with rock blasting and the construction of roads, dams, and powerhouses etc. to commence later in the spring. The projects are located 3.2 km below the existing MNR dam to Fearless Rapids (upper site) and further 12 km downstream at Chicagonce Falls (lower site). These projects will be completed late 2014 or early 2015. During this time period all existing portages and campsites within the construction zone will be closed due to the clearing, blasting and construction of the projects. To ensure the safety of all river users’ water travel through or adjacent to these sites will be prohibited from May 1st 2012 to May1st 2015. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

For further information please contact the links below:

Pic Mobert Hydro Inc. – www.picmobert.ca
Regional Power – 1 866 311 1747
Pukaskwa National Park – 807-229-0801 ext 242
White Lake Provincial Park – 807 822 2447 ext. 222

Web Trail Navigation
Ontario Parks Home Page Home
Site Map Site Map
Search Ontario Parks Site Search
Your Parks Park Locator
White Lake White Lake
Canoeing

Thanks to http://www.lakesuperiorpark.ca for image updates on the Sand River in lake Superior Park. The situation on the Sand likely is similar to what you will find on the Dog, Agawa and Pukaskwa. The White has a much larger watershed so will have more water. Happy paddling.

Sand River March 15. “Snow depth in the interior of the park was 80 cm/30 in. earlier this week. Interior lakes have 1 to 2′ of solid ice”.

Sand River honking March 18. “The Sand River is at spring flood levels. Warm temperatures (20C+/68F+ at Agawa Bay on March 18) plus heavy rain on March 12 have produced big flows in the river”.

Sand River April 3. “There is very little snow left in the watershed. There is very little rain forecasted through to April 18″.

This image of the “Michipicoten Light” was one of the winners of the 2011 Autumn Photo Challenge sponsored by Photo News Magazine. Glen Springer created this beauty as part of our annual Gales of November Photo Workshop held at Rock Island Lodge annually the first week of November. Workshop facilitator is outdoor adventure photographer Rob Stimpson . His work is often highlighted in the Ontario Outdoor Adventure Calendar. More info about the workshop at Rock Island Lodge Events and more info about Glenn at his Blog .

This is the typical view scape  you’ll experience at the Rossport Island Sea Kayak symposium June 21 – 24, 2012. It’s a great early season event, designed for new to intermediate paddlers, especially sea kayakers although we’ll also have Stand up Paddle board and Canoe sessions.

On water there will be lots of instruction including rolling, Greenland paddling, stroke improvements, rescues as well as tours throughout the Rossport area for all levels of paddlers.

The event is based from the Lake side provincial park so we’re mostly all together in one area to share experiences, meals, learning sessions and Saturday evening live music. Major demo reps will also be there to describe, allow you to test and buy boats and paddling gear.

More info at the symposium website: http://rossportsymposium.ca/

Painting by: Bruce Herchenrader

Pukaskwa Coastal Trail Guided Trip Description

Sporting new suspension bridges and tent pads, and with recently improved boardwalks and stairs, the Coastal Hiking Trail in Pukaskwa National Park is in better shape than ever. But this route along the Great Lakes’ longest undeveloped coastline remains tough and rarely travelled.

The easiest way to tackle the whole 60 kilometres from North Swallow River to Hattie Cove is with Naturally Superior Adventures. Their five-day hike begins with a boat trip to the trail’s southern end. From here the trail flirts with the Superior coast, tracing the headlands and coves, and occasionally breaking out of the Boreal forest at rocky outcrops to deliver superb views across the great lake.

Along the way, you’ll see pits excavated by early First Nation residents, and if you’re lucky you might get a glimpse of the woodland caribou that live in the park, especially near the southern end. Campsites are in coves and at white sand beaches, perfect for a cooling dip after the daily 10 to 15 kilometres of hiking.

And because the trail runs along Superior’s eastern shore, there’s a sunset show almost every night.

When: August 4 to 9, 2012
Cost: $980 includes guide, meals, park fees, boat shuttle and taxes.
Led by: Naturally Superior Adventures

We’ve cut and pasted the following article by by Geoff Peach from the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation (lakehuron.ca):

Researchers have found that rising water temperatures are kicking up more powerful winds on Lake Superior, with a range of implications affecting currents, biological cycles, pollution and ecosystems on the world’s largest lake and its smaller Great Lakes siblings.

A wide temperature differential between water and air makes for a more stable atmosphere with calmer winds over the relatively cold water. However, as warming water closes the gap, as in the case of the Great Lakes, the atmosphere gets more turbulent.

“You get more powerful winds,” according to Professor Desai from the University of Wisconsin. “We’ve seen a 5 percent increase per decade in average wind speed on Lake Superior since 1985.”

One of the factors influencing higher water temperatures has been less winter ice cover. Reflective ice lessens the amount of solar radiation on the lake. Once the final ice-melt has occurred, however, the large lakes turn into dark surfaces that absorb solar radiation to the maximum of any natural surface. This absorbed solar radiation is the primary agent that warms the lake. The relative timing of final ice-melt to the summer solstice — the season when the sun provides most radiation — is therefore a key determinant of the degree of warming of lake waters (Rouse, 2009).

A result of longer periods of higher surface water temperatures is a weakening of the water–air temperature gradient. This has the effect of destabilizing the atmosphere above the lake, enabling faster wind speeds across the lake surface (Cruce, T., & Yurkovich, E., 2011).

There are some interesting implications for higher wind speeds off the lake, including movement of airborne pollutants to the shore, increased lake-effect streamers in winter, potentially stronger alongshore currents, and wind movement of sand on beaches and dunes.

Increased sand movement and dune erosion could present problems to communities who do not have well managed dune systems in place. This is particularly important for many of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay’s dune systems because they are made up of finite sand deposits where no new source of sand is present should the existing sands get eroded away. Erosion of beaches and dunes can be caused, or made worse, by high impact recreational activities, development pressure and poorly designed beach access.

The Coastal Centre has been working with several municipalities and community groups to establish measures that will help prevent beach and dune erosion, and this will become increasingly relevant under a higher wind regime. As researchers learn more about the changes affecting our region, coastal communities will need to consider the implications and adapt where necessary.

Thank you Patrick Langston feature writer for the Ottawa Citizen for including our Lake Superior Sea Kayak Weekend Getaway among the top 12 outdoor adventure getaways for 2012.

Recognize the place where this picture was taken?  I’ll give you a hint: it’s right in front of our Rock Island Lodge. OK so that wasn’t much of a hint as it was a give-away.  Speaking of give-aways (made up word)- click on the image to be directed to order your free 2012 calendar (and it’s actually a nice calendar with nice outdoorsy images).

When you get your calendar there will be instructions on how to enter to win next summer’s outdoor getaway contest.  I can’t speak of all of the details but I can tell you that part of it includes a stay at Rock Island Lodge as well as either; sea kayak instruction or SUP lesson.

That’s a win-win-win situation!