Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: PMA Paradise :: Bog Walking
|
Author | Message Text | ||
Amok |
The ground is a bit more firm along tree lines, the 'grass mounds' are not always what they seem. Most of those grass piles WILL move, and most sink a bit. what looks dry can be a very wet experience. Trees are your best bet. there's more of an anchor through a tree line, or patch of trees. Either way, you will get wet :) I also have zero experience hauling gear through said bogs. Just myself and a gun (while hunting) or my water bottle, haha. It IS easy to 'leave no trace' in this area, any path you may inadvertently make will disappear in a week or less. |
||
Rob Johnson |
How easy/what is the technique for walking in bogs in the Bdub? It is pretty clear from the bits & pieces I've picked up in these threads that the PMA we've chosen to tackle (Mugwump)includes some blowdown area. From the satelite images it looks like we can avoid some of this if we are willing to walk through bogs...wondering just how tough that will be. |
||
removedmember1 |
|
||
Rob Johnson |
quote forestmaven: " Be careful!" Hole must be really deep for the canoe to be completely sunk! |
||
removedmember1 |
|
||
AndySG |
|
||
Amok |
|
||
jwartman59 |
|
||
bogwalker |
I do not walk bogs in the BWCAW as often as my name might suggest and I only do so to access areas or to portage through to a spot in a PMA. Bogs are very slow to recover from any intrusion. A foot print or breakthrough will be visible for years. If you do walk in Bogs I suggest the following... 1) First time across be as light as possible and confident that you can maintain your balance with what you are carrying. 2) Have a walking stick, a tree branch or at least a paddle for balance. 3) Use the stick, paddle or whatever to probe the next step to make sure it will support you. Usually bogs are few inches to a foot thick or so but they float over water that is anywhere from a few inches deep to many feet deep. In addtion the muck at the bottom often is a foot or so deep and can be like cement or quicksand should your foot get into it. 4) Take your time and wear your PFD. Be willing to let your boot or footwear go if it gets stuck in the muck-better to lose a boot the your life. 5) Do not walk through bogs by yourself unless you have no other option. It is best to have a partner to help just in case. 6) If the footing gets dangerous carefully go back and try another path or better yet abandon the attempt. |
||
Amok |
|
||
PJ |
I look for trees. There are often three foot or so high pine trees. The bog is usually much firmer around them. |
||
PortageKeeper |
|