a visit to Long Lake (Boggy Lake Wilderness Area) warden's cabin

[Dusan Soudek]

Today we visited a wonderful old warden’s cabin located some 240 metres from the marge of Long Lake, on the Moser River canoe route and within the Liscomb Game Sanctuary and the Boggy Lake Wilderness Area. We were able to drive a Ford Escape right to the landing, although most drivers would likely park and portage the last 1000 m of the trail to the lake, a stretch of road not for the faint hearted.

 

We battled the vicious winds in a canoe and managed to cross Long Lake. A fine trail leads to the warden’s cabin and its associated buildings; a derelict shed about to collapse, a smaller shed in excellent condition, a functional outhouse, and a concrete well. The latter is locked for safety reasons. The entire compound is located within an interesting 50 m x 50 m clearing, suitable for camping.

 

The log cabin itself is in superb shape, although its stove had been moved out of the building, again for safety reason. It features four steel double bunks and eight musty mattresses, which should perhaps be replaced with more practical wooden bunks. More chairs and shelving would also be useful. The cabin even has its own root cellar! Or is it a wine cellar?

 

An overgrown trail leads north from the cabin towards the Liscomb River Road, a major logging road that is generally kept ploughed in the winter, and which is located only about 1.5 – 2 km away. It may make a suitable four-seasons land access route to the cabin.

 

The rear wall of the Long Lake cabin sports a memorial to a gentleman who died there a few years ago. It is visited by people from time to time, and there is interest lately to upgrade it and to use it more intensely. It is owned by the province and managed by N.S. Environment, the same folks who manage the Boggy Lake Wilderness Area. In fact, today’s inspection was organized by Peter Bush of N.S. Environment.

 

There is room for volunteers to take part in this project. Do let me know if you may be interested.

 

Dusan Soudek

[Alan Wilson]

Corners remind me of Cofan.  More windows, though.
Al