Kowkash is a local name for the Kawashkagama. Following report by Rob Haslam, teacher-supervisor of the canoe club at Geraldton Composite High School.
GCHS OUTERS REPORT FOR GWT
Dear Members of Greenstone Wilderness Trails:
I am pleased to report that the equipment you purchased and so
kindly lent to us for our annual 10-day canoe trip has been a real boon to our club. It
has also enabled us to expand and maintain three different canoe routes since June
2011. I will provide a brief breakdown of each trip.
June 2011
Trip: Kowkash River
Distance: 150 K
Portages cleared or Maintained: 13
Campsites created or maintained: 8
Overview: On June 19, a group of 12 Outers and 3 staff members departed
GCHS at 9:00 AM for the bridge over the Kowkash River on the Greta Road. There was a great deal of excitement on this trip, as GWT had allowed us the use of three
new Royalite Prospector canoes, as well as nine new barrels and harnesses. For the first time in Outers history, all students had completely waterproof packs for their gear. As well, the new canoes, due to their lightweight, were given to the grade nines to use. This assisted us greatly on portages. Traditionally, grade nine students have struggled getting the variety of aluminum canoes across portages, often having to result to the time consuming “double port” method. This was not the case on this trip. The smallest of the grade nines were able to manage the new canoes.
Departure, 9:00 AM June 19
The students paddled 25 kilometers this day, and improved one campsite.
June 20th, Day Two
During this day, students came to understand the benefits of the new canoes. An early start at 5:00 AM was necessary to get across the two big lakes, Fleming and Kowkash.
The first port of the trip was a 600-meter connection between Fleming and the Kowkash.
River was traveled quickly. The Kowkash River has very few campsites, but at around 5:30 PM, after traveling 30 K, Staff Rob Lavoie located a promising
jack pine stand and with the aid of his chainsaw, the Outers turned it into a beautiful
site.
June 21, Day 3
This was another long day, with several sets of rapids and swifts that had to be run, and three portages that had to be cleared and maintained. A total distance of approximately 30 K was covered. The end of the day was unknown, as the only known campsite was at the blown out bridge on Lucy Lake Rd. This has always been a terrible site, buggy with no firewood. At the junction of Johnson Creek, Staff Lavoie noticed a jack pine stand about 100 metres up the creek. Upon exploration, it was decided to develop a new site. Within a half hour of chainsawing and clearing, a beautiful new site rose out of the debris.
June 22, Day 4
Travel on this day was distinguished by more rapids and a large log jam. Our destination was known this time. Howard Falls had a very nice small campsite, and we were sure we could make something out of it. Outers cleared and maintained three portages, and opened up the campsite at Howard Falls into a beautiful stopping spot, complete with trout fishing and magnificent scenery.
June 23, Day 5
This was a busy day, with two portages, lots of fast water, a couple of decent rapids, and a food pickup. The portage around Albert Falls was cleared and maintained, as was the one just before the entrance of Abamasagi Lake. The beach campsite at Abamasagi Lake was a trashy disaster, and the Outers made quick work of cleaning it up and restoring it to its former glory.
June 24 and 25, Days 6 & 7
June 24th was a well-earned rest day. On June 25, Outers rose at 5:00 AM to get
down the 20 K of Abamasagi Lake. They conquered it in record time, slightly less than three hours. The next series of ports, which connected us to Terrier Lake, were difficult and laborious, both to clean out and to portage. However, Outers were on Terrier Lake by 5:00 PM.
June 26 and 27, Days 8 & 9
Day 8 was a day of portaging. Three portages were cleared and maintained, and a new campsite was developed at the entrance to Superb Lake. The new canoes came in handy on this day, as we portaged well over two kilometers. On the last day, we were supposed to paddle Superb Lake and O Sullivan Lake and end at O Sullivan
Lake resort. However, the wind was too high to paddle, so we portaged back out to the Hauenstein Road and called the bus.
This is now an excellent and viable canoe route. Up to date maps are available from the GCHS Outers Club for use by canoeists. Thanks to GWT for helping us with this
worthwhile endeavourer!
Two fall trips were also conducted this year. On September 17th and 18th, we went
through the Eaglecrest system to the mouth of the Steel River. Two portages were
cleared and maintained, as well as one campsite. On October 2nd to the 4th, we
paddled the Namewaminikan River and cleared one portage and two campsites. GWT canoes and packs as well as new life jackets were used for these trips as
well.
END OF JOURNAL
.
Dear Members of Greenstone Wilderness Trails:
I am pleased to report that the equipment you purchased and so
kindly lent to us for our annual 10-day canoe trip has been a real boon to our club. It
has also enabled us to expand and maintain three different canoe routes since June
2011. I will provide a brief breakdown of each trip.
June 2011
Trip: Kowkash River
Distance: 150 K
Portages cleared or Maintained: 13
Campsites created or maintained: 8
Overview: On June 19, a group of 12 Outers and 3 staff members departed
GCHS at 9:00 AM for the bridge over the Kowkash River on the Greta Road. There was a great deal of excitement on this trip, as GWT had allowed us the use of three
new Royalite Prospector canoes, as well as nine new barrels and harnesses. For the first time in Outers history, all students had completely waterproof packs for their gear. As well, the new canoes, due to their lightweight, were given to the grade nines to use. This assisted us greatly on portages. Traditionally, grade nine students have struggled getting the variety of aluminum canoes across portages, often having to result to the time consuming “double port” method. This was not the case on this trip. The smallest of the grade nines were able to manage the new canoes.
Departure, 9:00 AM June 19
The students paddled 25 kilometers this day, and improved one campsite.
June 20th, Day Two
During this day, students came to understand the benefits of the new canoes. An early start at 5:00 AM was necessary to get across the two big lakes, Fleming and Kowkash.
The first port of the trip was a 600-meter connection between Fleming and the Kowkash.
River was traveled quickly. The Kowkash River has very few campsites, but at around 5:30 PM, after traveling 30 K, Staff Rob Lavoie located a promising
jack pine stand and with the aid of his chainsaw, the Outers turned it into a beautiful
site.
June 21, Day 3
This was another long day, with several sets of rapids and swifts that had to be run, and three portages that had to be cleared and maintained. A total distance of approximately 30 K was covered. The end of the day was unknown, as the only known campsite was at the blown out bridge on Lucy Lake Rd. This has always been a terrible site, buggy with no firewood. At the junction of Johnson Creek, Staff Lavoie noticed a jack pine stand about 100 metres up the creek. Upon exploration, it was decided to develop a new site. Within a half hour of chainsawing and clearing, a beautiful new site rose out of the debris.
June 22, Day 4
Travel on this day was distinguished by more rapids and a large log jam. Our destination was known this time. Howard Falls had a very nice small campsite, and we were sure we could make something out of it. Outers cleared and maintained three portages, and opened up the campsite at Howard Falls into a beautiful stopping spot, complete with trout fishing and magnificent scenery.
June 23, Day 5
This was a busy day, with two portages, lots of fast water, a couple of decent rapids, and a food pickup. The portage around Albert Falls was cleared and maintained, as was the one just before the entrance of Abamasagi Lake. The beach campsite at Abamasagi Lake was a trashy disaster, and the Outers made quick work of cleaning it up and restoring it to its former glory.
June 24 and 25, Days 6 & 7
June 24th was a well-earned rest day. On June 25, Outers rose at 5:00 AM to get
down the 20 K of Abamasagi Lake. They conquered it in record time, slightly less than three hours. The next series of ports, which connected us to Terrier Lake, were difficult and laborious, both to clean out and to portage. However, Outers were on Terrier Lake by 5:00 PM.
June 26 and 27, Days 8 & 9
Day 8 was a day of portaging. Three portages were cleared and maintained, and a new campsite was developed at the entrance to Superb Lake. The new canoes came in handy on this day, as we portaged well over two kilometers. On the last day, we were supposed to paddle Superb Lake and O Sullivan Lake and end at O Sullivan
Lake resort. However, the wind was too high to paddle, so we portaged back out to the Hauenstein Road and called the bus.
This is now an excellent and viable canoe route. Up to date maps are available from the GCHS Outers Club for use by canoeists. Thanks to GWT for helping us with this
worthwhile endeavourer!
Two fall trips were also conducted this year. On September 17th and 18th, we went
through the Eaglecrest system to the mouth of the Steel River. Two portages were
cleared and maintained, as well as one campsite. On October 2nd to the 4th, we
paddled the Namewaminikan River and cleared one portage and two campsites. GWT canoes and packs as well as new life jackets were used for these trips as
well.
END OF JOURNAL
.
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