The fastest part of the Voyageur Hudosn Bay Expedition was when the Voyageur Crew was paddling their canoe. Since they arrived at York Factory it seems like it's taking them forever to return to Voyageur. They did have the plane ride from York Factory to Gilliam and for once the SPOT Locator came up with a straight line! That was neat to see after so many other tracks left by the SPOT. Then they took the train to Winnipeg and hooked up with Sheri & Jessica from Voyageur last night. This morning they are in a vehicle traveling the over 12 hours back to Voyageur.
Monday, August 15th we'll welcome them back to Voyageur with a Potluck Party. Hopefully they will get their fill of real food that guests will bring along with some tasty ribs. We're all looking forward to hearing stories and seeing pictures from their epic expedition from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. For more details give us a call or drop us an email.
And remember, even though the trip is over, there are bills to be paid! Thanks for following along on their Journey.
Way to go Guys! The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition started their trip in Lake Superior and has made it to York Factory of Hudson Bay. What an amazing accomplishment for these four young men. We couldn't be prouder of them for completing their epic adventure. They have been traveling for some 77 days and according to Adam Maxwell's dad 59 days were actual paddling days and 18 were spent either fishing, stalling or not paddling because of the wind. The total miles paddled according to the SPOT Locator was
1180 miles for a total of 556 hours. However, we know the SPOT wasn't turned on for all of the miles traveled since the journey is closer to 1300 miles in total. The guys will stay at York Factory for a couple of days before they get picked up by a float plane to start their journey back to Voyageur.
The stars must have aligned last night because the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew took off this morning for Hudson Bay. They have been paddling for about 7 hours and 30 plus miles so far on August 7th. I believe they had around 80 miles to go from their last stop. The water is moving quickly towards Hudson Bay so we'll keep our fingers crossed for their safe arrival to York Factory later today.
The last month of the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition has begun. The Voyageur Crew is very close to the end of their adventure. On the 1st and 3rd day of August the Voyageur Crew stayed put but on August 2nd they paddled for 6 hours and 24 miles.
Not much of a paddle on the last day of July for the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew. But here's an interesting tidbit and a photo of the Voyageur Crew.
Jeremy and Charlie paddled the Red River to Lake Winnipeg and then to God's Lake. They had met Andy at Clear Waters Canoe Outfitting Company when they were picking up their Wenonah Canoe for their trip. This is from the letter they wrote to Dan, the owner.
We are sitting in Thompson waiting for a train to Winnipeg. We have had a brilliant,brilliant trip. I don't know if you have been in contact with Andy. We met them on Playgreen Lake a day south of Norway House. We had just paddled through the night from Limestone Bay because the north shore of Lake Winnipeg was flooded and there was nowhere to stop. We had been asleep about an hour, camped on a tiny rock of an island when they came by and called to us, Andy recognised the canoe. They went on to Norway House and we followed the next morning. They stayed there one night, we stayed three, and thought we were a long way behind them, but we caught up with them at the rapids that enter Gods Lake where they had stopped a day to fish. We all had a couple of good days at the Narrows before they left for Gods River.
Nothing to report about the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition since they are so far ahead of schedule they need to hang out to stall their arrival to Hudson Bay.
Almost 11 hours of travel on the 29th day of July for the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition. They are making their way to Hudson Bay and put away another 30 miles today.
Nine hours of paddling for the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew on July 26th. After relaxing on God's Lake for days the Voyageur Crew paddled just under 15 miles and are now on God's River. This is the last leg of their long journey from Lake Superior To Hudson Bay.
From the book Canoeing with the Cree,
"The Hayes is low now." he said, "and it might mean days of wading and dragging your canoe. The God's River is full of bad rapids and the portages are tough, as far as I have gone, to Sucker Creek, but from there it is clear sailing, I am told. The Sucker Creek rapid is tough and has no portage, If you don't know much about rapids, you'd better learn before you hit that one...
The tremendous Hayes rushed on and on in great long sweeps between limestone cliffs one hundred feet high, and we rushed on with it, putting on mile after mile behind us, determined not to stop until York Factory. Our views were in four- and five miles stretchesnow, and we approached each turn breathlessly, straining to see the broad expance which would mean out long, long trip was ended and our goal accomplished."
The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew paddled around the peninsula they were camped on from 6pm-10pm. It's the strangest SPOT track so far. Most of the time if the Hudson Bay Crew isn't paddling from point a to point b then they don't bother turning on the SPOT or just turn it on to Check-In. It's another one of those questions for when the Voyageur Crew returns.
After two long days of hard travel ending with the Mink River, I entered Gods Lake. Gods Lake is the last lake of my trip. Once I leave Gods Lake I’ll be on river for the last 240 miles to Hudson Bay. Gods Lake is a phenomenal place. Nearly 50 miles in length and half again as wide, it encompasses a huge territory. The original name of the lake in the local Cree language meant “Devils Lake”. It was so named by the native Indians because its frequent storms and rough waters claimed many lives. When the Jesuit missionaries arrived and discovered the lakes namesake, they abruptly “converted” the lake to Christianity and renamed it ‘Gods” lake.
My destination for the next few days is “Healey’s Gods Lake Narrows Lodge”. I had called Sam Healey before the trip concerning fishing possibilities on the lake. He provided some good information and offered to take me fishing once I got here. I think he figured if I made this far, he would treat me to a days fishing. Healey’s Lodge is the premier resort in greater Manitoba and offers some of the best fishing opportunities in North America. Be sure to read my upcoming fishing report from “Healey’s Gods Lake Narrows Lodge”. If you want the fishing experience of a lifetime, this is the place. Sam has a great website at www.godslake.com
The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew is passing time on God's Lake. They paddled about four miles yesterday afternoon according to the SPOT locator. They aren't in a hurry to get off of God's Lake because they only have about 300 miles left of their 1300 mile journey. Those 300 miles will go quickly because of the strong current pulling them towards Hudson Bay.
From the book Canoeing with the Cree,
The last tie with safety was being broken. More than three hundred miles of practically unexplored wilderness lay before us, down a river transversed, perhaps, by only a handful of white men in history, never covered by any of the whites or Crees we had met so far...
I cannot imagine how a lake could be more thrillingly beautiful than God's Lake. No wonder that name - God's country, indeed. Such sights as this are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them. The clear, calm level of the lake stretched as far as our eyes could see and, like the precious stones in a setting of silver, islets reflected the afternoon sun in splotches of color. The air was blue, so blue, as though the sky had settled down to earth. July 23 Another Day on Gods Lake for the Voyageur Crew
The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew is still enjoying each other's company. They are all getting along well and having a wonderful experience. The days of paddling have been passing quickly and soon their journey will be over. Their equipment has worked wonderfully including canoes by Wenonah, packs by Granite Gear, and beautiful paddles created especially for their expedition by Peter Jansen. Numerous people supported them before their trip and have been helping them throughout it. Generous donations have been made and hopefully more will be made. What an awesome opportunity they have been given. It's such an awesome expedition we have others wanting to do the same trip. Uh, oh, what have we started?
From the book Distant Fires...
Staring at the fiery glow over our heads, it was clear to us why the people of this lake had named it the Gods.
Sevareid had called it God's Lake, the apostrophe making the name all the more appropriate. For if God were to call one county His own, surely the magnificence of this inland sea would be it.
We spent just two nights on God's Lake and were twice rewarded with a show of Northern Lights that riveled anything we had ever seen. For these were Northern Lights as seen in the Far North. They came from all directions and in all colors. To the south we saw yellow and blue shimmerings as they swept up and met the gold straight overhead.
We slept outside on these nights and would wake up in the middle of the night and lie there enchanted. For a time we discussed the lights as a phenomenon of nature, but in the cool air and gentle breeze of the north, we knew that it took more than talks of ions and magnetic fields to describe what we saw. The native people of that land, knowing nothing of our science, had offered a better explaination. Is was, after all, God's Lake.
The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew will be paddling on God's Lake until around the 27th. It's a big lake with lots of fish and since the Voyageur Crew is so far ahead of schedule they just might try their luck at fishing. God's Lake is the 7th largest lake in Manitoba and is an interesting area with two closely related but independent communities sharing the name Gods Lake Narrows; One is the Gods Lake Narrows Indian Reserve and the other is the non-treaty community on nearby provincial Crown land.
According to a site on the web, "Gods Lake Narrows (GLN) is located near the 54th parallel in eastern Manitoba, approximately 500 km north of Winnipeg and 200 km east of Thompson. The community is divided into the Gods Lake Narrows First Nation, located on the mainland, and the Metis settlement located on the island. The First Nations Band is split into two separate areas with main area to the east of the island and the other to the west, connected to the island via a causeway bridge.
Local Population: The population of the First Nation community is approximately 2,500 people. The community of God’s River is a First Nation community located to the north of GLN and has approximately 800 people."
From the book Canoeing with the Cree, "I cannot imagine how a lake could be more thrillingly beautiful than God's Lake. No wonder that name - God's country, indeed. Such sights as this are reserved for those who will suffer to behold them. The clear, calm level of the lake stretched as far as our eyes could see and, like the precious stones in a setting of silver, islets reflected the afternoon sun in splotches of color. The air was blue, so blue, as though the sky had settled down to earth."
The mystery about God's Lake has been solved. According to theVoyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew there are angels living on God's Lake by the name of Healey. They own and operate Healey's God's Lake Narrows Lodge in Manitoba. These angels took the Voyageur Crew under their wings during their time on God's Lake.
Healey's is a world-class lodge with trophy fishing. Last year someone caught an 85 pound lake trout there and guests frequently catch trophy northern pike. Healey's provide boats, motors, guides, lodging and meals to their guests and have done the same for the Voyageur Crew. Andy and Adam even had the opportunity to fly over the next 100 miles of their route with the Healey's and their adult son marked up a map for the Crew as well.
Last night theVoyageur Crew enjoyed roast beef and french fries courtesy of Healey's. I'm sure it was a real treat for the guys in spite of how well fed they have been courtesy of Jack Links and Richmoor Foods.
The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew is spending some time on God's Lake. They made it to a phone and Adam called his Dad to chat and told them they would be on God's Lake until the 27th. While the bugs have been bad, "Thousands of mosquitoes on the outsides of the tents in the morning." The fishing has been great, "July 9th at Robinson Falls Adam caught 40.5 inch Northern, Andy caught 40.5 inch Northern and on July 18th Adam caught 36 and 39 inch Northerns."
From Canoeing with the Cree...
"Say," Walt spoke up after a while., "why was it all those children were laughed at us when we walked up the pier with out fish?" Walt was proud of those fish, which weighted about seven pounds apiece. He had hooked them trolling on the way to the post, and when they were pointed at with fingers of scorn by several dozen Cree youngsters, his pride, his fishing pride, which goes far back in the Port family, was hurt.
"What kids of fish were they?" Ernest asked.
"Northern Pike."
"No wonder they laughed!" and the men proceeded to laugh also. "We call them jackfish. They go to the dogs for winter grub. People around here eat nothing but whitefish. Dont let the kids see you eat them. Better throw them to the pups outside. We have nice mess of whitefish if you must have fish to eat."
Eleven hours and 18 miles finds the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew paddling through Vermilyea Lake, Wesachewan River, around the Namaykos Rapids and into Gods Lake.
Wikipedia-
Touchwood Lake is a lake in the Hayes Riverdrainage basin in Census DivisionNo. 22 - Thompson-North Central, Northern Region, Manitoba, Canada. The lake is about 20.9 kilometres (13.0 mi) long and 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi) wide and lies at an elevation of 184 metres (604 ft). The primary inflows (clockwise from the northwest) are the Mink River, Wanless Creek, and the Wapawukaw River, and the primary outflow is a channel to Vermilyea Lake. Vermilyea Lake is shaped like the letter "L" on its side, is about 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi) long and 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) wide, and lies at an elevation of 184 metres (604 ft). The primary inflow is a channel from Touchwood Lake, and the primary outflows are the twin channels of the Wesachewan River to Gods Lake. Wesachewan River is a short river that flows 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) out of Vermilyea Lake via twin channels then flows over the Namaykos Rapids, and empties into Wesachewan Bay on Gods Lake. The main channel from Vermilyea Lake is the east channel which is straighter and 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) shorter than its twin (1.25 kilometres / 0.78 miles versus 3.05 kilometres / 1.90 miles), the west channel. The river's waters eventually flow via the Gods River and the Hayes River into Hudson Bay.
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