The Georgian Triangle Snowshoers group were interesting in a winter adventure and followed up on a suggestion to go winter camping in a yurt. Here's their story!
We found out that McGregor Point Provincial Park had some amazing yurts to rent for a weekend. Eleven members of our Georgian Triangle Snowshoers departed from Collingwood (GTS basecamp location) to Port Elgin to spend two evenings in a heated yurt. We arrived at McGregor Provincial Park just as the daylight was leaving and night stars were coming out. The drive through the park was about 10 minutes that lead to our yurts. Around us was a very peaceful and still silence. We had arrived to tranquility. Each yurt comes with it’s own barbecue. The yurts are so neat and once inside they were very cozy. Each yurt had two sets of bunk beds. The bottom bunk on each was a double bed and the top bunks were single beds that in total easily fit four people comfortably. There are many hiking trails, cross country skiing and ice skating at the park. Unfortunately there was very little snow to go snowshoeing at the time yet there is lots of beauty to behold all over the park. One of my friends, Sarah who was staying in our yurt, said the next morning after our first sleep in the yurt and I quote” that was one of the best sleeps I have ever had”.
A yurt is an eight-sided, tent-like structure installed on a wooden deck floor. It can accommodate up to six people and is accessible by vehicle. Each is equipped with electric heat, electric outlet and table and chairs. There's also a fire pit, kitchen shelter, picnic tables and a propane barbeque with a side burner. While your there, cross-country ski or ice skate through the park trails!
The next morning we were ready to cook some oatmeal for breakfast. We got the barbecue fired up and the oatmeal was done in no time. We decided if we could not snowshoe, we were going to go on a 5 km hike . Well despite getting lost and not having any water or snacks, we ended up doing a 16 km hike, I would say we saw every trail in McGregor Provincial Park. We all met at our yurt that evening as we had a couple of picnic tables where we could lay out the wonderful pot luck feast we had planned. 
Even though the temperature that evening was at least –12, we were very cozy by the fire prepared expertly by the two male members of our group. Did I mention that we could plug in our crock pots in our yurts and keep everything warm until we were ready to eat? 
Our final morning we decided to go on a small hike along the water. It was amazing to hike along the shore and see the sand on the beach at the beginning of January. We also got to feed some birds, who would perch themselves right on your hand and eat out of your palm. Amazing! We left McGregor Point with a lot of good memories and a new camping concept. Yurting rocks!
All in all we were very impressed with our yurt adventure at McGregor Provincial Park, it was the kind of experience that brought us all together. No TV, no radio, just good food, good company and a warm fire, what more could you ask for?
MacGregor Point Provincial Park
-Tip: Book reservations for Yurts early!-
Port Elgin ON (519-389-9056)
Bruce Peninsula National Park -Brand new Yurts available-
Tobermory, ON (877-737-3783)
Guest Blog post by: Susan Brindisi
The Georgian Triangle Snowshoers is a recreational snowshoeing group
based in Collingwood, Ontario. It was started in 2009 by Susan
Brindisi. There are currently over a 100 members in the group. 
View Larger Map Posted on: 31/12/69
Read, Write, Review
blog comments powered by Disqus