Expedition Champlain 2009 is retracing a section of Samuel de Champlain's 1615 route from Huronia to Montreal and, for most of route, is using one of Algonquin Outfitters' four 26' North Canoes.
Michael Arvisais and his brigade of Voyageurs left Penetanguishine on Monday, July 20, and are expected to cross infamous La Vase Portages this week. After paddling along the coast of Georgian Bay and up the French River, crossing Lake Nipissing, they are currently camped for the night at Champlain Park at the mouth of La Vase River, just outside of North Bay. The La Vase portages are the link between the watersheds of the Mattawa and French river systems, famous in Voyageur lore for bugs and mud. Modern day canoeists still have those issues, not to mention Hwy 11 and encroaching development.
