Lawren Harris and Pic Island

Debbie and I planned on spending 5 days in Neys Provincial Park and I was excited because there were a few Group of Seven possibilities in the area. 

The first location was in the park.  Research showed me that there was a hike that went up to a spot very close to where Lauren Harris painted the sketches for his Pic Island paintings. I was told that it was 4.5 kilometers each way and although uphill all the way to the lookout it was good footing and an easy walk.  I was also told that there was a storm heading our way but it wouldn't arrive until about 5 pm.  It was only about 10 am so I knew that I had lots of time to hike up paint and hike back down.

  

When I finally arrived at the top I found another one of the Algoma Group of Seven installations with images of paintings of Pic Island by Harris, Arthur Lismer and A.Y. Jackson.  I also found a vew that made the long climb well worth the effort.

Here too I came across the only other people that I met the whole afternoon.  A couple of Americans and their very friendly golden retriever.  We didn't chat long because we could hear approaching thunder and they were in a hurry to get off the mountain.  I knew that I had lots of time so I settled in to paint.  I soon realized that the storm was approaching much faster than I had anticipated so I started rushing to get my painting done before it got crazy.

​This was painted in bit of a panic and I am not especially happy with it but considering the massive storm front rushing at me while I was working I probably should be.  The view was incredible and I would have loved to have spent more time up there.  As it turns out the storm passed over when I was almost down off the mountain and all it did was sprinkle a little.  Arrgh!

We are heading back to Neys this summer and I plan on painting from up there again as well as from other Group of Seven locations such as Port Coldwell and Jack Fish if they are still accessible.  Does anyone know how to get to either of these ghost towns?