Paddle Lunenburg/Queens

Wilderness Ethics

Record #: LQR0011
Last Modified: 07 Jan 2016
Last Full Update: 24 Mar 2014

Comments

Public Bulletin
LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
 
Neither South Shore Connect.ca nor the Lunenburg-Queens Recreational Coordinators/Directors Association own or control the canoe routes, portages or campsites listed in this guide, and assume no responsibility or liability for the safety of those using the canoe routes, walking the portages, or using the campsites. 
 
lt is recommended that users approach all canoe routes, portages and campsites in a safe and responsible manner. Conditions can change through fluctuating water levels, natural debris, and logging activity. Arrangements must be made directly with the owners of the portages and campsites. 
 
South Shore Connect.ca and Lunenburg-Queens Recreational Coordinators/Directors Association are not liable for any errors or omissions in this guide.

Location

Located In South Shore Region
Areas Served Lunenburg County ; Queens County (NS)

Contact

E-Mail chaughn@chester.ca
Phone 902-275-3490
Contact Chad Haughn, President, LQRCDA

Description & Services

Information “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” - Yogi Berra 
 
More and more people are going into the wilderness as access becomes easier and our desire to “get away from it all” increases. At the same time, the amount of remaining wilderness is shrinking. 
 
The famous Canadian paddler, film maker and wilderness traveler, the late Bill Mason, compared it to an ever-shrinking ice flow (Canoe magazine, March 1991). He raises the question of whether to encourage more people onto the flow and suggests the answer is in educating people to protect what’s left. 
 
"My motivation in sharing my love of the land through my work is to awaken a love and compassion in people for the land and to encourage them to become involved in the many environmental organizations that are concerned with the preservation of wild places...In sharing some of my favourite canoe journeys with you, I must face the reality that next time I won’t have these places all to myself. However, its worth it if I have been instrumental in adding one more voice to the cause of wilderness preservation - not just for your sake or mine or that of our children, but for the sake of all the myriad forms of life that live there." 
 
Permission to be on the land 
 
The waterways you will be traveling on are surrounded in most cases by privately owned land. Whenever possible, we have listed public or traditionally used access/exit points. If you want to enter a lake or river from a point that is not marked as an access/exit point or camp in an area that not indicated as a campsite, obtain permission from the land owner if possible. You can get information on land owners from the Land Information Centre in Bridgewater, (902) 543-5095 or Liverpool (902) 354-5715. 
 
Having and maintaining good relations with land owners is critical to our continued access to the waterways in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. According to the Protection of Property Act, Section 15, Nova Scotians have the right to recreate on undeveloped forested land but under Common Law, the landowner can sue for unlawful entry. Again, check with the landowner. If you notice "No Trespassing" signs, stay clear. Treat land owners with respect, and treat their land with the utmost care. In most cases, landowners will appreciate knowing who is on their land and may provide useful directions. If they refuse your request, there may be a important reason like hunters in the area. 
 
Caution should be used while on the back roads in the counties. You may encounter logging trucks and other large vehicles throughout the year. Mud in the spring and high fire hazards in the summer may mean that roads are impassable or closed. As a result, it is not possible to guarantee that all roads will be open 365 days of the year. 
 
Why Leave No Trace? 
 
Many of us have taken a pine cone or rock, veered off the trail to dodge mud puddles, gotten too close to wildlife or tossed an apple core into the woods. While these actions may seem harmless at the time, until we learn to reduce our impact, the quality of our outdoor experiences and the recreational resources we enjoy are at critical risk. Also at risk is our continued access to wildlands as land management agencies sometimes take restrictive action to protect the resources they manage. Unless, of course, education catches up with behavior, and we all learn to leave the outdoors as unchanged as possible by our presence. 
 
Principles of Leave No Trace 
 
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 
3. Dispose of Waste Properly 
4. Leave What You Find 
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts 
6. Respect Wildlife 
7. Be Considerate of Others 
 
Click on each of the principles above to learn more.
Eligibility Ages: 16 year(s) and up 
 
Children under 16 with adults - please use own discretion depending on skill level

Special Information

Established 1998
Tags Canoe/Kayak ; Maps ; NS Trail Guide ; Recreation Categories ; South Shore Connect