Was in for 8 nights. Challenging trip; two tandems and a solo.

Started in high winds - very borderline for travel, and I did go halfway in (waist deep water by shore; had pulled over to re-trim the solo and flubbed the reentry in pounding waves).

Middle of the trip was very wet; did Yum-Yum Portage in the rain. Was rough.

Went up Kahsh and crossed Trant>Hurlburt>Woodside>Reid. Some hard ports there too.

Last two full days were in the high winds again, and we had to descend the entirety of Agnes into a stiff headwind. Hugged the shore, made it but we all are hurting physically.

Kip and Sunny are paddling out today from Pickerel narrows to Nym. This is day 10 for them. I've been in touch via InReach. Lots of wind and rain. They did have a good travel day yesterday and did 17 miles to stage up for 10 miles out today. Cold nights and wind have kept bugs at bay but woods are very wet now priming the bug pump.

Wind is a tough addition to a trip, especially in cold water conditions.
I think the portages north of Silence (Silence to Trant, Trant to Keewatin, Silence to Reid/Woodside) are some of the most consistently rugged carries in the park. Tough landings, tough footing. Really beautiful area, but even the short portages can wipe you out.

We did that exact route (although in reverse) last year in early June. In very warm and dry (fire ban) conditions. That portage from Hurlburt to just before Woodside was exceptionally challenging - hard to imagine the short, muddy and steep climbs on both that portage and the one from Reid to Agnes in wet conditions. Props on getting it done. Really great and remote country worth the price of admission (at least the one we paid!).

Did you guys do any fishing? We head in next week for a different route.

cburton, that portage east of Hurlburt was at the end of a tiring day...and I have to imagine most groups doing it are at the end of their respective days. It's always harder to hit one like that when you are already gassed.

For us, the sun was setting - I think we hit the campsite at 9pm.

We were on Woodside for too little time - I wanted to stay two nights. But in just a couple hours of morning fishing I caught a handful of walleye and 15+ smallies.

Lakers were still shallow, so we caught those on other lakes. My son caught a beast of a largemouth, had to be pushing 5 lbs, and he also got a high 30's pike (PB for him).

Sounds epic! I had a few seriously windblown days last June but nothing like what you've described. When it blows all night, I'll actually put in ear plugs to sleep better. Distinctly remember an early morning on Jean Lake when I took out the ear plugs and could hear nothing but a little ripple on the shore and distant loon calls.

Catching a hawg largemouth and lakers in shallow water on the same trip is pretty special. I've been trying to stay busy out here in California fishing for shad in the rivers and paddling the bay for rockfish and lingcod, but in all honesty I'm chomping at the bit for some evenings casting poppers or trolling around for walleyes with the bugs whining in my ears. Really, really love it out there.

sns: "cburton, that portage east of Hurlburt was at the end of a tiring day...and I have to imagine most groups doing it are at the end of their respective days. It's always harder to hit one like that when you are already gassed.

For us, the sun was setting - I think we hit the campsite at 9pm.

We were on Woodside for too little time - I wanted to stay two nights. But in just a couple hours of morning fishing I caught a handful of walleye and 15+ smallies.

Lakers were still shallow, so we caught those on other lakes. My son caught a beast of a largemouth, had to be pushing 5 lbs, and he also got a high 30's pike (PB for him)."

I’m all the more impressed that you did the Hurlburt portage that late in the evening! It was early on in our travel day coming after a layover day on Woodside (you definitely should have spent more time there, but it sounds like you made the best of your time there anyways).

Glad to hear you guys got on some great fish. I doubt I’ve even caught a 3 lb largemouth up there - that 5 lber is a trophy!

Yes!

You will look back on this trip with only the best memories. Do we ever really remember the trips where nothing happens?

More seriously though. The wind can really break you. It cuts like a knife, like a lashing.

Glad you went though. Agnes is a jewel (most of the time)

I’m slowly packing for my Nym lake entry. Heading back to my favorite campsite where we chatted. Then down to Camel and back up via McDougal.

Tom

Great route…Did that trip in reverse with my wife over 10 years ago. Stayed on Agnes 3 nights (all different sites—wind killed us), Woodside, Trant, Kash, and North Bay the last night.

Fishing was incredible every lake except didn’t fish Trant.

Made the mistake of paddling all the way from North Bay to American Point to Prairie. Underestimated the time it would take…I think in the end were were going 6 mph and my wife was not happy. I loved it…love the challenge…of course we might have had to hustle in the end becuase of all the fishing I did the AM…probably played a role in the anger LOL.

T

tumblehome
I’m slowly packing for my Nym lake entry. Heading back to my favorite campsite where we chatted. Then down to Camel and back up via McDougal.

Tom -

Are you doing Eag to McDougal or going on over to Baird to head over to Keats and then to McDougal (via Chatterton)? (I'm assuming you NOT doing Keats to McDougal is literally straight up from Keats until to reach a plateau.)

Regardless, all of those choices have real challenges. When I told a friend of mine I was doing the Baird to Keats portage his response was "bring a rope." I didn't understand until I was on the portage what the rope would be used for. I tackled it on a wet day and literally climbed on hands and knees, grabbing on to whatever was anchored adjacent to the slick granite surface I was crawling up. Top was reasonably flat to be followed by a downhill plunge (again a rope would be handy) into a running creek bed that led to the Keats landing.

Fun times, but I'm not doing that one again!

DD