Just got back from the Bazin and spent the last week paddling it. Levels were about perfect for hiding most of the rocks. We ran everything, got out and scouted the two class 4s…two of us actually lined the first part of the first class 4….not necessary just stay left at our levels…and be mindful of a big rock mid far left channel…hard to avoid but I managed in my pocket canyon. At these levels some class 2’s were 3’s but mainly involving wave trains and a few holes to avoid. Use caution when approaching the class 5 waterfall…you basically want to hug the right side of the river as best you ca ..read more

I need to give credit to JT Humphreys for posting the Caltopo site he put up about 10 years ago. It's a hikers app with topos you can really zoom in on and see every twist in every creek you were ever on. And he annotated it with at least 40 spots from his trip(s?) to Nicobi. He even included the top secret location of Camp Maricourt for Girls along with what I suspect is the real name for a shallow little creek Rod mentioned that he portaged around. My trip went out the other direction, so no girls only snipe and not many of them either. Gerald, you had spoken of a cemetery. I was able to fin ..read more

Thanks for the great post Marc. I really enjoy hearing from members of the Camp. I canoed that area on many solo and/or tandem trips with my wife. That's how I got to know Rod Sr. The first time we met was when we were doing the Capitachoane river from the railroad line down past the Camp. Then on occasion we would run into one another somewhere out there in that, at the time, almost pristine wilderness. We corresponded by mail for many years after that sharing canoeing information for that area. I would never have guessed where the portage over to the Eagle river was situated without his know ..read more

We will be paddling the Bazin end of this week and into next week. Can let you know when we get back. I’ve been on it at pretty high levels and it was a fun and wet ride. Levels are currently much lower now so we shall see what the differences are like. Statistics: Posted by Sam82 — Thu May 02, 2024 1:49 am ..read more

So glad to see your post in this group Marc. As mentioned in our email correspondence, it is great to know you hold onto memories of a special trip! Thanks for sharing. Chris Hinckley Statistics: Posted by chinckley — Wed May 01, 2024 10:44 pm ..read more

This collection of thoughts & memories is close to magical. I was on Chris's Opawica trip in July '77. My brother was on the B ride as Rod's bowman after a knee injury took out their original trip leader day two (on the Kekek I think). Last year's smoke & fires put Chibougamau on the big screen which tickled my feeble memory banks. I found this site and have been hugely entertained, reminded and informed. I wasn't able to post here then but I reached out to Chris and he kindly got me the trip notes for me and my brother John. Rod's notes were pretty short and sweet but he mentioned run ..read more

We are looking to do the Basin River in a couple of weeks and the water levels on the Gatineau are looking to be 250-300. http://www.cehq.gouv.qc.ca/suivihydro/g ... ion=040830. What is the optimal range for the Bazin R? We have read a few trip reports of this river being done in May with high water, and are just trying to gauge what to expect. All insights appreciated. Statistics: Posted by Verdure — Sun Apr 28, 2024 1:17 pm ..read more

corderoben wrote: Martin G- Sorry if I am writing four year later on this but there are many passes through the Otish Mountains which has been tried but rarely written. I did a version of this when I led a trip with adolescent boys in 2016. We utilized the Rt. 167 road, got off on the Eastmain Bridge and did a round about route North of the Eastmain, got back on the Eastmain and went through the Otish Mountains to get to the Temiscamie River watershed down to the old Temiscamie Airbase. I don't want to hijack this thread but came across it while researching for a canoe trip in QC this summe ..read more

Martin G- Sorry if I am writing four year later on this but there are many passes through the Otish Mountains which has been tried but rarely written. I did a version of this when I led a trip with adolescent boys in 2016. We utilized the Rt. 167 road, got off on the Eastmain Bridge and did a round about route North of the Eastmain, got back on the Eastmain and went through the Otish Mountains to get to the Temiscamie River watershed down to the old Temiscamie Airbase. The entrance to the pass is just at the south end of Lac Fromont. We then followed upstream, meandering up the stream until ..read more

Yeah, my notes for the section you are thinking about flying into are all about the fast water (we floated through at about 7kmph) and shallow with gravel bars. While it's straight and wide and maybe possible to land there I suspect that you would have a hard time convincing a pilot that it was safe. More likely they will want to drop you right below the border as marked on the cartespleinair map. Statistics: Posted by recped — Sun Mar 03, 2024 11:55 pm ..read more