We examined several of the campsites that dotted the shores of Catfish Lake. Occasionally, Gosia would disembark and have a look at a more promising site, only to report insufficient space for our 4-tent, 12-person group. We continued on until we reached a campsite on a peninsula about halfway down the lake. Arn and Gosia had stayed here before, and were convinced it would fit our needs. We checked it out, and indeed it did.
Catfish Lake campsite
There was talk of continuing on to examine the lake's other sites, but it was now around 4pm and most people were hankering to settle down for the day, so we elected to set up camp here. Overall, the lake had been mostly deserted; we had seen only one other camping party.
Trusting the rope
Our campsite was soon transformed from quiet Algonquin lakeside to a busy nest of activity - tent setup, firewood gathering, and lots of play. Nel, Kai, Sophie and Emma immediately sussed out all of the little nooks, paths and crannies around the site, and were soon running to and fro with mad abandon.
I must absolutely bring attention to Kyle and Eveline's determination to swim. Even though it was clear that the late winter, barely-melted out waters of Catfish Lake were frigid, they stripped down to bathing suits and did a quick polar-bear type plunge into the lake. With much yelping and hollering, they quickly climbed back out and dried off.
courtesy JInnes
courtesy JInnes
By 6pm we had set up the tents, made a fire, filtered water, and prepped food. Suppertime followed, and afterwards I spent some time attempting to capture the beauty of our lakeside retreat. That, and watching the kids invent all sorts of weird schemes and situations with a length of climbing cordalette I had lent to them.
courtesy JInnes
Daylight lasts a long time in this neck of the woods at this time of year, and it wasn't until well after 9pm before it started to get really dark. The day's clouds had continued to melt away as the evening had progressed, and now - deep into twilight - the sky was virtually clear. We were treated to a beautiful over-the-lake sunset.
The lack of cover resulted in a quick drop in temperature, and we huddled around the fire to keep warm.
Interactive trackmap with photo points - Cedar-Catfish Lakes Canoe, Day 2 - click map to view
Cedar Lake Campsite to Catfish Lake Campsite
Start Time:
9:18a.m.
End Time:
4:00p.m.
Duration:
6h41m
Distance:
13.32 km
(8.28 mi)
Average Speed:
2.0 km/hr
(1.2 mph)
Start Elevation:
1051ft
(320m)
*
Max Elevation:
1366ft
(416m)
*
Min Elevation:
1033ft
(315m)
*
End Elevation:
1296ft
(395m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
380ft
(116m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
134ft
(41m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
