This fall and winter is being brightened-up, here at Algonquin Adventures, by a pair of poetry contests .. each with a trio of topics. From October to the end of the year, the topic categories are ...1) The forests and wildlife of Algonquin ... 2) Algonquin in the past ... 3) Tom Thomson and other Algonquin artists.

Our long-time musician and master of Algonquin-lore "Bo" will be judging these contests and bestowing some serious bragging-rights on the winners! So far, there's one entry in each of the three topic/categories over at ... Bo's Poets Contest - 2010 . A fresh set of topic categories will be posted for the first quarter of the new year.

Back in the spring of this year, David Pile ('Jester'), 'Baron' and 'Baron' headed out from the Magnetawan Lake access point for six days, to McIntosh Lake and back .. 2010 End Of May Scout Trip Out of Magnetawan Lake.

"We watched the eastern sky build and noted that the winds, which during the morning and through mid-day had been out of the north, had now started to shift. Eventually we battened down the gear as we saw a blow coming right at us from the direction of Misty. The tarp was pushed almost flat as the blow reached us but we did not get rain."

Earlier this year, David Pile ('Jester'), 'Baron' and 'Czar' headed out from Canoe Lake for seven days, to Otterslide Lake and back .. 2010 The Otterslides, Old Men and Rain .. in which frequent rain, books to read and varieties in the menu played big parts!

".. we heard a loud bell echoing its ring across the lake. It sure brought back some memories. I thought it must be either a wake up bell or a call to breakfast. Some camps just play music or bugle calls on an old record player. But the sound of the bell was classic and it motivated me to paddle harder in order to show the Czar I was doing my best to get him to the Portage Store Restaurant in time for not only a good breakfast, but seconds if he so chose."

Amongst the trip-logs, photographs and poetry submitted to Algonquin Adventures, there have been continued inquiries about the various media involved. This "interest in sharing beauty" may very well be a side-effect of being immersed in the beauty of Algonquin. Or, it could be that this same "interest in sharing beauty" is what brought some of us to Algonquin Park in the first place!

I've conceived of this "sub-site" for those who wish to explore and share in the "arts of sharing beauty". You'll notice the sections' sub-menu links aren't yet active. Check-out the top-menu's "Forums", where you can start discussions in the areas that may interest you. Over this coming winter, I'll refer to the forums' specific topics of discussion and develop the appropriate content in the various sections of the website ...www.algonquinadventures.com/algonquineyes/index.htm

Grant and Blake Dawson headed out for a three night canoe trip to Phipps Lake .. Smoke Lake to Phipps Lake and Back, August 2010, by way of Smoke, Ragged, Big porqupine and Bonnechere Lakes. Grant's account of the trip is well written and chocked-full of great photos.

"Blake set his watch alarm for 03:00 and at 03:00 we both got up and walked down to the rock point at the south end of the campsite. We had a great view of the sky from this point and saw approx. 45-60 meteors per hour. This is really something to see when you are in the park as the light pollution though not completely gone is much less than the rest of southern Ontario where we are from."

The Friends of Algonquin Park have totally redesigned their website. Included amongst its improved and expanded content are additional details about the backcountry access points, their features, permit acquisition locations and hours of operations.

Algonquin Adventures is also very pleased to see that the Friends of Algonquin Park has now joined the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists in promoting Leave No Trace - Canada in their website .. www.algonquinpark.on.ca

Darren Dare has added another trip-log to his website .. Spring 2010 Trip Log. It's of his trip this spring, over the May long weekend - to Daisy Lake out of the Mag (Access #3). He had the honour of initiating an old school friend to the experience of Algonquin's backcountry.

" I’m not one to leave a rookie alone, but since we were on an island I figured it was ok. There were several areas of shoreline near camp that were steep cliffs, so I decided to troll around them to see what I could catch. I wasn’t out for long when the rod bent over and line began pulling out. The fight was short, but exciting and I soon had a 4lb. Laker in the boat .. 'It looks like we’re having fish for supper tomorrow', I yelled .."

Thanks to "Fenwicks" for her "2nd Portage Trip by Jeremy and Fenwicks" from May 22 – 24 of this year ... a 3-day "Smoke Lake - Ragged Lake - Big Porcupine Lake" there-and-back trip.

"The portage was called 'Devil's Staircase', I warned Jeremy. He frowned and gave me the 'now then you tell me?' kind of dirty look. He sighed and picked up the canoe and ventured into this mosquito-infested trail. The slope was not too bad and by no means considered tough for any hiker, but with a canoe carried on your back, I guess that it was.. 'devilish'. Jeremy had his own opinion anyway - he thought the devils were not referring to the steep steps but the mosquitoes."

Announcing the next Algonquin Outfitters / Algonquin Adventures cohosted photo contest ...

Contest Theme: "How to.. Algonquin" - Photos that illustrate how to perform some task in Algonquin Park (eg. how to set up a tent, light a fire, or portage a canoe). To make sure that everyone can enter we will also accept photos illustrating "How not to...in Algonquin Park"

General contest rules & regulations can be viewed here.
For prize and contest entry details, check here.