Has anybody on here been to Swartman?

Me and my buddies are probably going to find a way in next week to check out the pictographs.

Hex

There is some who have on this site and we talked about it in the past.

About 10 years ago I was day tripping in there, with a nephew, from our camp on Dack. We went through the no-name lake (East of Dack), down the creek and through the pond (or small lake), and continued down the creek. At this point it got very swampy/deep muck holed/slippery rooted etc... So we started to move off creek to bushwhack higher ground. Then storms began to move in. Once again we swallowed our pride and turned back, with probably about 100 yards to go. It's always faster on the way back, as you know the lay of the land. I don't question my decision because all Hell broke loose as we were paddling back across Dack to our camp, & the storm lasted into nightfall.
The photo is me on the island, on the no-name lake just East of Dack Lake.
I have know doubt you'll make it Hex. The worst part on that route is right before you get to Swartman.
Knowing you, you may choose a tougher way in.
I think the route from Poulin Lake would be fun. I camped on the no-name to the South of Poulin and that creek between looked promising. I've been to all the no-name lakes Southwest of Poulin, Including Dettbarn.
Good Luck

Hey Stumpy,
We were thinking in through Dack and out Kawnipi or vise versa. Good to know there is solid ground on the shore.

Thanks,
Hex

quote hexnymph: "Good to know there is solid ground on the shore

That one went over my head.
??

Places to pitch a tent near the water if need be. As you know, for some lakes, that isn't really an option.

Hex

Gotcha !
Yes that island on that small lake is a serviceable campsite. Could still use the ancient fire place, & cook on it with little adjustments.
The lake looked deep enough too...I would have liked to drag a line through it....maybe trout ?
Cheers

I did cast from shore once on that small lake. No luck. I walked in from Dack.

Well, I can check that one off my bucket list.

The rout in from the north was difficult. The area was hit by the Bird lake fire years ago so the forest was thick with new growth. Just the right size to push around a Kevlar crash helmet. Once we started there was no turning back.

We found a fire ring (with a small tree growing in it) on a point on the SE side of the lake below the island and made camp there. It wasn't terrible and we managed to find some flat ground up the hill from the ring. We did not see any other evidence of campsites on the lake.

The location of the picto's is on the west/northwest shore. Not where any map I have seen indicates them. It isn't a big lake and there was only so much shoreline that looked promising for them so they were not that hard to find. There is still a clearly visible cow and an additional abstract of lines. Some other faint images may be present.

Only fish caught was a small pike.

We left to the west out through Dack. This was through open pine swamp where everything was coated in moss. Much easier travel than the rout going in. We found a "marked" portage from the last no-name lake to Dack.

Hex

Thanks for the info and update.

Cool Hex !
Glad you made it in there. Yes I recall a blazed route from Dack to the no-name.