20. Mistissini Lake -- A long way to the other side!

17A. Rupert Turn Campsite

We tumped the night before and left the C.S. by 4 am. Crossed to north of 2 small islands on the other side shown on 4-1’s and camped on C.S. on the left hand point just as the turn off the big water is made (about 100 yds after a small 1 tent Indian C.S.) on a pebble beach (#19), large orange sign warning people not to go beyond this point here. Possible C.S. on the other side of this peninsula also. (C.S. in birch stand just north of 2 little islands on 4-1’s (actually only one island) -- Clay & Bill)

Yeah, made it! I woke up around 2:30 in anticipation &got up before the alarm went off just before 3am. We ate a great pineapple upside down cake made by Finney the night before and some prunes to help get us moving (haha). Everything was tumped the night before so we just rolled our junk, tents and fly, and ate and then took off. From the protected campsite it looked like a very gentle breeze from the north, but once we left the bay we found there to be a slightly stronger breeze coming up the 60 miles of open water to the south (nice small waves). Oh, it was really beautiful this morning. Just as I stepped out of the tent I looked up and watched a satellite flying along above, and across the horizon was a full set of pale northern lights, only the second time’ I’ve ever seen them, what a beautiful morning! Also we haven’t had many flies around lately.

So, we flew across to the west shore and about 2 miles out angled north, passing the other section (still asleep from last night’s crossing) and are now on the campsite at the Big Turn, on the edge of the lake, with the big expanse of water to the east and islands to the west. Tomorrow is a very tricky day traveling through the maze of islands leading to the Rupert. (The Rupert drains Lake Mistassini via a channel further north. This route is a short cut with only one portage involved.) We’ll hit the river tomorrow. It was really beautiful watching the sun rise over the water as we paddled. It was really cold this morning-dug out my sweater and Mackinaw. Up until today it’s been really strange -- really warm. Nice & clear now, no wind. Got there around 9 a.m. The guys have tied Meatball up in his hammock and are going to hoist it up in a tree over the lake. Poor guy.

The woods here are all spruce, birch and fir (earlier there was a good bit of poplar and some jack pine). The water in this lake is unbelievably cold -- like ice water.