BWCA Beaverhouse Nym via Oriana Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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freezedried
  
10/29/2014 12:07PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Planning our first trip to Quetico next Sept. 6-8 days. Coming from Michigan through UP so looking at north entry. Beaverhouse to Nym being suggested by Canoe Canada.

Anyone been through Oriana, Hamburg, Maria recently? Some posts indicated this route is not being recommended because of flooding. Any other route suggestions for solitude, scenery? We don't fish but might be sacrilege if we don't give it a try.

 
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10/29/2014 08:14PM  

Last July I did a solo trip through Batchewaung Lake, Jesse, Maria, Oriana and out to Quetico Lake before turning northeast at Eden Island. I then returned to my Nym Lake EP via Kasakokwog, McAlpine, Batchewaung Bay, and Batchewaung Lake. If you scroll down you'll find my "express Trip Report" in this Forum, but I pasted a Link to make it a quicker find.

Earlier Express Trip Report with pics-Quetico Forum

For several years now I've wanted to access Oriana Lake via Maria Lake and Hamburg Lake, but the Quetico Park Rangers always dissuade me from doing so. As I understand it, there's a large mud flat between Hamburg and Oriana due to a broken beaver dam that gave out a few years back.

Nevertheless, going through Jesse Lake and then up to Maria and beyond is a great route also. Jesse Lake is a beautiful lake with several outstanding campsites. With eight days, you'll have a lot of surplus time if all you're doing is traveling from Beaverhouse Lake to Nym Lake.

In fact, you could easily travel from Beavehouse Lake, Quetico Lake, Oriana, Jesse, Maria and out through Batchewaung Lake to Nym Lake in three days if the wind isn't slamming you. (Actually, you could do the aforementioned route in two long days if you pushed it a bit.)

A word of warning though, Quetico Lake can be somewhat busy. I've been through Quetico Lake several times, and during different months of the year and Quetico Lake is always the busiest lake along my intended route in that region.

If you're looking to do more mileage, and want more solitude and scenery, check out the replies in the "Nym to Moose route suggestions" a few posts down in this Forum.

Hans Solo
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Guest Paddler
  
10/30/2014 08:48AM  
in drier conditions, the portage between maria and hamburg isn't too bad

went thru there last year early in June

i didn't find a distinct portage, but neither did i find a mud flat

the old pond is overgrown with grass pretty much -

the stream at the time i went had enough water to paddle - there was a log to pull over early on, then i think another log or two to pull over - float the stream as far as you can (maybe 300 yards ?) , then look for any possible trails in the grass South side seems like the better choice

there were 2 or 3 sectins like that - paddle some, portage around a rocky area, paddle agian - i think it was 2 sections of paddling that stream there were "trails' in the grass at the portages, but some may have been just from moose

not being sure where to go at first, i portaged my packs to the first obstruction on the north side of the creek - then decided to paddle the boat to that point and catch up to my packs - the 'route' beyond wasn't too appealing, so i switched over to the south side which i found to be better

in september, i'd guess conditions would be similar - not muddy, but maybe the stream woudl be too low to paddle - might need to portage the whole thing, or walk along the stream and tow your loaded boat to the rocky sections and them portage those.

freezedried
  
10/30/2014 09:18AM  
Thanks Hans and Guest Paddler, what a goldmine of info! Oriana looked intriguing but may not be worth it. Although we are experienced canoe campers and in good shape we're both turning 60 this year and sprained ankles don't heal as fast as they used to. This confirms that we need to bring our "high top" hiking boots.
10/30/2014 10:46AM  

quote guest: "in drier conditions, the portage between maria and hamburg isn't too bad

went thru there last year early in June

i didn't find a distinct portage, but neither did i find a mud flat

the old pond is overgrown with grass pretty much -"


Good to know Guest Paddler! It could be the case of the Park Rangers relying on old data or being overly cautious. Regardless, next time through I may finally travel that direction given your recent experience and user review.

I really like the north-central part of the Park and Hamburg Lake to Oriana Lake is one of the few routes I haven't traveled in that region.

Thanks!

Hans Solo
10/30/2014 10:54AM  
quote freezedried: "Oriana looked intriguing but may not be worth it."

For what it's worth, Freezedried, the picture of the Bull Moose on my other post was taken on Oriana Creek just before the short portage' into the west end of Quetico Lake. Additionally, the fresh Wolf tracks were on the 140 Rod portage, (also known as "Cedar Portage"), from the west end of Jesse Lake to Oriana Creek/Lake.

I had a Wolf pack howling up a storm in the middle of the night on Quetico Lake during a September 2013 solo trip through that region. The pack was approximately 40 yards or less from my campsite and it was quite the serenade.

As you may know, there's also a good display of pictographs along the north shore of Quetico Lake and several logging relics on the 24 Rod portage' from Beaverhouse Lake to Quetico Lake.

Great area to travel IMHO, because there's a lot to see and experience.

Hans Solo
freezedried
  
10/30/2014 02:09PM  
Wow! sounds like magic. I'll never forget seeing my first bull in Waterton Peace Park many years ago. We may just have to lace those boots up tight and give it a go.

Everyone seems to think Kawnipi Lake is also very pretty but it doesn't look like there's a good route coming in from Beaverhouse if we have a max of 8 days and want to layover for a couple nights somewhere. Since we haven't been to the park before it would be nice to see the pictographs on Quetico. Too many lakes and not enough days, sounds like we'll need to plan multiple trips.

Thanks again for posting such great info. Planning this trip will get me through what promises to be a long cold winter.

 
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