Skiing in Canada's Provincial Parks

[connyro]

Does anyone have any experience skiing (or hiking/biking, etc) in the Lake Superior Provincial Park or Aubinadong-Nushatogani Rivers Provincial Park or the Algoma area? There is an awful lot of wilderness out that way and some pretty big hills. Plus, it's east of Lake Superior where they get a ridiculous amount of lake-effect snow...I know there's folks in the Goulais River area who ski and even host a tele festival: (http://www.bellevuevalleylodge.ca/)

[MikeK]

Looks promising...

[MikeK]

Does anyone have any experience skiing (or hiking/biking, etc) in the Lake Superior Provincial Park or Aubinadong-Nushatogani Rivers Provincial Park or the Algoma area? There is an awful lot of wilderness out that way and some pretty big hills. Plus, it's east of Lake Superior where they get a ridiculous amount of lake-effect snow...I know there's folks in the Goulais River area who ski and even host a tele festival: (http://www.bellevuevalleylodge.ca/)

Are you near there? For some reason I though you were in VT but I guess you never said.

Almost 11 hrs for me... I think pass on that one and head east.

[connyro]

Does anyone have any experience skiing (or hiking/biking, etc) in the Lake Superior Provincial Park or Aubinadong-Nushatogani Rivers Provincial Park or the Algoma area? There is an awful lot of wilderness out that way and some pretty big hills. Plus, it's east of Lake Superior where they get a ridiculous amount of lake-effect snow...I know there's folks in the Goulais River area who ski and even host a tele festival: (http://www.bellevuevalleylodge.ca/)

Are you near there? For some reason I though you were in VT but I guess you never said.

Almost 11 hrs for me... I think pass on that one and head east.

Not too near there, but really, who is? Not from VT. I'm from NH, but moved away. I've just always been fascinated with all that empty wilderness to the east of lake superior. It's like there's no one there but there's pretty good sized hills and lots of snow! Anyone with info?

[MikeK]

Not too near there, but really, who is? Not from VT. I'm from NH, but moved away. I've just always been fascinated with all that empty wilderness to the east of lake superior. It's like there's no one there but there's pretty good sized hills and lots of snow! Anyone with info?

Where are you now if you don't mind me asking?

I actually have quite a longing to get up there myself, but not for skiing - although that looks fun too. Maybe some day my job will require me to move to Michigan and I'll be heading there instead of the Adirondacks.

[connyro]

Not too near there, but really, who is? Not from VT. I'm from NH, but moved away. I've just always been fascinated with all that empty wilderness to the east of lake superior. It's like there's no one there but there's pretty good sized hills and lots of snow! Anyone with info?

Where are you now if you don't mind me asking?

I actually have quite a longing to get up there myself, but not for skiing - although that looks fun too. Maybe some day my job will require me to move to Michigan and I'll be heading there instead of the Adirondacks.

With all due respect, I'd rather not put any location details up about myself, what with ron lurking around here. He's got a bone to pick with me too I assume, so I would rather not tempt him into bringing his axe-grind shit-show into the real world. Crazies are unpredictable and I just don't need that kind of excitement.

[MikeK]

I understand - I could be a crazy for all you know! I was just wondering what general area - what state? I'm not asking for your home address here Just was curious where you are skiing.

Plus Ron will surely take me out first - so just keep an eye out in the obituaries for a Michael Knauf of Rochester, NY. If I show up there, go into witness protection.

[connyro]

I understand - I could be a crazy for all you know! I was just wondering what general area - what state? I'm not asking for your home address here Just was curious where you are skiing.

Plus Ron will surely take me out first - so just keep an eye out in the obituaries for a Michael Knauf of Rochester, NY. If I show up there, go into witness protection.

LOL. Yeah, pretty sure you're crazy too, but not the bad kind of crazy: you haven't threatened me with your linux skillz;) And yes, you just might be the first to go.

[MikeK]

Well of course I didn't... I don't have any Linux skillz! My wife teases me because my big meat paws can't operate a smart phone either. They should have stopped electronics at vacuum tubes... that's all I have to say about that

[oldschool]

Hi Mike,

This is an annual thing - unfortunately it's like next week or the one after this year so likely too late for you to plan but next year could go. I definitely want to do this a couple times before I can't.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/trave ... d=all&_r=0

Look for the Traverse Gaspe and you'll find the website for it. The Times article is pretty good. A really civilized trip and maybe a lot of fun with your wife if it suits her interests a bit too.

Around 18 years ago some buddies of mine and I met up in Ft. Collins and did some skiing from a set of yurts managed by Neversummernordic.com - I think you'd want to plan to go during the week - most of the prime time weekends get snapped up by the locals pretty quickly. It was a nice area. Ruby Jewel hut is a good one to get for as much of the trip as you can. All the huts are 1 mile from a road with parking so your initial schlep is pretty reasonable or you can take two trips.

Finally, I just posted on the other forum that I just bought what I hope will be a hut on wheels of sorts - 1984 VW Westfalia. Unfortunately the heater blower in the front needs replacing and it does not have supplemental heat - I'm currently trying to decide how to go with that - one approach is cheap and dirty - Mr. Buddy portable propane heater that can also be piped into the van propane potentially. Downside is that such heaters need lots of venting and create a fair amount of condensation due to how they burn. The better choice is a heater that is about $750 to $800 and is set up to vent combustion to the outside and has a thermostat. I think I may just take that plunge, but the attraction of a quick fix that would be useable this year is calling. The big advantage I see of the Westy is the ability to drive up to a trailhead area, crash in back in a down bag after warming up the inside with the heater and then coffee and oatmeal in the van on the stove in the morning before getting out the door. The only downside to this is using the van in the winter is bound to accelerate rust issues - there is basically none now and using it that way as opposed to just in the spring summer and fall is a consideration. Gotta ski though. My main interest to have it was to be able to drive to Gore (about 3 hrs for me) on a Saturday, ski, grab dinner someplace, then hit the van and go backcountry on Sunday am before driving back home. Lots of weekends I ski Saturday and then don't want to drive so much to get out to tour Sunday.