la vase portages

          If you like bugs, mud and french fries then this is the canoe day for you!  Revered by the Voyageurs as a morass of mosquitoes and waist deep mud, these days we leisurely paddle and portage the route with little more than a sun hat and a water bottle ( but don't forget to bring your canoe and paddles aswell).
         We meet at Champlain Park, end of Premier Road in North Bay at 8:00 a.m.  We then shuttle everyone and their canoes across North Bay to Trout Lake where we start the days paddling and portaging.
          Highlight of the route is the morning section from the Brandy Lake and over the as yet undeveloped Crown Land along Cooper's Lake.  We stop for a great lunch at Billy Bob's for an almost traditional Voyageur lunch of pickeral and french fries. After lunch a leisurely paddle brings us back to Champlain Park by midafternoon. 
          To register or for more information please email us at mayne@onlink.net. Entry is $25 per person and includes a Friends of La Vase Portages guide, canoe shuttle, lunch and a great day of canoeing one of Canada'a most famous canoe portage routes. 

Each group is accompanied by a Friends of La Vase Portages guide  ( and we admit it, sometimes even they get lost) but for the most part the portages are well marked and maintained.   As much of the trail is over or near private property it is important to stay on the designated route. We are very  appreciative of the cooperation along the portages from both paddlers and property owners that allows us to keep the route open for everyone. 

For our 2009 Canoe Day low water levels in the historic middle portage area meant an even longer portage than ususal with a carry of almost 1400 metres required along the west shore of North La Vase River. Thanks to volunteers Bernie Stockerman's, John Wipprecht, Jean Marc Filion and everyone who helped out to clear and brush the trails.  Pictured above portagers enjoy a well deserved break along the way.

 

Twenty four persons joined in our first La Vase Portages Heritage Canoe Day, crossing under clear blue skies and hot weather.