Update on Crossing - January 24th
01/18/2006 - Ottawa, Canada: A motivated and hearty expedition will brave the bitter winter climate and harsh terrain of Algonquin Park from January 15th through February 2nd, 2006.
The group of six men will traverse Algonquin Provincial Park from west to east, using traditional snowshoes. Based on knowns, this trip is a 'first of it's kind’, using this method of crossing the Park during the winter months.
The six-man team includes Canadians Roy Perritt and Dan Willmore and Belgians Bert Poffé, Ludovic Francois, Dirk Michiels and Wilfred Van Gompel. Both Perritt and Willmore are well acquainted with the Algonquin Park region, and are facilitating the expedition.
The team will travel with two 'supplies' toboggans, each weighing approximately 60kg. Each member will also carry their personal backpacks weighing approx 15 kg each -- packed with warm clothing and accessories as well as other supplies and tools required for a trip of this kind.
Covering a total distance of approximately 170km, traveling over frozen lakes & rivers, marshes and trails, they're hoping to average 8km per day (best days).
Among he team’s many challenges are the possibility of encountering thin ice or open water; shoreline cliffs that require navigating; and the risk of extremely cold weather and wind chill factor, which among other things increases the chances of severe frost-bite.
The expedition will end at Barron River on the east side of Algonquin Park, near Petawawa, Ontario. There are two reasons for this trip. The first is the achievement of personal goals based on common passions for the wilderness, outdoors and the natural environment that the individuals on this team share.
The team from Belgium has chosen Canada as their destination due to past experiences of travel within Canada. They have returned to soak in more of its natural beauty and wilderness.
The second goal of the expedition is to raise awareness for SOS Children's Villages, one of the world’s largest child focused charities. Operating in 134 countries, SOS Children’s Villages gives orphaned and abandoned children long-term family based care within supportive communities and the education, training and life skills to help them become active, empowered citizens of the future.
Both SOS Children’s Villages Canada and SOS Kinderdorpen/Villages d'Enfants Belgium are members of SOS Children’s Villages International.
Undaunted by the risks, the Canadian-Belgian team enjoyed a hearty Canadian breakfast (complete with peameal bacon!) and set out on a bright, beautiful morning from Kearney, Ontario at around 9am, Sunday Jan 15th.
They used dog-sleds to get to their starting point, Rain Lake access, located on the west side of Algonquin Park. Resolute in the face of a minus 25 wind-chill factor and the challenges ahead of them, with smiles on their faces and a burning passion in their hearts, the men waved goodbye to friends and departed into the whiteness, stunning beauty and solitude of Algonquin Park.
Update on Crossing - January 24th
Message from Dan Tues, Jan 24th; 8pm:
We expected many challenges with this expedition - poor weather conditions, trees down on the trails, etc....
On our 3rd night, it began to rain. We set up camp but it would take the entire next day to dry out our clothes, sleeping bags and tent.
On the 5th day, the weather remained mild. We broke camp and made up for the delay by covering several kms on the open ice.
On the 6th day, we awoke to 3 inches of snow insulating the slush below. Since then, the slush and ice have been sticking to the bottom of our toboggans, resulting in considerably heavier loads to tow. With these conditions upon us, our progress has been very slow, averaging 3 to 4 kms/day rather than the necessaryrsus the 8 kms per day. For the sake of safety and time constraints (ie return flight tickets) we have changed our course......
Our new destination is Whitney, which remains to be no small feat.
As we continue to push forward for the next 9 days of this 18 day trip, it is our hope that awareness and donations for the SOS Childrens Villages will continue to be raised. The direction of our journey has changed, but our goal remains the same......