Left home in Sudbury
around 11:00 am with Rick and his partner “Casey” an energetic Brittany spaniel
for the put in. Travel east on Hwy 17, north on the Kukagami Lk road to the
public access point on Matagamasi Lake. It took about ½ hour to unload and pack
the 2 canoes, park the van and we hit the water at 13:30. As usual, we had to
paddle into a strong north wind making for a long afternoon. Along the east
shore of the North Arm of Matagamasi Lake we passed a cow and calf moose. After
2 portages from Matagamasi into Silvester Lake and a short lift over into Wolf
lake, we reached our intended campsite on the east side at 18:30.
Distance paddled – 16 km Distance portaged – 710 m
Day 1 Photos
Awoke to a beautiful
morning and were on the water at 08:00. Short paddle across Wolf and portaged
into Dewdney Lk where we met a couple canoeing the Chiniguchi – Laura Creek
loop heading south. After portaging into Chiniguchi Lk we again encountered a
fairly stiff headwind. North end of Chiniguchi and there is a short 10m portage
across a road into Sawhorse Lk. The portage to Adelaide Lk can be confusing as
there are roads and trails throughout the area. Access the portage on the north
shore of Sawhorse – ATV trail – left along trail to road – follow road to
intersection of another road – turn right then left down an old grass covered
road to Adelaide Lk. North on Adelaide, we did lift over into the small creek
and a second lift over at old bridge into Button Lk. There is a portage (R)
from Adelaide to Button if water levels in small creek are too low to float
through. North then northwest on Button to the portage into Dougherty Lk. This
is strenuous portage in spots – rocky takeout with a steep climb and a steep and rocky
descent to Dougherty, exercise caution if wet. We paddled a further 1.5 km and
camped for the night on an island site facing the west at 18:00.
Distance paddled – 24 km Distance portaged – 1,945 m
Day 2 Photos
Another gorgeous day and
we’re on the water at 08:00 again. Northwest across Dougherty, portage 160m
into Frederick the bugs (black flies and mosquitoes) are fierce in the absence
of any wind this morning. Hap’s book shows a bridge and portage on Frederick Lk
but the centre section of the bridge is gone and you float right through. It is
an easy 190m portage into Stouffer Lk. The portage from Stouffer to the river rises fairly steeply from the
lake and then is a generally long easy downhill trail to the Sturgeon River. We
stopped for a quick lunch before heading down river. We followed Hap Wilson’s
descriptions of the river closely from this point onward. The water levels were
adequate but not as high as one would expect due to an extremely early and dry
spring. Hap's descriptions were bang on for the portion travelled.. The only
change was for the CII rapid that he identifies as “The Gorge” it had a tree
across the river right at the top of the rapid so we had to portage instead of
running it. Some of the portages are steep and rocky and all have exposed tree
roots so caution must be exercised when carrying equipment etc. We camped on a
point at UTM E531840N5208610 at 17:30.
Distance paddled – 25 km Distance portaged- 2,240m
Day 3 Photos
Awoke to an overcast
morning with many bugs! We were on the water at 08:00 with an immediate 255m
portage around a falls. The river from here down to where we left the river is
a pleasant run consisting of C1-2 rapids and swifts. The river widens out into
lake like area then narrows again with 3 sets of rapids between another wide
area. The river slows and levels out from here to the next portage off the
river. About 1 km downstream from the 2nd wide area you will see the remnants
of an old sawmill on river right. Just past an old “jack ladder” that carried
logs up the bank into the mill is the mouth of Halleck Creek and a road ending
at the river, this is the beginning of the portage leading west to a series of
lakes. This is the longest portage on the route, 1,475m but is mostly on old
roads. Head west for about 200 m them you take the older road branching to the
right. Eventually you come to a clearing with an old truck body and an old VW,
turn right down the hill, stay left and the portage carries on along a swampy
creek area to the put in. Paddle west to the creek into Hammend Lake and
paddle/wade/line into Hammend Lk.
We got caught in a thundershower at this
point and it continued to rain on and off till roughly midnight. Southwest on
Hammend to the creek from Halleck Lake, the portage is up the creek 250m on the
right and has a tunnel like opening in the bush line. Portaged 305m R into
Halleck Lake, paddled southwest to the beginning of the portage into Sunfish
where we set up camp for the night, at 16:30.
Distance paddled – 22 km Distance portaged- 2035m
Day 4 Photos
Awoke to a damp and foggy
morning; however we packed up and began the portage to Sunfish Lk. at about
08:00 again. Portage is 560 m to the creek put in, paddled a short distance and
lifted over a beaver dam and continued on into Sunfish Lk. Southwest on Sunfish
to the 695m portage R into Rawson Lk. The portage rises steeply out of Sunfish
but levels off halfway to Rawson. By the time we are again paddling west on
Rawson the fog has completely burned off. You turn north into the northwest arm
of Rawson to the portage into Laura Creek. The portage climbs steadily up for
about half the portage and then steadily downhill to the put in on Laura Creek.
Paddle northwest for a short distance and then turn south down the creek
system. Portage 160m L, portage ends at a small metal bridge. South along the
creek to lift over, 5m. South to beaver dam, lift over and paddle/wade through
Laura Creek to Evelyn Lk. South across Evelyn through narrows and portage 800m
L into Irish Lake. Paddle south on Irish Lake and then portage 500m L to
Bonesteel Lake. Paddle south on Bonesteel to portage 100m R around an old
logging dam into Wessel Lake. Paddle south on Wessel to portage 190m R into
Laura Creek again. We camped on the ridge to the right at this portage for the
night at 16:30.
Distance traveled – 18 km Distance portaged- 3,355m
Day 5 Photos
Up early and portaged 190
R into Laura Creek (8:00am), paddled south on Laura Creek to portage 700m L
into Matagamasi Lake, then southwest on McCarthy Bay and south on Matagamasi to
the public access. Off the water at 12:30.
Distance traveled – 15 km Distance portaged – 890m
Day 6 Photos
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