January 23 - 27, 2013
The annual winter getaway to a cabin in Algonquin Park on Smoke Lake, is always a special treat this time of the year. It has been a tradition for many years now and something our group of usually six guys looks forward to. A winter wonderland greeted us as we made our way across the lake to the cabin. It was an easy 45 minute ski or snowshoe trek on the minus 18 degree day. The first priority is to fire up the wood stove, shovel the deck and roof and the important path up to the outhouse, chop a hole through the ice for water and then just sit close to the fire till the cabin heats up.
A typical day consists of a full breakfast, getting geared up for a ski, snowshoe or just a hike on the lake and across portage trails, down time until supper and finishing the day with a serious game of dominoes. At a penny a point, some have lost as much as $3 or $4s during our stay, pretty high stakes!
We were treated to a visit by two martins this year and saw many tracks from moose, wolf, otters and rabbits.
A highlight was the full moon on a perfectly clear, windless and minus 28 degree night. It was so bright, a long camera exposure made for almost daylight looking photos.
Making up the group this year were Bill, owner of the cabin, Michele, Doug, Peter, Paul and myself.
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| Doug captures the snowy scene. |
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Bill checks out roof before clearing snow.
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Michele chops through the seven inch thick ice.
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| When the cabin is minus 18, the closer the better. |
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| Don't ask, it must have been the numbing cold. |
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| One of many 'discussion' stops. |
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| I know I can reach it! |
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What style.
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| Always enough ice for a drink or two. |
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| The woodpile is in need of replenishing. |
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| A martin pays us a visit. |
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| Don't mess with me! |
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| (l-r) Peter, Bill, myself, Paul, Doug and Michele. |
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| Concentration is the secret! |
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| Replenished the woodpile. |
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| Hiking a summer canoe portage trail between lakes. |
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| Someone had a sense of humour with these natural tree bark 'lips'. |
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| The full moon was up by the time we got back to the cabin. |
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| Bill checks the thermometer - minus 28. |
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Full moon, bright stars, and rising smoke from the fireplace,
who could ask for more in this wilderness setting? |
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| An amazing amount of stars could be seen even with a full moon out. |
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| A warm glow from the cabin. Fingers were painfully numb after photo shoot. |
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| Martin number two. |
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| Time to close up cabin till next year. |
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Skiing out.
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| Michele, Bill and Doug. |
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| Canoes stacked at our mandatory outfitter store stop on the way home. |
