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High Temp.
22° F
Low Temp.
4°
F
Wind
NW 5 MPH
Miles Traveled
13
Hours Traveling
6
New Snow 0
(since last update)
People
Seen 4
(since last update)
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Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2003 10:00 PM Cedar Lake, Manitoba
Click To Enlarge
The delta of the Saskatchewan River reminded us of the Mississippi
River's delta, except frozen.
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The Saskatchewan River's entrance into Cedar Lake is
gradual one. The main channel divides into smaller and smaller fingers
while leading to Cedar Lake's massive main body. Trees became few
and far between as we skied through a corridor lined with tall grasses.
Rounding a bend we were suddenly deposited on the windswept expanse
of Cedar Lake. |
| Several miles to the south we could make out the closest
shoreline. Overcast skies played with our depth perception and made
it impossible to see the wind-packed snowdrifts that lay in our path.
It like skiing down a mogul field blindfolded. We slowly trudged along,
heading for the closest shoreline and feeling the way with our skis.
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| Lichen
and Saylix
were unaffected by the poor visibility and wind. During one of our
brief rest stops out in the open, Eric and I stood hunched over, backs
to the wind, quickly wolfing down GORP. Lichen, on the other hand,
sat facing into the wind, while Saylix rolled in the snow. At times
it would sure be nice to have thick fur coat. |
Click To Enlarge
Frosty cleans up our campsite by throwing unused firewood back
into the woods. We always do our best to leave no trace when we
break camp. |
Our hard work paid off when we reached the shoreline.
We trudged through a hundred yards of deep, soft snow and found
the perfect campsite in the middle of a black
spruce swamp. Moose
tracks criss-crossed the swamp and fox
tracks were present along the edge of the spruce
bog. Shelter from the wind, plenty of good firewood, and evidence
of our Boreal
Forest neighbors: who could ask for a better campsite? |
This morning we left the cozy camp in the black
spruce and tamarack
swamp and headed for Chemawawin. Chemawawin is an old Cree village
that was abandoned in 1964, when the power dam was built near Grand
Rapids. This dam caused the old townsite to be flooded and forced
its inhabitents to move. Today, locals come back to hunt, fish,
and trap in their old stomping grounds. |
Click To Enlarge
The church was only one of a few buildings left standing in Chemawawin
after the flood in 1964. |
Click To Enlarge
Enjoying the warmth of the stove and conversation in Chemawawin |
We enjoyed a nice visit with a few folks and soaked up the warmth
of the big, black stove in the middle of the cabin. After an hour
of visiting, we said good-bye to our hosts and headed toward an
island about a mile from the old townsite. Our woodstove is now
radiating heat of its own, and we are looking forward to our first
rest-day tomorrow.
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The Wilderness Classroom Organization
4605 Grand Ave.
Western Springs, IL 60558
(630) 204-0420
info@wildernessclassroom.com
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