This is the official itinerary of our trip.

I've read all the trip logs that I can find that include portions of this trip but I thought I would post it up to see if anyone else would be in the area, and if anyone has any tips for photo ops or fishing spots along the way. Of course, it wouldn't hurt if you offered a few tips on some hot speckle spots too..

Anyway here it is...

MAY 5th - Depart Cedar Lk to Catfish Lk. Photo ops along the way.

MAY 6th - Check out "alligator", fish the bays and points on route to Catfish Rapids campsite.

MAY 7th - Fish CF rapids and Snowshoe rapids, continue through and fishing North Cuckoo, Macoun Lk and camp on Hayes.

MAY 8th - Another day and night on Hayes to fish and explore.

MAY 9th - Move on to Junco Lk, Robinson and Burntroot exploring and trying the Portal rapids for fishing. Checking out the old root cellar and and try Perly Lk for trout. Then on to Cedar rapids snowshoe rapids and finally back to Catfish rapids for another night.

MAY 10th - Pass through Sunfish Lk, Newt, Manta, and then into Hogan. Continue to Parks Bay and stay at either campsite at mouth of river. Or perhaps the one with the memorial plaque on the other side.

MAY 11th & 12th - Hogan Lk fishing and exploring.

MAY 13th & 14th - Phillip Lk exploring rapids on route and surrounding area including old Phillip depot farm.

MAY 15th - Travel day to Radiant. Fish and explore the river and stay at the west end of Radiant.

May 16th - Travel up the Petawawa and stay at campsite at east end of Cedar. More photo ops along the way (river and dam) Fish for lakers in Cedar.

MAY 17th - Out.

Cheers
Shawn

Hey Pathfinder ...

Looks like a great trip! Sorry you wont be joining us for the weekend, but it looks like you have a good excuse

Have a great trip, we look forward to your trip report with photos .... hint hint

Jeff P
http://algonquincanoeing.blogspot.com/

Yes, yes, look forward to a trip-log...beautiful area of The Park!
Have fun you guys.



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

Hey Pathfinder,

First of all, have a great trip. This is my favorite area of the park that I've been to.

I did Cedar to Catfish to Hogan to Burntroot and Back to Cedar through the Nip about six years ago. Here's what I remember that might be of interest to you.

Cedar. Big Lake, but really pretty, just be careful of the winds.

Going upstream on the Pet was not an issue in July when we went, May might be tougher but I've heard it can be done. P2345 is an absolute monster, there's no sugar coating it. If you can single carry, that'd be the one I would do it on, because it is pretty nuts. It still stands as the worst regularly maintained portage I've ever done.

Catfish - Beautiful Lake. Everyone's going to talk about the Shangra-la site, and it is good, but if its booked there is a site on the east side of the lake on a rocky point that's also very good.

Manta and Sunfish are very moosey, but are also pretty buggy, so go prepared. The last portage into Hogan is annoying because there are clearings that you think is the lake, but are meadows or bogs and can be disheartening, especially if youre carrying the boat. I don't remember the portage as beng particularly difficult, just long.

I only stayed on Hogan for a night, and it was wet and buggy, so I can't say much about it. However, there is a campsite on the south side of the lake that suckkks! You'll know it if you walk about ten yards back from the campsite and you find a stagnant, mosquito breeding stinky bog. Avoid that one.

And youre also on Burntroot. If you stay there, there's a site on a tiny island thats pretty nice, no bugs. Robinson is a neat little lake, but the P25 at the end is buggy. Really buggy. Like insanely buggy. When we went, I could hear the whine of the mosquitos from a quarter mile out.

Anywho, thats what I remember. We didnt fish so no help there, too bad Bo Knows isnt around because he has a great trip log on almost the same itinerary.

Looking forward to your trip report.


Tenzing

Waterfall on the Pet. It's the 2nd portage upstream of Cedar headed towards Catfish. Check before running

From Untitled Album

Hello Pathfinder,

Very good looking trip, very ambitious. We may run into you on Hogan or Phillips, we have a couple days booked at the same time you do. This spring I am taking a couple of GAP students from Tasmania into the park. We leave on the 10th and should be up to Hogan by the 12th and planned on visiting Phillips Lake as well. I was there about 12 years ago and quite enjoyed my time.

One thing you might consider is going into La Muir instead of the Perley-Sunfish-Newt-Manta route, especially if the bugs are out. You would be on the water more and walking with gear less (approximately 1400m in 2 portages vs. approximately 5000m in 7 portages). If the weather is good and there is a nice westerly breeze, La Muir is a nice paddle and I am certain you will enjoy the fishing opportunities.

Either way, nice trip and we may see on the water.

Coach

Thanks guys!

And thanks for the tips and info Tenzing and Coach!

To be quite honest, the transparent truth is I thought about this alternate route as well. But Chris is the capatin and I'm perfectly fine with what he has ironed out for us. If he decides to take an alternate route along the way, no sweat by me. I'm in the Park, that's what counts.

But yes, I do agree on the Lk La Muir route for two reasons.

1. We will have already passed through this area..
2. More paddling less walking; being on the water is always favorable.

BUT...I am perfectly happy to take whatever route Chris decides. If he changes the plane mid way, that's ok by me too! As I said, he's the captain of this excursion, so I'm quite happy to take instruction and direction from him.

One more sleep! Packed and ready to rock!

Thanks again for the info!

Cheers
Shawn

The only bit I can offer is that when you try to fish Portal Rapids I found it was easiest to access the water from the island. I didn't try the north shoreline but the island had a couple logs you could tip-toe out on and get to some of the larger rocks to fish more open fast water. We caught and released a nice spec there after about a half hour's effort.

3.5 pounder and a 2.5 pounder.....

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Caught in this lake...

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You guys come out early?
How was it? Looks like the fishing was gooood!



Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

Yup, came out early.

The fishing was excellent, when we fished.

I won't be writing a trip log for this one, but will post up my photos and a few comments on them as I post them.

Cheers
Shawn

For the foodies.

Steak diner on the third night...

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Fish diner one evening...

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Chicken on the first night...

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Cheers
Shawn

First two days the weather was incredible...

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Hooked into a nice speck 2 mins after I took this shot...

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Look close, there are some nice specks in the shallows...

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One on at Catfish Raps...

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Catfish raps campsite

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Early morning Philip Lake...

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My 'crib' where I spent the afternoon while it rained on a point I found not far from the campsite. Caught and released 4 nice specks...

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Shangri la campsite...

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Cheers
Shawn

Pathfinder nice pictures. Question on the picture of you cooking the fish. Whats in the jar that you have placed on the fish. Bacon Grease? Just curious if so I'm sure that adds some good flavor

Hey Russ,

That's ghee. Basically, clarified butter. I use it for most anything that requires a fat or butter. It lasts almost indefinitely in any climate.

Cheers
Shawn

Pathfinder
Is that something you make or is it found in the grocery store. I was pre-packing all my meals last night but was using butter flavored shortning or crisco premeasured in zip locks.

If you live in a city with a large Middle Eastern or Indian market you might be able to find ghee. It is clarified butter and very easy to make. Take your butter and melt in a small pot or bowl in the microwave. Once it is compleletly melted let it settle for a few minutes. Skim off the oil on top and leave behind the dairy solids which have settled on the bottom. What you've skimmed off is ghee.

http://www.aayisrecipes.com/2007/05/14/how-to-make-ghee/

http://www.yoga-magazine.net/ghee.htm




Barbara

I had a recipe one time that I had to do something very similar. But I think I goofed and stirred mine since mine did not come out that clear.

jeez, what happened to the nice table and chairs on Shangri la?

Great photos, ahh Philip Lake yes! solitude







Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

Hey Russ,

Sorry for the delayed response. Just returned from an overnighter.

Looks like Barbara has not disappointed, once again. Fred has the idea too. But I skim off the fat not the oil. Same difference. The trick is to make sure you don't burn the little bit of fat that sticks to the bottom of the pot. Keep scraping (use a wooden spoon) as you heat up the oil. I usually do about 4-5 pounds at one time.


Markus,

Not sure about the table and chairs. I don't recall seeing any. And I'm pretty sure that was Shangri La??

Cheers
Shawn