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deepwood
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01/20/2011 05:34PM  
I am doing a short solo(4days/3nights)May 12th-15th. I have narrowed it down to these two areas which I have never been to. Any insight on which one you would choose and why would be greatly appreciated.

Option 1- Sawbill north to cherokee then down through N and S Temperance, jack and kelly and returning to sawbill.

Option 2- The Kawishiwi river triangle. If this one whIch entry point would you use and which way do your recommend traveling?
 
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01/20/2011 06:24PM  
deepwoods,
I have done option 1 exactly as you have laid it out.
Only exception was 5 days, 4 nights.
Did a layover day. So should work out fine, the way you got it.
I really liked this loop a lot.
Can't comment on the other one, but you would enjoy this route.
SunCatcher
 
01/20/2011 07:04PM  
My brother and I did the first route you described, except we entered on Baker lake and did the loop counter-clockwise. We did the route in three days, two nights. That was a bit ambitious but can be done if you single portage. We camped at N. Temperance and Smoke lakes.

The route takes you through some really beautiful area. The scenery is awesome. I highly recommend it. There are some long portages in the area a 240 rd, a 230 rd and a 180 rd. But all of them are relatively easy. The toughest portage in my opinion is between sitka and cherokee. That one will test you a bit.

Fishing wasn't great for us in the area, but we did catch some fish on N. Temp, S. Temp and Smoke lake. Most fish we caught were on Smoke, all smallies of decent size.

Although we didn't have time too, I wish we would have been able to stay at flame lake. Have seen plenty of successful fishing photos for eater-walleyes come from that lake.

The Kawishiwi triangle was the other route we had considered taking but decided to get a little more solitude in the Sawbill area. And we did.

Check out my link here for more info
 
01/21/2011 04:39PM  
I really like the Sawbill Loop. It is one of my favorites. As BB pointed out, you can also start at Baker.

Cherokee is one of my favorite lakes. In fact nearly every lake on this loop is nice and there are many, many nice campsites. It also gives you a nice combination of creek and lake paddling. Fishing is also decent for eater-size throughout the route with maybe the exception of Cherokee. Good chance of moose viewing. Easily done in 4 days/3 nights.

Good chance of seeing a moose on the Sawbill Trail as well.
 
01/21/2011 04:51PM  
I don't know if I would enter on baker again if water levels don't improve in the area. We were there mid september and had trouble getting through an area you normally can paddle through. It's right after the ten rod portage into peterson lake from baker in the narrows. We got soaked and the canoe got banged up some as we got out of the canoe and tried to work our way through a submerged boulder field. It's tough going for a short while if water is low. Doing that solo would have sucked.
 
buffalodick
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01/21/2011 09:02PM  
BearBrown,

I did the same route solo from Baker through Peterson and points beyond. You are absolutely correct about the boulder field if the water is low in that area. I had my 38 Special stripper on it's maiden voyage and it also got scratched up pretty bad on that trip. The water was so low that I could not maneuver between the boulders and had to get out and wade and lift the canoe just like you did. It took forever to get through. I would not do it again unless I knew for sure that the water was high and even then I would think twice. It is just too risky walking through a boulder field and taking a chance on a twisted ankle. That was perhaps my least favorite place in all the trips I have taken.

Dick
 
01/22/2011 05:53PM  
quote buffalodick: "BearBrown,


I did the same route solo from Baker through Peterson and points beyond. You are absolutely correct about the boulder field if the water is low in that area. I had my 38 Special stripper on it's maiden voyage and it also got scratched up pretty bad on that trip. The water was so low that I could not maneuver between the boulders and had to get out and wade and lift the canoe just like you did. It took forever to get through. I would not do it again unless I knew for sure that the water was high and even then I would think twice. It is just too risky walking through a boulder field and taking a chance on a twisted ankle. That was perhaps my least favorite place in all the trips I have taken.


Dick"


Dick,

What time of year did you go through the area? I think I would definitely call sawtooth outfitters (the closest one to baker) if I ever wanted to enter that way again. They warned my brother and i about it but we already had our permit for the area. It's a beautiful area and I would be glad to go back, maybe in may it is better?

 
buffalodick
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01/23/2011 08:46AM  
BearBrown,

I entered at Baker Lake mid July 2005. It was probably a very dry year as there were many boulders visible above the water surface. My canoe is 16' 6" long and the rocks were so close together that I could not turn. There is no place to walk on shore in that area so I had to make several trips through the boulder field to get all my gear through it. Because the walking was so tough I couldn't carry much at a time as I had to also balance on the submerged rocks to avoid slipping. My advice would be to try to find out what the water levels are from someone who has recently been through that area before going in at that entry point. Maybe this forum would be source of that info as well as talking to the people at the Ranger Station.

Dick

 
eagle93
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01/23/2011 09:15AM  
I have done both routes. The K Triangle is really pretty, as is the Sawbill route. The portages are easier on the triangle, only one long and it is mostly flat. Several of the rapids are runnable, we use Royalex boats. We went in July, saw very few people until Clearwater. Many nice campsites, especially if solo. You will run into many people from Sawbill to Cherokee and in the N & S Temperance area. A couple of the portages are interesting and you can have water level problems. That said, having been to the Sawbill area 6 times and the triangle once, I'd do the triangle. I really fell in love with that area.
 
eagle93
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01/23/2011 09:23AM  
Sorry, forgot to answer about entry. I used Lake One and traveled SW towards Little Gabbro, then NW towards Clearwater.
 
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