Here is what I was up to. Barry, It would be appreciated if you would turn this into one of the triplogs (just copy and paste). Thanks either way.

Tattler Lake Hilton

Father-son trip
Bernie and Aaron Weber

Monday, July 13th.
For a week, the weatherman had said Sun with a bit of clouds. 10% chance of rain.
They lied.
We put off at 12:40. Farm Lake and Kitty Lake were nice to us. The portages were moderate, although we had to double back. When we got to Booth Lake, the wind picked up. All I could think was Is that rain over there? Yep. We fought the wind on Booth, which slowed us down, but we were both experienced enough to keep the canoe from rocking.
When we rounded the bend on Tattler Lake, I swear I saw a beam of light from the heavens shining down on the cabin. We then paddled with all our strength to get out of the wind and rain and seek refuge. We arrived at 5:11, a 4 hour and 31 minute trip in.
We got inside, and the cabin was beautiful. After some exploring, we found out that there are bats hanging in the overhang outside the cabin. A cow moose and her calf were eating in the marshland 100 metres infront of the cabin; quite a sight to see. We went to bed early.

The Cabin outside


Inside the Cabin



The Spring


Tuesday, July 14th
I tried my hand at fishing, and broke my rod! As far as everyone else is concerned, it was on one of the monsterous pike that Tattler Lake holds.
We spent most of the day cutting firewood for the week and lounging about. We discovered the foundations from a logging camp across from the crapper. We had a mostly sunny day with a light rain every now and again. The two moose appeared again, with two more down at the River end of the lake.

Views from the site





Wednesday, July 15th
We went up Opeongo River way. About 100 feet away from the cabin, I see a little snake in the canoe! Poor guy. We put him on the shore and headed back towards the river. We went up to the 600m portage and turned back, although we could have easily waded through it. No campfire tonight, too wet!

The Cabin and Peston behind it


Thursday, July 16th
Overnight, we had gotten two mice. One we caught with the mousetrap rigged with meat, and the other beaten with a paddle. There was rain in the early AM. In the afternoon, we went out to look for the Tattler-Booth Crib, but we had no luck. We saw lots of loons, though. Went in early from the campfire, the bugs ( mosquitoes and deerflies) were worsening by the day, and were especially bad).


Friday, July 17th
We caught 4 mice so far now. We went fishing in the early morning, and I caught a 15 Smallmouth Bass who was used for supper. However, he broke the remedial repairs done to my rod. Oh Well. We had rain, so no campfire.

Fish


Bull Moose seen that day


Saturday, July 18th
Make that 5 mice. During the night, a bat snuck in through a hole in the cabin. We tried to convince him to leave, but he was too fast. Figuring that he had left, we then patched the hole with some newspaper. We planned on canoeing to Booth Lake to look at the Chipmunk Lake portage and the cabin remains that are apparently along the trail, but the sun-right-now-then-rain-in-30-seconds weather that we were having convinced us not to. Instead, we read some of the journals that people have left in the drawers and in the cabinet, telling of their stays. There were some dating back to 1994. (Markus: I know where you were November 25th, 2007!)

View at dusk


The Resident Groundhog


Sunday, July 19th
We were bugged by the now trapped bat half the night. I grabbed the broom, swatted him to the ground, and swept him outside, where he flew off. He had kept us up since 3:00, and now it was 5 and the sun was rising...great. We somehow managed to sleep for about an hour, then got up. Being our last full day, we looked around a bit more. I discovered some remnants of the original Findlay-Norway cookstove on the West side of the cabin, and there are more in the big grassland to the south. Definitely worth a look. We also took a look at the logging building remains, and there is another foundation just up the hill from the other one. Also worth a look.
Along the trail to the freshwater Spring, there is a small trail veering off that takes you to a logging road, then across it the trail continues to what is presumably the site of the old Fire Tower at Preston. I, however, did not go all of the way. Started to do the daunting task of packing., as we wanted to leave early in the morning.

Stove Remains



Ruins




The Last night; still waters


Monday, July 20th
We ate out breakfast, then took off in the Canoe at 8:00AM. The weather was perfect! We passed some people on Booth Lake, then we met the people renting the Kitty Lake Cabin at the Kitty Lake portage. They were two men (looked like brothers in their early 20s). They were nice people, but I didnt catch their names. We reached the Access point at 11:15AM, after a 3 hour and 15 minute trip. We headed out to Madawaska, then through the Highway to look at the Cache Lake Historic Exhibit. We then went to my sisters place near Cobourg, ON. I then stayed the next two days, fishing with my uncle on Rice Lake.

Last Morning on Tattler


Booth Lake


ALL IN ALL: It was a great trip! Well never go back to car-camping along the corridor! We liked the solitude.

WILDLIFE SEEN ON THE TRIP:
-3 cow moose, 1 calf, and 1 bull
-Loons and their babies
-Huge snapping tutrle
-Groundhog
-Herring Gulls
-Ravens
-Snakes
-Hummingbirds.

And Barry, for the PCI

Tattler Lake Cabin
-14x16x9 (to the eaves)
-Corner Cabinet and drawer in table have journals and trip logs of renters, as well as rainy day reading and helpful items (like toilet paper)
-The remains of a logging camp are in the cabins immediate area
-The hatch in the floor leads to a cool, rock-lined hole originally used as a chiller for food.


Aaron Weber
aka "Trainman"
Take everything as it comes; the wave passes, deal with the next one. -Tom Thomson

Hey trainman,

Looks like you two had a good time. That bull moose looked fabulous - what a healthy looking specimen. Breaking a fishing rod is par for the course as you get further and further into the interior and we usually bring five rods for two guys. By the end of the trip something's always wrong with one of them, whether the handle fell off on a portage or dangerously low on line or the tip snapped off and the list goes on and on. The next step is to get into a tent or hammock at night, that way you won't have to worry about a few rodents crawling over you as you sleep!

I've never seen much appeal in car camping, myself, but I certainly understand for those who are physically unable to make it into the backcountry that it's a viable alternative. It's like visiting the world's best brewery and just taking a sip. I'm a "gimme a couple cases of that" kinda guy. I'm certainly that way when it comes to Algonquin. With as many nights that you spent this year in the cabin you can get pretty far in and see some remarkable landscapes and historical sights.

Thanks for posting!

Looks like it was a good trip... I've often thought about staying in one of those cabins in the winter... snowshoeing in. That would be fun too.

Laurie
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.outdooradventurecanada.com
www.wildernesscooking.com

That would be illegal. The backcountry cabins in Algonquin Park are not reservable after the thanksgiving long weekend.
Pity though, I've wanted to do something like that myself.



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

ahhh forgot my manners...

Trainman! Awesome report and photos there sir!
really cool to see the old work camp remains, funny to see all those trees growing up in the middle of where the cabin used to be.
Nature always wins.
Thanks again



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

well that's a bummer Markus.... it would have been awesome to snowshoe into one.

Laurie
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.outdooradventurecanada.com
www.wildernesscooking.com

Bummer indeed. That' the problem with living in Ontario....we are not allowed to enjoy ourselves.
Seems the word "Fun" in Ontario is illegal too. Just my 2 pennies.




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

Thanks Trainman for this report.
I'm heading into the cabin for a few days during the second week of August.
The cabin looks like it is in great shape. Does the Canada flag come with the cabin or did you guys bring it in? I spent a few days there in June of 2004. The window screens were in pretty poor shape then and the bugs were pretty thick. We went through half a roll of duct tape patching the screens but we had a great time. From your photos it looks like the screens are in good repair now.
I have a question for you about the side trail to the logging road.
Is it a far distance between the main trail ( the one leading to the spring) and the logging road and is that side trail easy to follow?
It would be nice to hike up to the old fire tower site but I suppose it would be quite a climb.
If the trail is reasonably easy to follow I'm sure the view would be worth it.

Martin

Yes, the flag comes with the cabin. I wanted to bring one to put up, but when I got there there was already one!

About the trail, it is difficult to follow in most parts up to the logging road, although someone did try to mark it at one time. If you real the one journal in the desk, they provide a little map as to where it is.

Aaron Weber
aka "Trainman"
Take everything as it comes; the wave passes, deal with the next one. -Tom Thomson