La Mauricie National Park, Quebec, Canada

October 7-10, 2000

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Photographic journal from a 4-day foliage/canoeing trip to the closest Canadian national park to Boston. Participants: Frances Switkes, Rebecca Wallach, Julie Dwojeski, Paulina Varchavskaia, Jean Huang, Krzysztof Gajos, Elron Yellin, Robert Zeithammer. Photos by Robert Zeithammer unless noted otherwise. Please click on the photos in the journal to enlarge them.

Day 1: Lac Caribou

After a never-ending drive north and a good night sleep, we woke up in cold rainy weather. Undeterred by the elements and refreshed by some chocolat chaud from a local restaurant, we picked up our canoes, packed too much gear, and braved the waters of Lac Caribou en route to our first camp.


Before loading the canoes
We actually started paddling at dusk... Frances and Elron (photo by Paulina Varchavskaia)

Day 2: Le jour des trois portages

In a tough long rainy cold day, we paddled in the following lakes, portaging in between: Lac Caribou - Lac Marechal - Lac Tessier - Lac Waber. Lesson of the day: portaging is tough.


Krzysztof and Jean pushing across the sandbar into Baie Cobb on Lac Caribou


Yes, it snowed at night...and continued snowing during the day


Reality of portaging: Kryzstof after carrying the canoe for almost a mile (photo by Paulina Varchavskaia)


The entire fleet on Lac Tessier
Paulina in Baie Cobb


In weather like this, positive attitude is everything as demonstrated here by Julie, Elron and Rebecca (photo by Paulina Varchavskaia)


Portage trail...


Reward of the day: Chute Waber waterfalls dubbed "Shoot-the-Bear falls" by our non-francophone group
Day 3: Le jour du Grand Portage

It is over 2 miles from Lac Waber to Lac Wapizagonke. The portage took us half a day, but rewarder us wil a beautiful view.


The only sunshine of the trip!


Julie crossing a stream on another excursion to Chute Waber


View of Lac Wapizagonke from the portage trail


Julie and Rebecca negotiating a beaver dam on Lac Wapizagonke (photo by Paulina Varchavskaia)


Julie and Rebecca stuck on a beaver dam on Lac Wapizagonke
Robert in the morning mist (photo by Jean Huang)


Portaging: Elron demonstrating how it's done...


The whole team at the view...


Staying warm using a human blanket


Last campfire
Day 4: Le jour du blizzard magnifique

Seeing that we are a tough bunch, the weather stepped up the pressure with a blizzard. Time to go home...

Extreme canoeing


Julie, Rebecca, and the weahter...
The road home...
Photos by Robert Zeithammer unless noted otherwise