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Any Louse River advice?

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Date/Time: 05/18/2013 08:16PM

Subject: Any Louse River advice?

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
SetTheHook	05/27/2012 09:57PM Ugh, stupid phone - eastern half
SetTheHook	05/27/2012 09:56PM Correction to my previous post - we were on the western eastern half
SetTheHook	05/27/2012 09:50PM Was on the western half of the Louse yesterday. Portages were flooded after the heavy rains this week - made for some real interesting travel. I imagine as the water goes down some portions of the portages will have additional challenges from the aftermath of current coursing down the trails. A few small parts of the Lujenida portage were washed out
Merganser	05/26/2012 11:03AM I did that route, west to east, as part if a solo loop out of Sawbill. The toughest portage was probably then long one onto Boze. Up, down, trees, mud and hard to follow at points. The pair along the Louse River, into Mug, were really only difficult due to footing. They wew pretty level and mostly dry as I recall. I think there were eight beaver dams before Boze, two of them were on opposite sides of a short channel with a rock field in between. I waded through that one. It was awesome. I have lots of picks on my gallery. The Louse River part starts a fter the camp photos here .
RoundRiver	05/26/2012 09:02AM My FAVORITE section of the BWCAW thus far. We did the opposite direction last May. Note that we found the last portage into Boze from the east was labeled as one long portage, but was actually 3 shorter portages ... had to bushwhack a little through there finding the trails. Trail lake is great. The area between Wine and Trail is gorgeous, especially the little lake just north of Wine. If you like the forest right on top of you like I do, then this route is for you. Enjoy.
PortageKeeper	05/24/2012 07:55AM Did the loop in the direction that you will be. I doubt that you'll really notice any more difficulty going that way. Loved the loop (from Sawbill)! Got some of my favorite photo's there. That time of year, the bugs should erase any thoughts of portage difficulties :) We went in Aug/Sept and I do not recall bugs at all.
mntentman	05/23/2012 11:02PM Just last week we did Sawbill up to Zenith, then Wine to Dent, over to Mesaba and back down. I agree with all the comments about the portages. Beautiful up there and we loved the trip, but the portages are rocky and pretty muddy in spots between Bug and Louse. Not particularly long but hard walking... you do need to be careful. As wildtripper said, the bugs were out in full force. When the mosquitoes took a break, the black flies moved in. The ticks were all over the place, too.
wildtripper	05/23/2012 10:10PM We just got back from doing the Louse River from Marlberg to Mesaba. The scenery was great. We had two moose sightings early in the morning and the water level was fine. The portages are difficult with lots of downed trees across the trails, and some can be a little difficult to find and maybe marked with cairns high on the rock face. No one else was there, but the ticks, midges, and mosquitos are plentiful. 100% Deet was not effective, but you might try something like Permanone.
StCroixMike	05/12/2011 08:57PM Thanks for the comments everyone. Sounds like what we are looking for. Nice trip report.
talusman	05/10/2011 08:30PM I did that route a few years ago and really liked it. Very remote. The 190 rod portage from Boze Lake east is kind of a bear. Wet in spots and some ups and downs. I can't remember the others being too tough except once you get to the water they were very rocky in places. Have fun.
Honus	05/10/2011 01:14PM We did that route in the fall of 2009 but in the reverse direction. The portages are a challenge and an ankle breaker if you are not careful. It is a beautiful route with very few people. Good luck and hope all goes well.
SetTheHook	05/10/2011 10:15AM Advice: Enjoy it. I've done that route going in both directions. You're choosing the more difficult direction, not because there's current to worry about, but because the portages are a little tougher to find going the upstream way and negotiating beaver dams is tougher going upstream. Portages in the Poe/Louse area are very rocky. When we went one year at the beginning of June ticks were very thick in the area between Trail and Wine.
TuscaroraBorealis	05/10/2011 09:19AM I did a portion of the route you are asking about. Last spring We went from Wine to Bug then up through Dent & Mesaba. Here is the trip report. I can say that the portages from Poe to Bug are exceedingly rocky. Watch your step!
StCroixMike	05/09/2011 11:06PM Hi. A buddy and I are looping through the Louse River the end of May. Any advice or concerns we should be aware of? We are planning to run from Malberg to Wine - so upstream, which is the route outlined in the guide book I read. I read that a couple of portages on the upper end of the Louse are quite challenging. Thanks for any input.

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