Wilderness Canoeing in Canada

Esker in Flett Lake

Planned Rest Day

Distance 0km [203km]
Portage 0 [12]

Joy oh joy, we slept in until after 8am then spent the morning relaxing on the beach where the wind kept the bugs relatively at bay. I took a quick dip in the lake to wash, even my hair, and caught up on the laundry. The lake is surprisingly warm possibly because it is shallow and the days have been so warm. The esker behind us is open and wide and though our camping site is not perfect kitchen wise it has been great to have a day of rest.

I have been reading “Death on the Barrens” [Grinnell 2010] yet again and being right here, I am even more amazed at how unprepared and disorganised the Moffitt party were. That said, we have many advantages over canoe trippers in the 50’s with all the great gear available now.

Flett is an interesting lake as the vegetation is starting to change. There are fewer deciduous trees and the spruce are smaller and not as dense. There are also large banks of what Tyrrell [1894] called “moss glaciers”. These are like the peat bogs of Ireland but form large, high banks. As we have now crossed the worst of the portages and will soon be encountering rapids John has used the opportunity of being stationary to put the spray cover back on the canoe. This will also mean one less thing to pack and carry when we do have to portage. The bugs remain friendly though the wind has been a blessing. Even so we were forced into the tent about 7pm to avoid them.

NOTE

Esker: A long, narrow, steep sided ridge or mound composed of irregular stratified sand and gravel that was deposited by a sub-glacial stream flowing between the ice walls of a retreating glacier, and was left behind when the ice melted. It may be branching and is often discontinuous.