Going With the Flow
The lower reach into Lake Nipissing is still the best paddling and most accessible section of La Vase River. Jsut beside the Kate Pace bridge where this photo was taken, is the original location of the first or lower portage.
Another Great Canoe Day!
Twenty of North Bay's hardiest voyageurs braved dark skies and thunder showers to retrace the historic portage route across the watershed height of land.
A great lunch and blue skies in the afternoon made up for any of the morning dampness.
Blooming Voyageurs
North Bay Blooms crew with the help of Friends of La Vase Portages cleaned up around the Brandy Lake area and along Highway 17 to Elk's Beach for their Wednesday night clean up. Left to right Tris, ( daughter Kate on top) Karen, Kathryn, Katrina, Eric & Doug, Fred McNutt - Chair FOLVP & Dennis. Thanks everyone for pitching in!
La Vase Portages, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Welcome to the website for the Friends of La Vase Portages. This 14 kilometer section of the historic Voyageur canoe route crosses the height of land between the Mattawa and French Rivers and our goal is to have its historic and heritage importance recognized and protected for future generations.
Over recent years La Vase Portages have suffered from neglect and indifference seeing encroachment from residential and industrial interests along the south end and more recenty from proposed quarrying expansions and private property issues at the north end.
By speaking with groups and individuals with varying interests along the route aswell as various levels of government Friends of La Vase Portages have been working to keep the trail open and protected for future use. Over the last three years we have been brushing and signing the sections of the trail that still run over Crown Lands or North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority property aswell as hosting a public La Vase Heritage Canoe Day to travel the route as a group.
While co-operation and support from property owners along the route has been generally positive, further work remains to be done to see the historic route receive more complete and long term protection and recognition as a heritage canoe route.
We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you out there sometime, the trails and portage routes make a great place to paddle or hike all year round.
Friends of La Vase Portages
Spring 2008
