If you’ve been following my other posts, you know it’s time to push the limits for the annual camping trip. Somehow convinced everyone for a 1,400 km road trip from Toronto to Sleeping Giant. It helped that we had an RV handy this time. Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is on the Sibley Peninsula, just an hour’s drive from Thunder Bay. Established in 1944, the park boasts more than 100km of trials overlooking the vast Lake Superior. But the name speaks to its formation and history. The cliffs on the end of the Sibley Peninsula resemble a human figure laying supine. Ojibwe oral tradition names it as a Nanabijou, a protector who was turned to stone after the location of the silver deposits in the Silver Islet was revealed to Europeans.
Enough history, let’s get to the adventure. We started the trip overnight with ample snacks and company. Gas pitstops were made more tolerable with the sky lit full of stars as we made our way up North. Waking up to the views of the Lake Superior was a nice welcome back feeling. We passed the roads of our previous backcountry trip and continued the trip. Few hours past Agawa, we made our first stop at the Pukaskwa National Park. A beauty of its own, the park covers over 1,878km of boreal forest. It has just rained so the misty clouds swept through the water making the hike a little mysterious. We hiked to through the limestone rocks to the water and enjoyed some wim hof. It was a much-needed break from the drive but time to keep moving. Then it hit us that we may not make it to our destination on time for dinner so you improvise. We pulled out of the highway into a narrow path facing the water, just the right size to fit one RV through and drove down to a beautiful view overlooking the sunset. Needless to say, the food tasted exponentially better with the views. The trip continued and hours later, we reached our destination at 2am in the morning. Some had the energy to set up tent, others crashed inside the RV.
Next day started with good breakfast and freshly brewed coffee. We took off to the lakes and enjoyed the sunlight while canoeing. It’s an activity that requires stamina and sync but once you master the flow, it’s a lot of fun. Soaking in the sun in the middle of the water felt refreshing. We wandered off to the islands nearby and chilled around. One of us decided to be bold and do a solo paddle boarding and somehow ended up in between the two canoes. The trip back was 2 moderately coordinated canoes with a paddle board in the middle. One can imagine how that went down. We enjoyed the rest of the day in the water and went back to the campsite for some classic chicken quesadillas. It was a much-needed relaxed day after the long drive.
Day 3 is re-location time with gears packed for a backcountry camping experience. Never underestimate the power of a good backpack and what you can fit but the price to pay, well your back will have the answer once you arrive. We parked up the RV and started trekking with our gears to the destination. To our surprise, it was quite a smooth path spanning 8km through the base of the mountain. We arrived at our destination, set up shop and chilled around for a bit. Now starts the real journey, to the top of the mountain. We started somewhat late but trekked through the amazing views. At a certain point, the elevations were true testament to how beautiful the view will be at the top. After hours of sweat, grunt and wows, we made it to the top of the giant. Daringly, hopped rocks to witness the vastness of Sleeping Giant. From all across, the trees covered the place like a green carpet with bright blue water overlooking the horizon. The setting sun was magnificent with its rays shining in all directions. I was awed by the sunset and the pure beauty of its essence. We enjoyed some quite time up there and started making our way back a little after sun set. The trip back was daring. Moving through the rocky path in the dark with just the headlights. You can hear the bears move around behind you and see the fresh feces as a proof of their presence. We kept cool and moved as a group slowly but surely. Although it was a dark path, there was something to be enjoyed about as it brought us closer to the nature. You truly feel like a wanderer with all sorts of vulnerability as you trek in the dark in the wilderness. Scary but grounding feeling. Nonetheless, the ramen noodles never tasted so good back at the campsite! Next morning was spent exploring the nearby areas of the campsite and chilling around the water. It started raining on the trek back and it was truly a movie scene come true. The smell of fresh rain water hitting the paths was something to enjoy. It was a challenging trek back as our energy bars dipped low but we took it slow and steady. It was all made better with some house special cinnamon buns and fresh coffee at the nearby coffee store.The night was spent by the RV with some food and drinks. Mayuran’s special burgers hit home for the last night. Quiet night of reminiscing the past few days and how fast they flew by. Next morning was early and as you can imagine there were some grumpy, tired campers but we hit the road and made our way back home.
All in all, it was a challenging yet inviting trip. The destination was beautiful but journey was something to think about filled with many ups and downs. I am proud of all of us for pushing our limits. But the feeling of belonging and sharing is what these trips are about. Learning about oneself and the others you are with makes it an interesting adventure. Nature has a way of reminding us what truly matters in inspiring ways. Until next time!
