Hello all…

My first post on the message board and am looking for some experienced input for my second Quetico trip this summer.

We're (4 total) going in thru Cache Bay and plan to do the Falls Chain to Poets Chain down the Kahshahpiwi back thru Trant/Silent/Agnes and up thru Louise/Glacier/McEwen and out thru Cache for an 11 day trip. My specific question deals with getting from Poets (Chatterton Falls) to the Kahshahpiwi . The shortest route as it appears on Fisher/MacKenzie maps is to take a route thru Keats/Baird/Metacryst/Heronshaw/Cairn. However, I'm not finding anything that talks about this route. So my question is, is this a route to avoid (bog/mud/blowdown, etc.)?
Even though it will require some back-tracking, is it better to go back out via Shelley and enter Heronshaw from the north into the Kahshahpiwi?

Any input will be most welcomed! Thanks

theCaptain

The Baird/Keats portage is a bugger I hear. I'm sure some of the "Four Hoaresman" who did it last year will chime in.

Heck of a route, I assume you all are very experienced and can do the tough full days?

Thanks bojibob….

One novice….this is the kind of trip the rest of us live for! Will keep an eye out for the "Four Hoaresman". Thanks.

I have been over all of your route several times. You are setting up a touring adventure. Hope your crew wants this, as not a relaxing fishing trip, but you will see a lot of the eastern half of the park. The Keats Baird portage I have done twice. Certainly a short cut. The northern half is a big climb. Resembles the eat em up portage from Tanner Lake to the Darky River. The portage from Cutty to Sark has mud at the western end and is poorly cleared. The one from Kahsh to Trant will likely seem the longest to you.
The rest of the trip you plan will just be lots of short to mid length.
With the trip you have planned, be sure to start early each morning and expect long days. This will be a great trip with the right crew.
Going west on Kawnipi, start early to reduce the chance of having an afternoon head wind.

Portage from Keats to Baird can be hard to find. Begins with a short very steep climb and then continues with a long, long uphill climb, followed buy a steep drop into swampy dense forest. I found this portage quite exhausting, though Baird is worth the trip.

You could go a longer (very scenic) route through Camel Lake and then Cutty Creek to Baird.

quote theCaptain: "Thanks bojibob….


One novice….this is the kind of trip the rest of us live for! Will keep an eye out for the "Four Hoaresman". Thanks."

I would rather do it Keats to Baird than the other way. Steep rugged start, then more gradual uphill, levels off a little before the drop down to Baird....with a few nasty spots. I crawled up one spot with canoe on my head, grabbing roots and grass to keep going. Mucky and wet on the Baird end.
"Four Hoaresmen".....cute Rob
Video from the steep Keats end.....speaks for itself. (courtesy of Suncatcher)

As Banksiana stated the Heron Bay, Camel and Cutty Creek is one of the prettiest parts of the Park.

In the Late 70's we used to take the "Metacryst Portage" into Cub. You wont find it marked on the newer maps but I have taken it twice. Once each direction.

Coming from Cub the first section was a blown out Beaver Dam and may have water in it now. We were able to follow a trail along the creek. Now I'm not promising that trail is there... but if you are feeling adventurous you may want to give a try.

quote theCaptain: "Hello all…

back thru Trant/Silent/Agnes

Any input will be most welcomed! Thanks

theCaptain"

Looks like an awesome route!
Not sure what lake you will camp on before you come through Trant, but the portage between Kahshapiwi and Trant is not easy. There are two campsites on Trant. One is awesome the other is barely suitable. There are 7 portages between Trant and Agnes. None very long individually but they all are rugged with lots of boulders. Not a campsite to be found until Silence or Agnes so I would plan accordingly on that travel day.

Thanks all for the input….great info here - definitely will help with the final planning. It's definately upping the "ancy factor" for July to get here! Hope to have a good story to share when it's over.