Heading up to Sawbill in early Oct. to camp at the campground for a long weekend and introduce a few people to the BWCA. Was thinking of having someone run me over to Kawishiwi at day break and paddle back to Sawbill via the Lady chain in one day. It's 24 miles and 15 portages. I would be traveling very light in my Prism with probably my CCS Rucksack with minimal equipment. Just enough to spend the night if needed. I will only go if the weather is good with very little wind.

Any thoughts on how doable this would be in a day?

Very difficult in one day. You will hit at least 6 long portages. I did the route 2 years ago. You may be able to do it in 2 days. That time of year you will have shorter days.

I think it would be difficult - days are short (~12 hours) and weather is highly variable that time of year. Low water levels on the rivers may also slow travel, as well as beaver dams.

We just did Malberg to Phoebe in June. It was a long day. The Lady Chain portages are not easy. Phoebe out to Sawbill I think took us about 4.5 hours the last day....single portaging. I've done various legs of the route and adding them all up in my head, I'll say you're looking at about 15 hours of travel....give or take an hour.

If you can average 4.0 mph on the water, 2.3 mph single portaging, and 3 minutes at each end loading and unloading, PP shows it to be 8:03. Total distance 22.3 miles, of which 18.1 is paddling and 4.2 is portaging. Paddling time is 4:31, portaging is 1:50, loading & unloading is 1:42. You would have to be one smooth oiled machine do make it in this time. Once you get past Polly the portages get much tougher and it would be hard to maintain 2.3 mph on them. You will hit a boulder field that is tough to maneuver (think puzzle) on Knight. A few beaver dams to pull over. Searching for portages, eating, drinking and filtering water will take time. Figure in a bathroom break. The winds on Alton can be dangerous. If you could break it up into 2 days and spend the night on Grace it would be easy.

I double portage and reached the north end of Polly (9 miles double portage, 7 single) in Sept. in about 4 hours. I wasn't hurrying, but was moving right along and fairly efficiently at portages. Water levels were good and I was able to skip one portage, but there was also a beaver dam bushwhack. I have been in Sept when water was low and some portages were extended mud walks.

As you say, conditions would need to be perfect. I've done Malberg to Phoebe and Phoebe to Sawbill (but detoured through Kelso because of ice on Alton). Both were long days and the distance you're doing is about similar to those days. Baker to Sawbill would be doable.

My best guess is that it would take you about 15-16 hours of travel time. Sun rise to Dark that time of year. My figuring was at about 30 miles and 1,352 rods (17 of them) of portages. And the one between Grace and Beth is 287 rods (.9 miles). I agree with Northwoodsman - 2 days. You will see more and have a more enjoyable trip.

If youare after an indurance test - do the Voyuageur Challenge in early September.

I think it would be a fun challenge if it was June near the solstice, not after the equinox. I have no doubt you could do it in June, October is a maybe with starting in the dark and figuring to end in the dark. In October, Brule to Sawbill or if you don't mind a real long in-the-dark shuttle, Ham to Sawbill.

quote Northwoodsman: "If you can average 4.0 mph on the water, 2.3 mph single portaging, and 3 minutes at each end loading and unloading, PP shows it to be 8:03. Total distance 22.3 miles, of which 18.1 is paddling and 4.2 is portaging. Paddling time is 4:31, portaging is 1:50, loading & unloading is 1:42. You would have to be one smooth oiled machine do make it in this time. Once you get past Polly the portages get much tougher and it would be hard to maintain 2.3 mph on them. You will hit a boulder field that is tough to maneuver (think puzzle) on Knight. A few beaver dams to pull over. Searching for portages, eating, drinking and filtering water will take time. Figure in a bathroom break. The winds on Alton can be dangerous. If you could break it up into 2 days and spend the night on Grace it would be easy."

We had a hard time with that boulder field. Got home and checked out some aerial maps and found out there is a channel through it......might save some time. boulder field channel

Cowdoc - I remember that channel and we did find that one. I'm not 100% sure but I may be talking about the hairpin turn midway between Hazel and Phoebe. The rocks were very large and inches below the surface. We must have spent 30 minutes navigating through it. It was too deep to get out so we kept having to back out and try a slightly different route. It truly was working through a maze.

Odd - I remember from about 2004 doing a day trip from Phoebe to Hazel and didn't think it was that big a deal, and I don't remember a boulder field. I wanted to fish the rapids where the Phoebe River entered Hazel during the late 1980's in June for walleye, which was the best fishing ever. Water levels may have changed, I guess, to create the boulder field. Darn Beavers!

Tomster