Anyone done the 450r carry from Lujenida to Zenith recently -- or at all? How about the 300r from Hub to Fente? Planning an October trip, thinking entry at 38/Sawbill to Alton then straight north would get me into isolated territory. Solo trip, looking to see some of the BWCA I haven't paddled (as best I can remember).

Dave

In October solitude is easier to obtain. Those are big portages!!
That 450 rod is supposed to climb steadily if coming from the south. It rises about a total of 60 feet with a final 30 ft. drop to the water at the end.
Not my idea of fun but you might be up to the challenge.

Have only done the 450r. Only remember that it was long. Plan enough time to do it and take your time. Met a guy who was in solo for a month and was re-supplying for another month. He had huge Duluth packs and an aluminum canoe. Was complaining about a bad ankle so I looked down to see that he was wearing old high top tennis shoes (= no support). Didn't feel bad for him because there were so many ways that he could have made his trip easier. He did take the creek up a ways from the south to shorten the portage.

I did the 480 Zenith portage twice in the spring of 2015 as a solo. It's really not that bad, even double portaging as I did. At roughly the 1/3 and 2/3 points along the way, there are excellent places to either rest or drop and go back for the other load, leapfrogging. One is a rise with some flat ground nest to a large rock outcropping as the trail twists and the other is a large flat spot nest to a rock ledge. You can't miss either one of them. Once I hit that portage, I didn't see another group until I made Wine, then had Wine to myself to Memorial Day and didn't see another soul until I came out a few days later.

I will add that it was wet, but not too bad. I have seen a photo on here of a boardwalk underwater on that portage, so plan accordingly if it's been raining for an extended period of time.

Several hills, 5 notable, low wet sections along mid way.
Left Sawbill campground in morning, set up camp on Zenith #863 before 4pm. 9am photo of Dolmen/erratic on Kelso River, .
Going slow, leapfrog portaging, and a lunch break, took about 6 hours. Partner pulled a groin muscle on the portage, after 2 sleepless nites on Zenith headed back to Sawbill.

300r from Hub to Fente?

Never made it there.

butthead

I also have seen the pictures of the boardwalk underwater. About midway through the portage as you are heading north, you will skirt a section of beaver ponds. That portion opens into a short section of grass marsh with boardwalk and bridge over a small stream. It may be just high water or it may be that the beavers have raised the water level all along. Check with Sawbill Outfitters about those conditions before you leave. Just as a thought, older maps that I have seen have shown spurs leading to beaver ponds along the way. It may be that with higher water or more beaver activity that those old spurs may again be useful. I always thought the 450 was mostly flat with a few small up and downs to make it interesting. As noted before, there are places to rest along the way. We have always double portaged and leapfrogged.

I love this area north of Zenith. Mesaba Lake is one of my favorites.

The portage from Hub to Fente on the other hand is an entirely different story. Going north you will lift gently uphill for about 2/3 the route. Then there is about a quarter mile of steep downhill. I have always done this one from the other direction (headed south). That quarter mile uphill under a canoe will make your glutes burn. Otherwise, it is a nice walk through the woods and I don't remember there being any wet sections

If you head north from there (Whipped to Mora), be aware that there are 5 or 6 downed trees at about stomach height through this portage. We were just through there the first week of August. While I don't have recent personal knowledge of the portage, given our experience on other portages in the immediate area I would expect to see downed trees on the Hub to Fente section also.

Here is how it looked in early June this year. The portage trail that skirts the swamp/bog was covered in water up to my knees. I am 6'3".

I've been on both the the Zenith portage and the Fente one many times, albeit a long time ago (1980's - 1990's). Back then, the Lujenida portage was just extremely long as I recall, and definitely not flooded. There was also a fork in the Zenith portage about halfway through that you had to watch for, which I recall gave you choices of portaging to Zenith or Frederick.

The Fente one was brutal going north to south due to the long, long, upward climb at the beginning. I don't think I am up for that one any more.

Tomster

quote quark2222: "I've been on both the the Zenith portage and the Fente one many times, albeit a long time ago (1980's - 1990's). Back then, the Lujenida portage was just extremely long as I recall, and definitely not flooded. There was also a fork in the Zenith portage about halfway through that you had to watch for, which I recall gave you choices of portaging to Zenith or Frederick.


The Fente one was brutal going north to south due to the long, long, upward climb at the beginning. I don't think I am up for that one any more.


Tomster"

The thing I remember about that climb was the false top. You think it's leveling off to a reasonable angle and then you go around a corner and it gets even steeper.

quote Sandman2009: "Here is how it looked in early June this year. The portage trail that skirts the swamp/bog was covered in water up to my knees. I am 6'3".







"

Maybe not so wet in October, but that's still a bit discouraging. Thanks to everyone for the info.

I've done the Lujenida to Zenith a few times in the fall a couple years ago. The others have summed it up pretty well. I remember the creek crossing being about half way. The first half seemed pretty flat with a few small ups and downs. After the creek crossing the trail rises sharply and then felt like a long steady climb before dropping down to Zenith the last 1/4 mile or so.

You will be greatly rewarded with some fall colors as the forest seems to change once you cross that portage. The shore lines are a lot more gently sloped and have way more maples and aspens which should be a brilliant display of colors the first couple weeks of October.

I would call the folks at Sawbill Outfitters for the latest conditions on the Zenith portage. I did it going south in July 2015 and it was completely dry. They had just opened up a re-routed section on the most southern 100 rods or so that got the trail away from the worst of the flooding from the beaver activity. Like others have said, its long and you will have to go up and down some. On that same trip we did the Fente - Hub portage. I didn't think it was too bad, but we were packed very light and our group was pretty strong on the portages. YMMV. When I get back in that area, I want to stay on Hub. It looks like it is nice and quiet and I would love to see what the fishing is like there.

Overall, if you are after solitude and looking to experience some of the more remote lakes in that area, I think you are on the right track. Both the Frost River and Louse river offer excellent chances to see wildlife. I love both of those routes. Once you are north of Zenith, Wine and Mesaba are some of my favorite lakes. I'v never stayed on Dent, but heard good things.

Have fun on your trip and stay safe.

Just got back from a long weekend trip from Sawbill to Wine via the Luj-Zenith portage. Hoo-boy is all I can say. It's never more than a 5-6 in difficulty at any one spot but the length.. oh man. If you aren't single portaging, get ready for a challenge (hell, it's nasty even if you are doing it once). Conditions were fine, no mud, flooding or blowdowns etc. so you can make it through just fine it's just long and has just enough up and down to really make your legs burn. It would be a nightmare in rain, though, so keep that in mind.

If you go this way be aware that there's an unmarked portage at the end of the swamp between Zenith and Frederick. It's probaby 10 rods but has a rough landing on both sides so just something to keep an eye out for.

I just got back from doing both the Lujenida portage and the Hub-Fente portages this past week and will second Xand's assessment of the Lujenida portage (I've got a trip report posted for the entire area you're talking about that may be helpful). The Lujenida portage itself is in the best condition I've ever seen it! The foot bridge is in great shape, sturdy and looks like it may have been recently re-done this summer. Mud was minimal. Bugs non-existant even in the swampy areas. It is just a plain, long portage with some climbs. We single portage it in about 45 minutes. You will know you've done some work by the time you finish it. It will be easier going north to south. That said, I would rather do the Lujenida portage than the Fente-Hub portage even thoug it is the shorter of the two. Again, it is in fine shape, just a bunch of ups and downs. They have cleaned up any blow down very, very well. Unlike the Lujenida portage, the Fente-Hub one is much more difficult on the way back out to the south, because it begins with a huge, a#$ buster of a hill coming out of Fente. None of this should stop you if you really want to see that fabulous area. For reference, I am short, in my 40's and carrying 20 extra pounds and I made it just fine with a 60# pack :) Just pace yourself, take rests as needed and enjoy the scenery!

Thanks, Xand and 1bogfrog. Good to know the portages are in good condition. Debating whether to go that route or in at 27 and head east to the three-letter lakes. Probably won't decide until I'm in the car.

Two years ago - end of Sept 2014 - inspector 13 and I did a loop from Kawishiwi Lake to Sawbill via Little Sag and came across those portages from north to south. They were some work, but I would do it again as it was some very nice country. You can find some details in our trip reports for that one, as well as a couple of pictures. I also have more pictures in my 2014 album at bwcawtrips .

The Fente-Hub portage was quite a climb at the beginning and the Zenith-Lujenida portage was long and rolling. It was flooded out near the south end, but was able to work around it with a small bushwhack. The landing on Lujenida an be a little mucky in spots - watch your step.