Jackfish Ghostown Map

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So here is a preview for my next set of posts based on my Jackfish, Ontario Adventure..... If you zoom you can see some of the abandonned houses of this ghost town, or maybe figure out where the Jackfish Tunnel is.

Terrace Bay Schreiber Map

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You can see the Aguasabon river cutting past Terrace Bay to Lake Superior as well as Hydro and Lyda Bays. I'd also like to point out the checkerboard pattern of forest harvesting just to the north. The current economic conditions in the forestry industry have been hard on small northern Ontario towns and a lot of towns in NB (okay... all across the country, but those are the places I follow).

Schreiber has a bunch of neat looking houses built along the shore of a lake that I thought I'd maybe like to live in. Its a pretty spot save for its proximity to highway 17.

I'm having a bit of trouble getting the maps to post the way I want them. I'm working on it though, so I'm not sure if Scheiber is even visible on the blog.

The view from Lou's Landing Bridge

I'm looking down towards the beach from the bridge here. You can see the same tree as was in the last picture and some very nice rapids. The bridge was named after Lou - a local person who supported snowmobiling in the area.

Cool Tree at Lyda Beach

Lyda Beach is also the trail head for the Casque Isles Trail (part of the Voyager Trail, which I think falls under the umbrella of the TransCanada Trail). I hike up to the bridge you could see in the first picture of Aguasabon from Lyda Beach. It was actaully a good km, although the trail there was clearly built to accodate snow mobiles for part of the route.

Lyda Beach looking west

Lyda Bay Sand Beach, Terrace Bay

Here is the view looking East.

Looking up the last part of the Aguasabon River from Lyda Bay Beach in Terrace Bay

After visiting the falls, I went to the tourist centre to pick up some maps and stuff. I did also try to hike up to a lookout behind the tourist station, but I think I went astray and ended up doubling back to where I started with out getting much of a view. After that I headed down through Terrace Bay and a interesting looking golf course to Lyda Bay Beach.

Like twigs in blender

These are full sized logs being pushed about like they are nothing. This is the caldera at the bottom of the falls

Aguasabon Falls

I did a bit of hiking around to get some better views of the river. One thing that I'd love to do someday is hike the Casque-Isles Trail that runs along the coast here for 53 km between Rossport and Terrace Bay.

Next stop - The Impressive Aguasabon Falls, Terrace Bay-Schrieber

I'm surprised that I'd never stopped here before, nevermind that I'd never head of them. I'd have to say that after Kakabeka these were one of the most impressive falls on my tour as the Aguasabon river plunges headlong into Lake Superior. There is actually a smaller set of falls about 100 m downstream where a side channel goes over the cliff. The River is used for hydroelectric power and as you drive towards Terrace Bay-Shreiber from Thunder Bay you pass an impressive water tower that looks like its in Lake superior, but probably is on the shore. One interesting fact that I learned from both my guides is that the water in this river has largely been diverted (at an average rate of 40,000 L/s - North of Superior Roadside Geology of Ontario) from LongLac. Previously, this water would have flowed into the Albany River, past Kashechewan to James Bay. The diversion was created in 1939. The height of the falls is 30 m and the rock is Granodiorite (Roadside Geology).

Rainbow Falls Map

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and here is where it is.

Rainbow Falls Shots

 

 

 

 

It was pretty gloomy... but I think you can get the idea that Rainbow falls is pretty wild. The last photo shows the lake above the falls... The falls are actually the outlet of the lake.

From Placid to Roiling

 

Talking with a couple at some other tourist stop, I heard Rainbow Falls described as being as calm and smooth as oil and then transforming suddenly into a roiling, boiling mess. The photo above captures the oily smooth part of that... I'll post a couple more of the falls in subsequent posts.

I didn't make Rainbow falls on the way up. The gate closes at 3 pm during the fall, and its a long hike in. In fact, I just barely cleared the gate on the way home. I am glad I did make it. It was lightly raining, and I literally ran down the boardwalk along the falls hoping that I didn't slip and fall down the myriad of stairs. (I was careful near the falls - since they looked like they'd do worse to me than a fall down wet stairs would.) Amusingly, after surviving wet slippery stairs and wet rocks near the falls, I slipped and twisted my knee only about 1 step from the parking lot on my way back to the car. The damage wasn't severe - but enough to leave me limping and cursing on my way to the car, nervously glancing at my watch, fearing that I'd be locked in.

Railway by Kama Bay

 

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Okay. The picture highlights the railway which follows the superior shore. What it took to put it there I believe was proof that they were tenacious in the the railroad days. More people were killed building the railway than Canadian Soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Its good to see that the safety record of the railway has improved considerably and that people care about individual deaths. Perhaps we are becoming more civilized.

Oh yes.. the map shows a sat photo of the Kama Bay area. You can see the point of land that I've photographed below.

Close Up of Kama Bay Cuestas

 

Zooming in you can see these 3 Cuestas. A cuesta is a mesa that is tilted so that it has a steep cliff on one end and then a softer grade on the other side.

Kama Bay, from the Jackpine River Lookout

 

Here it is...

Lookout Hare

 

I'm afraid after a month of time between doing it and writing this that I can't remember exactly what lookout this picture was taken from. Checking with my travel guide... it appears to be the Jackpine River Lookout over Kama Bay. I'll post the picture of Kama Bay next. Geologically speaking I'm nearing the end of the Cuesta/Mesa lands and heading into a land of pink granite.

Nipigon Lookout

 

Nipigon has several lookouts over Lake Superior built on a series of Terrace beaches which were abandoned as the water in Lake Superior and its predacessors receded over time.

Nipigon Marina

 

After Hurkett Cove, I stopped at the Marina in Nipigon and ate lunch. The bridge you are looking at is the old CPR bridge spurred on by the need to move troops to combat the rebellion in Manitoba back in the day. They didn't get it built when they promised and thus the soliders had to slog accross a mess of slushy water to get to the other side. Wooden tressle bridges still rock though.

Nipigon LCBO

I'm pretty sure that I took this while touring Nipigon. I went down to the Marina and did a bit of hiking there. I loved this sign... wet (i.e. place that sells alcohol) and dry... all in one building.


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I think the above should be a map of hurkett cove... lets publish and see

Fortunately Fungi is More Obliging that Ducks

Hoofing it back to the car at Hurkett Cove...

Fleeing Duck

I think this is the only shot I got of a duck and it was moving faster than me and my camera could.... I did try for a fair time to get a shot, but my feet were getting pretty damp standing on the edge of the swamp and the birds were not forgetting I was there any time soon... so off I hike for my next adventure

Hurkett Cove Wetland

The wetland surprised me as I stumbled out of the bush and surprised all the ducks into hiding, but there are actually quite a few here.

Hurkett Cove Fungi

Hurkett Cove

I'm a bit sorry that I got distracted from finishing my trip journal before the freshness of the memories had faded from my mind. Hurkett Cove is a small Lakehead Conservation Area in a shallow bay that provides fantastic wetland habitat to a whole whack of migrating birds. I drove down a small gravel road to the pavillion and parking lot, then too a short hike out to the point. On the far side of the point is an awesome marsh that was full of ducks of numerous persausions. There were also so neat fungi.

More Dorian Gas Station Pics

More Dorian Gas Station Pics

The Dorian Esso

I'd planned to hang on until Marathon or White River for Gas - I had half a tank and I can get 600 km or more on a tank. But this gas station was so cool I had to stop and take some pictures. Each side had enormous murals of Canadian Wildlife Painted on it. I'm glad I did too because gas was cheaper there than in White River and by the time I ate the station was closing up and the people were cranky at me for no reason. The people at the Dorian Gas Station were great and I had a good chat with the cashier and one of the local folk about how amazing the scenary was up north. Northern folk are good.

I'll put up a few more of the other sides. They were beautiful.

Treesures of the Milton Outlier

Alright, this is the last picture posted of today. I should pick back up and finish the pictures from my trip back from Thunder Bay.

Winter Stalking

Curl of Birch Bark

Birch conks are cool.... but I guess the camera was more interested in the bark than the bracket fungi. Which worked out in the end.

Twilleaves

Rattlesnake Sunset

Decided that today called for a hike at Rattlesnake... it was cool. We started hiking about 3:30 and left about 5:00 - so the sun was setting while we were hiking around and taking pictures. Fun light!

The "Indian Head"

This is the famous rock column at Ouimet Canyon. I'll have to review my geology... but it is similar to other sites I visited. Its a columnar formation.

Ouimet Canyon

After leaving Thunder Bay, I made a quick stop at Amethyst Harbour - where I got a bit turned around. It was raining - so the pictures weren't worth posting - but basically its a bunch of cottages on Lake Superior.

This photo is taken at the next stop - Ouimet Canyon. I hummed and hawed over the stop because I'd been here before (but not in autumn) In the end, I was glad I took the side trip. It was really inspiring and I fear none of my pictures does it justice. I read lots about the geology and ecology here. Its pretty neat. The canyon is so narrow that the plants in the bottom are actually relict populations from the last ice age - because it is shaded so much, the snow stays late into the spring (maybe even the summer) and so artic plants thrive where regular plants haven't.

Morning Glow

same place/time as below

Last View of the Sleeping Giant

So, continueing my journey home (some time later) I left early enough to catch the sunrise at the Bluffs and photograph the Sleeping Giant/Thunder Bay harbour one last time. This is sort of special for me because one of the special things I did (usually on the first day of each semester) was to get up before sunrise and hike to high park and then watch the sunrise and set my personal/academic goals for the year (and sing the national anthem). So it was kind of neat to do it again. No goals today (might have sung the national anthem though *blush*). I just took pictures and hit the road.

A big shout out to the folks in Churchill, Manitoba

While the dot on my cluster map is so big that its hard to tell whether it is Churchill, Manitoba or Arviat, Nunavut - I think I recall the dot being on the Manitoba side when it was smaller - Its so cool that you check my site out and I'd love to hear from you. Both places are really cool!

Jenn

Snow Falling on Cedars

Which is also the name of a great movie

Winter Whispers

Calm and Quiet on the Credit

There really isn't much to match the silent beauty of the first snow fall when the natural world hasn't quite gone to sleep. The last time I took pictures of this event I was in Fredericton and I got some neat pictures with the snow falling on Sumac leaves. I was actually doing a bit of field work (which involved me putting my hands into this chilly water - I don't think I've ever appreciated Tim Horton's Hot Chocolate so much in my life - or dry clothes. I even forgave them for forgetting to put milk in it (albiet with a scalded tounge).

Of course it was raining by the time I got back home - so there is no snow here, but a pretty afternoon indeed.

The Reign of the Gerainiums

Here is one of my rescued Gerainiums which is continuing to flower thus far. Unfortunately, the leaves on the side farther from the window have started to yellow and I think I'm going to prune it back as soon as the flowers are done.

Maestro

I can't say why this plant brings to mind a fevered classical musician - but this pot of licorish plant and Oregano is just cool. I'm not sure how its taking the move inside. In addition to being inside, its been unusually gloomy all week. This is making my geraniums a bit whiny, but I always have the option of cutting them back and letting them go dormant - but lets hope fore some natural light.

Dead Nettle Takes Over the Bathroom

This plant seems to be happy with the move inside - flowering with these neat and delicate blooms.

And the wheel of time turned....

Book news today...and sad stuff too. Robert Jordon, despite stubbornly trying to beat the odds against his rare blood disease, has passed on. Actually, I believe he passed on on Sept. 16th, 2007 - but with all the books I was expecting out - I haven't been checking up on my authors. So, I actually found out when I went onto George R.R. Martin's site to see if there was the long awaited update that Dances with Dragon's was done - which it isn't. Hopefully, Martin will finish that series before he dies. As for Jordon's nearly finished series, The Wheel of Time, the final book will likely be completed by his wife/editor and his publisher. He has apparently left a large amount of manuscript, a tonne of notes and dictations. Robin Hobb is currently working on a book set in the Rain Wilds set beyond the time line of her last books in that world (i.e. none of our character friends are alive to take part).

The photo was taken from Mount Nemo of Miltonia... :D

Rest in Peace, Robert Jordon.

Cheers,

Jenn

P.S. The link in the title is to a recent interview with Forbes where he explain what he expected to happen if he died before completing Book 12: Memory of Light (I like the title). The link just above is to his own personal blog where picture from the funeral and some excerps are posted as well as recent letters that he wrote.

Missing in Action

I've been pretty busy with school lately. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go back and fill in the rest of my journey from TB to TO... but not today... just a brief escape to Mount Nemo to catch the tail end of fall in the south... with my favourite hiking companion :D