CANOEING NORTHERN QUEBEC AND LABRADOR
Notakwanon River
Wendy, Al, Dave and Ann paddled the Notakwanon in 1990. It was one of the few trips that we started by chartering an Otter to fly us in.
We started on Cabot Lake on the upper George and then went upstream to Lac au Goeland and up to Lac Chapiteau. We then headed north to the Notakwanon headwaters.
We paddled to the Labrador Sea and then to the Innu village of Utshimasits (Davis Inlet).
In the middle of the trip. Dave dislocated his shoulder while scouting a rapid. We were at least a week's travel to the coast and the possibility of help. We realized that we were in a precarious situation because we had no way to get in touch with anyone. We were fortunate that Ann managed to get Dave's shoulder back in.
It was a difficult trip and was the last one that we negotiated without some kind of signaling device to contact the outside world in case of emergency.
All photos by Al Stirt except as noted: DB - Dave Brown, WS- Wendy Scott.
Notakwanon River
Notakwanon Route
On the QNS&L
Camping before portaging upstream.
Heading up. DB photo
More upstream portaging ahead.
Lake trout.
On Lake Chapiteau.
Cooking on Chapiteau. I fell in love with the semi barren country. WS photo
A portage near the height of land. DB photo
Wendy on the height of land portage.
The river starts as a series of shallow rapids as it leaves the headwater lakes. DB photo
Short and steep rapid. DB photo
The right angle falls.
Heading into a tricky spot.
It's a tight squeeze.
Made it.
Morning on the river. Heading east with the sun in our eyes.
Another congested rapid.
The rapids continue around the bend. Doing a lot of scouting.
Boulder hopping lining.
A tricky spot.
A miserable night camped on the boulders.
Scenic lining spot.
Scouting our next move.
A long rapid and portage on the lower river.
Meanders on the lower river.
After getting few fish upriver, we finally get some Arctic Char at the coast. WS photo
Big bluffs at the lower river.
Coming in to Davis Inlet (Utshimasits).