Training Log Archive: Funderstormin

Earl was pretty sore about missing out on last weekend's adventure, so I promised him we'd spend some quality time together this week. Thursday after work we headed out to Laurel Creek, one of my favourite local hidden gems that is only 10 minutes from my work!

Did a short run on the trails. Is it weird that I loved how hot and humid it was?

C • Yes 4

Hiking out from campsite back to the parking lot. I had another leisurely morning and camp pack-up and really enjoyed this last day of hiking. My pack was a bit lighter and I felt generally more used to carrying it. I can easily see how people adapt to a routine like this when doing longer hikes.

Although the landscape felt pretty familiar to me, I really enjoyed how varied the trails were in the park. There were lots of ups and downs but nothing soul crushing and a few technical sections but they never lasted very long. All of the intersections were well marked and I never worried I was going the wrong way. Sites were huge and private and while food hanging was recommended, there had been no recent bear sightings so I felt very safe wildlife-wise except from that jerk snake Sassafras!

Once I got home and recovered with a couple of nice cold Michigan IPAs, I got out the topo map, marked the route that I had taken and started to plan what I would want to do the next time I go back there!

C • Nicely done! 3

Had a lovely leisurely morning enjoyed coffee in my hammock before packing up and setting out for my next site. I vowed to meander a bit more today than yesterday and enjoy the trails. The weather was perfect - sunny and warm with enough breeze to keep the bugs away.

Arrived at campsite 8 just after lunch to find people on the site I had booked. Eeek, this was one of my fears! There was a family who had booked sites 8A, 8B and 8C for three nights but because I had booked 8B for Saturday they had been moved to 8D for the last night. They asked if I was interested in 8D instead so I went to take a look at it and it was beautiful! It was up on a little ridge overlooking Birch Lake and set well away from the other sites. I set up camp and had a wonderful afternoon collecting firewood, swimming and hammocking. I did discover that 8D was also double booked...with a ton of rat snakes!

Now, I like to think of myself as a friend of wild life but it seemed that everywhere I went, I ran into one of these big fellows. They are harmless to humans but the largest snake in Canada and a constrictor so a little bit imposing to come across: https://www.ontario.ca/page/gray-ratsnake There was one that I swear was taunting me on purpose - I named him Sassafras and yelled at him a few times but he was not the least bit scared of me. When I went to get some firewood, there he was. When I went to hang my food, he was in the tree I wanted to use. What a jerk! Because I have an active imagination I was pretty sure I was going to find him loitering outside of my tent on Sunday morning. Fortunately, I think he was sleeping in.

C • Note to self: keep tent do... 8

I loved the backpacking trip that Mrs. Tiny, Allison and I did in Killarney last year and wanted to get a couple in this year as well, so on February 1st, when the sites for this past weekend opened up, I booked a couple of nights at Frontenac. I'd never been there before which was part of the allure!

Drove up Friday morning and hit a bit more traffic than expected which resulted in a later start than I'd wanted. Thunderstorms were in the forecast so I felt a bit antsy to get to my site (13A) and get set up. I enjoyed the hike and the variation in the trails but didn't dawdle much because the humidity had brought out the FDFs. When I arrived at my site I was thrilled! It was large and private and right on the water. I got everything set up before the thunderstorms came, and when they did, they were quite brief.

Hoofed my hammock out there with me which was totally worth the weight of carrying it. Was able to set it up between two trees right by the water and enjoyed a lot of hammock time!