I finished planning this year's trip in January and am revisiting it now as the start draws closer and closer. Any feedback/ideas/critique/etc. are welcome on the route below:

Dropped off at EP 14 Little Indian Souix River North
North to LLC then east along the border to Sag
Southwest to Little Sag, then Alice
West to Lake One
Picked up at Lake One

16 days (June 7 to 22), average speed, double portaging, on the water at dawn or soon after. No basecamping, no fishing, just travel.

The only unchangeable things are: (1) entry point, (2) entry date, (3) exit date can't be later than June 22, and (4) exit point needs to be relatively near our outfitter on Moose Lake so that they can pick us up. Bonus question: we own our gear but are thinking of checking out a different canoe this year. We own a Wenonah Champlain. Any thoughts on renting something else (or whether it's realistic to attempt this trip in our Nova Craft Prospector 16)?

Unfortunately, it turned out that we had less time available for the trip than hoped (original plan was ~25 days). Our original plan went down to Brule before going to Lake One. :-(

Please don't flame me in your reply. Roasting is ok :-)

You’ll be on some fairly large lakes, the Champlain would be ideal. I have a Kevlar 16’ prospector, it’s ok but never my first choice. 16 days seems like plenty of time for your planned route.

This seems like a great route for that time frame and allows you lots of options for exact lakes you visit. I especially love the areas between (and including) Little Sag to Alice. With such a. long trip, I encourage you to dip into some of the less traveled areas. Have fun!

Well, cutting the days from 25 to 16 and still the same route will make a different trip. I don't know your exact route but it seems it will be 150+, maybe 175 miles, which is technically doable, but . . .

Do you know the mileages of your route? Number of portages and distance?

I looked at your trip report and you went around 50 miles in 7 days with minimal portaging and no major weather delays. You'll be carrying twice as much food with many (?) more portages. Most should be later when food pack is lighter. A lot more can happen in 16 days, weather-wise and otherwise.

On the plus side, a long route gives you several opportunities to shorten if necessary or desired. You may get a major boost from wind along the border if prevailing winds prevail. On the other hand . . . I would make sure you know the details of your route as well as the various options so you know when your decision point arrives.

It would be a great trip if all goes according to Hoyle.

boonie: "Well, cutting the days from 25 to 16 and still the same route will make a different trip. I don't know your exact route but it seems it will be 150+, maybe 175 miles, which is technically doable, but . . .


Do you know the mileages of your route? Number of portages and distance?


I looked at your trip report and you went around 50 miles in 7 days with minimal portaging and no major weather delays. You'll be carrying twice as much food with many (?) more portages. Most should be later when food pack is lighter. A lot more can happen in 16 days, weather-wise and otherwise.


On the plus side, a long route gives you several opportunities to shorten if necessary or desired. You may get a major boost from wind along the border if prevailing winds prevail. On the other hand . . . I would make sure you know the details of your route as well as the various options so you know when your decision point arrives.


It would be a great trip if all goes according to Hoyle."

The trip distance is 150 miles of paddling plus 52 portages (7900 rods accounting for double portaging). The average travel time per day is 5 hours which does not count the two planned rest days.

The original plan had several extra days for a longer route that went down to Brule. The current route cuts off that southeastern route. By comparison, the longer route was 200 miles of paddling plus 89 portages (17000 rods accounting for double portaging) and included four rest days.

Last year was a little over 50 miles including portaging in 5 1/2 days plus one rest day.

You will have a better idea if your entire trip will work when you pass Basswood. If short on time you can exit at Moose Lake. There are exit routes again at Birch Lake, Knife Lake, etc. Don't force yourself to do the entire planned route. If weather or your bodies say to, cut it short.

RMinMN: "You will have a better idea if your entire trip will work when you pass Basswood. If short on time you can exit at Moose Lake. There are exit routes again at Birch Lake, Knife Lake, etc. Don't force yourself to do the entire planned route. If weather or your bodies say to, cut it short. "

I was pretty much right on with mileage and you're assuming 2.5 mph travel speed which is reasonable. I believe you have around 50 portages, but most toward the end when food weight will be less. My experience (and many others too) is that a bunch of short portages can be more tiring and time-consuming. Nonetheless, barring really bad extended weather, injury, or fire you should be good.

I was getting at the same point as RMinMN - know your options and times. Also make sure you have any additional maps needed to cover them. I'll look for the trip report :)

You also have lots of options for changing your route should you not be able to make it all the way to big sag. I think 16 days will be fine.