THANK YOU!! I'm at Hemingway now, and have been wandering around in the dark looking for the bear box. Was about to give up, so glad I found your video first!
First, thank you for making this video. It was great to watch and had really good information. You guys are awesome. My wife and I (early 50's ) both love being in nature,and always tent camped with our kids as they grew up, and thought hiking might be the best way to get back to it all. So we got ourselves some gear and away we went. Jackie ( my better half..no really...) thought it best if we came in from the north on the Mantario Trail and try and get to Ritchie lake. First stop, Hemenway Lake. Start slow... as this is our first real back country hike. Day one; Sep10/16. We arrived at Hemenway in 3 hrs 45 min. We did stop for a bite along the way and enjoyed the view on the east shore of Big Whiteshell Lake. Not too wet so far.... Hemenway is a beautiful spot. We camped for the night, although finding the biffy was a little challenging. ;-) Tried some fishing..well...better luck next time. Next stop, Ritchie Lake; Sep 11/16. Amazing spot.!! Well worth the hike. We camped for the night. Caught a nice Northern Pike. We found lot's of dry firewood, and had a nice supper. The view's are amazing.... Around 9:00pm, stormzilla blew in... The lightning was intense, beautiful. The rain, well we hoped it would stop. It did not. It was still drizzling in the morning. We knew the trek back to the north start would be interesting... Got up early, packed up our wet gear and headed out. Made Hemenway for lunch, and kept on trucking. The low areas of the northern trail were flooded. Nothing like trudging through small ponds. :-) Made the return trek from Ritchie Lake in 7hrs and 15 minutes. Thanks again. Next, the whole 63 kms... Cheers.
Good job! yeah that section between the Crowduck access and the North trailhead can get mucky. It's a real treat when drier. The 2014 video has us slogging thru the muck but 2015 the weather was better but still had rain. Watch the rocks when wet - that lichen turns to grease when the right amount of moisture in on it. Just trust me. Thanks for your kind words - we did have an awesome group in 2015!
We just completed the full hike, South to North. Stop 1: Caribou East. Stop 2: Peggy Lake. Stop 3: Mantario Lake Stop 4: Ritchie Lake. The trail was dry all the way through. With very little mud at the north end. No Mosquitos!!! Favourite site, Peggy Lake. Only downfall is, there is no biffy. So there was "stuff" every where...Hint, please bring a small trowel to bury your droppings. Love your videos. Thank you.
Hi Tristan, While the actual hiking time is going to vary by individual the map notes it is 12.3Km to the East site. For me I think we took about 5-6 hours from Caribou East to the trailhead at Caddy with about a 30 min stop at the airfield. I recall a number of years ago doing a day hike in and out to the west site and it was probably 3 hours each way (no heavy packs!). The map lists the time at 4 hours and 45 mins but that map was made years ago - before the fires and windstorm hit the area.
THANK YOU!! I'm at Hemingway now, and have been wandering around in the dark looking for the bear box. Was about to give up, so glad I found your video first!
That’s so cool to hear. Glad we helped you out!
I did the same last June at Hem lol. Was SO helpful!!
First, thank you for making this video.
It was great to watch and had really good information. You guys are awesome.
My wife and I (early 50's ) both love being in nature,and always tent camped with our kids as they grew up, and thought hiking might be the best way to get back to it all. So we got ourselves some gear and away we went.
Jackie ( my better half..no really...) thought it best if we came in from the north on the Mantario Trail and try and get to Ritchie lake. First stop, Hemenway Lake. Start slow... as this is our first real back country hike.
Day one; Sep10/16.
We arrived at Hemenway in 3 hrs 45 min. We did stop for a bite along the way and enjoyed the view on the east shore of Big Whiteshell Lake. Not too wet so far....
Hemenway is a beautiful spot. We camped for the night, although finding the biffy was a little challenging. ;-) Tried some fishing..well...better luck next time.
Next stop, Ritchie Lake; Sep 11/16.
Amazing spot.!! Well worth the hike. We camped for the night. Caught a nice Northern Pike.
We found lot's of dry firewood, and had a nice supper. The view's are amazing....
Around 9:00pm, stormzilla blew in... The lightning was intense, beautiful. The rain, well we hoped it would stop. It did not. It was still drizzling in the morning.
We knew the trek back to the north start would be interesting...
Got up early, packed up our wet gear and headed out.
Made Hemenway for lunch, and kept on trucking. The low areas of the northern trail were flooded. Nothing like trudging through small ponds. :-)
Made the return trek from Ritchie Lake in 7hrs and 15 minutes.
Thanks again. Next, the whole 63 kms... Cheers.
Good job! yeah that section between the Crowduck access and the North trailhead can get mucky. It's a real treat when drier. The 2014 video has us slogging thru the muck but 2015 the weather was better but still had rain. Watch the rocks when wet - that lichen turns to grease when the right amount of moisture in on it. Just trust me. Thanks for your kind words - we did have an awesome group in 2015!
Marion Lake was my favorite site, what was your favorite Mantario campsite.
We just completed the full hike, South to North.
Stop 1: Caribou East.
Stop 2: Peggy Lake.
Stop 3: Mantario Lake
Stop 4: Ritchie Lake.
The trail was dry all the way through. With very little mud at the north end. No Mosquitos!!!
Favourite site, Peggy Lake. Only downfall is, there is no biffy. So there was "stuff" every where...Hint, please bring a small trowel to bury your droppings. Love your videos. Thank you.
How far of a hike is it to caribou lake if your coming from the south entrance
Hi Tristan, While the actual hiking time is going to vary by individual the map notes it is 12.3Km to the East site. For me I think we took about 5-6 hours from Caribou East to the trailhead at Caddy with about a 30 min stop at the airfield. I recall a number of years ago doing a day hike in and out to the west site and it was probably 3 hours each way (no heavy packs!). The map lists the time at 4 hours and 45 mins but that map was made years ago - before the fires and windstorm hit the area.
12 kms