An attempt to circumnavigate Anticosti Island by sea kayak.

The Island of Anticosti, situated in the entrance of the Anticosti N.W. arm of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is approximately 350 miles in circumference. It is sparsely populated, only one town and only dirt and gravel roads. There are several outposts, some with supplies and telephone service I've heard. Temperature range is generally from the 40's to the 70's Fahrenheit. Water temperature in the 40's, drysuit or drytop/wetsuit required.

There is a high concentration of white tailed deer, seals, mosquitoes, black flies, bees and whales, probably ticks, but no bears.

It has a beautiful coastline, lots of fresh water streams to collect water from and lots of dead wood to cook.

The coastline can be quite shallow with extended reefs, requiring camps to be set up at high tide and paddling a good distance from shore in many places. Anticosti is famous for it's shipwrecks and even sea kayaks get damaged on the reefs.

Drive to Havre-Saint-Pierre from Brooklyn, NY, 650 miles and take a ferry(Relais Nordik Inc.) across to Port Menier the only town on Anticosti Island.

Depending on paddle partners I am considering two options for total days required including car travel, ferry, bad weather and rest days:

Less relaxed:
3 weeks - 5 days travel, 16 days of paddling, averaging  22 miles a day

or the more relaxed with hiking and sight seeing:
4 weeks - 5 days travel, 23 days of paddling, averaging 16 miles a day


A Circumnavigation trip report. Note, that there is an English and French version:
http://www.w10.ca/kayakdemer/aventure/anticosti/index_en.html

Some info about paddling Anticosti
http://www.crca.ca/kanawa/issues/winter03.php

A good map resource
http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/topo/index.html

Sea conditions
http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/meteo/secrets_stlaurent/pointedesmonts_cap_whittle_e.htm

Trip Report nearby
http://www.paddletrips.net/mingan_archipelago.htm
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jmf/Cote_Nord/Galerieen.htm

Photos
http://pl.trekearth.com/trip.php?tid=1173
http://www.anticostiphotos.com/Menu.htm
http://www.sepaq.com/sa/en/photos.html

A car trip:
http://g21.net/wordgt.htm

Transportation:
http://www.relaisnordik.com/fr/home/244.cfm
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/qc/mingan/visit/visit1_e.asp

Conditions:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/jmf/Cote_Nord/Infosen.htm#ENVIRONNEMENT


Ferry Schedule

Weekly ferry from Rimouski to Port Menier:
Depart  Rimouski Tuesday 12:30
Arrive Port-Menier Wednesday 13:45

Weekly ferry from Port Menier to Rimouski:
Depart Port-Menier Monday 3:00
Arrive Rimouski Monday 19:45