2003 Hubbard Memorial Centennial Expedition

Smallwood Reservoir - Photo Album M

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From an expedition planning standpoint, Smallwood Reservoir was our biggest unknown. A formidible obstacle that is not to be taken lightly, Smallwood stretches 100 miles east to west and 70 miles north to south. With 75+ miles to paddle north across her (to include the coves and inlets on her northeast shore) we had fully expected to encounter high winds and had packed extra food in case we became windbound. Thankfully, Hubbard was looking down on us and we encountered what has to be the best stretch of weather wilderness canoeists could possibly ask for: glass conditions on big water, and when there was a breeze it was a tailwind! We paddled from the reservoir's southeast arm to its northernmost point, where it meets Lake Michikamats, in just 4 1/2 days. Truly an amazing stretch of luck.

Most memorable from our trip across the big blue were distant horizons where water met sky, an everchanging mosaic of magnificent clouds, vibrant light at dusk and dawn, and the silent glide of our canoes across the reservoir's still surface; it was as if we were floating through space ... and, of course, the horrendous hordes of biting insects that anxiously awaited our arrival at camp each evening (let's not forget them, they didn't forget us).

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