Lower Delaneys Brook mouth, falls, and valley

Lower Delaneys Brook mouth, falls, and valley
[#1] Photo 221 of 392: Lower Delaneys Brook mouth, falls, and valley
Taken 2012 August 22 from the waters 1520 m (0.9 mi) north of north northeast of Delaneys Point
GPS 46°58.206'N 60°40.605'W

Although the view in photo #1 is similar to that in photo #1 on the previous page, the emphasis here is on the mouth, falls, and valley of Lower Delaneys Brook, which necessarily involves “Big Head Mountain” on the left; Big Head, the great ridge at the centre; and “Between-the-Delaneys Mountain” on the right. This is imposing, gorgeous, and rarely seen terrain, so I hope you will pardon the repetition. The photo, taken from directly off the mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook, is a relatively wide-angled view and gives a better impression than the later telephoto view of the distance from the mouth, in the centre of the photo, to the waterfall inland behind it (it’s not shown on the topographical map, but I’d guess something like 325 m (1070 ft) from Google Earth).

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The mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook below “Big Head Mountain”
[#2] Photo 222 of 392: The mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook below “Big Head Mountain”
Taken 2012 August 22 from the waters 975 m (⅗ mi) north of north northeast of Delaneys Point
GPS 46°57.915'N 60°40.756'W

Photo #2 shows the mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook somewhat right of centre below the great crest of “Big Head Mountain”.

Photo #3 shows the coast to the south of the mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook, at the far left of the photo. “Between the Delaneys Mountain”, the subject of the next page, occupies most of this photo.

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The mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook below “Between-the-Delaneys Mountain”
[#3] Photo 223 of 392: The mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook below “Between-the-Delaneys Mountain”
Taken 2012 August 22 from the waters 1480 m (0.9 mi) north of north northeast of Delaneys Point
GPS 46°58.175'N 60°40.620'W
The narrow valley of Lower Delaneys Brook
[#4] Photo 224 of 392: The narrow valley of Lower Delaneys Brook
Taken 2012 August 22 from the waters 1875 m (1⅙ mi) north of north northeast of Delaneys Point
GPS 46°58.369'N 60°40.446'W

Photo #4 shows the mouth of Lower Delaneys Brook at the far right of the photo; it is a stony egress strewn with small boulders, fairly similar to that of French Brook as best as I can tell from the photos. This photo also shows the zig-zagging course of Lower Delaneys Brook, squeezed as it is between the slopes of the two mountains; there’s another zig not visible here as it turns inland again behind the north flank of “Between-the-Delaneys Mountain”. Its source lies high on the Cape Breton Highlands Plateau in the area of bogs and ponds that poses such a significant obstacle to hikers trying to follow the old Polletts Cove Trail to/from Meat Cove that passes through it.¹

Photo #5 is the best view I have of the waterfall on Lower Delaneys Brook. It really looks as if it is springing forth from the rocks, as no water can be seen elsewhere in its course in this or any of the other views of it that I took. Given the dryness of the summer, it is somewhat surprising that so significant an amount of water is cascading down.


¹ Haynes’ 2002 edition of Hiking Trails of Cape Breton, p.97, indicates that this trail is “extremely difficult to follow due to the bogs between Meat Cove and Polletts Cove” and states that it “can only be completed by advanced navigators and backpackers.” Mention of this trail has been completely dropped from the 2012 edition, though I know that one very seasoned hiker successfully made the trip a few years ago.

The waterfall on Lower Delaneys Brook
[#5] Photo 225 of 392: The waterfall on Lower Delaneys Brook
Taken 2012 August 22 from the waters 1525 m (0.9 mi) north of north northeast of Delaneys Point
GPS 46°58.198'N 60°40.547'W