Bones
Lily dipper
Posts: 35
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Post by Bones on Jun 27, 2006 17:50:42 GMT -5
Where do people tend to camp on canoe trips? Do you all stop at designated sites, or find a spot that looks nice and set up there?
The reason I ask is that I'm used to canoeing in Quebec reserves and parks where all the campsites are clearly identified, only to be used by one group, and innacessible by ATV. A friend and I went down the Kedgewick 2 weekends ago and we had heard that Falls Brook was a beautiful designated campsite. However... we were also warned some ATVers had made a trail to it and you'd never know when they'd show up. We also didn't what to end up at a campsite with a dozen other canoes.
As when I go canoeing I like to get away from machinery, we simply stopped on raised gravel bar beside the river. Beautiful camp site, no one around - definitely no ATVs, and best of all because no one else had camped there very easy to find wood for a fire!
I'm curious to know what is everyone else's practice?
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Post by Ken Corbett on Jun 27, 2006 21:16:46 GMT -5
There's no regulation in NB, everybody finds a decent spot first come first serve.
I have paddled in Quebec and Maine, and It's different there. On many rivers you can only camp at designates sites, but it's reserved for you in many cases. And there's no ATV access.
Here, I enjoy the freedom to camp where I choose, but it seems so many spots I used before have been invaded by ATVs and trailers, and they leave the spots trashed and rutted. And how many times have I been razzed by drunken ATVers while I'm trying to sleep in my tent? Several. One group roared off with my life jacket on the Nashwaak. Another bunch on the Green whooped and hollered, then sprayed our tent with rocks from their tires and then sped off into the night.
So often you come down to a campsite, and there are trailers parked there for the friggin' summer, with little people running ragged, like on the Dungarvon and Nepisiguit. They don't own those spots, they are freeloading.
I guess if there are too many folks competing for scarce decent caqmpsites, sooner or later there has to be regulation.
Sorry for the rant (not really).
Ken
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peterng
Voyageur
Enjoying the final stages of adolescence
Posts: 150
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Post by peterng on Jun 28, 2006 9:01:52 GMT -5
Ditto.
Luckily we're old enough now to adhere to the leave no trace deal so we clean up quite well.
Two summers ago we climbed down Mile Brook at Fundy out to a secluded spot we camp at near the ocean. The trail leads to a private beach bordered by cliffs.
We were about 8 of us, girlfriends in tote. When we broke out onto the beach we were greeted by indecipherable graphiti sprayed all over the cliff faces in front of us, and lots of it. We were appauled. Later on we found beer cans and bags up in the bushes.
I can't remember if it was Tony or I that realized first, but slowly it all all came back to me. A decade prior, Tony and I climbed down in there on Canada day. I can't say we were totally sober, and since there are likely youngs gaffers on this site, I'll refrain from the particulars.
The worst part is I can't totally blame it on the buz. It must have been a premeditated act, cause I don't think I left the can of spray paint in my bag by mistake. And we also recalled the brainstorm that led to all the garbage being forever covered up with a big rock.
As I said earlier, it is a disgucting, shamefull act that I am not proud of. We are constantly redefining the limits of stupid.
Moral of the story: Most spots we do pick we usually end up going back to so it's nice to be able to camp anywhere, and nice to keep em clean. Pete
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ldmrt
Voyageur
Posts: 124
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Post by ldmrt on Jul 18, 2006 13:11:39 GMT -5
There are not really any designated campsites on the Upsalquitch, but there a few maintained sites which I have never camped at. They are usually in long grass, under trees, and horrible because of all the bugs. The bugs are bad enough without long grass(can you imagine how many snakes are there too??*shudder*). However, there are plenty of gravely beaches to camp at, and lots of drift wood for fires but if more people run the river, there will be no wood. However, not many people have discovered the Upsalquitch(I guess I should stop talking about it or they will!). It is nice to be able to camp where you wish to, and to have those places clean too!
Linda
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Lloyd
Lily dipper
Posts: 38
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Post by Lloyd on Sept 16, 2006 15:10:13 GMT -5
Some of the ATV groups are starting to police themselves but that amounts to about 10% of the whole. The other 90% are a menace to the natural environment.
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Post by beevar on May 17, 2007 6:41:31 GMT -5
Most rivers around northern NB that I've travelled have some decent spots to camp that are not overrun with ATV's. It would be nice if ATV's could all be put in a huge pile and burned.(but that would be pollution too) My observations over the years have convinced me that the lower the IQ and the more disregard for the natural world, the more active the ATV'er is, though I hate to generalize and I'm not the smartest guy just because I prefer canoes over motors and machines.. I did have an incident where I called the RCMP on a pair of ATV's and they actually caught the idiots, which is rare. I guess that was a rant too Ken. I suppose if we all do a bit to promote conservation, eventually it will have an effect.
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Post by Ken Corbett on May 17, 2007 8:26:53 GMT -5
Beevar, don't apologize for ranting. That's what this board is for.
I'd like to hear more about your episode with the ATVers. The ATVers have spoiled all the pathways in "my" woods and turned every stream in my neighborhood into mudholes. Then the peabrains with the pickup trucks come along behind and toss their used sofas, old tires, mattresses and smashed stereos and TVs into the bushes along the track.
Buddha would shrug his shoulders and forgive these weak-minded souls, but I don't.
</end rant>
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tgneal
Voyageur
Little Falls - St. Croix River , NB
Posts: 229
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Post by tgneal on May 17, 2007 12:05:54 GMT -5
I guess we can be glad that ATV's don't float or else we would see them motoring down the Miramichi, soaking us paddlers as we went by.
I have driven an ATV in the Woodstock area and manage to enjoy myself without destroying property or ruining someone else's day.
It only takes a few boneheads to ruin the reputation of an entire group. Case in point; I have been told that paddlers are a bunch of drunks who ruin campsites and leave beer cans all over the river and ruin it for fisherman and others. Because of a few idiots some people have negative views about all canoeists.
People need to learn that to truly enjoy nature you must leave it as good or better than you found it.
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Post by Ken Corbett on May 17, 2007 13:51:06 GMT -5
What good points you make, Tom. You're right, it's not the ATVs that are causing the problem, it's people, whether they straddle a vehicle, paddle a canoe, walk or whatever. Thanks!
Ken
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Post by beevar on May 18, 2007 8:52:50 GMT -5
Tom does make the point well and that is why I said I hate to generalize. it is true that lots of canoeists are pigs. However, fundamentally, someone who prefers an ancient mode of touring/travel, using muscle, skill and (sometimes) courage to enjoy nature is more likely to also be a respecter of the wilderness. More so I think than the person who just needs to fill the tank, turn the key and roar out into the woods without being able to really feel the experience. My incident with the RCMP happened when i met two of them driving full bore across the highway bridge in my hometown. I just had enough and scooted to my parents place to call the RCMP on them. Driving on the highways and streets with them is another issue of course. I'm not a Luddite but I am a purist when it comes to that and so prefer paddles, bikes and feet when I venture out. of course everyone has their preferences and we need to be tolerant. when I see the ATV's running up and down the main roads and residential streets I do think it is time for some changes.
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Post by fraserdw on Mar 13, 2011 15:10:36 GMT -5
"I guess we can be glad that ATV's don't float or else we would see them motoring down the Miramichi, soaking us paddlers as we went by."
Been done, there is YOUTUBE video of one swimming a salmon pool on the mighty M. There is also video of ATVers creating roads in the bogs that feed the mighty M.
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Post by fraserdw on Mar 13, 2011 15:25:47 GMT -5
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Post by Ken Corbett on Mar 14, 2011 8:31:15 GMT -5
Just search youtube for ATV New Brunswick and you will see many vids of mud rallies and brainless bog ripping.
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Post by fraserdw on Mar 24, 2011 18:06:02 GMT -5
Ref Campsites
I never camp anywhere with ATV access, never. Those guys are very dangerous and deep in the woods, boozed up and a long way from a phone, they can be homicial.
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Post by fraserdw on Mar 24, 2011 18:07:48 GMT -5
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