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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Horse Lake to Basswood Falls with kid? Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| Abbey |
11/03/2018 09:35PM It will be a long but good day with a kiddo. Give yourselves plenty of time at the pictos and admire the falls on the way back even though it will be difficult to scoot past the falls. The Horse river falls can be deceptive. We almost got sideways and could have tipped during moderate flows last June. Everything looked good, but we clipped one rock just wrong to throw us sideways. Just plan on the extra portages (short). Some of the pools along the Horse will hold some bronze, if you have extra time. They liked the pumpkin tubes. I didn’t keep close notes, but Mudro to LBF in six hours was close for us with rain and double portages. |
| schweady |
11/02/2018 09:35PM Clarification/correction/apology: Our 2.5 hour time down Horse River to Lower Basswood Falls -- and the same amount of time heading back -- was measured on a day trip. No large packs, no double portaging, a lighter boat to float while lining the rocks... So, you may need to allow some additional some time for making the three portages. Sorry if my time was misleadingly optimistic. |
| flynn |
11/01/2018 08:49PMschweady: "We are not fast, by any stretch. Double portaging and the usual sightseeing and picture taking, the occasional drink of water and maybe a Clif Bar. Yet, our times (according to gps diary) are -- That is inspiring to hear. I like travel days because you see a lot, but I know my friends and I would get just a little testy with each other if we had an 8 or 9 hour travel day. 6 is like perfect to still have a lot of time to hang at a site, get comfortable, process firewood, and relax by a fire. Sometimes after exhausting days I don't even care about a fire, I just want to sleep. I bet Mudro to LBF in a day, with a nice crackling campfire under clear skies would be a perfect day. I really think I'll do that route next year (LBF-Crooked-Moosecamp-Fourtown) over 8-10 days. |
| schweady |
10/31/2018 10:20PM We are not fast, by any stretch. Double portaging and the usual sightseeing and picture taking, the occasional drink of water and maybe a Clif Bar. Yet, our times (according to gps diary) are -- Mudro entry parking lot to head of Horse River: 3.5 hrs Down Horse River to Lower Basswood Falls: 2.5 hrs (identical time coming back) Total: 6 hrs |
| HighnDry |
10/31/2018 06:19PM It generally takes me 2 1/2 hours to get down the Horse River to LBF but I run the rapids. On the way back up river, it generally takes me 3 hours as I have to line at least 2 if not 3 of those rapids. I'm solo so I'd probably add at least an hour or hour and a half on to those times. |
| flynn |
10/31/2018 11:20AMHarv: "If 12 year old is paddling; I don't think it wouldn't take a full day. I've been on trips from Mudro to Lower Basswood Falls in 4 1/2 hrs. " Seriously? Even with portages and lift-overs along the Horse River? I was doing some research for this route (Mudro-LBF) and most people with fast times said they did it in about 6 hours, and that seemed a little fast to me, like they didn't slow down to enjoy the scenery. 4.5 hours seems just insane! |
| PointMe2Polaris |
10/30/2018 10:29PMschweady: "On our family trip in August 2012, we were camped on the island site at the north end of Horse Lake and did a day trip to the falls and pictos -- the complete round trip taking exactly 8 hours... 10:10 am to 6:09 pm. That included the 3 marked portages along the river plus the 3 predictable "lift-over" spots that John marked on our maps (we were able to line our canoes through the rocks), a half hour of admiring the falls along the Canadian portage and composing our family Christmas card photos, 15 minutes of floating below the pictographs and gawking at the cliffs, a half-hour lunch at a campsite on the way home, and a quick stop to collect some firewood. SOLD! Thanks for the reply! |
| schweady |
10/30/2018 10:10PM On our family trip in August 2012, we were camped on the island site at the north end of Horse Lake and did a day trip to the falls and pictos -- the complete round trip taking exactly 8 hours... 10:10 am to 6:09 pm. That included the 3 marked portages along the river plus the 3 predictable "lift-over" spots that John marked on our maps (we were able to line our canoes through the rocks), a half hour of admiring the falls along the Canadian portage and composing our family Christmas card photos, 15 minutes of floating below the pictographs and gawking at the cliffs, a half-hour lunch at a campsite on the way home, and a quick stop to collect some firewood. Of all my 42 trips, I consider it the best day that I have ever spent in the BWCAW. |
| Tman |
10/30/2018 09:49PM Very doable as long as the water levels are average to above average, which they typically are that time of year. |
| Harv |
10/30/2018 09:31PM If 12 year old is paddling; I don't think it wouldn't take a full day. I've been on trips from Mudro to Lower Basswood Falls in 4 1/2 hrs. |
| old_salt |
10/30/2018 09:11PM It would be a full day. Is the 12 yo paddling? At least 8 portages both ways. Be careful approaching Lower Basswood Falls. |
| PointMe2Polaris |
10/30/2018 08:54PM I am planning a base camp trip to Horse Lake next spring/summer and was curious how big of a task it would be to venture up to the Basswood Falls/River area and also check out the cliff pictos? Keep in mind we'd have a 12 year old with us. It looks as though it should be doable, but would definitely appreciate some confirming input. |
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