| Author |
Message |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 3
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 1:47 pm: | 
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I'm new to this site, and I'm more familiar with
the territory a few maps higher than most of the
content here, and I was just wondering if anybody
out there has tried Rankin?
Depart Wapus-Metimakendo-Penassi with a hard
concealed left into Rankin, and one of the best
sand beaches in the area. Continue on down the
Montreal to Mistinikon (and a Canyon Portage),
on to Matachewan (Native Pictographs), Elk Lake,
Mountain Chutes, and Mowats Landing.
You can also access from Duncan Lake (or Shining Tree for that matter)and portage
into Rankin (though the trail has reverted to
a non-fiance-passable trail... we managed to
hitch a ride and come back up from Mistinikon).
Rankin is a gem, and the map-further-north thing
still lets you enjoy it to yourself.
Let me know who has been, who hasn't and would
benefit from anything we might pass along.
Also, I cut my babyteeth on Makobe many years ago. We're going back in this year, Mowats to
Elk Lake Mid July along the North Channel. Can
anyone tell me if Park Fees are Payable, and if
so, where. In my day, there was no Park. If fees
are to be paid, where in Temagami do you do so?
Thanks.
Sundown |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 419
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 8:00 pm: |
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Sundown:
You can read all about fees here.
http://www.ottertooth.com/Temagami/Canoeing/parks. htm
The route you are describing is on a publication put out by MNR in Kirkland Lake. Not sure if it is available any more in print.
I have done it in reverse, but it must have been at least 15 years ago.
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curly
Member
Post Number: 50
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 - 9:42 pm: |
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About as far north (in Temagami area) as I've been is Makobe River. But I'd love to venture even further. I've been looking at the Montreal River from Gowganda to Matachewan, or perhaps Sydney Creek.
Where's Rankin Lake? |
erhard
Member
Post Number: 4
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 8:38 am: |
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It sounds like a great trip! Thanks for sharing, Sundown! |
brian
Moderator
Post Number: 671
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 9:41 am: |
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I have done the trip from Lake Temagami, in reverse, upstream. Great area. Not many portages. Big hills west of Duncan. Not much canoe traffic, offset by more motors. |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 4
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 9:42 am: |
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Curly:
Take Hwy 560 west thru Gowganda and continue 12kms to the Wapus (or Upper Notch Rapids). Rankin is a 25 km paddle moreorless due north on the West Montreal system. The entrance is hidden, so you have to be watchful, and even once you find the channel its still easy enough to miss. If you get MNR Map 41P/NE you'll find the path. Rankin has a 400 metre sand beach on the south shore, and we've had moose and bear metres away. Great fishing at the north end.
I've done 15-20 different trips on this mapsystem
so if you've any questions at all, fire away.
The Longpoint-Sidney creek is a good run too and
an easy weekender. Shillington is great fishing
and the top end of Portage Lake has a good
campsite where you can catch monster Pike right
from your tent, off the rock.
The last time i was in Sidney was 92 and i took some friends from New Zealand in. It was there first canoe experience. I paddled 26 kms but I reckon they did twice that  . A lot of fun.
(They went home and bought a canoe)
Sidney is a "stump-filled" lake. Photogenic.
If you go, Call Urs and Diane at Auld Reekie in Gowganda. They often shuttle Roula and I to our put-in, and drop off our vehicle at the finish. Two pretty amazing people.
Off the top of my head I've done 5 different routes from Gowganda to Matachewan to Elk Lake and I've never seen another canoe.
Enjoy
Sundown |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 9:54 am: |
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Brian:
Yeah, Brian... There is a boat launch at the Duncan Lake Dam, so Duncan has boats... saw two in 2006, but the wapus is over-the-dam so the route up Penassi is the one i recommend... saw one boat in 2005, and the rapids at the northend keep it empty right to the Mistinikon Canyon. And for wildlife viewing, with many eagles too, its hard to beat. We've seen lots of bear in particular but they're your "Bush Bear" see-you-and-run variety.
Sundown |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 420
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 3:59 pm: |
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Curly;
This route was written up by MNR as:
Kirkland Lake District Canoe Routes
MNR4618, ISBN 0-7729-8186-8.
Not sure if it is still in print or available.
It might be available through the MNR library in Peterborough
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tsm
Member
Post Number: 98
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 4:40 pm: |
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Sundown
I don't want to hijack this thread but you seem to be the guy to ask.
Last summer (Labour Day weekend), my BIL and I flew into Scarecrow from Longpoint.
Our plan was to paddle north from Smoothwater, follow Hap's route 18 into Gowganda.
We got as far north as the old rock dam before the supposed 1895m portage bypassing C1 and 2 rapids. We never located the portage, after having looked for it for well over an hour. With a brand new $3500 kevlar canoe, we decided against trying to line and wade the rapids, and paddled back to the bridge on the Montreal River, where we were able to get a ride back to Longpoint.
We assume this portage is now overgrown and not used....any idea?
Here'e a link to a brief report I wrote.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/helene.huot/Intro_index.h tml |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 6
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 6:46 pm: |
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tsm
Actually, I was just reading your report yesterday. I haven't got my maps handy, and I dont have Haps Book either, but if youre out of smoothwater heading north, you'd be on the East
Montreal heading into Stumpy, with a portage into Gowganda Lake... I reckon.
A nice run, but it is notorious as one of those that "you really have to WANT to get thru" in order to get thru, and usually only then if you've borrowed your Mother-in-laws canoe. In a dry summer it's a long drag. (But even Kevlar needs to develop a little "character", you know )
As regards the Portages, I ran into the same thing at the North end of Duncan Lake, on the same week as you.
I worked for MNR 1980-84 and in those days, before the cutbacks, all of these portages were mint. I understand now that they don't do all portages every year... and thats probably what you ran into too.
I will be re-establishing some of my old contacts in that area (MNR) this spring so I will
get a list of what's done and what's not, and try to get the word out
Great report, by the way. I'll be using the info
with respect to my Mowats to Elk Lake run this year. Thanks.
Sundown}} |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 421
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 8:04 pm: |
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I hate to tell you this Sundown... but the MNR doesn't do portage maintenance anywhere in the Province on Crown Lands.If portages are being cleared, it is because canoeists or trip camps or outfitters are doing them.
It is rumoured that MNR may start up a modest route maintenance program this year in the Temagami area on Crown Lands... for the first time in probably 20 years |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 7
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 5:59 am: |
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Thanks Ed
That might explain it. I was under the impression that Esker Lakes Park still had a "reduced" Junior Ranger Camp that was doing
some routes each year on a rotating schedule.
Will check. As for Stumpy, tsm, I know it is used by at least 3 outfitters in Gowganda, and that they drive their clientele in. Maybe they have discouraged the portage there to put up a fence of sorts... will check.
I was into Hangingstone last spring, on the
other shore, and it was trimmed nice... but theres no road access in there. Maybe thats why.
Sundown |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 422
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 7:57 am: |
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Sundown:
I think Ontario Parks that have canoe routes within their borders do some maintenance, but but almost none is being done by MNR on Crown Lands.
The Crown Land routes in Temagami have been maintained by canoe trippers, outfitters,tourist associations and the canoe camps.
This may change this year as MNR has allocated some money to restart a maintenance program on Crown Land Routes.
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sundown
Member
Post Number: 8
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 9:02 am: |
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Ok, then... and oh for the good ol' days, eh?
Which I guess just goes to show the value of a
forum like this... trading information of reality.
And, speaking of reality then, with my trip
Mowats to Makobe to Elk Lake, and given it's
a park now, I can expect some of my favourite
campsites may no longer exist, and new ones
have been created. So, I ask anyone out there
for their favourite current sites at Helen Falls,
Grays Lake, Makobe (3 Nights), and Alexander
Lake. May side trip down to Cabin, BridalVeil,
& Fatmans, then back up to katherine and carry
on. (Roula is a nature photographer, and may
want to capture that).
I do have a Temagami Planning Map, so the sites
are marked, but I'm more interested in personal
preferences.
Departing +/- July 15 so I won't be hitting the
long weekend volume.
Thanks,
and does the nastawgan into Canyon Lake still
exist (Trivia: did anyone know its a geothermal
Lake?)
Sundown |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 10
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 3:27 pm: |
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Curly/Erhard & All
Found the Rankin route on CCR... They call it
the West Montreal. Their home page shows a photo
of McConnell Bay on Chiniguchi... never been there, but I actually thought it was a photo of
Rankin.
You will see that CCR's description doesn't even
mention Rankin... most people go paddling right
by and never realize what lies 400 metres thru
a bit of messy paddling. The entrance is THAT
concealed... Even from the lake itself you'd never guess there was an outlet. Very private.
I usually go Gowganda-Matachewan-Elk Lake for
+/- 110 km run. Caribou Falls, yes, Caution reqd.
Enjoy
Sundown |
erhard
Member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 20, 2007 - 6:51 pm: |
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This is wonderful info, Sundown. I went back to CCR and can realize that the description over there really lacks that sort of detail.
It's a pity the comments facility on CCR routes has been temporarily disabled - maybe when that facility is back up you wouldn't mind adding a few comments there. |
curly
Member
Post Number: 52
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 9:43 am: |
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So many routes, so little time, only one life. I'm going to become a Buddhist so I can be reincarnated and paddle some more.
Where's Canyon Lake? |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 11
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 11:58 am: |
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Curly
Canyon Lake is 2/3 of the way north to Elk Lake from Makobe Lake on the Makobe River. About 1/2
km west... there's a small unnamed lake between
Makobe and Canyon so 2 very short portages. The
other way to access is from the Roadhouse Tower
road off Hwy 560 to Gowganda, but you'd need a
wheeled travois to transport your canoe back to
a creek due west of Canyon and then portage in.
(There likely is a trail in now, as I see from
the prospecting records that Terry Fiset has recently staked a mining claim at the west end
of Canyon... and Terry does the ATV thing, as a rule).
If you look at the topos, you will see theres some pretty good shoreline elevation. You will
also note that Canyon is the only directly
east-west rift in many, many miles... pretty
much everything in our area runs NW to SE. This
is significant... there's quite a fault line
right there.
And Canyon is a VERY warm lake, compared to
anything in the area, which theory says runs
into the Makobe aquifier. You can actually stand
with one foot in the Makobe and one foot in the
Bear Creek (at the junction 2kms south), and you
can't stand the cold, while you can swim a few
feet away.
I'll be going in late July. If you go, or anyone
does, pls let me know if the nastawgan needs
work. Thanks.
Incidentally, for you guys fortunate enough to
still live up there... it's an easy daytrip up
and back to Elk Lake... and if the season closes
too soon for you, Canyon Lake has a much longer
season.
Sundown |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 13
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 12:09 pm: |
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Curly,
Just tried your google earth from the other site.
Canyon, on your polygon image, is at
47deg39' 54.58N x 80 deg24' 08.66W
Centre of Lake
Sundown |
curly
Member
Post Number: 54
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, April 21, 2007 - 2:42 pm: |
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Ironic....
There are two clearcuts planned on the west shore of the Makobe River, one above Canyon Lake and one below. I've outlined them and posted them here. It looks as though the nastawgan into Canyon will not be affected, but if/when you go in there please take photos of the trail, post them here, and clean up the trail so that others may pass it easily. (Of course, we should all do that wherever we go.)
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/ Number/870957/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/ Number/870952/an/0/page/0/gonew/1#UNREAD |
sundown
Member
Post Number: 15
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 12:54 pm: |
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Curly
Is this what you guys have to deal with every
day???
Ironic?
I'm just wondering if irony is clearest term?
September 21/06
Reeve of an adjoining township stakes a mining
claim on west end of Canyon Lake. I believe it is the only claim-on-record for the individual.
The claim ends at the township line where he (I presume) would have a conflict of interest? I applaud such a recognition, of course.
It is the only mining claim, I believe, registered in this cutover area.
The claim is staked by a second individual who
I think is/was with Elk Lake Community Forest,
and "Elk Lake Meeting Turns Ugly" (ottertooth)?
Not sure? I've been away for a while.
The Reeve is heavily associated with logging interests.
Satelite photos seem to indicate substantial
improvements on logging road to corner of claim?
Mining records however indicate "no Improvements"
done in 2006.
Prospectors license costs what... $20.00?
Pretty much all merchantable timber up to borders
of mining claim, but apparently not within it,
are scheduled to be harvested in Spring 2007.
I'm not an expert on Google earth, but my initial
impression seems to suggest this?
I presume the claim will be granted the same
protection as a Wilderness Park... 15 metres?
Wondering why this prime post-logging moose-habitat-island-of-trees is exempted? I will try
to check if an "objection" was filed by the
claimholder or others... clearly cost efficient
to log this block at the same time, I would think? And, of course, this block is not adjacent to a widerness park, so who would object, anyway? Why was this block spared?
I don't know which logging interest will
cut/haul/benefit from this clear-cut?
Just curious?
When is cut scheduled to occur?
I'm thinking of getting my Prospectors License.
Maybe I can save the rest of Canyon Lake?
I believe in coincidences, of course...
if there aren't too many of them.
Sundown
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ed
Moderator
Post Number: 424
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 3:19 pm: |
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And of course the Reeve is an experienced, professional geologist.
I wonder if he is planning to put up a cabin in there so that he can use it as a base from which to develop his mining claim?
What is the tenure on a mining claim?
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sundown
Member
Post Number: 17
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 4:35 pm: |
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Ed
16 years, I believe... (Maybe 19???)
And yes, camp allowed.
8 claims, $400 work/claim required over 3 years, I believe. I wouldn't hump it back to town every
night after a hard day in the shaft. I'd be
fixin' me a camp with my first dollar, eh?
And, you don't want any trespassers
disturbing your workings.
Sundown |
ed
Moderator
Post Number: 425
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 - 9:29 am: |
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And the claims are renewable aren't they, assuming they are in good standing?
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sundown
Member
Post Number: 18
Registered: 04-2007
| | Posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 - 10:07 am: |
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Yes Ed, renewable in perpetuity, I believe
Why buy land?
I downloaded the TFAI map this morning, which
shows the topos, the area of the cuts, and
all of the values which need to be protected.
It would appear that the area with the best
timber unfortunately lies on the Mining Claim,
has a designation of "High Cultural Value" and
largely will be preserved. Its an area encompassing pretty much the entire western half of Canyon Lake, where the claim is registered.
A "Recreational Trail" of value is also being
preserved. It runs from the recently upgraded
Roadhouse Tower Road (to the western edge of the
mining claim, and then due east into Canyon Lake.
Mysteriously, though this trail has protected
status, the "trail-to-be-protected" ends precisely at the centre of Canyon Lake at the Mining Claim Border with James Township. This trail runs down the centre of the Lake itself, so is obviously viewed as worthy of "High Cultural Value", at least to the end of Mr Fiset's Mining Claim. Once you cross the eastern border of Mr Fisets claim, and proceed one-paddle-stroke east on Canyon Lake, "High Cultural Value" ceases, including the balance of the lake, and the two Nastawgans (Which have zero Cultural Value, it would seem). The moose aquatic feeding areas and Moose wintering areas, are duly preserved of course, but you would need to negotiate the permission of the ClaimOwner, normally, to access this Recreational Trail thru his claim.
Otherwise, you could paddle from Elk Lake
thru the park (if firearms are allowed?) and
come in from the nastawgan... which I'm still
trying to determine if it exists.
Incidentally, the entire area is watershed
protected and the government mandates that no
activities negative to the watershed be granted.
As stated previously, Canyon is a East-West fault line(very atypical in our area)
and geothermally heated. Not many of those
around. Honestly, Canyon ought to have been part
of the Makobe-Grays, due to this about-to-be-
destroyed significance. I wasn't in Canada when
those hearings occurred, otherwise I would
have expressed the "No-brainer"
When I noticed the claim was staked, and saw
the players, I wondered.
As I said, I believe in coincidences,
as long as there aren't too many of them.
I am presently considering numerous options.
Any ideas/input greatly appreciated.
It may require a spring trip in.
Sundown
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Temagami canoe routes & backcountry travel