The summer of 2009 saw C.R.C.O. staff, operating with shared funding from the Canadian Government, undertaking a program to enhance and maintain portages on popular northern Saskatchewan canoe routes. This was a massive undertaking, but we feel the effort was worthwhile, as we were able to improve a large number of portages, thus making tripping just a little bit easier for wilderness travellers. Following is a summary of our work.

Bree/Dan McLennan-Davis-Minuhik-Unnamed-Asbell Bay-McLennan

Date: 3 days 2^nd week of July

Total number of person days worked = 6

Number of portages cleared = 13

This was a shakedown trip. Its major purpose was to find out of the equipment purchased was adequate to clear trails. It was also an opportunity to get some understanding of the condition of some of the portage trails in the region both well used and little used trails. They experienced very wet, cold, windy weather. This slowed down their progress slightly. But good progress was made.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• Liggett Bay on McLennan Lake to small nameless lake to the southeast
• Small nameless lake to a second small nameless lake to the south
• Second small nameless lake to north bay on Davis Lake
• First small nameless lake to north bay on Davis Lake
• Second small nameless lake to Powell Lake
• Powell Lake to Cushon Bay on Davis Lake
• McLennan Lake to small nameless lake
• Small nameless lake out the southeast side to Davis Lake
• Small nameless lake out the southwest side to Davis Lake
• McLennan Lake to Davis Lake
• Davis Lake to Minuhik Lake
• South end of McLennan Lake (Asbell Bay) to small nameless lake
• South end of small nameless lake to Minuhik Lake

Bree/Dan/Curtis/Nick - McLennan Lake, Davis Lake, Bryan Lake, Versailles Lake, Zacharias Lake, Hutchings Lake, MacLean Lake, Cratty Lake

Date: 4 days  3^rd week of July

Total number of person days worked = 16

Number of portages cleared = 7

This was a training trip. Bree took Dan, Curtis and Nick out to give them further training in safety and camping skills. She also helped them to learn to find rarely used portage trails. These trails proved to be more difficult to clear than the previous trip. The very wet spring and early summer meant that some of the trails were knee deep in water. This certainly added to the challenge of clearing trails. They also found that some trails no longer existed. After searching for a considerable amount of time the trails between Bryan Lake and MacLachlan Lake no longer existed. Other trails were very well used and required no clearing.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• Bryan Lake south to small nameless lake
• Small nameless lake to Versailles Lake
• Versailles Lake north to small nameless lake
• Small nameless lake north to Hutchings Lak
• Versailles Lake to Zacharias Lake
• Zacharias Lake west to Screaming Hawk Lake
• Screaming Hawk Lake to Hutchings Lake

Dan/Curtis/Nick - Hailstone Lake, Bervin Lake, Minuhik Lake, Davis Lake, McLennan Lake

Date: 3 days 4^th week of July

Total number of person days worked= 9

Number of portages cleared = 9

This route is a great potential 3 day route. All the portage trails were found but seldom used. Again because of very wet weather, many of the portage trails were quite water logged.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• Halestone Lake south to Berven Lake.
• Berven Lake south to Dickens Lake.
• Berven Lake north to first unnamed lake.
• First unnamed lake to second unnamed lake.
• Second unnamed lake to third unnamed lake.
• Third unnamed lake west to Minuhik Lake.
• Minuhik Lake west to Versailles Lake.
• North end of Minuhik Lake west to Versailles Lake.
• From the north west end of Minuhik Lake through the narrows to the east end of Minuhik Lake.

Dan/Curtis/Nick/Tim McLennan-Davis-Versailles-Bowrie Bay-Kliman-Minuhik-Davis-McLennan

Date: 4 days  1^st week of August

Total number of person days worked = 16

Number of portages cleared = 8

This was the first trip where the 4 were together. They proved to be a very smooth working team. This trip attempted to clear 2 areas. The first area was off the south end of Versailles Lake. This area is of interest because these lakes are the only area in the whole McLennan Lake region that has Walleye. So getting into Kliman, St. Pierre and Fernside Lakes is very important for some canoeists. The second area is the routes going to the south of Zacharias Lake. This was not so successful. These trails were so deteriorated and under water that they were not practical to clear at this time.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• South end of Versailles Lake to a small nameless lake.
• Small nameless lake to a second very small nameless lake.
• Very small nameless lake to Kliman Lake.
• South end of Kliman Lake to St. Pierre Lake.
• South east end of Kliman Lake to Fernside Lake.
• North east end of Kliman Lake to Gowrie Bay on Colin Lake.
• Gowrie Bay to nameless lake.
• Nameless lake to Versailles Lake.

Curtis/Tim Dickens – Stewart River – Bear Lake – French Lake – Otter Lake

Date: 2 days 2^nd week of August

Total number of person days worked = 4

Number of portages cleared = 9

This is another 3 day trip with lots of potential. Only 2 of the trail clearing crew were available for this trip. They found good trails around all places that required a portage trail. The trails needed minor clearing some downed trees and underbrush growing into the trails. The trail around the big water fall along the route needed more clearing than most others.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• Around the first rapids after leaving Dickens Lake.
• Around the second rapids after leaving Dickens Lake.
• Around last rapids before entering first nameless lake.
• Connecting first nameless lake to second nameless lake.
• Connecting second nameless lake to swamp.
• Connecting swamp to third nameless lake.
• Connectng third nameless lake to fourth nameless lake around big water fall.
• First rapids in the Stewart River.
• Second rapids in the Stewart River.

Dan/Curtis/Nick/Tim - Kuskawawo Lake, Contact Lake – Hebden Lake, Freestone Lake, Sim Lake, Otter Lake

Date: 3 days 3^rd week of August

Total number of person days worked = 12

Number of portages cleared = 5

This route used to be very popular. However because of forest fires and heavy winds, many of the portage trails have become very difficult. The crew successfully cleared the trails to Hebdon Lake. However the portage from Hebdon to Freestone Lake was impossible. Much of the trail was a huge blow down. They were unable to cut through the trees with the equipment they had. They also had previous knowledge that the trail between Freestone and Sim Lakes also has a huge blow down. They chose to turn around and head back to Kuskawao Lake. They were disappointed. Those trails will have to wait for a crew with chainsaws.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• Kuskawao Lake to Cote Lake.
• Cote Lake to Baldhead Lake.
• Baldhead Lake to small nameless lake.
• Contact Lake east to first small nameless lake.
• Second small nameless lake to Hebdon Lake.

Dan/Curtis/Nick/Tim - Cratty Lake- Mclean Lake, Calder Lake, Buchannon Lake, Hornet Lake, Stock Lake, Skivewright Lake, Colin Lake, Versailles Lake, Davis Lake, McLennan Lake.

Date: 6 days  4^th week of August

Total number of person days worked = 24

Number of portages cleared = 16

As the trails closer to the road get cleared, longer trips are required to get to the further away portage trails. There were 2 focuses of this trip. One was the area at the north end of Buchannan Lake. We were hoping to open routes through Wakefield Lake into Hornet Lake. There were no obvious trails in this area. However they were able to clear the trail that heads northeast into Weirzyki Lake. This makes the route between McLennan Lake and the Chartier River a much easier trip to do. They were also able to open one alternative route between Buchannan and Hornet Lake.

The other trip focus was the alternative routes between Hornet and Colin Lakes. The many small lakes in this region are quite pretty. This alternative route takes canoeists into a more remote area. We were hoping to open another alternative route through Lust Lake as well. However these trials proved to be more difficult that what a swede saw could clear.

Portages cleared are as follows:

• MacLean to first nameless lake.
• First nameless lake to second nameless lake.
• Second nameless lake to third Calder Lake.
• Buchannan Lake to Weirzyki Lake
• Buchannan Lake to nameless lake to the south east.
• Buchannan Lake to north end of Hornet Lake.
• Hornet Lake to small nameless lake to the south.
• Small nameless lake to Settee Lake.
• Hornet Lake to Stock Lake.
• Stock Lake to small nameless lake to the south west.
• Small nameless lake to second small nameless lake.
• Second small nameless lake north to Skivewright Lake.
• Skivewright Lake to Newburg Bay on Colin Lake.
• Colin Lake east to first nameless lake.
• First nameless lake to second nameless lake.
• Second nameless lake to Settee Lake.

Written by Shannon Bond – June 2007

Why do we come to this place with its clouds of black flies and mosquitoes, the gravel road that rattles your bones, teeth and tires loose? Why do so many of us return year after year with the spring thaw? We migrate, not unlike other species, to the North, to the water, to the bush and shield rock country that makes up Northern Saskatchewan. We pack up our paddles and gear, strap our canoes on roofs- some of them nice, more of them dented aged jalopies- and instinctively make our way northbound on the CANAM highway.

People ask how I can stand the 13-hour, door to door drive to Missinipe. How do I explain a love for watching geography as it changes with each mile? How do I explain the burst of energy that I am infused with when I pass over the bridge in Prince Albert and the whole world changes from one of lush farmland to one of boreal forest with sneak peeks of lakes with their loons calling in the early evening? I don’t need to explain it to my dog for she wakes from her slumber to sniff at the windowsill. I open it for myself as much as I do for her, breathing in the scent of the Jackpines and fresh water.

The summer has begun in earnest now that June is here. The school groups from all over Saskatchewan have been making their annual migration to Missinipe to explore the local routes and reacquaint themselves with the surroundings. This season we have had two teachers shaking hands to say good-bye as retirement and transfers take them to a new stage in their lives. Hopefully we shall see them again on their own time or with a new school group eager to experience the North by canoe.

With spring, the fishermen and women arrive. This is a hardy bunch not to be underestimated. Rain or shine they are in the boats before 9 each morning and not seen again until suppertime or later. Those with a guide eat a hearty shore lunch of walleye and jackfish along one of the many rapids upstream. There was one group who arrived In Missinipe after a 25-hour, non-stop drive from Colorado, tossed their bags into the Lodge and immediately jumped into boats to go fishing. They were back an hour later with enough fish to feed twelve of us. Now tha’s serious fishing!

Excitement builds at this time of year as every staff member leafs through the booking forms to see who is returning from previous trips and clinics. Reunions in the office are nearly a daily occurrence. If these walls could talk they would speak about hundreds of hugs and millions of stories told and retold, each telling a little more colourful from the previous year to the next. I read a quote on a paddling site recently that said, "Next to blood relationships, come water relationships”.– S.Crawford.

Here at Churchill River Canoe Outfitters we do feel a sense of kinship with the folks who come from far and away to partake in the adventures that the river has to offer. Perhaps that is the key element that connects us all – an adventurous spirit and a yearning to share those experiences with likeminded individuals. The summer of 2007 has just begun and we are chomping at the gunwales to get paddling. If you haven’t set aside your Northern time yet, git to gittin’, and give us a shout. You know we’d love to go for a paddle!

The Naomi Fund was set up 5 years ago in memory of Naomi Heffler, a former staff member who died in an avalanche in BC during the winter of 2003. Naomi was keenly interested in becoming better at whatever she tried. She loved sharing her skills with others. Naomi was an awesome paddler and instructor. The Naomi Fund is set up to be used by women wanting to get their instructors in a canoeing discipline. The fund is designed for at least one woman per year to receive funding to take an instructors course. We are looking for applicants for the summer of 2008.

During the summer of 2007 we had a raffle at Churchill River Canoe Outfitters. We had draw for three prizes. The prizes and winners were as follows:

• A beautiful hand made quilt donated and crafted by Anne Marie Hawkins was won by Judy Burgschmidt.
• A canoe barrel donated by Churchill River Canoe Outfitters was won by Fran Protz.
• A beautiful hand crafted wooden box crafted and donated by Dave Fast was won by Cec Chmura.
• And Fresh Air Experience donated a paddling jacket. It was won by Cory Elek.

The Naomi Fund was able to raise approximately $600 this past summer. The Naomi Fund looks forward to funding at least one more woman in her pursuit of canoeing excellence during the summer of 2008. If you feel you are that woman, contact us.

At Churchill River Canoe Outfitters, we often are asked to recommend routes suitable for family paddling: easy-to-paddle, with well-appointed campsites, picturesque, and above all, simple to navigate. The consensus around here is the MacLennan Lake area fits the bill perfectly.

Located fifty kilometers north of our home base at Missinipe, MacLennan Lake is the gateway to a chain of pristine and simply gorgeous lakes. MacLean Lake, Hutchings Lake, Fowell Lake, Davis Lake, Bryan Lake, are just a few of the bodies of water available as destinations from MacLennan Lake. All feature generally calm, cool, clear waters, beautiful campsites, and relatively easy to negotiate portages. Above all, they all lie in a simply spectacular region of the Boreal Forest, teaming with great scenery, an abundance of flora, and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.

This chain of lakes offers a variety of paddling options to all, ranging from rookies to experienced. Families looking for a simple excursion can easily spend their entire stay on and very close to MacLennan Lake. There is much to see and explore on this body of water. More experienced and adventuresome travellers have a number of options available to them. In fact, there are close to two dozen established canoe routes criss-crossing through this area.

Getting to MacLennan Lake involves driving about one hundred and thirty kilometers over a well-maintained gravel road (pavement on Highway #2 ends at the north end of Lac La Ronge). Once at the lake, vehicles can be safely parked at a service station located at the launch point. Our Churchill River Canoe Outfitters office is eighty kilometers north of Lac La Ronge, at Missinipe. It is a great place to stop for a rest before completing the trip to MacLennan Lake. In Missinipe, you can have lunch at a local restaurant, pick up extra supplies at the general store, and stop in at C.R.C.O. We are always happy to provide information about current route conditions, answer questions, and provide advice to make your trip as enjoyable as possible.

The MacLennan Lake area is a gem in Saskatchewan’s northern Boreal Forest. Consider making it a destination for you and your family. You won’t be disappointed!