We've actually left Wabakimi Park behind when we crossed the train tracks into Shawnabis Lake. We are entering the Kopka River Provincial Park today. We all want to go back to this days part of the trip. It was spectacular. The photos don't do justice to the waterfalls and rugged hillsides, although they may do okay giving you an idea of the portages. One of a kind portages!
Yes, that stick is just sitting on top of the rock. Did someone else put it there? Or did it somehow get stuck there in wind and waves? Doesn't seem likely.
It took us a while to find the first portage trail. We had some "lining" to do to get to it. And it was really too rocky to line the canoes properly. Hopefully we didn't scrape them too much.
Looking back, we can see that our first portage did go around a waterfall. Our map says the boulders are bad in the rain. Fortunately it didn't rain recently and the rocks are not slippery. You really have to hot from boulder to boulder in some places...you would not want to do that if it's slippery and wet!!
Yup, this is the type of rocks part of the trail goes through. We have now ventured into portages that are no longer "good" portages, even for the rugged Wabakimi region. Today we learn why the other portages are called good. This first one is a bit over half a kilometer, not too steep. Only three to go!
The second portage goes around a rather more dramatic waterfall. It's pretty loud near the falls, and if my battery wasn't so low, I'd have snapped more pictures...but I'm saving what I can! Nathan heads off with a canoe. If fact, he works so hard that he misses out on the beautiful scenery. Too bad!
Jennifer has lots of time to check out the falls. Often you have to scramble around off trail in order to get a really good view of the more impressive features. This one drops a lot!
This is the upper section of the falls, the smaller drops before the biggest one.
And this second portage, a mere 300 meters, drops quiet dramatically too! The boys have to help Philip get the canoe down here. Maybe some people can jump with a canoe on their back? Or maybe everybody else has to work a system of how to navigate this section too.
"Okay I'm ready, let the front down!"
"Okay, you got it Nathan? Matthew go down and lift it up by the middle."
"That's right, carefully! Do you have it now?"
"Yup!"
Looking back, that's the steep section we had to get around...fortunately we didn't have to lift the canoe straight down a drop like that, but only a small section!
The third portage is hardly worth loading the canoe for. Except, of course, the fact that the terrain makes it worth going on the water! We are out of the canoe again and wondering what the next one is like. Why does the map mean when it sasy "ladder?" with a question mark. And if there is no ladder what will we do? It's just 175 meters, which is nice.
Turns out the ladder is a bunch of wood tied up with shoelaces. It's a real ladder. It's a bit sketchy going up with a heavy pack, but not too bad. Going with a canoe is even more awkward. Lots of going up and down through this portage. We all agree that the ladder is fun!
Looking back...that was another beautiful section of river to go through!
Taking a rest. We're getting tired, good thing there's only one left. There is supposed to be a steep portage on one side, and a less steep one (still steep, the map says) on the other side of the falls.
We paddle through the peaceful river to the last portage of the day.
Such a rugged beautiful place! I love it!
We did the "still steep" portage first with our backpacks. It is so steep for the last part that we really take our time. I use a paddle for a walking stick (don't tell Philip!). I have told everyone to be extra careful, because they don't want me to be the one setting their broken bones. The whole time going down I can just imagine one of our leg(s) getting caught between some rocks and the heavy load on our back pushing us forward and...
Phew, made it safely to the bottom. This part is super cool and feels like a rainforest. Looking back give you a better idea of just how steep it is. It would be a hard grind to bring all our heavy gear up this path! Less dangerous though.
The younger kids were told to wait at the bottom...while the rest of us figured out how to do the canoes down this section. It was soooo steep. There were sections where the canoe was lifted off the back of the "portager" so he could get over a massive boulder, than was give the canoe back again. I only made it down the hillside about a quarter of the way when I felt my ankles and knees getting weak and buckling. Nathan was feeling fresh and muscular, so he took over for me. Maybe I could do it, but maybe not. not worth a busted ankle to prove how tough I might be.
We made it down with all our gear. Safely! From here you can see where the portage ends (or begins, if you are going up river).
What steep banks! We marvel at it as we paddle by.
Finally, a campsite! We have a nice sandy beach, all to ourselves once again. There is very little room for tents in the bushes, so we level out some tent spots. We also discover an old tree trunk with a bees nest at its base, and make sure we avoid that as much as possible. Yikes!
Tuckered out. That was quite a workout! There are a lot of complaining muscles.
Enjoying the beach.
Enjoying the fact that I didn't have to try out my rusty and inexperienced first aid on any of us.
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