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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Quetico Forum Quetico-Kasakawog-McAlpine . . . Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| LamboSleeper |
02/17/2015 08:48PM My wife and I did a Beaverhouse-Quetico-Kasakokwog, returning to Beaverhouse, a few years ago. We were in our late 50's then. Take your time on the portage from Quetico Lake to Kasakokwog. Up McAlpine creek, portage right. The first part of the trail is uphill and a little steep for a short distance, with some slick bald rock faces on the narrow trail. A short stretch of ankle-deep mud at the end, but it's flat. We double-portaged and took our time, so no big deal. We camped on a small peninsula on north-central shore of Kasakokwog. At night we could faintly hear Sue Falls to the north. I've never done the portage from NE end of Cirrus to Kasakokwog. Very good fishing on Kasakokwog. We had the lake to ourselves for a few days on our midsummer trip. Good Luck! |
| OldGreyGoose |
01/08/2015 02:39PM I bumped this to add the question of any known -- and shareable reefs -- or other walleye spots on this route. I can understand not wanting to share them and that's cool. Or if you would consider taking my word not to share them, you could PM me. (Not wanting to drag a depth finder on this solo.) Thanks. --Goose |
| OldGreyGoose |
12/30/2014 11:05AM Found this info on the first eastern-most portage to the ponds, after following a link from the Quiet Journey website to one called Quetico Portages, where some folks have uploaded GPS tracks and sometimes nice descriptions..."Uphill at start, then skirts a small bog, then follows in and along a stream, with a short steep section in the middle. Harder than average portage. 621 Meters 2,037 Feet 0.39 Miles 0.62 Kilometers" Thinking I'll probably pass. If you're interested, here's a LINK --Goose |
| OldGreyGoose |
12/30/2014 09:52AM Thanks guys. Much as I like to see "all" of every lake and love ponds, I'd probably be wise to take the one long portage out, especially solo. Besides, now that I think of it, I believe I've read that the skinny arm the portage puts you in is a pretty area with good fishing. (Maybe I can get in a paddle to the east end of McAlpine and back if I camp in the middle and layover there.) Coincidentally, the latest BWJ has an article about this route which calls it the "Geezer Route." Fits me perfectly! --Goose |
| Miami1 |
12/30/2014 08:05AM We took the portages east out of McAlpine. The first portage has a large beaver pond that we paddled across then continued on to the next small lake, this portage was quite rocky and mostly uphill. The next two portages were very short with poor canoe landings. I wished that we had took the time to fish the larger of the two smaller lakes it looked fishy, maybe next time. I hope this helps. Anthony |
| AdamXChicago |
12/29/2014 06:28PM Took the long one to the north. Not too challenging. We were not in the mood to "pond hop" eastward - one portage was all we had left in us that day. AdamX |
| OldGreyGoose |
12/29/2014 05:53PM BUMP. Between McAlpine and Batch Bay does everybody take the "McAlpine Portage?" (The 260r. or 1120m. one.) I wonder about continuing east and taking the other way out through the 2 ponds and 3 portages? Chrismar shows the first one as 550m. and no indication of distance for the other two. (I can find out from Canoe Canada but wanted your thoughts, if any.) --Goose |
| OldGreyGoose |
12/02/2014 09:26AM Thanks AdamX, I probably would be going in June, so water levels might be better. Only reason I can think of for unexpected traffic on McAlpine is the pictographs. (or just bad luck -- you never really know what to expect) Planning is "FUN." --Goose |
| AdamXChicago |
11/29/2014 10:59PM OGG - followed Miami1's identical trek about a month after Anthony's trip (thanks again Anthony for the beaver pond heads-up as it's not on any maps). I agree with Hans - really the only portage that I thought was a bit difficult was the one south of Sue Falls (from Cirrus into Kasak). Good climb and drop. I didn't think there were any killer portages, although poling through the shallow creek from Kasak to McAlpine was more work than we counted on. Saw quite a few canoes on McAlpine (surprising for mid-September). Have fun planning... AdamX |
| OldGreyGoose |
11/27/2014 11:09AM I think I'll pass on your video, "Amund." It's probably another commercial, lol. --Goose |
| OldGreyGoose |
11/20/2014 11:14AM Finnlander, thanks. I heard from Jim at Canoe Canada that the creek bottom was sand. I never complain about walking my canoe in a creek with solid footing. As for Sue Falls . . . "maybe." =) --Goose |
| Finnlander |
11/19/2014 01:15PM Goose. I was in there at the end of September. Going up McAlpine creek was super shallow. Had to get out a couple of times walk the canoe up the creek. The 76 into Kasa was a long 76 for our group. Just seemed longer, snaky, lots of little ups and downs and moss and slippery rocks. The portage from Kasakokwog to Cirrus just below Sue Falls was well marked and up and then down, but not a killer by any means. If you haven't been to Sue Falls, by all means head over there. It's only a short paddle and well worth the hike and seeing the sights. There are not a lot of campsites on the east end of the north arm of Cirrus. But it is pretty nonetheless. |
| OldGreyGoose |
11/15/2014 04:19PM Hans, would not go via Cirrus. Rather through BH to Quetico and then Kasa. (Have never been east of the easternmost pictograph on the NE arm of Quetico.) Very familiar with all that water from BH parking lot to the pictographs. Camp on Quetico, then portage to Kasa and camp. Maybe layover there for a few, then on to McAlpine for a few. Into Pickerel for a look-see and probable layover, then leisurely up to the Pines for a day or so,and out at French (maybe 12 days). Looks like it's doable for me if I pack lightly. Nice looking creek paddle and logging relics, both of which I love!!! --Goose |
| HansSolo |
11/15/2014 02:54PM As far as the portages Goose, they're not all that difficult, although it depends on which ones you're crossing. I'm assuming you're entering Quetico Lake by way of the 24 rod portage, and then proceeding past Eden Island to McAlpine Creek in the Northeast corner of Quetico Lake? If not, here's my take on the other portages in that area that you might be potentially crossing. The 160 rod portage from Beaverhouse Lake to the unnamed lake before the 36 rod portage to Cirrus Lake is not bad. Although you wouldn't know it now, the portage was part of the old logging road that included the trail from the Beaverhouse parking area to the put-in on Beaverhouse Lake. If you're going by way of Cirrus Lake, the 190 rod portage that's south of Sue Falls, (and takes you from Cirrus Lake to Kasakokwog Lake), will get your heart pumping. If you're headed to Pickerel Lake and then on to French Lake, you'll most likely be portaging over to Batchewaung Bay from McAlpine Lake. The 260 rod portage to Batchewaug Bay from McAlpine Lake, (that's often referred to as the "Garden Walk"), isn't bad despite its length. There is a gradual incline starting on the McAlpine Lake side, but after that it isn't bad. The trail is pretty solid with only one small mud hole about mid-way from what I remember. The trail is more BWCAW-ish in that regard. It would actually be very easy if you were coming FROM Batchewaung Bay to McAlpine Lake. Depending on what maps you're using, the 260 rod "Garden Walk" is often incorrectly marked on many maps. Even my GPS had it wrong! The portage starts on a sand beach, so the trail-head is somewhat hard to identify from the water. (The picture of the large metal spool I included in my other post is near the start of the 260 rod portage.) The portage from Quetico Lake to Kasakokwog Lake isn't bad and follows along the scenic McAlpine Creek. That said, parts of the trail crosses over inclined, exposed rock which can be potentially slippery when wet. Hans Solo |
| OldGreyGoose |
11/15/2014 11:35AM Thanks guys. Jim Clark at Canoe Canada may be my best source for into on this route. He's old like me with portage "recovery" issues and says to just take it easy and rest the next day after the long ones, and I should be fine. Also says there may be a couple beaver dams at both ends of Kasakokwog. Any more detailed info would be nice. --Goose |
| arctic |
11/15/2014 09:56AM It's funny how our perceptions of lakes differ. I really didn't like McAlpine due to the extensive evidence of past logging (1920s era). Lots of stumps, etc. I think Kasakokwog, Cirrus, and Quetico are fantastic lakes though--despite their past logging history. |
| HansSolo |
11/15/2014 08:47AM I was through these lakes in July of this year Goose. If you scroll down the page in this Forum, I have what I call an "express" trip report. Otherwise, just select the link below to jump to my post. Hans Solo July 2014 Quetico Solo Trip Post |
| Miami1 |
11/15/2014 08:42AM I went from Quetico to Nym using this route summer of 2013. Easy to find portages. Most I would rate as easy. Only moderate portage is after you leave McAlpine, quite rocky, uphill with an unmarked large beaver pond at the half way point. You can either portage aroung this pond or paddle across it. We chose to paddle it. found some nice campsites on both lakes. I really liked McAlpine, quite different than other lake, tall hills to the south, more birh trees than other areas. Nice moose viewing area at the far west end of the lake. Anthony |
| arctic |
11/14/2014 09:51PM I was through Quetico, Kasakokwog, and Cirrus in July, and was through McAlpine to Pickerel years ago. I am planning to post a report on this summer's trip, but only have about half of it written in my journal so far. |
| OldGreyGoose |
11/14/2014 07:58PM Anyone been through these northern Quetico lakes recently or know of trip reports that I could read? I'm mainly interested in the portages and there's not much in the portage database. I am considering a solo from Beaverhouse through those lakes to Pickerel/French, possibly in 2015. Thanks. --Goose |
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