Lake Superior Park: Anjigami Adventure
Back in May 2016, Leah and I paddled an unknown and ill-advised route in Lake Superior Provincial Park, connecting Gamitagama and Mijinemungshing Lakes via the Anjigami River. There isn't an official route connecting the lakes. Read along and be sure to check out the trip report video to see how we fared!
Video Trip Report
The first few days of our trip were bliss! Departing late afternoon on the Friday from Mijinemungshing Lake, we paddled a few kilometers before we found a perfect island campsite. Beef Kabobs and some boxed wine, talk about the high life! The next day would bring the 'un-recommended' from Mijinemungshing to Mirimoki Lakes. In recent years this connection has been plagued by low water levels, and with it being a dry spring, levels were already far below normal. Being the adventurous duo that we are, we went for it anyways and found that while the water was low, it was still deep enough for a canoe, and the only time we had to get out was to lift over a beaver dam! We did not have to line or wade at all and there was 1-0.5ft of water for the most part. We were even greeted by 2 moose on the shore! A few easy portages later and we were camped on our own private island on Black Lake taking in the sights and sounds.
Old Woman Lake
The first few days of our trip were bliss! Departing late afternoon on the Friday from Mijinemungshing Lake, we paddled a few kilometers before we found a perfect island campsite. Beef Kabobs and some boxed wine, talk about the high life! The next day would bring the 'un-recommended' from Mijinemungshing to Mirimoki Lakes. In recent years this connection has been plagued by low water levels, and with it being a dry spring, levels were already far below normal. Being the adventurous duo that we are, we went for it anyways and found that while the water was low, it was still deep enough for a canoe, and the only time we had to get out was to lift over a beaver dam! We did not have to line or wade at all and there was 1-0.5ft of water for the most part. We were even greeted by 2 moose on the shore! A few easy portages later and we were camped on our own private island on Black Lake taking in the sights and sounds.
Our third day brought some steep climbs from Old Women to Gamitagama Lake. Strenuous and at some points almost vertical, the portages proved to be a real calf burner, especially since we were single carrying. Still, we made quick work of them and even cut down on 700m of portaging due to high water levels on Picea Lake. The 880m on the Ont Parks maps is more like 125m as the creek is navigable with higher water (thanks beavers!). When we reached Gamitagama Lake we had ample time to fish, relax and explore the lake. This route was a little on the easy side and I found it strange to have so much free time to unwind at the end of each day....
On the Anjigami River
But of course, it seems Explore the Backcountry routes are never that easy.... cue the adventure, we're heading downstream! Oh, did I mention I planned this trip in 10mins, in my car.... yup, you know something has to happen!
No water on the Anjigami River
There are no signs of there ever being portages on this stretch of the Anjigami between Gamitagama and Mijinemungshing. We bushwhacked 4 times around some rapids and chutes. It's tough country going through there but gorgeous. Further, there are a few beaver dams out downstream of the small lake that flows SE into to the river. Also, 'The Marshlands' in Mijinemungshing Lake contain little to no water so after bush portaging around small rapids we had to push the canoe through some alders before lining it through the marshlands to open water. Through this entire process, the skies were a buzz of activity... as we paddled out we soon saw why, a small forest fire was burning on an island on Mijinemungshing Lake and the water bomber was putting it out. Pretty cool to see. The whole trip downstream from Gamitagama to Mijinemungshing took aprx 5hrs with some time in there to fish. Would only suggest seasoned explorers with bushwhack, compass and advanced tripping skills attempt to make it a loop, as it really isn't a navigable route in the traditional sense.
Trip Resources Maps: http://www.lakesuperiorpark.ca/index.php/canoe-routes
