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Labrador 2010

On July 6 Philip Schubert and Jerry Kobalenko begin a hike from the outlet of the Beaver River on Grand Lake to Mount Hubbard. They have arranged for a helicopter to drop two food caches along the way to reduce the amount of food they have to carry. Points of interest along the way will include a possible impact crater, the Hubbard rock where explorer Leonidas Hubbard died in 1903 and the site where Hubbard, George Elson and Dillon Wallace abandoned their canoe.

On July 11 Robert Irwin and Reg Rothwell leave Vankleek Hill for a trip that will take them to North West River where they will pick up Philip's car and attempt to drive it up the Orma road and drop it at a point about 80 km north of Churchill Falls where Philip and Jerry plan to emerge from their journey over the "long portage." Robert and Reg plan to follow the Hubbard route down an unnamed river (stream) and out into Windbound Lake where they hope to climb Mount Hubbard and then continue north on the Smallwood Reservoir in the direction of the George River.

You can follow the trips here:

 



Where is Philip?

 



    Where are Robert & Reg?

 
July 7, 2010
Latitude:53.73011 Longitude:-60.97419
Slow progress due to rain.

July 6, 2010
Latitude:53.71992 Longitude:-60.96275

July 8, 2010
Conditions are extremely difficult along the Beaver. Philip is back in Happy Valley Goose Bay (HVGB) but plans to return by helicopter to explore the possible impact crater discovered on previous years' trips. He will likely go on to the Hubbard Rock and then decide whether to continue with an attempt to walk the "long portage," or return by helicopter. He says bears in the area have become a significant problem this year due to lack of food.
When Philip was picked up by boat on the Beaver river, Jerry was dropped off on the Susan to begin an attempt to hike along that river and retrace the 1903 route to Mount Hubbard. Years ago Jerry completed a walk along the Susan to the "Hubbard rock." In 2009 Robert and Philip failed in their attempt to hike the Susan. Robert tried this route unsuccessfully in 2008.

July 9, 2010
Today Philip reached the crater (and site of one of the food caches he and Jerry had set up earlier) by helicopter. He had difficulty leaving the helicopter due to the presence of a black bear. After several attempts and a stand off with a 12 gauge shot gun he decided to return with the pilot to HVGB. He has decided to join Robert and Reg for the canoeing portion of their trip to Mount Hubbard. They now have his solo canoe loaded and ready to leave for HVGB early Sunday.
Jerry has called for a boat pick up at the mouth of the Susan. Details are sketchy but conditions were apparently difficult.

    July 15, 2010
    Latitude:53.95389 Longitude:-62.99252
    Philip has joined Robert and Reg on the hike to Mount
    Hubbard.
    We're camped on Caribou moss about 40m from the
    Orma road beside a stream we believe was used by
    Leonidas Hubbard in 1903 to reach Windbound Lake.

    July 16, 2010
    Latitude:54.05191 Longitude:-63.14811

    July 17, 2010
    Latitude:54.05239 Longitude:-63.14772
    Today, we are wind- and rain bound on Windbound
    Lake.

    July 18, 2010
    Latitude:54.05235 Longitude:-63.14776
    Two days of solid rain. Philip had to cut his trip short,
    he wasn't feeling well and decided the best thing to
    do was to get checked out in Happy Valley Goose
    Bay. We will be returning to the put in point with
    Philip's canoe.

    July 19, 2010
    Latitude:54.05192 Longitude:-63.14793
    ... still wind bound on Windbound Lake.

    July 20, 2010 AM
    Latitude:54.09621 Longitude:-63.1056
    We broke camp around 6AM, paddled through rain,
    enjoyed watching a white wolf along a beach we were
    paddling by, lots of loons and otters. We are towing
    Philip's canoe back to the put in spot.

    July 23, 2010
    Robert & Reg are back in Vankleek Hill
    planing their next canoeing adventures