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Sierra Club Wilderness trips and expeditions
Club:
Sierra Club
Chapter: Michigan (Mackinac)
Group: Central Upper Peninsula (CUPG)
Leader: Michael Neiger, Marquette,
Michigan (Web site; e-mail;
bio)
Type: Wilderness backpacking &
canyoneering expedition
Destination: Upper Agawa Canyon; 11-Mile
Creek Falls & Canyon;
11-Mile Creek sidecanyons; Shannon
Creek Falls;
Austin Lake Mountain and Austin Lake
Fire Tower; Raindrop Lake Falls
Agawa Canyon
Algoma District
Wawa, Ontario, Canada
When: 8 a.m. Friday, September 1 to
late afternoon Thursday, September 7, 2006
Level: Expert-level, high-skills, 30-degree
backpacking
Difficulty: Extremely strenuous; extremely
steep, mountainous, tangled, rocky, off-trail map and compass recon;
multiple swift-water, deep-water river crossings; canyoneering; swamp
crossings
Prerequisites: Participants must have
prior wilderness tripping experience with leader and must be extremely
physically and mentally fit
Fees: $15 (U.S. funds) club fee, payable
to leader at trailhead; $64 (Canadian funds) for round-trip train fare,
Zone 3, aboard Algoma Central Railway, payable to ACR conductor, half
for northbound trip and half for southbound trip; $70 (Canadian funds)
for Crown Land Camping Permits (Note: this fee will likely be waived
if leader is succesful in securing a waiver for same from the Ministry
of Natural Resources.)
Sign-up deadline: Required by August
23
Sign-up process: After thoroughly reviewing
the material presented below, contact
trip leader to sign up. If
this is your first trip with the leader, you should submit a completed
Participant Questionnaire, which is available by e-mail from
the leader (not applicable for this trip).
Trailhead lodging and
assembly location: To be announced by e-mail about a week prior
to trip
Leader: Michael
Neiger, Marquette, Michigan (Web site;
e-mail; bio)
Club: Sierra
Club; Chapter: Michigan;
Group: Central
Upper Peninsula
This 7-day, expert-level fall backpacking and canyoneering
expedition--our 20th Annual Canadian (fall) Backpacking Expedition--will
involve a cross-country trek across the rugged, seldom-travel, eastern
escarpment of the upper Agawa Canyon.
After flagging down northbound Algoma Central Railway
train no. 631 at the Frater siding, mile 102, we'll toss our rucks in
the baggage car and climb aboard for the ride down into the Agawa Canyon,
an eye-popping geological feature and natural wonder. We will have the
conductor, who we purchased our tickets from, stop the train near the
northern terminus of the canyon so we can get off just south of The Gorge,
where the mighty Agawa River is constricted unlike anywhere else in the
canyon.
After hiking through The Gorge and taking in this
thunderous place, we'll swim across the Agawa River and ascend 11-Mile
Creek Falls. From the falls, we'll work our way up the seldom-visited
11-Mile Creek Canyon, exploring the nooks, pools, and waterfalls of this
Agawa Canyon sidecanyon. We may well spend additional time reconning a
couple of the sidecanyons off of 11-Mile Creek Canyon.
Once we climb out of this canyon, we'll explore the
multiple waterfalls along the Shannon Lake Watershed, a tributary of 11-Mile
Creek.
From this point, time-permitting, we'll travel cross-country
and bivouac on the summit of Austin Lake Mountain, taking in the amazing
views from the old, Austin Lake Firetower. We may also explore Raindrop
Lake Falls before crossing the Agawa River and flagging down ACR train
no. 632 for the trip back to our vehicles.
Since the watercourses in this region are largely unbridged,
our unscripted route may require multiple deep-water, swift-water crossings,
several fords of watershed tributaries, steep rocky climbs, and swamp
crossings. Bivouacs will be rough, rugged, cold, and wet, at best, just
as much of our route will be.
This is remote, unforgiving, Canadian bush, so this
trip requires attention to equipment, rations, bivouac gear, physical
fitness, mental health, and land nav skills.
Out route will take us out the remote backside of one
of Ontario's most popular parks, Lake Superior Provincial Park, which
covers nearly 1000 square miles of rugged, wild bush. Hidden within it
are dozens of waterfalls and rapids, pockets of old growth, rocky peaks
and valleys, narrow canyons, an occasional log cabin or lodge, overgrown
logging roads, lakes, rivers, streams, and swamps.
The park lies within the southern section of the Canadian
Shield and its bedrock is composed mainly of ancient rock types that date
2.5 billion years or more. Evidence of ancient volcanic activity, mountain
building, crustal uplift, faulting and folding, often followed by long
periods of erosion, are common.
Several geological features have been identified within
the park. Faults and dikes form narrow chasms in the bedrock in many areas.
A common dike rock is diabase; an intrusive black rock. Eroded dikes and
faults are a common sight along the Lake Superior coast.
The majority of the park is blanketed by transitional
hardwood forests and boreal forests. Over 250 species of birds have been
spotted in the park. A diverse wildlife population includes moose, the
rare woodland caribou, wolves, fox, and beaver.
(Contains material adapted courtesy of Lake Superior
Provincial Park)
- Lake Superior Provincial Park headquarters,
1-705-856-2284, http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/parks/lakes.html
- Lake Superior: 2006
Vistor Information Guide, Lake Superior Provincial Park
- Canoe Routes,
Lake Superior Provincial Park brochure, 2000 edition
- Lake Superior Provincial
Park Map, a 1:100,000-scale map showing portage trails and available
from the Provincial Park at 1-705-856-2284
- A Paddler's Guide to
the Rivers of Ontario and Quebec, by Kevin Callan (Boston Mills
Press, 2003)
- "Paddling Algoma's
Sand River," by Beth and Dave Buckley, Kanawa
(Spring 1996)
- "Early Run on the
Sand River," by Beth and Dave Buckley, Canoe & Kayak
(March 1996)
- Northern Ontario Canoe
Routes, by Ontario Department of Lands and Forests
- Canoe Routes of Ontario,
by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Queen's Printer for Ontario,
1991)
- Canoe Canada,
by Nick Nickels (Van Nostrand Reinhold Ltd., 1976)
- Algoma Central Railway,
1-800-242-9287, http://www.algomacentralrailway.com
- "Railpacking,"
by Don Stap, Backpacker Magazine, September 1985, pp. 48-49.
- Backpacking and Wilderness
Camp Site Areas in Algoma Central Country, undated 3-page photocopy
by Algoma Central Railway.
- Hiking Trails,
Lake Superior Provincial Park brochure, 2001 edition
- The Complete Guide
to Walking in Canada, by Elliott Katz (Firefly Press, 2001)
- Exploring Superior
Country--The Nature Guide to Lake Superior, by Craig Charles
(1992, NorthWood Press, Inc.)
- Voyageur Hiking Trail
Guidebook, (Voyageur Trail Association, 1998)
- Agawa Ice Climbing
Map, (Granite Publishing, 1999) http://www.climbingcentral.com
- Algoma Central Railway,
by O. S. Nock (A. C. Black Limited, 1975)
- Tracks of the Black
Bear, by Dale Wilson and Gordon D. Jomini (Nick Belt Rails,
1990)
- The Algoma Central
Railway Story, by Dale Wilson (Nick Belt Rails, 1984)
- Forest Trails: Mile
by Mile, by Rick Vosper (Algoma Central Railway, 2002)
- Ice Climbs of the Lake
Superior Region--A Compendium, edited by Don Hynek (Granite
Publishing, 2000) [Agawa Canyon and Montreal River Gorge, pp. 133-172]
- Guide to Sea Kayaking
on Lakes Superior and Michigan: The Best Day Trips and Tours,
by Bill Newman, Sarah Ohmann, and Don Dimond (Globe Pequot Press, 1999)
[Lake Superior Provincial Park, pp. 174-181]
- Up the Creek: A Paddler's
Guide to Ontario, by Kevin Callan (Boston Mills Press, 1996)
[Coastal route, pp. 118-123]
- Search destination in http://www.google.com
search engine
- Ontario Provincial Police, Wawa, 1-888-310-1122
- Ambulance, Wawa, 705-856-4203
- Hospital, Wawa, 705-856-2335
- LSPP Red Rock Lake Headquarters, 705-856-2284
- Algoma Central Railway, 1-800-242-9287
- Sierra Club Outings Department 24-hour help
line: 1-888-outings
- Trekker must be 18 years old or older
- Trekker must be drug-free and a non-smoker
and non-drinker
- Trekker must practice low impact travel and
bivouac skills, leaving alcohol, pets, and speaker radios at home
- Trekker must have prior wilderness tripping
experience
- Trekker must be fully equipped with
lightweight gear including rucksack, bivouac gear, survival gear,
foul-weather gear, rations, stove, etc.
- Trekker must by very physically fit
(good aerobic endurance)
- Trekker must have a strong mind and
an adventurous spirit
- Trekker must be comfortable around water and
a proficient swimmer
- Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped
to travel off-trail and bushwhack through challenging, thickly-forested,
mountainous terrain with a fully-loaded rucksack
- Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped
to slog through muddy, wet, tangled swamps with a fully-loaded
rucksack
- Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped
to ford or swim unbridged rivers and lake narrows with fully-loaded
rucksack, wrapped in a tarp, floating alongside.
- Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped
to travel and bivouac in foul weather.
- Trekker must be able, willing, and equipped
to travel and bivouac in very remote areas, far from roads, dry
& level campsites, potable water, toilets, and fire rings.
- Notice:
please review the homepage on this Web
site for general wilderness tripping requirements
- Hypothermia warning:
I have had to intervene on several cases of hypothermia in the past,
5 times in one year alone. These incidents were largely the result of
trippers who were trying to go ultra-light and were not carrying the
multiple, redundant layers of clothing that I recommend. Reversing hypothermia
takes hours of work on the part of others on the trip--a lot more work
than is required to pack a couple extra pounds of warm clothing.
- State Land bivouac advisory:
Anyone camping on land owned by the State of Michigan is required by
law (Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Sec. 74201 et
seq., P.A. 451 of 1994) by the Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) to post a Camp
Registration Card (Form no. PR 4134) at their campsite. This permit--which
is free--must be filled out in pencil (to make it legible when wet).
Since the permit (view
permit as PDF file) is perforated and made of heavy cardstock to
withstand weathering, it can not be reproduced. These 8.5- by 11-inch
permits can be picked up from any Michigan
DNR office, or they can be ordered by e-mailing the DNR at DNR-FMD-TREES@michigan.gov.
While these permits are usually provided by the trip leader, you should
consider obtaining one when you are camping on your own, especially
the night before the start of a Sierra Club trip. There is a substantial
fine for not posting a Camp Registration Card.
- Crown Land bivouac advisory:
Anyone non-resident camping on land owned by the Crown-- the Canadian
government--outside of a provincial or national park, must purchase
a Crown Land
Camping Permit, which costs $10 Canadian per day, per person. These
permits are widely available through local outfitters and stores that
sell hunting and fishing licenses. They can also be purchased from the
Ministry
of Natural Resources. Waivers for these camping permits are available
for non-profit groups such as the Sierra Club, and are often applied
for by the trip leader a month or two in advance of a trip.
- Long-term parking advisory:
Reduce problems by keeping your car locked, relatively empty, and uninviting.
ALWAYS USE A LOCKING GAS CAP (they are very inexpensive [$10-15], especially
when compared to the alternative of a vandal ruining your engine or
emptying your gas tank miles from the nearest gas station).
- Sierra Club Liability Waiver Form:
National Sierra Club Policy requires that all trip participants read,
understand, and sign the club's liability waiver form before they can
participate in a club trip. Review and familiarize yourself with this
form--Acknowledgment of Outing Member
Responsibility, Express Assumption of Risk, and Release of Liability--before
the trip.
- Allergies to bee stings: If
you are allergic to bee stings, you must notify the leader in advance
of the trip. You must also agree to carry an injectable epinephrine
unit, such as an EpiPen or Ana-Kit, as prescribed by your doctor.
- Prohibition on cotton clothing: No
high-cotton-content clothing--save a bandana or two--is allowed to be
worn or carried in your rucksack for safety reasons. When wet, cotton
is hard to dry and can be deadly as wearing cotton clothing often leads
to hypothermia. Wool or synthetic clothing fashioned from nylon, supplex,
polypro, fleece, or microfibers are much safer and easier to manage
in foul weather.
Top
Sierra Club wilderness tripping and expeditioning--especially
remote, foul-weather travel, bushwhacking cross-country, cliff and steep
slope travel, climbing, cave exploration, river fording, swimming, canoeing,
portaging, skiing, snoeshoeing, winter camping, ice crossing, etc.--involves
unknown and unpredictable hazards and perils.
- A participants failure to physically train
and mentally prepare oneself for a harsh Sierra Club wilderness trip;
acquire the necessary skills and equipment for the trip; and recognize,
take responsibility for, and avoid the unknown and unpredictable hazards
and perils that often present themselves on such a trip will likely
result in the serious injury, paralysis, or slow, painful death of the
participant. There is no emergency medical equipment, doctor, nurse,
or other trained emergency medical provider on Sierra Club wilderness
trips.
- There is no means of contacting emergency
medical personnel or rescue personnel on Sierra Club wilderness trips.
Emergency communications equipment, cell phones, satellite phones, GPS
units, and satellite beacons (ELTs, PLDs, & EPIRBs) are not provided,
and can't always be relied upon when they are carried.
- Search and rescue services, emergency medical
care, and evacuation of the non-ambulatory may be very difficult and
costly to arrange; in some cases, the wait could be very long, painful,
and fatal. On wilderness trips through remote areas in Michigan and
Canada, it may take several days of rigorous travel by uninjured volunteers
before emergency personnel can even be contacted for help.
Prior to undertaking a wilderness trip or expedition,
it is highly recommended that a participant have a comprehensive health
checkup, which should include a:
- thorough physical exam
- stress test
- dental examination
Prior to undertaking a wilderness trip or expedition,
it is highly recommended that a participant obtain the proper insurance
coverage, including:
- medical insurance
- prescription insurance
- dental insurance
- evacuation insurance
- trip cancellation insurance
- disability insurance
- life insurance
Vendors for trip, medical, and evacuation insurance
include:
- GPS Personal Locator Beacons that integrate
GPS position fixes with 406MHz and 121.5MHz transmitters:
- Personal Locator Beacon Rentals:
- Satellite Phone Rentals:
- Survival kit:
An in-pocket (on-your-person) survival
kit (knife, waterproof matches, firestarters, compass, and whistle)
is highly recommended. Sierra Club loaner survival kits are available
from the club stores for free by prior arrangement.
- Fire-proof stove base:
Carry a heat-resistant, fire-proof stove base to prevent ground fires,
which have been a problem in the past.
- River-fording gear:
River-fording footwear, pack towel, and shorts are mandatory
- Water containers:
Containers to hump 4 quarts of water are mandatory
- Water supply: Bring
an adequate amount of water to the trailhead as there is generally no
water available.
- Safety
glasses: It is highly recommended that some form of eye protection--safety
glasses--be worn while bushwhacking.
- Equipment waterproofing:
To keep your gear dry during foul weather or when floating rucksack
(wrapped in a tarp) across a river or other waterway, the main compartment
should be lined with a huge heavy-duty "contractor" grade
plastic bag. Critical items within the "contractor" bag, such
as clothing, sleeping bag, and rations, should be further protected
from moisture by lining the stuff sacks containing these items with
heavy-duty "garbage compactor" bags. Avoid using regular garbage
bags as they tear to easily. A waterproof rain cover should enclose
the pack when it is raining or while it is being floated across a waterway.
- Hydration and snack
consumption on trail: It is recommended that you carry a water
bottle and snacks on your waistbelt in separate pouches so you can snack
and sip water while underway. Snacking and drinking water are essential
for avoiding dehydration, hypothermia, and exhaustion when things get
challenging, especially late in the date or during foul weather. Sierra
Club loaner snack pouches and water bottle carriers are available from
the club stores for free by prior arrangement.
- Canadian trips:
- Canadian money: You
may want to consider getting Canadian money from your local bank
before the trip, or using one of the money exchange services located
in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, if they are open when you cross the
boarder. Currency exchange calculators on the Net include XE.com:
Universal Currency Converter http://www.xe.com/ucc/
or X-Rates: Canadian dollars exchange rate http://www.x-rates.com/cgi-bin/show
- Gasoline: You may
want to consider topping off your gas tank, before you cross the
border, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
- Identification: Bring
appropriate identification with you to reduce problems getting into
Canada as well as back into the United States. If you don't have
a visa, a copy of your birth certificate can help establish your
identity.
- Breakfasts--6
(Friday morning is restaurant stop)
- Snacks--7
- Lunches--7
- Dinners--6
- Backup rations--1 full day (breakfast,
snack, lunch, dinner)
Measure, weigh, and triple
check your rations. You should be carrying about 1.75-2.75 pounds of dry
weight food, or about 2700-4500 calories of food per day, depending on
your body weight and exertion level. It is recommended that you avoid
"bulk" packaging and instead pack each meal serving individually
in its own, separate plastic bag. This system has the following
advantages over putting all of your snacks, say nuts for the whole trip,
in one bag:
- You'll know for sure at home
(visually) that you've packed enough food;
- In the bush, you'll now exactly
how much to eat without eating into another days rations; and
- You will further reduce the
chances of your food getting ruined if moisture penetrates the food
bag itself as the moisture will still have to work its way into each
and every single, individual meal unit.
Meticulous ration planning,
measuring, and packaging is tedious but essential for safe & successful
long-range recon of remote wilderness. Additional menu planning information
is available on the rations and stoves page.
[ ] Waterproof matches
[ ] Waterproof firestarters
[ ] Sturdy pocket knife
[ ] Compass
[ ] Whistle
[ ] Map of area
[ ] Elastic ankle wrap
[ ] Moleskin
[ ] Vaseline
[ ] Band-Aids
[ ] Waterproof first-aid tape
[ ] Pain relief medication
[ ] Anti-inflammatory medication
[ ] 20 feet of 1/8-inch braided nylon cordage
[ ] Duct tape
[ ] Sewing kit
[ ] 1 very thin balaclava
[ ] 2 thick hats that can be worn together
[ ] 1 pair of sun glasses
[ ] 1 pair of safety glasses (for bushwhacking)
[ ] Prescription glasses (spare if important)
[ ] Bandana
[ ] Sun hat (optional)
[ ] Rain hat (optional)
[ ] 3 or 4 thin polypro tops
[ ] 2 1/4-inch thick fleece or micro-fiber-insulated jackets.
[ ] 1 1/4-inch thick fleece or micro-fiber-insulated vest
[ ] 1 thin breathable nylon shirt
[ ] 1 nylon rain parka (no vinyl; no ponchos)
[ ] A heavily-insulated parka with hood is advisable on early spring
and late fall trips
[ ] 1 pair of mittens
[ ] 1 or 2 pair of 1/4-inch thick fleece or micro-fiber-insulated
pants (sidezips are very handy)
[ ] 1 or 2 pair of polypro long underwear
[ ] 1 pair of thin nylon hiking pants
[ ] 1 pair of nylon rain pants (no vinyl)
[ ] 1 pair of hiking/swim shorts
[ ] 1 pair of sturdy boots
[ ] 3 pair of thick synthetic socks
[ ] 2 pair of liner socks (optional)
[ ] 1 pair of short gaiters (optional)
[ ] 1 pair of river fording shoes/sandals
[ ] 1 large rucksack lined with contractor-grade
plastic bag
[ ] Raincover
[ ] Waist belt water bottle parka
[ ] Waist belt snack pouch (optional)
[ ] Tarp and bivy; or small tent and cook fly
[ ] Stakes and ropes to rig tent or tarp
[ ] 20 degree sleeping bag
[ ] Sleeping pad
[ ] Sleeping booties (optional)
[ ] Flashlight (LED is recommended)
[ ] Spare battery
[ ] Candle
[ ] 1 bottle of 100% DEET
[ ] 1 spare bottle of 100% DEET
[ ] 1 headnet
[ ] 1 spare headnet
[ ] 2 one-quart durable water bottles
[ ] 1 two-quart water bladder
[ ] Water purification system (iodine tablets recommended)
[ ] 1 spare bottle of iodine tablets
[ ] Lightweight backpacking stove
[ ] Fuel for stove (five to six fuel tabs per day for Esbit Nato stoves)
[ ] Lighter
[ ] Windscreen for stove
[ ] Fireproof base for stove
[ ] Pot holder
[ ] Pot
[ ] Lid for pot
[ ] Spoon
[ ] Mug
[ ] 50-foot food-hanging rope (use cheap, hard, 1/8-inch-diameter, slippery
rope)
[ ] Personal medications
[ ] Driver's license
[ ] Birth certificate and/or passport (recommended for Canadian trips)
[ ] Emergency phone numbers
[ ] Credit cards
[ ] Cash and travelers checks
[ ] Medical and dental insurance cards
[ ] Sunscreen
[ ] Lipbalm with sunblock
[ ] Wrist chronograph
[ ] Paperback book (optional)
[ ] Toilet paper
[ ] Synthetic pack towel
[ ] Toothbrush
[ ] Toothpaste or toothpowder
[ ] Toothpicks & dental floss
[ ] Handcleaner (optional)
[ ] Plastic spade (optional)
[ ] Extra car key on lanyard
[ ] Vehicle registration papers
[ ] Vehicle insurance papers
[ ] Locking gas cap
[ ] Battery in good condition
[ ] Road map (Michigan 1-800-292-2520; Canada 1-800-268-3736)
[ ] County map book of Michigan (1-800-777-6720)
[ ] Spare tire (check pressure!!)
[ ] Tire jack and lug nut wrench
[ ] Shovel (spade in summer)
[ ] Vehicle Safety Checks: tire pressure, wiper blades, wiper fluid,
oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid
[ ] Jumper cables (optional)
[ ] Nylon tow strap (optional)
[ ] Axe (optional)
[ ] Bow saw (optional)
[ ] Hi-lift bumper jack (optional)
[ ] Hand-operated winch (optional)
[ ] Pick axe (optional)
More equipment information
- 1:50,000 Grey Owl Lake 41N/8 Canadian Topographic
Map
- 1:50,000 Blackspruce Lake 41N/9 Canadian Topographic
Map
- 1:20,000 20-16-6800-52500 Ontario Base Map
- 1:20,000 20-16-6800-52600 Ontario Base Map
- 1:20,000 20-16-6900-52500 Ontario Base Map
- 1:20,000 20-16-6900-52600 Ontario Base Map
- 1:20,000 20-16-7000-52600 Ontario Base Map
- Topo map ordering
info, waterproofing
info, & GPS prep info
County map ordering
information
- Grid coordinate system
1000-meter Universal
Transverse Mercator Grid (UTM)
- UTM grid horizontal map datum:
1927 North American
Datum (NAD 27 CONUS) for Michigan trips
1927 & 1983
North American Datum (NAD 27 CA & NAD 83) for Canadian trips
- UTM grid zone:
Zone 16
- UTM grid hemisphere:
Northern hemisphere
- Unit of measure:
Metric
- Battery type:
Lithium, for deep
cold, or long-range use
Alkaline, for
3-season use
- Battery type setting:
Select type of
battery (lithium, alkaline, or Ni-Cad);
battery discharge-rate
differences affect meter accuracy
GPS
configuration information
- Roamer UTM plotter scale(s):
1:24,000 &
1:25,000 for Michigan trips
1:20,000 &
1:50,000 for Canadian trips
- Ranger pacing
beads:
Metric--9 100-meter
beads; 4 1-kilometer beads
- Magnetic declination setting on compass:
0° of offset
Land
nav team information
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