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Clearwater Canoe Outfitters & Lodge
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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum First time kayaker to BWCA Reply
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View BWCA Photo and Trip Report Contest Page
Poll: What is your favorite month in the BWCA/Q?
| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| bonzm |
06/06/2011 08:38PM Hey all, I really appreciate all of your info. I have been reading along and enjoy ALL of the imput and discussions. The gear I carry is all small. I've hiked, river tripped, and camped for many years so I have the best tested gear for this trip. The tent I use, as well as the sleeping bag, pack down to the size of a loaf of bread. My stove and cookware fit into a fanny pack. I can probably live for 2 weeks out of a kids school size backpack. The only things that really take up room are the confort features (chair, fishing gear, etc.) So for those of you concerned that I would take up room/time at the portages, don't be. THANK YOU to the idea of the noodle used on the cockpit for portaging.It seems all kayakers think ahead to comfort as I already have had mine in use for a while. ;'> I've been reviewing the locations on maps and looks like I have a good idea of where I want to be heading for a true BWCA adventure. Seagull and Saganaga here I come. |
| oldgentleman |
05/22/2011 05:36AM I don't have a Kruger Canoe, but I know several people who do. They are a great boat capable of tripping almost anywhere. Verlen Kruger was from the Lansing, Michigan area so his boats are pretty popular here. |
| JoeWilderness |
05/21/2011 08:40PMquote bonzm: "Hey all, this looks like the place to be. Looking for good loop route for two kayakers. Most likely 3 days and 2 nights. Both of us have wilderness experience, won't need a guide but will use minimal outfitting (to replace whitewater kayak). Looking for scenery, wildlife, and limited fishing - but would like trout suppers. Would prefer minimal portaging and no bugs. I don't ask for much do I??? Any assistance is appreciated. " I second what Troutman and paddlefamily suggested above. Seagull and Saganaga would be great trips for kayakers. Contact Debbie at Seagull Outfitters for more information. Great service and a nice bunkhouse to boot. |
| JoeWilderness |
05/21/2011 07:26PMquote CrookedPaddler1: "I would agree with what you are saying. I also think that many people like the ability to go where they want in a kayak and feel that a canoe they have to go where their partner wants to go. I spend a lot of time paddling solo in the BWCA and am looking for the right solo canoe that fits my needs. But for now, I have no problem handling my 18' wenonah champlaign as a solo canoe (although if it is windy, I may take along a large rock as a paser!). My daughters and I have spent a lot of time playing in kayaks but when it comes time to do a camping trip in the BWCA there is no argument that we will go in a canoe. " I paddle a Mad River Monarch and plan to have a Kruger Canoes built in 2012. My wife and I will even be able to catamaran them together if we need to when paddling on the Great Lakes or long river trips. We will always tandem when in the Bdub or Quetico though. You guys should check these boats out if weight is not a concern. |
| Troutman |
05/18/2011 09:30PM Seagull is big enough to explore for several days, and as said above, the portage to Alpine is not bad at all. |
| dring |
05/18/2011 09:16PM Sorry if I took your comment wrong. The reason I mentioned speed was because of your comment that kayakers take too much time on the portages. This does not have to be. I believe canoes and kayaks both have their place, but I also believe it is up to the individual. I personally love navigating and seeing what is around the next bend. That does not mean I always go fast to get there, but for me personly I can paddle a kayak all day and still enjoy it at the end of the day. For some reason (again for me) when I canoe all day I don't feel the same feeling at the end of the day. The reason I took your comment wrong was some people say they don't like kayaks in the BWCA at all. In fact some have said they don't like the plastic shavings on the rocks that are from kayaks only I guess. Apparently aluminum shavings are ok. My kayak is wood and I am not a pain on portages so I really don't know why some are against. |
| CrookedPaddler1 |
05/18/2011 10:40AM I would agree with what you are saying. I also think that many people like the ability to go where they want in a kayak and feel that a canoe they have to go where their partner wants to go. I spend a lot of time paddling solo in the BWCA and am looking for the right solo canoe that fits my needs. But for now, I have no problem handling my 18' wenonah champlaign as a solo canoe (although if it is windy, I may take along a large rock as a passenger!). My daughters and I have spent a lot of time playing in kayaks but when it comes time to do a camping trip in the BWCA there is no argument that we will go in a canoe. |
| markaroberts |
05/18/2011 10:13AM You make a good point. . .however. . .I would argue that kayaks are nor only good options on larger water (Lakes 1-4), but on faster moving rivers and streams as well. I own a Wenonah Fisherman canoe, a Wenonah Vagabond solo and a 13 foot kayak that is set up with two sealed hatches and a rudder system. I have taken the kayak one year to the BWCA. Canoe the year before. This year the solo canoe. I predict that kayaks will be more and more popular in the BWCA as there are many paddlers that plan trips with fewer portages. There are also a lot of paddlers (like myself) that carry a minimal amount of gear (hammocks, freeze dried food, etc). From experience, the guys that had to paddle their 18 foot canoes across the numbered lakes last year and fight the wind wished they were in the kayaks. Then on the portages, the kayak guys wished they had kevlar canoes. |
| CrookedPaddler1 |
05/18/2011 10:02AM Unfortunatley, you may have missed the point of my comment. I did not say that they are not welcome, I said that there are definate drawbacks to a kayak over a canoe. I feel sorry for you if "speed" on the water is how you define a successful trip. My point, is that kayaks were designed to specialize in large water with few portages. I was recently involved with a wilderness canoeing camp on Lake of hte Woods and I was encouraging them to offer a sea kayaking option, as that is a perfect place for kayaking. Lots of water, bays and islands to explore, few if any portages and on the canadian side, a tremendous wilderness experience. |
| dring |
05/17/2011 07:09PM My kayak itself weights about 45 pounds. I took way too much gear. I never weighed it but I single portaged by rigging up an external frame backpack and put the kayak on top. I would guest all together gear and kayak weighed 110-125 pounds. I paddled 21 miles and about 2 miles of portaging on the first day. It was awesome. |
| markaroberts |
05/17/2011 06:55PM I took a 17 foot sea/touring kayak last year. . .weighed 65 pounds unloaded. A friend had a 14 foot Dirigo. . .about the same weight. We would leave both loaded and carry them one at a time between the two of us. Not as easy to portage as a canoe...but a dream to paddle. . .and fish from. . .particularly if you have a rudder system. |
| Savage Voyageur |
05/17/2011 06:44PM To fit all your requirements I would go to Saganaga lake in the first week of October. No bugs this time of year. The lake is about five miles wide by nine miles long with hundreds of Islands. Lots of wildlife and scenery. As far as a trout dinner I would put a walleye in front of a trout any day. The State walleye was caught on the Seagull river just south of there. |
| fraxinus |
05/17/2011 06:20PM I used to solo a little bit in a kayak, not in the BW, mostly in Sylvania, just a couple of portages involved. A kayak is the ultimate solo boat, less affected by wind and waves than a canoe, but as others hav said the loading and unloading at portages is time consuming. I never tried portaging a loaded 16' kayak, don't think I could handle it, what does your kayak loaded with 4-5 days of gear weigh. |
| dring |
05/17/2011 04:13PMquote CrookedPaddler1: "I am not a fan of kayaks in most of the BWCA -- they are really designed for big water travel with few or no portages. In the BWCA they take up too much time at the portages while you transfer items from the bulkheads to packs to carry over. With that being said, Basswood, Sagnaga, Snowbank are a few of the lakes that meet those requirments. However, you will share parts of those lakes with motorboats. The other option would be anywhere along the border route has longer stretches of paddling with few portages. I hope that helps, but it is called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for a reason." This is a sad statement from a person with little experience with kayaks. I was as fast or faster going from the water to the portage and back to the water then every canoe group I meet on my 4 day solo. It depends on how the kayakers portage, but it can be done very fast and effectively with a kayak. I do not empty my hatches when I protage. Instead I use it as a backpack and leave everything in. Why not. THe reason I like kayaks is that fact that they are fast on the water, I can go where I want, and my setup is easy to portage. No back to the question. If you do not want to portage much that in fine. I would agree that the biger lakes are then the way to go. I will be going in EP 14 in July and will not portage much once on Lac La Croix. I will be paddling 24 miles on the second day, but with the kayak it will not be that hard. Take your kayak and have fun. |
| Yellowbird |
05/11/2011 11:36AM I would think a loop from Seagull to Knife, up the border to Big Sag could be done in 3 days. Overnight on Ogish and Ottertrack (or vicinity). There are frequent portages on day 1, but are short enough to shoulder carry your boat. The longest portage will be Monument at 1/4 mile. The total loop is about 50 miles, so no problem with 3 days if paddling is your #1 goal. Regarding gear portaging, if you are going ultralight, you should be able to keep equipment packed in below deck. Take along a canoe pack to stuff gear into for portaging. The inconvenience is the time to load & unload at the portages. Many of the short portages can be made 2 man carrying with your boats loaded. My wife and I did this loop and had contained our gear in packs bungied on top the rear and forward deck, 5 days including a layover. -YB |
| Jackfish |
05/10/2011 11:58AM Like Oldnewbie said, find a route with bigger water and few portages and you'll enjoy your time tremendously. If you don't, I predict a trip report titled, "Last time Kayaker to the BWCA". :-) |
| markaroberts |
05/10/2011 11:26AM don't let the canoe guys sway you! I have taken groups to BWCA using both large kevlar canoes, and then the next year, kayaks. While it is true that kayaks are harder to portage, and carry less gear, my 17 foot touring kayak was a dream to paddle through lakes 1-4 on the way to our base camp. I also had it set up with a rudder and rod holders that made it perfect for trolling. one trick I learned. . .i cut a slot in a foam "noodle" (kids pool toy) and slip it on the side of the kayak's cockpit. I then put the kayak on my shoulder and carry away. It works far better then trying to balance the thing on both shoulders wtih a yoke of some kind. Think lite. . .we use hammocks and all dried pacakged food. . .supplemented by fish of course! |
| Woodtick |
05/09/2011 09:41PM Brule Lake is great for kayaking in the BWCA. It's not burned and there are no motorboats. I'd choose it over Basswood, Seagull, Saganaga, and Snowbank. Although, it's not a good lake for lakers. Go to the quetico instead. Quetico Lake would be a perfect destination for kayaking. |
| paddlefamily |
05/09/2011 08:35PM Early spring and fall = less bugs. Maybe try either Saganaga or Seagull Lake. EP 54/55. Both have lake trout, are larger lakes offering lots of trip options, back bays, islands, etc. If you'd like to be off the big lake, you could take the short portage from Seagull to Alpine, with day trip options to Red Rock or Jasper (both with short portages < 45 rods). Not a loop, but would offer variety for three days. |
| bkebs |
05/09/2011 08:07PM You could spend 3 days in basswood. perhaps to the falls and back? |
| CrookedPaddler1 |
05/09/2011 12:57PM I am not a fan of kayaks in most of the BWCA -- they are really designed for big water travel with few or no portages. In the BWCA they take up too much time at the portages while you transfer items from the bulkheads to packs to carry over. With that being said, Basswood, Sagnaga, Snowbank are a few of the lakes that meet those requirments. However, you will share parts of those lakes with motorboats. The other option would be anywhere along the border route has longer stretches of paddling with few portages. I hope that helps, but it is called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for a reason. |
| oldnewbie |
05/09/2011 10:56AM first, look at the maps and pick out the big lakes; wind and waves are less of a deterrent to you than to a canoe. second, decide how much portage is too much. the idea of 'loop' and 'portage kind of go toghether--but the bigger the lake, the fewer the portages. look at the long ones on the east end, and the ones with lots of islands. they're fun without getting out of the boat. third, go in August. ten trips and we have yet to get a mosquito bite (flies and ticks, yes) where you're going to get a trout in a hurry, I don't know, but have a great time anyway! |
| bonzm |
05/08/2011 10:56PM Hey all, this looks like the place to be. Looking for good loop route for two kayakers. Most likely 3 days and 2 nights. Both of us have wilderness experience, won't need a guide but will use minimal outfitting (to replace whitewater kayak). Looking for scenery, wildlife, and limited fishing - but would like trout suppers. Would prefer minimal portaging and no bugs. I don't ask for much do I??? Any assistance is appreciated. |
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