Beginning

This trip was done with Will instead of Kurt. It was a different kind of fun. We did a few different things. In the fall Instead of the Spring. We left the canoe at home cause we never used it the first time up. We left early to give ourselves lots of time. Got my first full tank in Elmsdale, NS. Took a few turns driving through the evening. When We got to Campbellton in Northern New Brunswick we had realized we had only about an hour and a half to go and about six or seven hours till we had to be at the terminal to cross the St. Lawrence to Godbout, PQ. We were a bit hungry at this point and it was about 12 midnight. So we pulled into Dooleys's for a drink and some food. Turns out they didn't have food that late and they had no Keiths. So I drank some moose piss and we played a few games of pool. The waitress told us of a 24 hour restaurant just over in Quebec. So thats were we went. I think it was beside a strip club. Anyhow we ate there then took off. At this point I had to start to think about fuel for the car. There was nothing open in Campbellton and just an Esso near the restaurant we were at. And ya all know how I fell about Esso. So we kept going. Realizing we needed fuel badly we got about half way across the Gaspe Pinninsula to Amqui and finially there was a fuel station open. We were sure it wasn't 24 hour cause its a small town and it wasn't last time I was up here. Even if we had run out, John and Jim would be going past us within a couple hours with several cans of fuel.

When arriving in Baie-Comeau we slept for a few then got in line for the ferry as soon as the booth opened. From there Will and I procedded North up the 389. Jim and John proceded to Sept-Îles to arrange the lease of the land for the cabin in plan. Will and I stopped at the Daniel Johnson Damn (aka Manic Cenq). Largest multiple buttress dam in the world. We took some pics then proceeded to the head of some hiking trails. except we didn't look hard in the area and ended up bushwacking into the woods only to find a big rushing river, some cool hills and some bear shit. After we had some fun there we headed North again to where we had to meet Jim and John. Through the old mine and to the end of the road to check out the smaller dam and the lake. Then back to the meeting spot. We were there before them so we just parked, setup camp, and ate some food. When we woke up they were cookin breakfast in the camper on the road. We then went about 15km down a rougher road to an open area where we setup base camp.

The Hike

During our stay we comenced on three hikes. One was a shorter day hike up a trail in the south of the Groux Range. nothing too spectacular except a good view of the river and small valley we hiked along. Another hike was a short journey into the woods to see the location of where the camp is going to be located. its right on a lake with no road access to it. The third hike was extended beyound what I normally do. Our plan to climb into the Groulx Range via a North Trail. It's eight kilometers long to the top of the first mountain. And proceeded in a sketchy manner to the south of the range. Estimated, four or five days long. We intended to go up in one day, wonder around the next day, and return the day after. The climb was consistant and steady. Trail was easy to follow and in good shape. By the time we reached the tree line our feet were soaked and there was a constant mist. Aka clouds. We continued along the trail through brush and swampy pools on the plateau. After a while we had managed to be at the top. The plateau is 16 square kms so we barely saw it. But the highest point was not far from us. We saw a couple of women at the top with a dog. They just poped up for the day and could not speak great English so we didnt stick around for tea. We continued south to the highest point. When near, we had to start looking for a spot to setup the tent and cook food. We were pretty much dead and needed food and sleep asap. We were also wet cause we were still hiking in mist. And at this point it was windy aswell and now getting darker. Lucky for us, the mountain has a more light in the evening than the forest level. We walked around for a while looking for a flat, semi-dry, and out of wind area. We eventuially did. but it was still a bit of a sloop. But that was ok. Means the water shall not pool where we sleep. After eating we tried to sleep and I left to do some wondering fore light left us for good. It had started to clear up so there was a number of very beautiful rainbows. When we woke the next day it was very early.

We had slept for some 14 hours I think. On and off. With one good sleep in there. Rain was pouring and the wind was ripping up the small valley we had found shelter in. Because of the we stayed in the tent for as long as possible. When the rain lightened slightly we booked out and wraped the campsite, filtered water and took off to the tree line about two kms away to the north. We decided it was too cold and wet to stay another day. We ate breakfast once we were in the shelter of the trees and out of the heavy winds. By mid-day we had reached the highway where the car was parked and rain was non-existant. The plateau has it's own weather system. As any experienced adventurer would say.

That was the big excitment of this trip. It was really the first time in which I went into the woods with a backpack and came back on a different day.

Less exciting

Other than that excitement we also had the opertunity to drive around on a type of geology I've only seen up there. The area is full of lakes and everylake is sourounded by a ring of sandy beaches and coves and rivers through sand build cliffs. Many of the lakes and their features are all connected by large areas of sandy barrens. Looks just like a desert but with lakes and rivers and coniferous tress all over the place. It was very very cool. Its is essencially a huge ass estuary. Something we have in much smaller versions in Nova Scotia. I understand there is some wilderness of Newfoundland and Labrador aswell that are similar areas. These areas are not real desert because the anual percipitation is too high. The only desert in Canada I'm aware of is in Southern BC in a valley.

Other excitement we had was waiting for a train so we could gets cool pics of trains longer, wider and higher than what we have at home.

The other event we had encountered was a hole in my gas tank. Thats always good. Cause the ATV was broke down at the same time. Lucky for us, John has some gas tank and radiator putty to plug and seal the hole. It worked pretty damn good. after ding that Will and I went to Labrador City to buy the second most expensive ful of my life. The first most expensive fuel was about 30 kilometers from where we did our big hike. We fueled there after the bike hike at just the time during the biggest spike in oil prices last fall. I believe I payed $1.65.

Return

Enroute home after the last fuel stop for 400km the rear brakes line on the truck pulling the camper failed. The truck barely came to a stop at a construction site at the bottom of a hill. after looking at the damage Jim deployed a temperary solution. From there on in the truck had to travel and tow the camper with only the front brakes. We had to be at the terminal by 4:30 to get our reservation for the five oclock boat. We both got there at 4:30 exactly only to find no people and no boat. Turns out a previous accident and construction on the highway had caused such a delay that the boat left early and all reservations were canned. We had to wait till 8:30 for the next boat. From there we had a peaceful nine hour drive home.