Algoma Detours – Cummings Lake, Stoney Creek Ice, Quirke Lake, March 16, 2011
Cummings Lake (I think) Cliffs
Stoney Creek Ice Climbs
Quirke Lake CliffOn the way from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury I made a few detours along side highways. Shaun Parent suggested that I check out some ice routes north of Thessalon, so I went for a drive north of Thessalon along highway 129.
At around the 35 km mark I made the first of many, many roadside stops when I spotted huge cliffs on the far side of Cummings Lake (at least I think it’s Cummings Lake; the sign on the bridge said Tunnel Lake, but I think that was the lake on the other side of the road). The cliff looked really interesting from afar; no idea what it's like close up.
At 60 km north of Thessalon I stopped to drool over the ice climbs at Stoney Creek. The ice there was looking mostly baked out unfortunately. Descriptions for some of the ice climbs at Soney Creek can be found here http://beta.climbingcentral.com/routes.lasso?Section=Routes&NewQuery=Y&Area=Thessalon and here http://www.climbingcentral.com/forums/thread.lasso?SID=5&TID=1484
I then backtracked and drove on highway 546 along the Little White River. Beautiful, beautiful country. I thought I was in the mountains – big hills, big cliffs along a winding river valley.
Finally, I drove south along to Elliot Lake and stopped to gawk at the big cliff on Quirke Lake.
So much ice, so much rock. The more you travel, the more you see, the more there is to do. The wish list just keeps getting longer, not shorter. Ontario road trips anyone?
Danylo Darewych
