Summer 2010 - Groundhog River Trip
Link's to: Groundhog River Picassa Album and Groundhog River Photo Slideshow on You Tube
We paddled the Groundhog River from Highway 101 (near Foleyet, ON) to Highway 11 (Fauquier, ON). During those 167 km we did ot cross a paved road and saw only a few humans. We did, however, see much wildlife: 8 Moose, half dozen breaching Sturgeon, almost a dozen Bold Eagles, a bear, a fox, and a beaver (and dozens upon dozens of beaver lodges).
The Groundhog River is an Artic Watershed river in Northern Ontario. 4 Members of the Waterloo Wellington Canoe Club paddled the 167 km from Hwy 101 (Near Foleyet, ON) to Hwy 11 (Fauquier, ON) in Northern Ontario
Chatting it up with the Locals! We saw many Moose, Bald Eagles AND Sturgeon! The Sturgeon is a prehistoric relic lurking in significant numbers in the Groundhog River.
I did NOT take these pictures. I found it impossible to get a picture of these monsters in mid breach. The one on the left is somewhat larger than the ones we saw! Sturgeon breach much like a Humpback whale does. It is quite dramatic to see this very large fish jump right in front of of your canoe!
This was one of my companions first whitewater trip! Based on the look on his face I'd say it's not the last!
Ah! The summer of 2009 - My best paddling year to date! Two fly-in canoe trips and a total of 404 kilometers paddled (Tom's just under 1500 Km in 2009)
Dumoine River, Quebec
The first fly-in was the Dumoine River, it was an instructional trip. Michel Lessard was our instructor and he adeptly brought us down the Dumoine river in Quebec. I learned alot on this trip.
From the plane... I can't see why this rapid is called "Canoe Eater". Time will deapen my understanding!
Some rapids we ran
Some rapids we thought of running... and some did not require as much thought!
Some of the portages.... well let's say they built up our appetite!
It is a very nice river!
I can't wait to go back.
Sturgeon River, Temagami Ontario!
This River is very different than the Dumoine. The "Freedom" of being a prisoner in the wilderness with good friends.
This is more of a "Drop & Pool" river that is frequently seen on the Canadian Shield.
All the rocks made for very steep & difficult portages that sometimes required unique exit strategies
Then there was this tower that we were forbiden to climb... once at the top not all of us were comfortable with the height. Good view of our campsite though!