TO HEAD OF RUPERT ... Half Day ... July 10

Follow map carefully heading almost directly north to elevation marker 1237 on 4-1’s (on Lac Bandeau 4-1)

P. 200 ydr to the Rupert takes off from a rock landing.

CAMPSITE options:

• At both ends of this portage
• Possible C.S. (old surveyor site?) in bay off to right about 200 yds after this portage.
• On left just before first fast water.

Paddle out of the bay the portage puts into, to the first fast water. Lake like section that follows is tricky. Stay north of all the small islands. The second island shown on the 4-1s in the lake like expanse is long and narrow with a small break in the middle too shallow to paddle through. Go to the far northern end of this island. Current soon reached again, leave all large islands to the right here.

C.S. on point on Ile de Lest just as river forks. We take the left western channel. Fishing good north of C.S.

Well made it through one more day of Wabun tripping. After a 3 hour paddle we came to the only portage of the day. The other section is supposed to be one day ahead of us. They passed us yesterday in the afternoon after we had made camp. On this portage they had camped last night. So, they are a few hours ahead of us the by the time we got to the portage where they had camped. This portage put us onto the Rupert River proper. So we were paddling along through a fairly tricky area with a strong cross wind adding to the fun-it isn’t easy to watch the maps, compass and waves all at once. Anyway, after this tricky spot we spotted the other section’s canoes coming in at a right angle to us. We stopped and talked- they had gotten lost and just now had gotten back on the right track. Oh well- the big test for us will be the next 3 weeks on the rapids where mistakes can be fatal and both Hardy & I lack the experience. Tomorrow is the first day of the trip with any rapids worth mentioning- the last chute of the day will be a real tricky one. 3 tricky pitches, 9parts of the rapid) with a tough crossover to the opposite side in the third pitch, and if you screw up-goodbye because there is a small falls right below it! Well, only time will tell how we can handle it.

Getting lost is easier than one might think up here. We have to use 4miles to 1 inch maps which often have inaccuracies and islands under about 5 acres usually don’t show on the map. Sometimes with 2 islands the same size, one will show, one won’t . Fun! Today the map showed a very long peninsula as an island. It adds to the fun.

We had fish for dessert again tonight (Meatball caught one 2 days ago- he trolled while we were paddling up Abatgash Bay) Today ”Garside” caught 2 more trout just north of the campsite around some rocks and islands. I’ve never had fish so good! Fried in bacon grease and sprinkled with a little sugar. Wow is that good! I forced myself to take a bath today, the water is numbing! Hopefully it will warm up as we get farther downstream.