It was mid September and
time for a quick getaway canoe trip with Jan and the dogs, but where to go on
short notice? Well, Killarney Provincial Park is close and quick as we live in
Sudbury, so with a call to the reservation system we managed to get 3 nights on
David Lk and a night on Johnnie Lk. Perfect, a trip with minimal paddling and
portaging and a chance to relax and hike up to Silver Peak. We left Sudbury on
Wednesday and after picking up our permit at the park office we backtracked to
the Bell Lk access point and we're on the water by 11:15. A quick paddle down
Bell Lk. gets us to the portage into the creek connecting Bell and David lakes. We had
a quick lunch after completing the portage. Another short paddle to the portage
into David and we 're off to find a campsite. Some canoeing friends had
suggested that campsite 101 was a nice site with a view of the setting sun and
fortunately it was not occupied so we set up camp.
The next day dawned with
the threat of rain in the air and overcast skies. After a leisurely breakfast
and generally lazy morning it began to rain just as we were about to go for a
hike on the ridge behind camp; so we spent most of the day under the tarp
drinking tea and reading books. The rain finished in the late evening before we
retired and with the next day's promise of better weather, we made our plans to
hike up to Silver Peak.. After breakfast we gathered our day packs, cameras,
binoculars and a lunch and launched the canoe and headed to the west side of
David for the portage into Boundary Lk. This portage also connects to the
hiking trail up to Silver Peak. The morning started out cool and without a
cloud in the sky, a great day for hiking. It is a strenuous hike to the peak
and the trail passes over and along exposed quartzite ridges and through forested
areas. The trail climbs up and down for approx 2 km or so and then steadily
climbs to the peak. In all it took us a little more than 2 hours from David Lk
to the top at a fairly steady pace. The elevation change from David Lk to the
peak is about 300 metres. Once on top the effort it takes is well rewarded with
stunning views in all directions. We could see Georgian Bay and Manitoulin
Island to our south and west, the town of Espanola and of course Sudbury and
the stack at Inco's smelter. The vistas are stunning with the white quartzite
ridges contrasting with the greens and blues of the forest and lakes.
Saturday arrived with
sunny and clear skies and we packed and headed off to Johnnie Lk through the
portages from David to Clearsilver Lk and then into Johnnie Lk. We met several
groups of people along the trails and lakes all heading to Silver Peak for the
day. We stayed at campsite 63 on Johnnie Lk., a large site nestled into a stand
of Hemlock facing the west. In the morning with the threat of rain again, we
packed and headed for the takeout on Bell Lk. A quick paddle, portage and
loading of gear and dogs we head for home just as the rain starts. A quiet,
relaxing trip for sure, Killarney a place of rugged beauty and diversity, a
place to continue to explore.
Slideshow
No comments:
Post a comment