Missinaibi River

[Keeled Over]

Well, the trip I have dreamed of since boyhood in about to come to fruition.

Drive up to Sudbury on 6/9, get on the train on 6/11 at 5 pm, get dumped off in the middle of nowhere and then canoe to the end.

My brother - who screwed up his eye for the Wabakimi trip messed up his shoulder for this one so now so I am going solo. Kind of why I bought the Rockstar in the first place.

Twenty five nites purchased - only $250. Not too bad.

As I approach Moosonee I will inReach Francis at Smoothwater Outfitters for a better idea of arrival. He will meet me at the train, bring me back to his business where I'll spend the nite and he will drive me back to Sudbury and my truck. I was set to hitch-hike it, but this fell into place very easily and I will always try to help independent business owners.

It is my understanding after I am dropped off there is a place to camp approx. 100 yards west down the tracks.

Note - recped put me in touch with Brian Porter for a possible shuttle. Brian doesn't drive that far, but he was working for me so he said I could stash my gear in his garage while I got my truck. This isn't even stuff he normally does. You have got to love people in canoe country. 705-272-8268.

As always, I appreciate all of the help from this board, and also to recped for his vast knowledge. You have made my life easier sir. Gonna drive up to Hogtown for a beer some day.

I read on one of the trip reports that it is a bit of strange feeling as that train vanishes in the in the distance. And there were 4 of them. I have always maintained my canoeing was the "search for insignificance". I've got a feeling on this trip I'm gonna find it.

Take care, and thank you all.

 

[Keeled Over]

Hi folks,

After 9 days of perfectly happy paddling the sky opened up and provided a deluge the was more than I had anticipated. The river was low so a bit more water would have helped. Problem is we had different ideas on what that amount should be. Anyway, after setting up camp for the nite I was treated to a spectacular show, the end result being a blown out river. I stayed at the portage trail for a total of 4 days waiting for the level to drop. Kept rising the entire time. With more rain on the way I figured I could be there for a week, so I'll just pay the bill and get taken out. I still don't know the entre backstory, but end result was the police came and got me. I couldn't bring much so all of my gear is still there. No charge for the pick-up, though because it was the police. I have a couple of cool pic's.

And I, finally at the age of 64, got to jump from a rock into a hovering helicopter.

There is much to tell - the police were fantastic.

I'll get this typed up with some pic's, but if anyone knows anybody in the gear retrieval business please let me know.

And that Rockstar I planned to make available to the site members first when I decided to sell it? It's all alone in the woods up there, so I may have to withdraw my offer. Oh well, I sort of bought it with this trip in mind, so maybe it's a fitting end. Sort of a Born Free vibe.

 

[Odyssey]

Exciting adventure all round, looking forward to your TR. But unfortunate ending. Really glad you're home safe.
Missinaibe Outfitters?

 

[Alan Gage]

Sounds like a good excuse to charter a helicopter back in a couple weeks to finish the trip.

Alan

 

[Keeled Over]

Exciting adventure all round, looking forward to your TR. But unfortunate ending. Really glad you're home safe.
Missinaibe Outfitters?

I pretty much set it up myself along with Hap's book. I used Hap's maps from the book instead of purchasing traditional maps. I called Ontario Parks and they did the permits for me. A call to Via rail had the train tickets and Smoothwater shuttled me. Except for the food for 3 weeks which was the biggest expense. I just drove for 6 hours to Sudbury, jumped on the train and that was it.

NOTE - Re the train stop at the River. Comments have been made about the the campsite being another 100 meters past the trains traditional stopping point. They have made the adjustment at Via and they will drop you exactly where the trail starts. Walk down that trail 500 meters or so and you are right at the river. You can camp right there and wait till morning. I was dropped at 11:40 pm.

 

[Odyssey]

Cool. I was wondering if Missinaibe Outfitters might pick up your stashed gear and canoe for a fee?

 

[recped]

A dramatic rise in flow and level on the 23rd. The storm that passed through on the 22nd did a lot of damage and keep the rescue folks very busy. Parts of Algonquin were closed, many back and front country campers trapped, a few serious injuries from falling trees. I wasn't following that storm live, I think it was well south of @Keeled Over location but it would have been right over the upper Missinaibi watershed