A camping we will go

Algonquin Park, Highland Trail, July 2009.

Of all of the things I love to do, camping, specifically backpacking, is my hands down favourite! There is something about bundling everything we need onto our backs and hiking out into the woods that makes me feel so small in the best possible way. A friendly reminder that no matter how large our problems and stress seem, we are just a small and wonderful part of something so much bigger and slower and older than us. Waking up to the sounds of water, a breeze, bugs and birds is the best possible battery recharge to me. Plus that first morning stretch and deep breath of fresh, clean air - absolutely priceless!

In case my weird rambling isn't enough, here are a few nature glamour shots to get your brain thinking summer!

Prequ'île PP, July 2009.

Voyageur PP, June 2013.

Frontenac PP, June 2011.

Algonquin PP, July 2009.

This is the time of year where I start itching like crazy to get out in the bush for some peace and adventure. The urge to go backpacking is even worse this year because, although we have done lots of car camping and cottaging, we haven't been on a proper back packing trip in 2 summers now. Growing and raising a baby is a good excuse but still! This year - we. must. go. and if we can swing it, we'll be bringing Mr. B and Miss N with us this time. Super exciting!

Photo ops on our most recent backpacking trip. Frontenac PP, June 2013.

I'm a little late on the planning front. Reservations for back country campsites at our provincial parks can be hard to come by depending on your destination and your route. I've been holding out though until I was sure that we would have all the gear we need to accommodate 4 people instead of just two. We're most of the way there - just need to figure out the tent. It's a fairly important piece of gear with kids....

Mr. B and Miss N hiking at Charleston Lake PP. Sept 2013.

Since we'll have the kids, well two of them anyway, all of my planning tactics for distance and breaks will need to be thrown at the window. We need somewhere relatively close to the trail head (no more than 2-2.5 hours plus lots of breaks!) and the site must have a decent shoreline for the kids. No circuits for our first family trip, just head in set up for a couple of nights and then head out. Leave lots of time for play and exploring. It's hard to focus on writing this post because I keep zoning out to day dream!

This is my happy spot - a beautiful sunny meadow FULL of blueberries.
Along the trail south of Big Salmon Lake, Frontenac PP, June 2011.

I'm pretty sure that we'll do our first trip at Frontenac Provincial Park. We've been there a few times so we're familiar with the area and the trails. I prefer to backpack during shoulder season when it's just us two grown ups. I don't mind the bugs in the Frontenac area early in the season - it's a small price to pay for the solitude. (The bugs in Algonquin are a different story entirely... My next trip there will be an autumn one!) As much as I don't want to wait though, I'm thinking that late August or early September is probably our best bet with the kids. It'll be drier, a few less bugs and the water will be nice for swimming. We'll likely have neighbours at the site clusters but hopefully they will be nice, normal people and not drunken teenagers canoeing in for the night *fingers crossed*

If you're curious about the park, the Friends of Frontenac Park site is pretty informative. There are a couple of versions of the trails map, as well as descriptions and pics of the campsite clusters. Even if you're not one for backcountry camping, the trails are beautiful and would make great day trips.

I can smell this picture! Super green and a nice break from the sun when you need it.
Northeast of Big Salmon Lake, Frontenac PP, June 2011.

I have a site chosen for us to hike to on Doe Lake and another one chosen that we could canoe to on Big Salmon Lake. We haven't settled yet on which we would prefer. There are definitely pros and cons to both with 2 littles involved but it's more about logistics than them. The kids are both pretty able hikers on the type of terrain we would encounter on the trails there and I'm sure they will be fine in the canoe. We really just need to flip a coin or something and get on with it already lol

The basic map from the Friends of Frontenac Park trails page.

Aside from that, I also need to book a couple of car camping trips. We are trying to go to a different park every trip with a general view of camping in as many of the Ontario provincial parks we can. Unless we win the lottery, we won't be able to hit them all. Too many fly-in only parks up north but I'm sure we can put a pretty good dent in the list of accessible parks! At some point, I plan on adding a page here to keep track of where we've been and maybe house a few of our pics.

Time to go flip that coin and dream of sunny meadows and fresh air!

Are you campers? Have you tried backpacking and where did you go? Where are your go-to places? Feed my addiction for camping stories! Links to trip reports (yours or just good ones you've read) would make for great bus reading for me :)