CANOEING NORTHERN QUEBEC AND LABRADOR
Manitou and Moisie Rivers
These two rivers drain into the North Shore of the St. Lawrence.
I paddled with Rosie Powell, Jim Higgins and Dave Boedy on the Manitou in 1983. It was the first of many trips on the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway (QNS&LR). Hardly any information was available on the upper Manitou. It is a small watershed that had low water when we traveled on it in August. We faced many rough portages over thick country with plenty of ravines and no trails.
I smile to myself when I reflect on the fact that this trip, rather than discouraging me, led to many more.
Wendy and I and John Little paddled the Moisie in 1987. This was more of a known quantity, having been featured in Rugge and Davidson's The Complete Wilderness Paddler. It had great whitewater and stunning scenery but felt less remote than the Manitou.
The photos I took on these trips are not the best quality but I'm including them to give a sense of the country.
Moisie and Manitou Rivers.
The QNS&L railroad.
Moisie headwaters.
John Little with the monster wanigan.
Wendy above a canyon on the upper Moisie.
Falls on the upper Moisie .
Wendy and Al lining a ledge on the Moisie. Photo by John Little
Foggy day on the upper Moisie.
John and Al lining a ledge. Photo by Wendy Scott.
Lower Moisie sand banks.
Running a ledge in canyon country. Photo by John Little.
Lower Moisie canyon country.
Jim Higgins and Dave Boedy in a tight spot on the Manitou.
Al on a nasty Manitou portage.
Nasty portage part 2.
Nasty portage part 3.
Nasty portage part 4.
Feeling like a drowned rat while portaging in the rain.
Dave, Al and Jim recovering from a portage.