9:30 am: Started paddling 5:00 pm: Found campsite Today’s distance: 22.8 mi. Trip Total: 167.6 mi. GPS Readings (UTM) Lunch: 12V 390192 6538243 Camp: 12V 395037 6551295 |
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| Today was a leisurely paddle but it seemed like the canoes were glued to the water and we had to force them every inch of the way. We would paddle for a while and then pull the canoes together and float awhile. We were again looking for a good source of drinking water, but did not find any. A potential campsite was checked out at a rangers cabin. We found raspberries in the area that made a good snack, but decided not to camp there. Across the river was a large sand island that was about 3-4 feet above the water level and not a mud flat. We setup camp there and I laid down for a while before supper. I was feeling OK, just tired. The river seems to be changing. It is getting wider, the banks are lower and we are beginning to see birch trees. There is also more water fowl present. Despite the width of the river, there is still a significant current. The river is about a mile wide at our campsite (it measured 0.8 mi. wide on the map) and resembles lakes in the Boundary Waters. Many lakes in the BWCAW are smaller than these wide spots. We still are not seeing other people. So far the only people we have seen were at the First Nations settlements of Little Red River and Garden Creek. Maybe this should not be a surprise as when we registered at the Wood Buffalo National Park for our backcountry permit, the ranger told us there might be 20 canoers a year register and only 1400 to 2000 people register as visitors to the park. This despite the fact that the Peace River covers 190 miles in the park and the park is designated a World Heritage Site. |
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Journal Summary, July 8-13, July 14, July 15, July 16, July 17, July 18, July 19, July 20, July 21, July 22, July 23, July 24, July 25, July 26, July 27-28, July 29, July 30, July 31, August 1, August 2-3
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Exit Peace River Canoe Trip
Last updated: April 13, 2004