Slate Islands to Neys Provincial Park

We arrived to the Slate's on Tuesday about noon, spending 3 windy days at the cabin on McColl Island. We had great paddling conditions for the crossing back to the mainland today. We are now camping at Neys Provincial Park at a site with electricity nestled in with several RV's. We're off to camp near the town of Marathon tomorrow for a food resupply before beginning the most remote section of Lake Superior. I'd not seen the coast between Rossport and Pukaskwa National Park and it was my first time out to the Slate's as well. I love paddling at Pukaskwa but I've not been there since 1997.

...A storm approaching Friday and the morning we left McColl Island...

...Just as we were leaving the Slate Islands .. Heading to Neys Provincial Park with Pic Island in the background...

...Techno mania at the electric campsite at Neys Provincial Park...

Slate Islands

We will only have been out here a few days and strong winds have kept our explorations to a minimum. It's been great for giving my shoulder a rest however. Looks like well be crossing back early Saturday.. 40 knot winds predicted for tonight.

A : See Details(Google Map)

Afternoon/evening paddle

After a lazy day hanging out in the little cabin on McColl Island we decided to go check out the clearing by another cabin and the partially burnt out barge. We also went to have a look at the 'shatter cone'. Our Terrace Bay host, Paul showed us a photo of it and where it was. Good thing as it just looks like another rock cliff but is apparently the largest shatter cone known on earth? It has something to do with a meteor impact. on the way back we saw another caribou in the clearing by the barge but it quickly went into the woods so I didn't get a photo. I guess Amy did get a photo as she decided to hang around and see if it would come back out.

The barge from up in the clearing and from on the water.

Cabin called 'The Devils Roost'... It was nasty not really usable.

See what I mean??

See what I mean?

The largest 'shatter cone' on earth.

Dave with the yummy lake trout he caught..and pan fried. He decided since they'd be kayaking in Ontario waters for such a long time he might as well buy a hand-line and non-resident fishing license.

Camping on McColl Island

I'm not sure of the status of this cabin on McColl Island but it did say 'Come N Rest' on the door. It's nice to be here as we are supposed to have strong winds and we are all cozy inside..updating websites and emailing etc.. Tomorrow we'll get out and explore some things.. The sunken barge, the meteor shatter cone etc..though the wind is supposed to be just as strong and perhaps some rain?

We had a nice breakfast burrito brunch and slept in somewhat...

This place comes with some vary tame Snowshoe Hares. The outdoor campfire was the evening before.. It's way windy today.

I decided to use the little single bed cabin rather than set up my tent.. Though I think my ThermaRest NeoAir air mattress is actually more comfortable.

Caribou of Slate Islands

Many people have heard of the population of Woodland Caribou that live out on the Slate Islands. Currently the population is at about 200 animals. Apparently it's been as high as 600. This population is the southern most heard remaining in a range that used to extend much further south. Hopefully well see some more and get better photos. I have only a short video I took of the ones we saw yesterday but our mobile connection out here is not up to the upload task so that will have to wait.

Slate Islands crossing

Having run into Terrace Bay residents Elenore and Paul was a huge help after discovering all our errands we planned to do would have to wait a day due to Victoria Day.. It allowed us an early start to do our food shopping and we were on our way to the Slate's about 11:30 am. The conditions were quite nice with just a slight headwind an very calm condition. The crossing is about 7 or 8 miles. We saw our first caribou soon after interning the central protected area of the archipelago. I mean hopefully we'll see some more.. We have strong SE wind now a few days and will likely cross back to the mainland Saturday morning?

This is where we ended up camping .. The cabin 'Come N Rest' on McColl Island.

Terrace Bay hosts

Paul and Elenore have been so helpful it's amazing!

Terrace Bay hospitality!

Wow.. Paul and Elenore are so friendly and hospitable. We took showers, are charging batteries, using Internet and now our hosts took off for a dinner with friends ..leaving us the keys to there other car.. We are going out to eat at the only restaurant open, set up camp back on the beach and come back for our techno stuff here and chat a bit more with our hosts.
Elenore even made us a batch of chocolate chip cookies!!