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02/21/2017 06:23PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
What's the deal with the two portages at PP? Can the shorter one only be used by folks going to quetico?
 
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02/21/2017 06:32PM  
the short one leads to the Quetico ranger station for Q trips. The long one on the American side is the truck portage for hauling boats to Basswood
02/21/2017 06:57PM  
quote cowdoc: "the short one leads to the Quetico ranger station for Q trips. The long one on the American side is the truck portage for hauling boats to Basswood"


So what about a canoe passing through but staying in the BW?
Trapper7
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02/21/2017 07:00PM  
quote nojobro: "
quote cowdoc: "the short one leads to the Quetico ranger station for Q trips. The long one on the American side is the truck portage for hauling boats to Basswood"



So what about a canoe passing through but staying in the BW?"

There is a shorter one on the American side. This was the old portage that we used to pull boats across by hand before they allowed the trucks again.
billconner
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02/21/2017 07:13PM  
I believe you are permitted to use either whatever your permit, nationality, or destination.
GraniteCliffs
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02/21/2017 07:48PM  
You learn something everyday. I have been to Prairie dozens and dozens of times. I did not know there was a portage for canoes on the US side. I have never seen anyone use the portage next to the truck portage. I have only seen folks use the trail on the Q side. I think all of the outfitters drop canoes for the BW on the Q side as well.
I would be afraid of catching heck or worse from the folks operating the truck portage if I tried to use the portage on the US side!
02/21/2017 08:07PM  
quote billconner: "I believe you are permitted to use either whatever your permit, nationality, or destination."


I'd agree.
02/24/2017 08:52AM  
quote HighnDry: "
quote billconner: "I believe you are permitted to use either whatever your permit, nationality, or destination."



I'd agree."


+1 By treaty either side of all border portages can be used for portaging.
GraniteCliffs
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02/24/2017 03:08PM  
You may use the US side.
But, again, I have never seen it done and expect it is much easier for a variety of reasons to use the Canadian trail along with everyone else. I suspect that is what the OP wanted to know.
pswith5
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02/24/2017 03:53PM  
Just remember on the Canadian side you need to call it a port-ahhhh-ge.
billconner
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02/24/2017 06:32PM  
quote Duboly: "
quote HighnDry: "
quote billconner: "I believe you are permitted to use either whatever your permit, nationality, or destination."

I'd agree."

+1 By treaty either side of all border portages can be used for portaging. "

For the real regulatory minutiae fans, I think if on a BWCA permit that if you stop at the Friends of Quetico shop you have made the permit invalid, just like a corridor crossing.
yogi59weedr
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02/24/2017 11:48PM  
Which side of the portage can you trap Cisco's from?
02/25/2017 12:38AM  
The portage at the ranger station is a reasonably short and easy trip and to my understanding the most common used for BWCA travelers heading into Basswood. It is also the crossing for those going into Quetico. I understand you can also carry over at the commercial truck portage, it is just a lot longer and I know how you love to lug boat and gear over portages. I also did not know about the third option, does it have any advantages from those who know it?
There may be a point that if you enter the store and that is your purpose you might be leaving the BWCA, but who is to get too concerned. The portage is off to the right of the ranger station and I understand they do not like using their lot as a portage route so you would not likely be there anyway.
02/27/2017 11:49AM  
Last year I saw someone portaging their canoe across the truck portage and thought that was weird. The tow operator said the occasional person does that but it is a lot longer and they probably just didn't know they could take prairie portage.

Although I think outfitters sometimes give out erroneous info in this case it is correct. Prairie Portage follows the Webter-Ashburton Treaty guidelines. If you stop and have lunch on the Canadian side, stop at the store, use the restroom, technically you have violated the treaty. Hopefully the Ciscoe sting team isn't video taping you :)

T
 
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