Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Current Beartrap to Iron Lake conditions on the Beartrap River?
|
Author | Message Text | ||
UPBoy |
from what I remember when we went that way a few years back the trails were overgrown, as to be expected, with many step overs and a few walk around but nothing unpassable. The landings were visable and easy to find. |
||
UPBoy |
I went on the portage clearing trip this spring and we cleared lots of small pines off the trail that layed down because of some heavy wet snow early in the winter. In some places the trail would be blocked for 5 to 10 rods. Has anyone traveled up or down the Beartrap River this season and can report on the current condition? Thanks, UPBoy |
||
tonyj |
|
||
HighnDry |
From Sunday Lake to Beartrap there are about 7 portages; four of them you will hit just leaving Beatrap and trying to rejoin the Beatrap River proper and swing north (after heading west out of Beartrap). Those are not too bad, fairly open with a little bit of of brushy spots. and mud. They range in length from about 15 to 100 rods. IF you are heading north out of Beartrap, then of the roughly three or four portages to Sunday, most if not all are river left (west shoreline) with decent takeouts, although one or two put-ins on their northside are rocky and difficult to get footing. If I recall correctly, the first one you will encounter on your swing north from Beatrap is about 100 rods, brushed in some areas with four or five mudholes (watch your feet) that are about ankle deep. Getting into Sunday lake will present a bit of a challenge as you'll hit a wall of reeds. It looks like this (looking back north into Sunday) As you approach this, do not head straight but instead turn right along the reeds and the standing alder bushes. There is a pathway beaten down through the reeds for about 20 yards or so to the lake. It's a pull-and-pole that may require hopping out in knee-deep water to pull the canoe through. A note about the Beartrap coming out of Sunday: The portage out of the lake is located on the northwest corner, well-marked and gradually rises through a conifer/decidous forest before gently descending to the put-in by a set of rapids. After you put-in, you will head north on the Beatrap. The river winds incredibly like a snake for what seems like hours. The three or four portages on this section of the river are easily identifiable, short and skirt easy rapids. The second third one is short with few rocks and I lined it heading in the opposite direction. Water levels were high. The last portage is about 75 to 100 rods and brushed for half the length with 2 or 3 good mudholes. Go slow, there are about 2 or 3 blowdowns that will require hopping over or trudging around. The descent to the lake tiny bay is down a granite crevice that ends at a tricky rock slab put-in. It's barely large enough for one person and a boat. The weedy, lily-pad-choked small bay connects to Petersen Bay of Iron. I marked this portage put-in/take-out with a cairn because I searched for it for about 30 minutes until I finally located it. Enjoy, you'll be tired but satisfied when you are done! |