Retracing the Hubbard Expedition 2006
(Click on image for larger view)
We were inspired in large part by this view from North West River. Philip Schubert http://magma.ca/~philip18/Hubbard-Rock.html has been retracing this same route for years and has been a great source of inspiration and information.
The plan was to explore the first part of the route used by Mina Hubbard in 1905, while maintaining the option of hiking overland to the marker where Mina's husband, Leonidas, died in his attempt to reach Ungava Bay in 1903.
A number of participants dropped out
so we ended up packing and repacking supplies and equipment several times before leaving.
On July 29, 2006 Julie, Jane and I left Vankleek Hill.
Julie, Jane and Robert, July 29, 2006
Jane paddled the Churchill with us in 2005. Julie is an experienced canoeist who learned about the trip through a Web posting.
We put in at the Hudson's Bay Trading Post in North West River and paddled against headwinds up Little Lake. We spent our fisrst night camped on a beach at the east end of Grand Lake, along the north shore. A bear and its cub showed up several times to forage along the beach on the other side of the lake.
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One rainy night this cabin served as a welcome stop over. |
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We tried everything to discourage the resident porcupine from consuming the cabin while we slept. I finally persuaded him to leave by hitting him with a piece of stove pipe. |
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Headwinds kept progress slow. After three days on the water we still had a long way to go to reach the west end of Grand Lake. |
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A well built Inukshuk on the north shore of Grand Lake points the way.
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A couple of canoeists who don't seem too troubled by Labrador's notorious bugs.
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Lunch on a gravel bar in the middle of the Naskaupi river. |
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Later in the day a combination of winds and current meant that some of us had to pull the canoes for a few kilometres. |
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A view from the beginning of the Innu portage trail, high above the Naskaupi river, which flows from right to left in the foreground. This is the confluence with the Red Wine river which you can see sweeping around the sandbar as it flows toward us. |
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Here's a similar view from the water. Stay left toward the sand and you go up the Red Wine. Go right and you're headed further up the Naskaupi |
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With Jane anxious to return home we decided that this 2km paddle up the Red Wine was as far as we would venture this trip. |
The door on this classic trapper's cabin had been smashed by a bear and the area was covered with debris. We cleaned up inside and out and spent an enjoyable two nights there while exploring the area. Thanks Louie!
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One afternoon I set out alone along the historic Innu portage trail which was recentlycleared. It's one of the most beautiful trails I've ever hiked and it was worth the effort in getting there.
I encountered a large variety of mushrooms. And part of the area was covered in caribou moss.
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I wasn't the only one that enjoyed the trail. There were signs of bear, moose and caribou. |
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On the return home Jane set up the video camera along the Naskaupi so that we could stage a shot of our canoes lashed together for sailing. Just after this was taken she fell in the water trying to reenter her canoe. Her still-camera, containing all of her Labrador photos, was in her pocket unprotected. I might have had somethng to do with shoving us off too soon but so far she hasn't filed any lawsuits that I'm aware of. |
Safely back in North West River.
This year's trips.
As usual send along your ideas for trips and your preferred dates.
A further exploration of the Red Wine is planned for mid July 2007. |