“Gin Clear”: the Upsalquitch River
October 16, 2010
The Upsalquitch River
May 8 – 10, 2010
This trip began just as the one last summer down the Patapedia and Kedgwick Rivers did, at a campsite along the Restigouche River. Well, actually, it began on Friday night with a broken down trailer a half hour outside of Fredericton, a tow-truck, a trailer swap, and then the remaining five hour drive. But the trip began, in my mind, with this scene of my hammock hanging in the trees by the river on Saturday morning, with anticipation hanging in the air for the first paddling trip of the season.
We awoke to a beautiful sunny day, and had breakfast, which had been laid out for us by the earliest birds. Breakfast was a spectacle! The bubbling percolator was constantly being emptied and refilled, and there were oranges, pitas and hummus, and breakfast burritos.
We all hopped on Andre’s bus and Roland once again led us down to the 20 mile of the Upsalquitch. You wouldn’t want to start any higher than we did, except in very high water. This whole river was “new water” for me, but the top few miles, were new for almost everyone here.
So, sunscreen was applied, and boats were loaded. We’re going to the wilderness!
And in this way, another trip begins. Read the rest of this entry »
Ice Climbing in New Brunswick 1/4 – Mt. Misery
April 28, 2010
I know it’s hard to feel any regret that winter’s on its way out with the weather we’ve been having. The snow is melting, I can see tulips waiting in the wings for that first really warm day to pop up through the soil. On the West Coast it’s been spring since long before the winter Olympics. But I want to take this last chance to show some photos from my new hobby: ice climbing.
I had the opportunity to get out with some great teachers and climbers at the very end of this year’s season, but it was just enough for me to get hooked, and to get some great photos (and a video which will be ready for the public very soon).
Jan 23, 2010 – Mt. Misery, NB
In January I had my introduction to the world of ice climbing. We walked across the frozen Kennebecasis River to a place that goes by the (totally reassuring) name of Mount Misery.
I was told that ice climbing is usually very cold, and you have to ‘brave the elements’. If these are the ‘elements,’ that’s fine by me.
The ice forms where the rock would typically be very wet in the summer. Read the rest of this entry »
Ice Climbing in New Brunswick 2/4 – Truancy Falls
April 28, 2010
Feb 11, 2010 – Truancy Falls, NB
Graham told me about this pillar, and that I should really be there to film it when they climbed. Of course, I had no interest in climbing it myself. This was pretty advanced stuff, so I was happy to stay on the “ground.”
Ice Climbing in New Brunswick 3/4 – Ice Fest
April 28, 2010
Feb 20, 2010 – Ice Fest, Minister’s Face, NB
The day after our trip to Loch Alva, Graham and I once again crossed the Kennebecasis River to Minister’s Face for an annual ice climbing celebration, “Ice Fest.” Ice Fest is a day of climbing followed by a slide show party where everyone shows their climbing photos from the previous year. I showed my video about Ice Climbing in New Brunswick which will make its way to the web very soon.
As we got closer and closer to the cliffs on the other side, they never seemed to be getting any closer, just bigger and bigger the whole time. On the left is an ATV, and if you click on the photo, you may be able to see a truck on the right hand side where the ice meets the rock.
There were plenty of people around Minister’s Face so I knew if my turn would come, it wouldn’t be for a while, so I headed down Read the rest of this entry »
Ice Climbing in New Brunswick 4/4 – Parlee Brook
April 28, 2010
Feb 21, 2010 – Parlee Brook, NB
We returned to Parlee Brook on February 21st, but this time to climb Parlee Brook proper. Winter hangs on up in the hills here, and the snow clung to the branches like metal shavings to a magnet.
Taking Back Winter
March 1, 2010
Loch Alva
Feb 14-19, 2010
Paul Maybee
Graham Waugh
Winter: a great time to stay indoors. Or so I thought. For so many years, I have restricted my wilderness adventures to three seasons, but this year, I had a change of heart, or maybe I just changed my mind, and decided to go outside.
Day 1: Feb 14

So Graham Waugh and I planned a camping trip in the Loch Alva area which had intrigued both of us since our trip in to Turtle Mountain in May. Looking out across the hills and lakes from Turtle Mountain, we wondered what other mysteries lay hidden in the green valleys and hills.
We quickly found a good rhythm walking with the sleds, and because of the well used snowmobile trail heading up the hill, Graham found it easier to go without snowshoes.
Winter travel is all about layers. Once we got going on the trail, the layers come off, and as soon as we stopped for a bit of a lunch on Mawhane Mountain, they all go back on again.
The wind has brushed all the snow from the top of Turtle Mountain. It feels good to be back here, and I’m reminded of that wonderful trip with Graham and Ross in May. It is especially exciting Read the rest of this entry »
Taking Back Winter – Part II
March 1, 2010
Day 4: Feb 17
The next day was to be another day of exploration. We woke up in the bog, and found ourselves right next to the Miner’s Trail. Graham had noticed it last night and mentioned it to me, but I said that of course, it was just a stream, followed by, “but I’ve been wrong before.” Here, Graham is melting snow for our drinking water for the day.
Yup, that’s definitely the Miner’s Trail.
To earn our breakfast, we scurried up the Miner’s Trail a short distance and climbed a tree to get a nice view. Read the rest of this entry »
The Magnet of the Tobeatic
November 2, 2009
I am slowly working through a backlog of photos that I want to share. This post, I feel, is my first attempt to actually bring us up to the present. From September 27th – October 3rd, I was on a men’s canoe trip with nine other men in the most mystical of places, the Great Tobeatic Wilderness. Quite by chance, we traced the identical route taken by myself and the Whynots in April of this year, but I could trace it a thousand times over and still find wonderous new things, and discover that sense of adventure all over again.
Day 1: Jim Charles Point
We started our trip, interestingly enough, on Jim Charles Point. The next morning, we drove around to Eel Weir instead of crossing Kejimkujik Lake because of high winds.
Day 2: Eel Weir
It was noon before we set out from Eel weir, Read the rest of this entry »
The Magnet of the Tobeatic – Part III
November 2, 2009
Day 5 – Junction Lake
We start our day on Junction Lake and as we set out, Brian gives us an inspirational reading from the shore.
We visited the point where the current county lines (Yarmouth, Shelburne, Queens and Digby) converge. Read the rest of this entry »