50A -- First Rapids Out Of Courseron 2

Little current and a winding stream, straight paddling except for:

R Just after third pond out of Courseron, as the river swings right. We ran center at top, left of swells in the middle, and out to the right of center.

Lunch Site and possible C.S. except no good place to put canoes, on the left just before two streams come in one on the right after the other from the north (right), about 2 miles before Camousitchouane. Fire place on a large flat rock about 10’ above the river, as the river curves right. Fairly obvious.

C.S. We camped on the second Indian C.S. on the right after entering Camousitchoune. Very dirty but interesting to look at. Probably a fall & winter site. Goose & duck offerings, sleds. A spring runs into the lake about 25 yards N up the shore.

Other C.S.s There are several more C.S. on the right once in the lake, all within about 2 miles of the river’s entrance.

Old surveyor site (possible C.S.) in a small bay reaching to the E in the NW arm of Camousitchouane. (NW of the 1100 contour number on 4-1).

Today started off pretty bad. In the middle of the night I could see stars, but it was drizzling this morning. Then my I broke my paddle (we only brought 5 spares, Chuck broke 2, the other section took one because they lost all 3 spares they brought, and this one I broke, leaving us with only one spare and we have 2 weeks to go still!!!, and the one I’m using now I doubt will last long). Worried? You bet!

Then the SW wind really picked up and brought us hot, humid and clear skies & weather. So when we hit the campsite, everything had a chance to dry. Only one rapid today. Tomorrow we will probably shoot trouble spot #6. The water here on the Martin is at least one foot low. Everywhere looks like the water should be up another foot, and going by what the trip reports say it’s normally higher.

The campsite we’re at now is a frequented (probably in fall & winter) Indian goose & etc. hunting site. Nice pair of showshoes here, a couple dog sleds, and lots of offerings to animal spirits (duck & goose bills, beaver skulls & fir, 2 bald eagle heads, and assorted other skulls) hanging around.