After wrapping up the 2024 Wilderness Canoe Expedition Semester (WCES) a few days ago and a few days of rest and office work, I’m getting gear and a menu ready for next week’s trip to Quebec to run the Bonaventure River. I’ve been up there a few times, and it’s a real stunner of a river. We put in high in the Chics Chocs mountains and run about 85 miles down to the ocean. Along the way are a bunch of rapids and crystal-clear water.
Eastern Quebec is not far from northern Maine, and like us they have not had much rain this spring. Water levels will be low, which means we’ll be doing a lot of poling. We’ve got a full crew of 6 going, and I’m intending to shoot some video on the river.
The easiest way I know of to pack for a trip like this is to not unpack from the last trip. Yes, I dry stuff out and wash my clothes, but the gear lives in the pack so I’m always ready, or nearly ready, to go.
The photo is from the WCES, early one morning making coffee on an alcohol stove on the side of the river.
