|
May 10, 2014 - McKaskill Lake to Ice Castle Falls
The thunderstorms lasted most of the night with the rain tapering off as we crawled out of our tents around 7:30 AM. I prepared coffee and MarkS started whipping up a new breakfast for us – Corned Beef Hash with Scrambled Eggs. Squeezing the “corned beef” out of the packs had the non-Spam eating members of the crew worried. But by the time it was done, and topped off with Velveeta cheese and MarkS’s home ground chipotle spice, it was delicious.
Mmmmm. Corned Beef from a pouch.
Chef "Heart Attack" MarkS
Breakfast of the Courier Du Bois
With camp teardown rapidly performed we loaded the canoes for what I felt was the real start of the trip. Today we would be reaching the start of the Bonnechere River and the start of our true adventure. Paddling to the top end of McKaskill Lake is a pretty stretch, lots of small islands and some bays with just the hint of buds starting to sprout on the trees. The sky was clearing and a promising day appeared to be ahead.
David ready to get moving.
Islet on McKaskill Lake.
Just before noon we reached the Bonnechere River entrance.
Start of the Bonnechere River.
Bonnechere River start in 1991.
There was a bit of water flow.
Choked river to get past.
We spent quite a bit of time exploring around here, partly to find a suitable route to paddleable water and partly just for the sake of exploring and relating our on the ground experiences to what few trip reports we had been able to read beforehand. For being the start of a simple river canoe trip, it was fascinating!
MarkS exploring the headwaters area.
Searching the river for paddleable water.
First canoers? But not the first people. Logging markings.
Along an old logging road.
There were snakes.
The first pass through was with our packs while picking out the best route to our destination of a bend with enough water to canoe, for at least the 300 feet we could see.
First pass with the packs.
Room to paddle is found.
Luckily our river channel lasted and we went through a large flooded cattail marsh to start with. The river continued with some runnable rapids we bumped and grinded over, beaver dams and fallen logs. All of which the Meanies are more than comfortable with. At one point, logs and a stretch of rapids and rocks forced us to scout out a portage along a steep hillside. Using the same method as earlier in the day we pretty efficiently got the gear and canoes to an alder choked put in.
Cattail marsh area.
MarkS and Markus paddle the cattail channel.
Marshy river section of the Bonnechere.
First river obstruction encountered.
Helping hands - everyone helps, Markus fishes.
Back to paddling at an alder choked put in.
We had some good creek travel for a while before running into an old wooden dam, we decided to stop and have a bit of a late lunch. When finished we ran the submerged dam and carried on. We were now into a much rockier channel with fallen trees across the entire width of the river. We went over/around/under as best we could without too much trouble. Three of us were in dry suits and Markus was in a wet suit, you’d be an idiot if you weren’t geared up for this trip and willing to get wet.
Lunch break at riverside.
More river problems.
Finally, running some big water.
No, not really.
Coming around a bend while running some small swifts we encountered a tree blocking the river. Hit the shore, had a look and realized we had reached the days destination, Ice Castle Falls.
Ice Castle Falls.
Ice Castle Falls close up.
Part of the magic of this trip was having the Scarlett’s, or at least Mark as it turned out, along and reminiscing about their trip back in 1991. MarkS was photo-documenting the trip for John with Johns GPS enabled camera.
MarkS photographing the trip for brother John.
Being well seasoned canoers and backcountry campers the first thing we did, of course, was run around checking the area out like excited schoolgirls. Pictures were taken, discussions held, memories stirred up in some and of course Markus threw a line in the pool at the bottom of the falls.
Ice Castle Falls spray.
Ice Castle Falls pool in 1991.
Small Brook Trout caught by Markus.
Brook Trout caught in 1991.
In due time we set up and changed into our camp clothes. David got the preparations for his Korean Curry dinner started. There was obviously a reason for this falls to be called Ice Castle, so we sent Markus out to get some ice for the evening cocktails.
David's Curry Chicken dinner.
Snow hanging on in the crevices.
Ice delivery service provided by Markus.
All the people I trip with are great, I’m really lucky to have found such a group of like-minded trippers and the crew of 6 or 7 of us that tackle these larger expeditions have grown pretty close over the last five years or so. Before dinner I pulled out a bottle, served up a special cocktail and said a few words to thank the guys for joining me on this crazy excursion of mine.
The Bonnie Farley Cocktail.
David.
Markus.
MarkS.
A few more “special cocktails” after dinner and everyone was ready for bed, or already asleep leaning against a tree, or rock.
|
©2011 SmedleyCo