My Journey of Discovery
To Veitchs Lake and Back Again
July 1st, 2009
12km – 6.5 hrs
This trip started where the stream out of Veitchs Lake crosses the 103 near Jordan Falls. This is by far the most challenging thing I have done in a canoe. It is about 4km upstream to get to the lake. Which does not sound like a lot but when you have to wade in water that is anywhere from knee to waist deep going upstream through the runs it is much more difficult. I felt like I had gone a long way when I checked my GPS and it told me I had only gone 150 meters. At that point part of me wanted to head back to the car and go home. The bigger part of me, the part that never gives up on a challenge made me push on. After about one hour of pushing on the stream opened up into a still water. This was about 1.2km from where I started. I paddled through the still water for about 2kms when I reached some more running water. So I again found myself wading & lining against some fast moving water. Again I pushed on upstream and over and around many obstacles when finally I reached Veitchs Lake. 3.5 hrs after this journey began. This has to be one of the most welcome sights I have seen, the lake was covered with lily pads and the wind was dead calm. I spent some time paddling around the lake. While at the north end a Deer spotted me and took off into the woods making more noise then I had ever heard one make. I found some dry ground and took a short break then it was time to head back down to the car. I knew that the trip back down would be much easier but I still had to be careful because the stream is quite narrow and there is always the risk of getting turned sideways on a rock, being alone this could be a big problem. I made my way down stream over and around many of the same obstacles I encountered while heading up stream although there were many times the water branched off in different directions and I was able to pick easier paths. After about 2 hours I reached the car loaded up and headed home. It was a demanding day but I feel a lot of satisfaction for having completed the route.
July 1st, 2009
12km – 6.5 hrs
This trip started where the stream out of Veitchs Lake crosses the 103 near Jordan Falls. This is by far the most challenging thing I have done in a canoe. It is about 4km upstream to get to the lake. Which does not sound like a lot but when you have to wade in water that is anywhere from knee to waist deep going upstream through the runs it is much more difficult. I felt like I had gone a long way when I checked my GPS and it told me I had only gone 150 meters. At that point part of me wanted to head back to the car and go home. The bigger part of me, the part that never gives up on a challenge made me push on. After about one hour of pushing on the stream opened up into a still water. This was about 1.2km from where I started. I paddled through the still water for about 2kms when I reached some more running water. So I again found myself wading & lining against some fast moving water. Again I pushed on upstream and over and around many obstacles when finally I reached Veitchs Lake. 3.5 hrs after this journey began. This has to be one of the most welcome sights I have seen, the lake was covered with lily pads and the wind was dead calm. I spent some time paddling around the lake. While at the north end a Deer spotted me and took off into the woods making more noise then I had ever heard one make. I found some dry ground and took a short break then it was time to head back down to the car. I knew that the trip back down would be much easier but I still had to be careful because the stream is quite narrow and there is always the risk of getting turned sideways on a rock, being alone this could be a big problem. I made my way down stream over and around many of the same obstacles I encountered while heading up stream although there were many times the water branched off in different directions and I was able to pick easier paths. After about 2 hours I reached the car loaded up and headed home. It was a demanding day but I feel a lot of satisfaction for having completed the route.
