Journal Entries

We did More exploring around Quebec this weekend, this time we found ourselves in the region just south of Reserve Faunique Mastigouche which led to some more waterfalls. One thing is certain... Quebec has a lot of water.

Close to 60KM hike - happy for a sunny last day. Just steps away from the parking lot and our vehicle.

Kejimkujik (Keji) offers not only trails for hikers, it attracts paddlers to come explore its many waterways. One of these three companions, Janice, and I had a wonderful 3-day kayaking excursion here in 2017 https://outsideways.com/journals/kayaking-2017/

Drying out - everything - at Masons Cabin. Most of my back-pack hiking experience has not had the bonus of a wood stove and four walls and a roof with wooden bunkbeds. Without the blessing of warmth and shelter on this trek - we might have suffered some hypothermia, definitely would have been very uncomfortable.

Fording Red Lake Brook added an adrenaline rush - caution and trekking poles and supportive friends helped us. And we all felt pretty pumped after our safe crossing! Photo is a screenshot from the full video as posted here: https://www.facebook.com/ktoews1

Day 3, hiked from campsite #42 to Masons Cabin - very soggy 14Km. Lovely to see the brilliant colours in the photos as some (most!) of that was lost to us while we were in action! My three very fun and positive hiking comrades - once you're wet you're wet and you just keep going!

Day 2 the rain stopped mid-afternoon and our resilience was rewarded with a spectacular sunset on Liberty Lake.

Day 2 the sun is displaced by rain- chilly with soaked socks and shoes- stopped at 10k for some hot drinks and lunch. Rain has quit, deciding if we should pitch our tents and call it a day- no place to make a fire but can at least warm up in our sleeping bags. All part of the hiking experience.

A mostly flat trail ending at Kejimkujick Park’s back country campsite 44 beside Stewart Brook - fast-flowing, lovely to listen to in the tent and handy for filtering.

Janice, Nancy, Cindy and I setting out on a 4-day training trek for an Appalachian Trail section hike planned for August. After such a long rainy spell we are happy to have a sunny day to begin. The black flies here at the trailhead are also celebrating the heat!