Crew 70 Canoes Canada

You could say it was quite a splash!

Last July, Newtown’s Venture Crew 70 spent five days whitewater canoeing on the Dumoine River in Quebec under the guidance of leaders Aaron and Amy Cox.

The crew, consisting of Jeff and Michael Corbeil, Thomas Cruson, Deirdre Dougherty, Nick Hall, Andrew Heller, PJ O’Dell, and Leo Richardson, drove approximately 800 miles to the Dumoine River, stopping along the way to tour Canada’s historic Fort Henry and camping in several provincial parks.

In the Quebec town of Rapides-des-Joachim, the crew met with their guide, William Pollock. Mr Pollock is a retired forester and the owner of Tuckamor Trips, a company that runs canoeing, hiking and snow shoeing trips throughout the Canadian wilderness.

The crew was then transported in pairs on a floatplane to the Dumoine River’s put-in point, Lac Benoit. In addition to the two passengers and pilot, the plane held one canoe and a combined 60 pounds worth of gear needed for the five-day excursion.

“Everything was very different from up in the plane,” noted Mr O’Dell. “Tons of little islands everywhere you looked. The river was enormous, with great openings where it pooled up to form lakes with no houses in sight!”

Once everyone arrived safely to Lac Benoit, a camp was set for the night. Mr Pollock reviewed some whitewater techniques for the days ahead. He also discussed the difference between whitewater canoeing and whitewater rafting or kayaking, the latter meant for playing in rapids for short periods of time. Canoeing, however, is slower and allows the crew to view some of nature’s most inaccessible splendor.

During the trip, the canoeists encountered rapids dubbed “Thread the Needle” and “Canoe Eater.” Despite the formidable names, the crew was able to maneuver through with very few whitewater mishaps.

The beautiful weather experienced throughout the trip was only surpassed in its perfection by the pristine campsites and many opportunities for crystal-clear swimming. After crossing the Ottawa River, the trip was complete. Mr Pollock soon departed. “Bill was a great guide,” said Mr Heller. “He fit in with our group really well and we learned a lot from him.”

During the trip, Mr Pollock shared many of his philosophies regarding the adventure of outdoor life. The wild, he believed, was humankind’s true home — more real to him than anything in our technologically advanced society.

Some crew members echoed his sentiments. “The challenge of it all brought you closer to nature,” reflected Mr Richardson after the trip.

After the trip, the crew slowly acclimated to the presence of civilization along the slow, long drive home. On the way, thy toured the Bonne Cherre Caves near Kingston, Ontario. Upon arriving safely back at Cullens Lodge in Newtown, the crew was filled with sadness that an amazing trip had come to an end, but all the more enthusiastic for next summer!

Venturing Crew 70 is a co-ed outdoor adventure group for youth ages 14–21. The group meets regularly on Wednesdays at Cullens Memorial in Newtown with regularly scheduled trips. Activities include rock climbing, caving, hiking, canoeing, and more. The group is always looking for new members. For more information, contact Aaron or Amy Cox at 426-4602 or by email at amycaves2@aol.com.