Spring on La Vase Portages
Late spring evening.
Recent heavy rains are evidenced by the high rate of waterflow over the beaver dam at the south end of Cooper's Lake.
Middle Portage
High Spring water levels allow good paddling through the middle portages area at this time of year. Taken April 27 only two weeks after the ice had left, marsh grasses are already growing well.
Beaver trapping on La Vase Portages
The fur trade was the original reason for La Vase Portages almost four hundred years ago and is still ongoing to this day. A recent concern was raised when traps were left behind on beaver dam lift overs often used by paddlers. As the beavers were not collected for fur it is assumed they have been trapped as a perceived nuisance by other persons in the area. The beaver dam activity along La Vase Portages route has always been an integral and important factor in keeping navigable water levels higher than they otherwise would be. The historic Logan map of 1845 shows the beaver dam at the south end of Cooper's Lake that is still there.
Don't forget your duckie boots.
Spring is synonymous with even more mud than usual on the portages and swamp areas. Wellington's or calf high rubber boots are a good idea for footwear at this time of year.