I'm planning for next summer's trip. I keep reading about Friday Bay, but I can't seem to find it on the map. Looks like EP23 is where people start. Can anyone help me out here?

One of the bays of Crooked Lake. Right on the border.

Yep, bay of Crooked. They go in order from curtain falls on the west.... Sunday, Saturday, Friday, etc. Basically the waters between Iron to the west and basswood falls to the east.

If you can find EP23 on the map, look due north towards the border. You'll be looking at Friday/Saturday bay. The bay is accessed via the Basswood River from the East, Iron Lake from the West (followed by Sunday, then Saturday bays), or the long portage North from Gun into the Papoose Creek system.

It’s only visible on Fridays. Wait till tomorrow.

old_salt: "It’s only visible on Fridays. Wait till tomorrow."

Hahaha

Friday Bay is big water. Lakes to the south are smaller, shallower and the area is swampy... stayed on Wagosh (? I think that's what it was, I'm typing this from memory) one night, buggy.

Just FYI: Crooked is beautiful, with the falls and pictographs, but it is navigationally challenging. Please use a map and always know where you are. With the bays and islands, terrain association can be tough, especially for the less-experienced.

Mike

old_salt: "It’s only visible on Fridays. Wait till tomorrow."

Nicely played.......

Mike

How long does it take to get up to Friday bay? 2 guys single portaging?

ryebread26: "How long does it take to get up to Friday bay? 2 guys single portaging?"

So many variables to consider but if it were me and my paddle partner was my wife it would be one FULL day starting pretty early and not arriving until late...but...if it was my brother with me it would be a 6 AM start and we'd pull in sometime between noon and 2 depending on wind. Again, this will all depend on your own motivation, speed, etc...

ryebread26: "How long does it take to get up to Friday bay? 2 guys single portaging?"

You're not paying attention. You will get there on a Friday.

VaderStrom: "

ryebread26: "How long does it take to get up to Friday bay? 2 guys single portaging?"

So many variables to consider but if it were me and my paddle partner was my wife it would be one FULL day starting pretty early and not arriving until late...but...if it was my brother with me it would be a 6 AM start and we'd pull in sometime between noon and 2 depending on wind. Again, this will all depend on your own motivation, speed, etc..."

I'd agree with that estimate although when I solo, I plan for two days just in case. It allows me to have a back up plan in case of weather, fatigue or if I just feel like stopping :)

ryebread26: "How long does it take to get up to Friday bay? 2 guys single portaging?"

Don't know how fast and/or hard you guys go, but my 57-year-old dad and I (33) went from Mudro to Saturday Bay in one day without too much trouble (doing the 1.5 trips per portage technique). We went through Fourtown and Gun on our way in, and the Horse river on the way out, so both routes are doable in one day. I'd have to look at a GPS track file to see how long it took, but it definitely was not a sun up to sundown kind of thing; plus you guys are only going to Friday, so that's already less distance.

HotDog: "

ryebread26: "How long does it take to get up to Friday bay? 2 guys single portaging?"

(doing the 1.5 trips per portage technique).

What do you mean by "1.5 trips per portage technique"?

Mudro to Friday Bay will be a long day. Get an early start

...just did a loop out of EP22 that took us through Friday Bay, which is part of Crooked Lake I guess. We came up through Fourtown and Gun and then looped around Lower Basswood Falls and back down through the Horse River. I'd say you can definitely get to Friday Bay in a day that way, but it's ambitious and you definitely will need to get an early start.

: "What do you mean by "1.5 trips per portage technique"?"

My description might sound like something from a kid's book, but this is the best way to describe it:

Let's use "Jimmy" and "Sally" as examples. They get to a portage and Jimmy takes his load all the way across the portage, while Sally drops hers off half way. Jimmy goes back half way to get the dropped load while Sally goes back to get the canoe, and carries it the whole way. Both people only walked 1.5 times the length of the portage, saving time and effort vs having to double portage.

Blatz: "Mudro to Friday Bay will be a long day. Get an early start"

I want to say it was something like 12-14 miles. I'd have to dig up the gps track file to see the actual distance and moving average, but I don't remember it being overly difficult. Maybe I blocked out the memories of sore muscles lol

HotDog: "

: "What do you mean by "1.5 trips per portage technique"?"

My description might sound like something from a kid's book, but this is the best way to describe it:


Let's use "Jimmy" and "Sally" as examples. They get to a portage and Jimmy takes his load all the way across the portage, while Sally drops hers off half way. Jimmy goes back half way to get the dropped load while Sally goes back to get the canoe, and carries it the whole way. Both people only walked 1.5 times the length of the portage, saving time and effort vs having to double portage."

Agreed , It's a great technique, but its actually twice the length of the portage not 1.5 times the length as it is impossible to do 1 1/2 and be on the correct end of portage.
single-1 portage length
1.5-2 portage lengths(all the way across,back halfway, then back to the end again or halfway across,back to beginning than all the way across, 1+1/2+1/2=2)
double-3 portage lengths
triple-5 portage lengths

My group will be headed into EP 23 June 6th and we will be traveling to Friday Bay on day one. We've done this before and it usually takes us 6 hours to get to Friday Bay. We single portage and go pretty hard for those 6 hours.

ynneb9: "My group will be headed into EP 23 June 6th and we will be traveling to Friday Bay on day one. We've done this before and it usually takes us 6 hours to get to Friday Bay. We single portage and go pretty hard for those 6 hours. "

Which way did you go?
We are doing the loop from Mudro thru horse river and all the way around to Friday and back down to Mudro thru Moosecamp River.

I am hoping to make it on day one up into Crooked Lake possibly Wednesday Bay.
We have a PMA permit and will be staying on Jackfish Lake for a few days.
I'm not sure we can make it that far in one day. The only good thing is no one should be camping in that side of the PMA except us if we get in late. (even though there are no campsites, I hear there is a remnant of one we may be able to utilize)

My worries are that all along Basswood river will be full and possibly Horse Lake.
All the permits for that second week in August are booked.

That's OK. It's an adventure and whatever happens, happens!

Bushman, we go straight north from the EP thru Fourtown, Boot to Gun and all the lakes in between. We usually take a small 20 minute break either before or after the 300 rod portage.

ynneb9: "...between. We usually take a small 20 minute break either before or after the 300 rod portage."

honestly, that has to be the nicest portage of that length in the BW!

If you make it to Friday bay head as far north from the portage as you can. Right before you hit the border there is one of the nicest camps you’ll find. It’s on a island and has plenty of room.

Kraut88: "...just did a loop out of EP22 that took us through Friday Bay, which is part of Crooked Lake I guess. We came up through Fourtown and Gun and then looped around Lower Basswood Falls and back down through the Horse River. I'd say you can definitely get to Friday Bay in a day that way, but it's ambitious and you definitely will need to get an early start. "

We did it before but took us two days. Weather happened.

This year we are starting at Fall Lake and should make it in the same time frame. With the current for the win.

Beautiful, with some fine little islands on the north side for camp. If I remember correctly.

BobDobbs: "

ynneb9: "...between. We usually take a small 20 minute break either before or after the 300 rod portage."

honestly, that has to be the nicest portage of that length in the BW!"

Negative

BobDobbs: "

ynneb9: "...between. We usually take a small 20 minute break either before or after the 300 rod portage."

honestly, that has to be the nicest portage of that length in the BW!"

Yea that's a mellow portage as far as being flat and smooth

If you’re wanting to get to Crooked from Fall Lake, you should use Packsack Outfitters. They’ll tow you to Jackfish bay and save you about 6 to 8 hours of paddling.

We just got back from a seven nighter doing that route. We stayed near Wheelbarrow falls for 2 nights and on Wednesday bay for 3 before heading to lower basswood falls and then onto fourtown.

We got some really bad blowdown on Wednesday bay on Tuesday night so beware of the widow makers in the area... A lot of downed trees.

We went counter clockwise, thru horse, and basswood river. We were 1.5ng, and it got a little tiresome for our 4-some. I think there are about 10 portages between mudro and lower basswood falls. We had intended to make it all the way to the middle of crooked on day one, but fell in love with the campsite next to lower basswood falls, and decided to stay the night.

I think sometimes we get so set on making it to a destination, we forget to smell the flowers along the way. I'd rather take my time, and enjoy the journey. It's beautiful.