BWCA Caribou to Smoothrock portages Boundary Waters Group Forum: Wabakimi
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mkdixon
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08/06/2017 09:06AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi All, wondering if anyone can help me out on some portage info. I have the "official" park map and some other info from a trip report regarding the portages between caribou and smoothrock lakes (I have wabproj mapbooks covering the rest of my route). I'm most curious about the two portages on the west end of my map and wondering if this looks accurate?



Here is the official park map which shows a jumble of numbers, implying 4 portages instead of just 2. Mostly I'm curious if my map shows the start of the portages accurately.



Thanks, Mark
 
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marsonite
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08/06/2017 07:59PM  
Yeah, not sure what's with the jumble of numbers. I found the maps from Ken Kokanie's blog to be helpful. The ports in question are on page 11.
Canoe Route

We had no trouble finding the portages on this section. They are pretty obvious. There is (or was) a shore lunch set up on the last portage to Funger.
 
08/07/2017 06:52AM  
Can't answer your question directly as I have not been there. But keep in mind that generally you find portage landings located at the last possible place before the hazard you need to avoid. They are located so as to limit how far you need to carry your gear.
 
08/07/2017 07:50AM  
mkd - I did that in 2011. There are 4 short portages(5 depending on water depth). Going east to west: River L 140m;
River right 75m;
River L 60m + Rvr left 120m-you may be able to line the channel here; and
the final portage into Funger is obvious and pretty much dead center at the end of a little pond.
Yes, there is a lunch spot in the middle of the last portage and then a beautiful sand beach to launch from.
I can't get at my email right now, but I will send you my map for that stretch.
No worries about this stretch, the portages are easy to spot.
 
08/07/2017 09:41AM  
Hi Mark, I have only been over the first portage (good walleye fishing in the tailwaters) downstream from Caribou Lake. Jim Cavanagh's info makes it seem like your map is correct (small discrepancies in the meters notwithstanding). This route is in Volume 3 of the Project map books. I had a look, and the portage markings and lengths pretty much agree with your map, except they show the final portage (to Caribou Bay of Smoothrock/Funger Lake) on river right, 46 m. Please let us know if it should be river left, as shown on your map. Have a great trip! Ray
 
08/07/2017 10:28AM  
By the way, I mean the top map (the topographic map)... which is more clear than the lower map.
 
08/07/2017 11:45AM  
We had really low water in 2011 so some portages were longer and there were a couple bogs to cross to get into a lake here and there.
Yes. That topo map with the note about lining the channel is correct.
Except as I remember the final portage into Funger is river right...actually it looks like its dead center of that west shore of that last pool. Either way, it will be obvious to you as you come off the 154M portage.
You're gonna love this trip!
So...what's your route overall?
 
mkdixon
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08/07/2017 09:51PM  
Thanks for all the great info everybody. I'm leaving early next week and heading out solo from Little Caribou Lake and intend to do a loop out to Wabakimi Lake, north to Kenoji, through Scrag, Arril, Grayson, Whitewater, then south back to Smoothrock and back the way I came. Looking at a little over 2 weeks. I may cut the loop a little short depending on time, weather delays, and water levels. Perhaps a bit ambitious, but I tend to spend more time in the boat when out solo. Mark
 
marsonite
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08/07/2017 10:33PM  
quote mkdixon: "Thanks for all the great info everybody. I'm leaving early next week and heading out solo from Little Caribou Lake and intend to do a loop out to Wabakimi Lake, north to Kenoji, through Scrag, Arril, Grayson, Whitewater, then south back to Smoothrock and back the way I came. Looking at a little over 2 weeks. I may cut the loop a little short depending on time, weather delays, and water levels. Perhaps a bit ambitious, but I tend to spend more time in the boat when out solo. Mark"


Well, have a great time! My wife and I did almost the same route though in a different order; in at Little Caribou to smoothrock, whitewater, grayson, arril, scrag, kenoji, wabikimi, back to smoothrock. We exited by heading south to the Kopka River though. Took us 19 days. Of course going down to the Kopka added at least three days over just heading back to LC, and we didn't generally paddle long days (I'm like you, I spend a lot of time paddling if I'm solo). I have a trip report if you're interested.
 
08/07/2017 11:59PM  
we ran one of these rapids back in the early 2000s. the water was high but my brother was slow, also the wenonah canoe had a thing for being as maneuverable as a barge. resist temptation, use the portages. also be aware that lining canoes is one of the most difficult canoe skills to master, miles from the nearest road is not the place to master this art.
 
mkdixon
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08/08/2017 08:09AM  
quote jwartman59: "we ran one of these rapids back in the early 2000s. the water was high but my brother was slow, also the wenonah canoe had a thing for being as maneuverable as a barge. resist temptation, use the portages. also be aware that lining canoes is one of the most difficult canoe skills to master, miles from the nearest road is not the place to master this art."


Thanks for the warning JW. I've done some lining and I've seen it end in disaster in a seemingly benign situation. When I'm solo I tend to be very conservative in my movements, on portages and especially in camp. Sharp tools stay in the pack when I'm tired in the evening.
 
mkdixon
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08/08/2017 08:16AM  
quote marsonite: "Well, have a great time! My wife and I did almost the same route though in a different order; in at Little Caribou to smoothrock, whitewater, grayson, arril, scrag, kenoji, wabikimi, back to smoothrock. We exited by heading south to the Kopka River though. Took us 19 days. Of course going down to the Kopka added at least three days over just heading back to LC, and we didn't generally paddle long days (I'm like you, I spend a lot of time paddling if I'm solo). I have a trip report if you're interested."


Thanks Marsonite, I think I've looked at your trip report a couple of times and might be what inspired my route.
 
goatroti
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08/08/2017 10:16PM  
We did the Scrag, Arril, Grayson River, Whitewater route with the Wabakimi Project. I remember clearing a lot of those portages. The one out of Arril to the river is there and straightened, even though someone in a trip report said he couldn't locate it. I remember at the Arril end it was in a second bay, keep looking. We even did the back route down Whitewater by Ogoki Lodge to avoid the big waves on the corner. My first trip and still one of my favourites.
 
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