Route name: Broadback 
Posted by 
lkovac 
Date posted 
Oct 25, 2005 
Date last travelled 
2005-08-01 00:00 
 

River Region: Quebec - Central

Province: Quebec Distance: 532 km

Duration: 20-30 days

Loop Trip: No

Number of portages: 9

Total portage distance: 4801 m

Average portage length: 533 m

Longest portage: 2070 m

River travel: Advanced

Lake travel: Advanced

Portaging: Difficult

Remoteness: Advanced

Route description:

=== Following route description has each line starting with the distance in km from the Cree village Waskaganish on James (Rupert) Bay. Distance is calculated aroud Longue Pointe peninsula on Lac Evans (not accross through the portage) and through drainage channel on the James (Rupert) Bay.

532 put-in where Route du Nord crosses Lac Frotet forest burnt in spring 2005; 2 cabins; follow Northern shore

521 turn left - North, into the channel towards Lac Tro�lus

520.75 channel splits into two both channels apear paddleable; both have narrows & rapids

517.5 channels join

517 rapid

509 Lac Tro�lus starts paddle Northwest through the maze of islands & channels

493 Lac Tro�lus ends fishing lodge on the left shore

492 rapid

491 rapid ledge

491 put-in on the road to mine Tro�lus 26 km from the junction with Route du Nord 524990 5638999 18U

488.5 R2

488 R2

487 R3

486.8 campsite on the left shore

486 R1

485.5 R2

483.5 R1 use left channel

481 campsite on the right

479.5 turn left there is an alternative route to continue straight; however, it's bit longer

477 campsite on the right 519850 5645783 18U

476 turn right there is an alternative route to continue straight; however, it finishes on the dry riverbed

475.5 beaches on the right, with possibility of camping

472.5 campsite on the left shore

471.8 R1

471.7 R1 keep right channel; it has more water

471.6 R1

467.2 R1

467 R1

466.9 campsite on the left shore

466.4 R2 465.7 R2 464 R2 463.4 campsite on the left shore 519850 5645783 18U 462.9 R4 line on the right 462.5 keep right channel left channel is too dry 462.4 swift 462 R1 461 R2 459.3 R1 457.7 R2 457 R1 456 campsite on the left shore 455.2 campsite on the left shore 450.2 Con� Chute portage on the right, with beautiful campsite portage 100 m 448.6 R1 448.3 R1 448 R1 447.8 campsite on the left shore 447.5 R1 447.3 campsite on the left shore 445.5 campsite on the left shore 444 Carcajou Chute portage on the left; start 502230:5637430; end 502119:5637559 portage 200 m 440.5 junction with Rivi�re Chatillon (on the left) 430.2 campsite on the right 429.2 campsite on the right 428.6 campsite on the right 427.4 campsite on the right 427.2 campsite on the left 424.4 campsite on the right 424.3 bridge (Route du Nord) 424.1 powerlines 423 hunting & fishing camp on the both shores 422 campsite on the right 420.4 shallow spot; rocks across 420.3 campsite on the right 487952 5622399 18U 418.5 Lac Labeau starts 410 campsite on the right 407.7 R1 407.4 R2 405.5 R1 run right of the island 405.2 R3 run right of the island 405 campsite on the right 404.2 R2 404 R3 403.7 R1 401.5 campsite on the left 399 take left channel 398.7 shallow and rocky 397.2 swift 396.7 campsite on the small island 395.8 R1 use right channel; two channels on the left are dry 395.6 R3 394.5 swift 393.2 R1 391 GA campsite on the right bleberries 391 R3 390.7 powerlines 390 swift 389.7 R1 389 R1 387.7 island with beautiful beach on the left 387 swift 385.2 R1 384.8 Rivi�re Assinica joins from the left 384 campsite on the right 383.3 R1 383 campsite on the right 380.5 turn left right channel is probably good to paddle, too 380.3 R1 379.6 R2 378.7 swift in the right channel connection 370 R1-2 369.7 R1-2 368.5 R2 368 R3-4 367.3 road bridge road starts off HWY 113 northwards at Riviere Chibougamau 367 powerlines 366.5 R2 365.8 R1 365.2 swift 364.3 R2 363.8 campsite on the island 363 swift 361 swift 360 R1 360 campsite on the left 359 swift 358 keep right channel left channel has less water, but it is possible to use, too 356.5 R3 356 R1 355.3 R1-2 355.3 powerlines 354.2 campsite on the right 438330 5621683 18U 351.5 campsite on the right 350.5 R2 350 R5 run right and carry over 349.5 R3 347 R1 344.6 campsite on the left 344.5 swift 344.5 campsite on the left 344.5 campsite on the right 344.3 campsite on the left 343.5 R1 343 swift 342.5 campsite on the island 339 R2-4 left channel R2; middle channel R3 (hard to approach); right channel R4 338.5 use right channel (left may be shallow) 336 indian camp on the right 421735 5619509 18U 328 Rivi�re Nipukatasi joins from the left 324.2 campsite on the right 319.3 arm of Lac Qu�nonisca joins from the left 318.5 narrow & shallow rocky liftover; you can use left channel towards Lac Qu�nonisca instead, but it is longer route 315.5 campsite on the right with old cabin, ugly 314 campsite on the island 312.5 cabin on the left shore 312 Qu�nonisca Waterfalls portage on the left portage 259 m 311 swift 309.5 Jean Paradise's cabin on the right good camping spot 306.3 two campsites on islands 305 R1 304.5 R1 304 many swifts next 4 km 299.6 R1 298 R2 297 many potential campsites on the right 295 Riviere Salamandre joins from the left 292.3 R2 289.5 cabin on the right shore 284 cabin on the left shore 282 campsite on the right 378932 5628028 18U 281.5 R1 281 R1 280 R3-4 line or portage on the right portage 120 m 279 start of Crow Bay of Lac Evans 278 campsite on the island 276 cabin on the right shore 268 start of Lac Evans Longue Pointe peninsula You have an option here either to paddle around the peninsula (about 30 km) or use the portage to get across. Beware: this is the portage only for the hard-core travellers. The trail is non-existent, although you can find blazes and marking tape on the trees. Portage start at the corner of the bay left of small creek at UTMs 371224 5645669. First part through the old forest with a lot of deadfall is the hardest part (about 400m). AT the top of peninsula, you are in the muskeg and the visibility here is much better. At the other end you again get into the dense forest and you have to cross one creek. Portage ends at UTMs 369524 5646377. There are campsites on the sandy shores close to both ends of the portage. First one is at 371514 5645986, second one at 369176 5646217. portage 2070 m 227 cabin on the right side, under the poplars 223 very shallow & narrow point 222.5 turn left 221.3 cabin on the right shore 219 turn right; end of Lac Evans left arm of Lac Evans joins from the left 213.5 R2 213.2 R4 line on the right side of the main channel 213 R2 212 Burnt Hip Falls portage on the left side, in the burnt forest (spring 2005), with the campsite portage 259 m 211.7 campsite on the island below the waterfall 375434 5658189 18U 211.7 R1 R1 is on the right side of the island; there is ledge 3 on the left side of the island 209.5 indian campsite on the right side 209 turn left 200 start of Lac Giffard 194.5 cabin on the left shore 190 end of Lac Giffard 188.5 R4 line on the left 188 R5 line on the left 187.8 campsite on the left 187.3 R2-4 186.5 campsite on the island 185.3 campsite on the right shore 183.4 swift 181.3 swift 180.8 R3-4 line & run on the left 180.4 R1 180 campsite on the left 178.5 R1 178.5 campsite on the left 177.7 campsite on the left 177 campsite on the left 174.7 campsite on the island 174.6 swift 165.5 R1 164 swift 163.8 swift 162 cabin on the right side 157 campsite on the left shore 152.3 campsite on the island 152.2 swift 150 R1 149.5 R2 148.8 R3-4 148.1 R2 144.5 R2 144.2 R2 142.3 R2 141.3 R4 portage 500 m on the right side 140.5 James Bay Road bridge (division point of Uppar & Lower Broadback) campsite on the right 140.2 R2 136.8 Lawrence's cabin on the right shore 136.5 keep right channel, left is shallower 124.8 R2-3 Kapitachuch rapids 123 R1 121.5 tent cabins on the island 120 campsite on the beach on the left shore 117.5 campsite on the left shore 307104 5668837 18U 115 R1 114.4 R2 113.9 R1 111.2 tent cabins on the right shore 109.8 R4 Kakusaschechun rapids 108.5 swift 108 R1 107 campsite on the beach on the right shore 106 campsite on the both sides of the river 104.5 Rooster Falls (R5) campsite and the portage on the right; however, it is possible to line, lift over & run on the right side portage 800 m 103.6 R2 103.2 R2 103 The Washing Machine (R3) 102.6 The Rinse Cycle (R4) 102.5 R1 101.8 R2 100.7 Agitator (R3-4) 100.2 R1 100 campsite "The Dab" on the left shore 99 R4 Kawisipapachipiskach rapid 98.7 R2 95 swift 93.6 ledge 2 campsite on the left shore 93.2 R3-4 92.3 ledge 5 92.2 The Yard Sale (R3-4) 91.7 R1 91 R1 Tupatukashish rapid 90 campsite on the left shore 88.3 Tupatukasi Falls [34 m] portages on both sides; right side portage starts at 292023 5681701 and ends at 292363 5681924 (length 493 m). There is a campsite at the start of the portage overlooking the falls at 292063 5681734. portage 493 m 86.5 The Submarine (R2) 85.5 change of UTM zone from 18U to 17U 84.7 Rock Nest Monster (R3) 83.5 campsite on the left shore 76 cabins on the right side 73.5 campsite on the left shore 73.4 R1 72.2 Cannonball Run (ledge 4) keep right 71.4 campsite on the left shore 71.4 R2 71.2 Quickie (R4) 70.4 R2 69.5 Side Door (R3) 66 swift 65.4 R2 65 swift 64.5 campsite on the right shore 64 The Interview (ledge 3-4) 63.9 R3 62.8 swift 62 R1 61.5 campsites on both sides of the river 61 R1 59.2 R2-3 57.4 campsite on the left shore 683782 5683245 17U 57.4 R3 56.5 swifts 55.5 small campsite on the river right 55 R1-2 52.5 swifts 51.5 R1 49 Rivi�re Kaminahikuschit joins from the left 48.9 indian hunting cabin on the right shore 48.5 R1 48.3 swifts 47.5 R1 46.6 R2 45.2 R4 44.8 R3 42.5 swift 42.2 R1 41.5 R2 41 swifts 39.8 Rivi�re Natouacamisie joins from the left 39.8 campsite on the right shore 668704 5687171 17U 39 R1-2 37.7 R1-2 33.8 Rivi�re Machisipi joins from the left 31 indian cabin on the left shore 658993 5687100 17U 30 Rivi�re Lepallier joins from the left 24.2 Ruiss Ukau joins from the left 22.9 water monitoring station on the right shore 22.7 R1-3 21.2 campsites on both sides of the river 19 campsite on the left shore 17.5 drainage channel on the right side use during the bad weather; paddling around the shore is otherwise preferrable 0 Waskaganish dock 656387 5706765 17U

 === Comments: Author of this route description l k o v a c AT r o g e r s DOT c o m travelled from put-in at km 491 (put-in on the road to mine Tro�lus) to Waskaganish in 22 days.

Other resource: For shuttle service and/or Cree traditional dinner in Waskaganish contact: Raymond Blackned Waskaganish First Nation P.O. Box 60 Waskaganish (Quebec) J0M 1R0 Tel: 819.895.8650 Fax: 819.895.8300 Raymondblackned@hotmail.com raymond.blackned@gmail.com www.creetourism.ca

Accessibility rating: Poor 1:50,0000 Topo Maps: 32 J 10 32 J 15 32 J 16 32 J 14 32 J 11 32 J 12 32 K 8 32 K 16 32 K 15 32 N 2 32 N 3 32 N 4 32 N 5 32 M 8 32 M 7 32 M 10 Other Maps: Detailed maps are available from http://www.cartespleinair.org/