2024-07-05 - Trip Report Day 1 - Zec des Martres, Quebec

Zec des Martres

Dropped off at the Mont du Dôme parking lot around 7:30pm. Total carry weight ~45lbs.

Had scoped out a lake and some small streams close to the entrance on satellite view on a couple of different platforms ahead of the trip, to see if the terrain could be accessible and clear to sit around for observations and possibly pitch for the night, but in person was very much not the case.

A very unused looking side trail leading towards a locked cabin available for rent from La Traversée de Charlevoix. On a rotting log, I spot something I haven't seen before - slime. Some kind of Stemonitis sp.

Meandered around towards the closest cabin (locked) to find a nearby water source to cook and eat today's dinner (freeze dried crumbled sausage, idahoan mash, instant noodles, dried veg and powdered beef gravy).

Good views to the SW of evening light on Mont du Lac à Moïse.

In the crevice between two of the logs forming the walls of the cabin, I spotted some kind of heavily webbed cocoon, belonging to perhaps some kind of tent caterpillar?

Before moving, I also spotted a small black beetle I originally thought to be a tiny weevil, but now think is likely a Hemicoelus sp.

Looking like the light is going to be gone soon, I take an evening photo of the south facing valley before setting off.

Scoped around for somewhere flat enough to pitch for the night. Unlike at the parking lot, just this short distance in and the mobile signal has returned, so I'm able to keep up to date with the weather timings for the morning. As expected, Sat and Sun are still set to be rain and thunder. Set alarm for a window of a couple of dry hours to make the main climb of tomorrow - a short but steep path of mud and boulders - better done before the rain picks up too much.

Took a while to get to sleep, as a pair of porcupines decided to very noisily (and cutely) play wrestle for a few hours next to me.