Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Maligne River
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AdamXChicago |
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arctic |
Many years ago I ran the second set (if I recall correctly), and swamped in the standing waves. It was around sunset, and we had to camp on the 3rd portage where there are a couple of sites. |
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OldGreyGoose |
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kanoes |
quote MagicPaddler: "Any one have GPS tracks from going down this stretch of the river." I don't, but wonder what good they would do? I did the maligne in the fall of 2011 (hunter island solo). its simple, just go with the current, the portages are obvious. |
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MagicPaddler |
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Eyedocron |
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walllee |
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AdamXChicago |
Thanks in advance for your help. AdamX |
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AdamXChicago |
quote OldGreyGoose: "Chrismar map (2005) shows the top 3 on the West/North side as stated above. The one out of Tanner Lake is on the South side of May Island. Judging from the French names for all these portages on the map, I don't think they've moved in quite a while, and you probably want to be watching the water, not looking at your GPS anyway. Are you getting a pickup at LLC and shuttled back to the Atikokan area? Was talking to Jim at Canoe Canada about that and he charges $250 for the ride to/from the end of the road as I recall. --Goose" OGG - Beaverhouse put-in, then a pick-up at LLC. Possibly coming in from Crane Lake (US side), or our old go-to, Moose at Morris Camp. First option is a lot less driving, but significantly more expensive. |
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snakecharmer |
quote jeroldharter: "quote Southernerpaddler: "I am planning on going up the Maligne River the middle part of August. Has anyone done this trip this year? I plan to head to Sturgeon Lake and then take out at Beaverhouse. " +1000 |
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PineKnot |
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MrBreeze |
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HansSolo |
For what it's worth, the Rangers at the Dawson Trail Campground Office were recommending travelers avoid the Maligne River when I was there at the start my solo trip last July. Per one Park Ranger, she reported that due to the unnaturally high water levels, many of the trail heads of the portages along the Maligne River were under water. So much so, she mentioned they were cutting some new trail heads to deal with trippers paddling down the Maligne. As far as anyone trying to come up the river, they said it wasn't feasible and next to impossible. I can't attest to the conditions because I wasn't heading that way. Nevertheless, they were rather emphatic about not traveling the Maligne River in any direction during mid-July of 2014. From my experiences with the Park Staff though, it seems that most of the Park Rangers are overly cautious about certain conditions in the park. I suppose they'd rather air on the side of caution for the sake of Quetico trippers. Hans Solo |
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Southernerpaddler |
Thank you for the advice and information. I will look into changing the direction of the trip. I assumed the later level would drop and being a kayaker paddling upstream would not be that bad. If the Maligne and Quetico were more of a rapid and pool type of river, going west to east should be doable. quote PineKnot: "Just returned from a 12-night loop from Beaverhouse through Jean/W. Sturgeon/Poohbah to LLC down the Namakan and up Quetico River back to Beaverhouse. |
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PineKnot |
When we picked up our permit in Atikokan, ranger said they added a 4th portage between Sturgeon and Poohbah Creek. We only used 3 of the portages as shown on our Chrismar. I think the "new" 4th portage may have been after the 1st two portages as you head down from Sturgeon. We noticed a fairly swift current as we came to the 3rd portage on the Chrismar, and my thought was that would be a challenge if you were paddling upstream to get to Sturgeon. I'm guessing that's where the additional portage may have been created for upstream paddlers. In fact, we passed by an older fella who was soloing his way up the Maligne. He was about 50 yards downstream and we thought he was waiting for us to clear the landing. When we passed him, we noticed he was in the water about thigh deep and looked to be moving his gear from his canoe to land. A day or two later, I thought maybe he was putting his gear back in the canoe and had just completed the "new" portage. Still not sure, but all I do know is we only did three portages on that stretch of the upper Maligne. When we left Poohbah, there were two portages on the lower Maligne. Tanner Rapids and Twin Falls. Twin Falls was really impressive. On the Namakan as you leave LLC, there were two portages--Snake Falls and Ivy Falls. I remember Snake Falls because we exited at a landing a few hundred yards before the falls and before you go under the bridge. The water was really moving fast with several rapids. We walked along a lightly used trail, crossed under the bridge to the actual portage prior to the falls. We figured we had to stay along the northern shoreline to get through the swift to the landing. As we walked back to our canoe, we noticed one particular drop over a boulder (about 100 yards downstream of our canoe) and told ourselves to make sure we stayed left of that drop and then paddle back to the right to hit the portage landing before the falls. Of course, we hit the boulder anyways. We get back to our canoe, put on our lifevests, and head down with the current which was faster than we thought. Before we knew it, we were heading right towards the drop and the boulder. My son tried to move the bow left while I dug in ruddering. We go over the drop, the bow missed the boulder, but my stern hit the boulder with a distinct thump. We stayed upright, barely, and made it to the landing. All I thought was we are idiots. Scout the river, note the spot not to hit, and hit it anyways. Snake Falls was impressive. At the base of the falls, there was all kinds of debris, including a shredded Grumman canoe, torn in half and flattened. Lots of garbage all over. After Ivy Falls, there is one more larger rapids called Squaw Rapids that we ran, followed by 4 portages on the Quetico River to get from the Namakan to Beaverhouse. There was a fast swift after the first portage and we had to line the canoe up another swift after the second portage. The Quetico River area was the most scenic part of our trip and something I'll remember for a long time. |
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AdamXChicago |
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jdddl8 |
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Southernerpaddler |
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jeroldharter |
quote Southernerpaddler: "I am planning on going up the Maligne River the middle part of August. Has anyone done this trip this year? I plan to head to Sturgeon Lake and then take out at Beaverhouse. " I suggest doing this trip in the opposite direction. |
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GraniteCliffs |
We took the first two portages out of Sturgeon very cautiously. The river then opens up. It was full of whitecaps and plenty of sweepers overhanging the river. Throw in a few visible boulders and it gave me pause. I kept thinking "Betty (the 16 year olds mother) is going to kill me if I manage to drown her son on the Maligne." I knew we should not risk it, tempting as it was. We walked ahead around a curve in the river but it looked even more treacherous. My mind was reeling since I knew turning around would not get us back to Ely at our required time. Eventually my brother and friend saw the wisdom of turning back. We ended up exiting at Beaverhouse but that is another story. I always felt that the decision to turn back was likely the best call I have ever made in the Q. |
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Eyedocron |
Several years later, there was still an entry ranger on LLC. Came up from US side, Nina Moose and Agnes, Boulder Bay, LLC,and Twin Falls. Big fish lunch, barely was able to paddle upstream above Falls. Finally made it to Tanner and Darky, Wicksteed. If you go to Twin Falls, hug the NW bank above and there is a side inlet where a short portage is found. Enjoy this area. Do not try to run the Rapids. |
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jeroldharter |
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