When my library school friend, Diane, invited me on a trip to ‘Ecolodge’ just outside Algonquin Park, I jumped at the chance to spend three consecutive days out of range of phone and internet. The lakeside lodge is completely off-the-grid, powered by its own micro-hydro construction along a waterfall. The property was once part of a logging mill, but the trails are now used by snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Even lazy me snowshoed around on a -20C morning!
Not shown in the photos below:
playing pictionary with an iPhone timer
eating oatmeal and other yummy lodge meals
sipping wine, scotch, brandy
reading by the woodstove in the (still chilly) lounge
dipping half my leg into the icy hole in the lake after the hot tub
watching the wolves
hiding behind Diane while she conversed with strangers
Peterborough-area landscape viewed through frosted rental car window.
Sawed log.
Logging sign.
Trail marker.
The hike out.
For Eric.
Collaged guitar next to dishevelled bookshelf.
Stay cozy.
The lounge.
What you can’t see are the gazillion other stars and the forest sihouette.
Night sky.
This weird eggheaded snowman secured the hot tub from wolves.
The only moose we saw was glass.
The communal eating area where I generally dodged conversation with other guests.
View from the lounge.
Hiking without snowshoes.
Tree shadows and us.
Cheers!
Trees in tea.
Yes I packed green tea and ceramic cups.
Somewhere out there was a trail to a lookout, but we never found it.
Fresh snow on a little evergreen.
Curly bark and my shadow.
More curly bark.
Curly bark.
Self portrait with more cold.
Self portrait with cold.
Smiling through the cold.
People tracks.
Busy day.
Tracks from the tree.
More tracks.
Double tracks.
Critter tracks.
Cold sun.
Across the lake to the wrong trail is how we started our Saturday hike. Oh well, still very pretty.
Saturday’s blue skies.
My snowshoe shadow.
Snowshoeing in ninjawear.
Brrrrr!
… through the frost on the window you can see… more cold!
Get ready for what’s outside…
Our room’s window in the morning.
Our pine-walled room.
Bottom bunk.
Top bunk.
Old sign in the lounge.
We did see deer on the drive to the lodge, but this one is on a lamp.
Me reflected in the mirror of our room.
The main (and only) source of heat within the lodge.
Cute birdhouse (looks about as warm as our room).
It started snowing just as we were finishing a short hike around the lodge.
Self portrait with lodge.
Ecolodge at dusk on Day 1.
Diane had warmer clothes than I did.
That way!
The Ecolodge borders Algonquin Park.
Sign marks the beginning of the 30 minute hike to the lodge.
my oh my, looks cold but peaceful as well.
glad you had a great time.
Walking in the woods was really peaceful. No traffic, with the exception of the occasional snowmobile!