Solo trip Day 4

Slept in a bit this A.M. the wind was calm and it was pretty quiet. The mist was thick and the dew heavy. Had a slow start with a good breakfast and broke camp by 10:00 AM. Smoothwater was just exactly as the name said. The first day I had seen it like this.

Headed north downriver past the park boundary, thru Lady Dufferin and up to the start point at the Montreal River bridge.

A good paddle in great weather about 9+km. today.

This is a great route to take again, in the summer and extend it south beyond Scarecrow Lake and back up the Lady Eveyln River. Will have to think about this over the winter.

Solo trip Day 3

Waking up to the sound of pouring rain on the tent in the middle of the night just before the final push to the trailhead, not good. It was still raining hours later when it got light. I just put my rainsuit on as I figured it would go on for quite some time. As I opened the tent flap I couldn't even see the lake for fog. Finally standing it was thicker that I expected. The decision now is to push on to the trailhead go to the top of the ridge and not even see the firetower at the top. The alternative was to return north. I had all ready been to the top a few years earlier with Kate on a flyin. Not going up would not break a great trip so far.

The decision to go back north made, I broke camp after a quick coffee and some breakfast and paddled the reverse of the day before.

There was a slight wind from the south which I hoped would still be there when I reached Smoothwater. Sure enough the wind was blowing from the south all the way up to the gravel bar at the very top end of Smoothwater where I made camp. This had taken all day to get there and most of the time it was raining and foggy. I made the correct decision to come back north.

The gravel bar was a great spot for camping, flat, and open with a breeze to keep the bugs away. There was even a thunderbox donated by the Millineum loo crew (I tip my had to them).

As the day wound down the sunset was tremendous.

Solo trip Day 2

Up early this morning before the sun comes up. Got to get off this big water before it blows up again. Packing up with the head lamp on, no time for coffee this A.M.

By 8:00A.M. I'm at the portage at the bottom of Smoothwater Lk. The first portage of the trip 815m. of boulders and ups and downs goes into Apex Lake. The next portage 1170m. was flat and well kept, actually made good time here. The whole chain from the bottom of Smoothwater to the top of Mihell Lake took until 4:00P.M. , I figure about 11km. of portages (3 trips each portage) and the paddling in between. Finally took the boat into Mihell for the morning and stayed at the campsite at the south end of McCulloch Lk. Large and spacious. Didn't take long to get to sleep this night either.

Solo trip Day 1

Started out early on Wednesday at the bridge crossing the Montreal River on the Beauty Lake Rd. The sun was shining and the water calm. Into Lady Dufferin Lake where my dentist has a historical log cabin. Built in the early 1900's during the height of the logging era and used as a getaway and somewhat of a brothel for entertaining clients.

Moving further south past the park boundry and finally into the top end of Smoothwater Lake there is a gravel bar on the east side where I stopped for lunch. By the time I finished the wind had come up from the south pretty good. Some of the waves were breaking over the bow by the time I got half way down the west side of the lake. There was a peninusla there with a campsite on its southern edge. Not a very good one, looks as though it had recently had a good wind storm go through as there were several trees blown down. Not much room for the tent as a big tree covered the best spot. Lots of firewood laying around. After watching the moon come up it was lites out. I went about 13km. the first day.

Back home again

Got back yesterday afternoon after a pleasant trip from Smoothwater Lake to the landing at the Montreal River bridge on the Beauty Lake Rd. This was probably the easiest part of the trip since I left on Wed the 10th. Warm, sunny with a wind from the south what more could a canoer ask for.
Over the next couple of days I will post a trip report. Have been cleaning the gear and drying it out today. Most of it put away until next season.
Today is Kate's birthday, Happy Birthday again kiddo.

Heading out tomorrow morning

Back in the canoe tomorrow heading for Ishpatina Ridge the highest point in Ontario. This is a solo trip I had planned on the outcome of what I could do on the last trip. Actually I impressed myself enough to do this one.
Will start at the Montreal River crossing on the Beauty Lake Rd and head south into Smoothwater Lake and then portage and cross several small lakes to get to Scarecrow where the trailhead begins. Will take it slow about 5 or 6 days if the weather is good.
There should be lots of pictures when I get back.

Canoe Trip Day 5

Up early this morning taking some pictures from the campsite, the fog has just lifted and the sun is starting to touch the tops of the trees. The wind is calm and all is so quiet. The fire is on warming us up from the damp morning.

After breakfast we break camp and head south to the portage 280m. into Obushkong Lake, from here we paddle to the west to the trapper's cabin about 6km with a nice breeze from the back to help us along.

Had lunch at the trapper's cabin and decided to head right down to Gowganda. When we turned to go south on the long stretch of Obuskong the wind was right in our faces with the odd wave coming over the front of the canoe. It was a long paddle to the falls at the south end of the lake. A short portage and we were in Edith Lake and the lined the canoes into Burke lake, the last of the trip. Paddling toward the far south end of Burke Brian and I got out and walked into town to pick up the vehicles and bring them back to Burke to load up.

We had all talked about a cold drink so picked some up at the house and had them when we were loading the canoes and equipment to take home.

It was a great 5 days the weather cooperated, great to be on the water especially canoeing as you see so much more of the land and the solitude cleans your soul.

Canoe Trip Day 4

Broke camp this morning about 9:30 am and headed south for the first portage of the day, this is at the falls where we caught fish for supper. Up the Montreal River for about 2km and another portage, this one around 650m. Another 600m. of paddling and another portage this one 430m. and into Crotch Lake. This is where we will make camp for day 4, on an island in the middle of the lake. This was about the best one we had, lots of room, and even found a thunderbox among the blowdowns.

Canoe trip Day 3

Left Sisseney Lake by 10:00am, we didn't have far to go and wanted to do some fishing at the falls at Tommy Lake. About 4km. down we had our first of two lining the canoes up the current, just ahead of this is a portage (165m.) around the falls coming out of Tommy Lake, quite impressive and I'm sure in the spring it's a sight. Daniel decided he wanted to go back down one of the rapids we just lined up with his life preserver. He bobbed and bounced for quite away, but by the look on his face he was having fun.

From here we paddled right down to the south end of Tommy Lake where there is a smaller falls. We backtracked back from the falls about half a km. to a campsite. Set up camp and went fishing for supper.

Just below the falls Brian casted out and got a good smallmouth on the first cast. In the next little while Sam got 2 more and I got 1, more than enough for a supper unfortunately Daniel is still skunked after 14 years.

While at the campsite a terrible faux pas was made by Brian, he shaved, talk about missing the office.

Canoe trip Day 2

As we left Shillington Lake I knew that we would have a tough day today, but I didn't know by how much. We were to use an old portage that goes from the Sydney Ck. watershead over to the east Montreal River. From my understanding it didn't get much use.

North of Shillington we passed into Birch Lake where one of the portages started, found it and 350m. later ended up in a small lake called Hunt Lake, a very short liftover at Hunt put us into Sanderson Lake where the map showed a creek to follow. Well the creek turned out to be a tricle and the portage was right up a rock cliff to start and into the bog at the bottom with several blowdowns in between. Brian lost a leg in one of the bog holes and had a hard time getting up with his pack. This went on for a good 500m. until we came out at the bottom of Sisseney Lake. That was to be the hardest portage of the whole trip but we managed it pretty well.

We paddled well up into Sisseney Lake before we found a good campsite on an island, even had a table and a great latrine with a view.

The campsite was well used and out of firewood so we went to the mainland and found all the wood we needed along the shore. Another great meal and a good roaring campfire finished off day two

Finally the canoe trip, first day

After a great breakfast at home we got our gear out to Longpoint Lake and drove both vehicles back to Gowganda. Took the car back to Longpoint and left it at Poplar Point Camp.


On our way on a dreary looking Sunday we headed north up Longpoint Lake about 7 km. before we stopped for lunch on a bed of boulders and even some poison Ivy which I have never seen up here before. Daniel spotted it almost right away as he as well as I just have to look at it to get it.


After lunch a couple of kms. of shallows and with the high water they were no trouble. Into Mooseheart Lake and then into Eagle Lake where there is a cabin. At the top end of Eagle our first portage, went well, about 450m. Finally into Shillington where we found a nice campsite about half way up the lake. All together about 13km. the rain had stopped and it remained cloudy.


Finally got all the gear out, tents ups and started to gather firewood. Had a great steak and potatoe supper.


Everything went well, the gear was all there, paddling went well, portaging good, good supper and into the tents by 9:00pm.

By the way Brian is my brother in law, Sam is his son and Daniel a friend of Sam.


Not much room for a couple of tents, but there was a good firepit and a table.Daniel with the trowel used for you know.

Don't mess with the chef

What it's all about.

Fooling around with some off camera flashes.

September all ready

Wow days are just flying for some reason, trying hard to keep up.
Out fishing with Jeremy and the boys on the 31st. really hot out there, Jere got a good burn, again. One small bass for Brenden and the rest of us skunked. Far too hot to stay out for very long.
Yesterday Jeremy and I put in another window this time on the west side of the house (in the shade), it was great as that one is quite a bit higher and needed two to get the job done. Finished it up last nite with marshmallows in the fire and watching the stars.
Jeremy and the boys left today before lunch, they start school on Wednesday so it was good to get them back early to get ready. Rest of day spent cleaning up camping gear and house.
Hope to have info on trip tomorrow.