May 14 - 17, 2004

Trip Leader:   Andrew Fergusson (Ferg)
Participants:  Peter and Mary Beth Davies

It was a four day wildlife whirlwind tour. Counted amongst the animals with whom we made fleeting acquaintance were 6 moose, two deer, a shy black bear with a big brown nose, an aquatic raccoon, and a good sized reddish brown wolf. A mare moose and her calf lay down for a rest in front of us on a riverbank, and we spotted the wolf further down, not long after. We also found two dead moose and two dead snapping turtles, one of Galapagos size...reminding us how hard Algonquin winters are. Trilliums, both white and red, were out along the hardwood portages. Ducks, hawks, and many other birds were busy settling in for the summer. Some struggling fish were still spawning at one creek mouth, and we spotted just two remaining ice patches on shaded hills.

With just a brief shower the first day and sun the final two, there was cool, ideal tripping weather. We camped at 1pm on Queer, 5pm on Big Trout, and and 3pm on Misty, leaving before 8am each morning. The best sites were ours. From our commanding site on Big Trout we came to realize that we were the only people on the lake. We did the portages in one shot and got the routine down to an art, so we had time to explore along the way, and have leisurely lunches. The old farm depot on White Trout is worth the visit and we found a still functional rock lined hand dug well. Immature black flies only made guest appearances on a few occasions and they had yet to realize what their mission statement is.

Mary's fancy, yet easily made, dinners complemented Peter's homemade wine and the snifter of Grand Marnier the final night, along with a fun fireside read of Robert Service poems - notably "The Cremation of Sam McGee" on the Marge of Lake La Barge.

Best of all, we had our whirlwind tour in advance of the bugs and hordes of campers sure to arrive the following long weekend.