Camping 2017

Backyard camping season has arrived. My camper is basically a tent on wheels but it's pretty luxurious compared to being on the ground. This plus a state campground with bathrooms is pretty much the minimum requirements for my wife to come with us.

Well, I survived the 15 day canoe trip but it has taken a while to process. In short, we went about as far north as you can go in Ontario by car, then paddled further north. We took a chainsaw and cut portages to get to a really nice river that may not have seen a canoe since 1987. When we finished, we took a train back to Cochrane, the town where we we left our cars. The full blow-by-blow trip report for canoe nerds can be found here:
http://www.myccr.com/canoeroutes/wawagigamau-yesterday-river

Meanwhile here are a few pics to set the stage:

Two days in, there was still beer left. NYSB member Jeff LeChef enjoying a warm one in northern Ontario:



It wasn't always sunny. Getting ready to portage at the north end of Unknown Lake:



This is June 1 or so in the northern Hinterlands. Are we having fun yet?



There was some cool scenery. Waskotim Falls on the Yesterday River:

 

Thx for sharing.  Very inspiring!  North!!  

Looks like an awesome trip, truly epic. Thanks for sharing this.

Two thumbs up for our Canadian Brethren

Thanks for sharing! Looks like a wicked adventure.

" The clearcut is about 25 years old, so the new growth is well established (i.e. thick as shit)."

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

It was probably the most physically demanding canoe trip I have been on, and there have been some good ones over the years. With three of us over 50 and the other two in their 40s, we were all in "old guy" territory but had a very strong experience base and skill set. In the group, we had an ER nurse, a firefighter/EMT, two highly certified whitewater instructors (one of whom still makes a living at it) and me, the mouse-pusher. Several of us (me included) had done other rivers in the region. The chain-smoking nurse did under-promote his paddling skills but was a quick study. Matt traveled all the way from Scotland to go on this trip, which kind of blew my mind.

Since I don't really feel like uploading 100 images here, those interested can check out a big photo set on Facebook that tells the full story in pictures:

Yesterday River pics

I've spent a lot of time around those hinterlands, although a long time ago (thankfully).  How were the skeeters and blackflies?  I actually got sick once from too many bites.  It felt something like a bad hangover.

Love this pic titled "So much for fishing"



I know I've done my fair share of sleeping while on a watch deer hunting.

D.B. Cooper wrote

I've spent a lot of time around those hinterlands, although a long time ago (thankfully).  How were the skeeters and blackflies?  I actually got sick once from too many bites.  It felt something like a bad hangover.

Our timing was excellent: water levels were just right and we mostly ahead of the bugs. There were two nights near the end when the mossies and black flies were mildly annoying. Coming was a different story - worst bug season in recent memory!

Any campground recommendations for saratoga or lake george areas? We're picking up a new trailer next week and doing a few days in cny and would like to extend our trip north but having a tough time finding anything open  / available...

Moreau Lake State Park may be worth a look. It's a nice spot.

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/150/details.aspx

thanks will check it out, I'm not sure why that didn;t come up on our search...

edit: aha, no electric sites  

Welcome G

There is a state camp ground just outside of Lake George Village that boarders the lake.  I used to more my boat off shore and camp all the time.  Pretty good site.
If you want more secluded go up to Rogers Rock NYS camp site.  Same Idea but on the north end of the lake, more secluded.