17-Jun-2012 --
The other day someone mentioned the Degree Confluence Project. I had been on this website before and took the time to checkout the closest confluences. In fact I found that I had read the previous visit log for the 49°N 55°W confluence shortly after it was published back in 2003.
I use a Quad all terrain bike to get around the local woods roads and to travel on the Trans-Canada Trail. Before I make trips into unfamiliar area I always check out the ariael view using the common free mosaiced satellite photo website. The stickpin tool was chosen and adjusted to show the confluence. I have made a number of trips in a road that runs close by the confluence on my way to the base of Mt. Peyton, a local landmark. Geocaching is one of my hobbies so a short hike in the woods to a fixed point is a common undertaking.
I printed the Confluence Hunting Worksheet to help keep the requirements for logging organized. Camera, Quad on Trailer, bug spray and a bit of good weather . Off I went after dropping my wife at her work.
The road that runs nearby the confluence is a bit rocky but no problem for the Quad and is in fact well traveled by similar conveyances. The Quad was parked as shown in the photo approximately 160 m from the confluence. With the gps receiver pointing the way and my camera in tow I followed a well defined Moose path to within 20 m of the confluence. Travel was fairly easy in the medium thick underbrush with between the well spaced evergreens and in short order I arrived at ground zero.
It took awhile to get the gps to settle on an exact location but it eventually came solid in the middle of medium height evergreens in a relatively flat area covered with short underbrush. The gps was rested on top of the soft-sided camera bag making for the required gps photo. The worksheet was checked and 194m elevation value along with the reported gps accuracy of +-3 m were recorded. The required directional photos were collected along with an area photo that shows the gps resting at ground zero on top of the camera bag. One last onsite photo was captured as I moved off to the west making my way back to the Quad waiting roadside.