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       Ep16 moose/portage
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 12:07PM
Ep16 moose/portage

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
PineKnot 03/24/2021 04:50PM
I don't necessarily agree with avoiding the single portage from NE Agnes. Yes, there is potential mud, ankle deep on the north put-in...but the Agnes landing is a beach and the trail is fairly smooth, level and dry. But I prefer that than two rocky portages on NW Agnes. Mud washes off the boots once on the water of the Boulder River, and great scenery to boot...pardon the pun....
bombinbrian 03/24/2021 12:35PM
schweady: "pastorjsackett: "I concur that the last portage into LLC is a bear. Not that long, but I've never been in a good mood on that portage. Been eaten by bugs there. Maybe it's just the fact that it's the last one. For whatever reason, it's not a favorite of mine. But as many have said the other side of that portage holds some sweet campsites in the Boulder Bay area!"
From Agnes? Take the two on the NW. Sure, you unload and load twice, but they are a piece of cake.
"



Plus from what I've read, the NE portage is boggy, no fun to get all muddy. We're taking the two portages to get to LLC Memorial Day Weekend
schweady 03/12/2021 10:15AM
pastorjsackett: "I concur that the last portage into LLC is a bear. Not that long, but I've never been in a good mood on that portage. Been eaten by bugs there. Maybe it's just the fact that it's the last one. For whatever reason, it's not a favorite of mine. But as many have said the other side of that portage holds some sweet campsites in the Boulder Bay area!"
From Agnes? Take the two on the NW. Sure, you unload and load twice, but they are a piece of cake.
pastorjsackett 03/11/2021 08:02PM
I concur that the last portage into LLC is a bear. Not that long, but I've never been in a good mood on that portage. Been eaten by bugs there. Maybe it's just the fact that it's the last one. For whatever reason, it's not a favorite of mine. But as many have said the other side of that portage holds some sweet campsites in the Boulder Bay area!
Lawnchair107 03/11/2021 01:05PM
Lac solo is a scary thought..
BAWaters 03/11/2021 10:35AM
I agree with what others have said. I'd get an early start in the event that all the Lake Agnes sites are full. Having to push on to a lake as great as Lac La Croix is a good problem to have.
Bushman 02/21/2021 08:52AM
johnson1451: "Yes post a link to the vid. Thanks. Props to your 70 yr old dad.
I hope i will be doing the same at that age with my son and daughter as well.
They are 6 now i need to get them started.
How many hours do think you put in that 1st day?"




Bushman goes back to the BWCA
johnson1451 02/20/2021 08:03AM
Yes post a link to the vid. Thanks. Props to your 70 yr old dad.
I hope i will be doing the same at that age with my son and daughter as well.
They are 6 now i need to get them started.
How many hours do think you put in that 1st day?
Bushman 02/20/2021 07:43AM
Fun route for sure!
I have a trip report and a YouTube video if you're interested.
We made the island campsite in LLC around 2 pm on day one double portaging with my 70 year old father.
We hit the entry point super early. 15 minutes earlier we would have needed flashlights.


The only difficult portage was the uphill climb out of the Boulder Bay into the Boulder river. The short one that is. The good thing is it is short. I would take that one over the long one any day. The Boulder Bay end of the longer one can be a mud fest if wet.


cyclones30 02/19/2021 06:54PM
johnson1451: "Thanks for all of the great replies. I have listened to the podcast as well as watch a bunch of YouTube videos of peoples trips on the route. Lots of great stuff here. Cant wait for season to begin. "


I assume you've read or seen about the unofficial hike-up overlook along the river between the put-in and Nina Moose? If you're worried about getting a campsite on your way in....save it for your paddle back out. Then you can look back over all the places you just came from.


johnson1451 02/19/2021 05:37PM
Thanks for all of the great replies. I have listened to the podcast as well as watch a bunch of YouTube videos of peoples trips on the route. Lots of great stuff here. Cant wait for season to begin.
Erik Stark 02/15/2021 02:08PM
Last year we entered and exited via Moose. We spent 3 days on Wind Lake and killed it fishing. When we headed back to the outfitters on Moose, it was SO WINDY that I didn't know if we'd make it back. We were literally travelling at about a quarter mile per hour across Moose. Very choppy, wasn't sure we were gonna make it, but we did. Time wise, make sure you travel super early or try to stay where you're at if it gets super windy. Can't imagine what that's like trying to do it solo.
Erik Stark 02/15/2021 02:08PM
Last year we entered and exited via Moose. We spent 3 days on Wind Lake and killed it fishing. When we headed back to the outfitters on Moose, it was SO WINDY that I didn't know if we'd make it back. We were literally travelling at about a quarter mile per hour across Moose. Very choppy, wasn't sure we were gonna make it, but we did. Time wise, make sure you travel super early or try to stay where you're at if it gets super windy. Can't imagine what that's like trying to do it solo.
pastorjsackett 02/14/2021 06:19AM
We've done this trip many times and I concur with what's already been said. I'ts a nice one. Don't count on Agnes because it's just too darn popular. With a push beyond Agnes to LLC you'll find some open campsites, good fishing, and fun. Just be prepared that you may have to do that. Good luck and enjoy!
Capsize 02/13/2021 10:12AM
Five of us went in and out of EP16 to Iron Lake last July. Going in we made it to LLC on the first day. Coming out we broke camp early in the morning from Iron and made it back to EP16 in 9.5 hours, but we pushed hard and the portages were not too crowded. We double portaged, and our group consisted of 2 teenagers, 1 in his 20s, 1 in his 40's and 1 in his late 50s.


Agnes was crowded both times we were on it, but north of Agnes we did not see many people. The water was very low for a few weeks before we went, but it rained on the day in, making Bottle portage an absolute mud hole when we hit it the next day.


There are recent trip reports that cover this area.
gopher2307 02/13/2021 08:13AM
johnson1451: "Thanks i am gonna try to find podcast and listen. I saw a guy on
Youtube record some of the trip to. "



As a secondary plus, their music is straight up, 8-bit fire. Good vid. I think the podcast content is largely the same as the Youtube video, but it's like the extended audio version minus the 8-bit fire.
schweady 02/10/2021 01:39PM
Four hours 15 min to the south end of Agnes, another 30 min to our site on the north end. That's a group of old codgers in 2015, double portaging, in no particular hurry.
HighnDry 02/10/2021 09:39AM
A good rule of thumb for distance on that route is about 4 hours from put-in to Agnes lake. That's an average estimate under normal conditions. One could reasonably make Boulder Bay in 5 to 6 hours if they are efficient on the portages and paddle at a reasonable speed. If I start at 8 at the put-in, I'm usually there by 2 or 3Pm at the latest on Boulder. YMMV.
schweady 02/10/2021 09:36AM
Agnes has always been our base camp destination on that EP. Nice sites on the north peninsula. Trouble is, they are very popular and have repeatedly been the center of nuisance bear activity. Nice base from which one can do an easy day trip to see the LLC pictos...
mike13 02/10/2021 09:23AM
Johnson,
about 5 years ago my partner had to drop out at the last minute so I did this trip solo (first time solo). I borrowed a 'plastic" 14' solo from a friend and used a kayak paddle (also brought a canoe paddle). If I remember right I was probably paddling by 9am. The river was busy and the portages were bottle necked, causing longer than anticipated delays. I double tripped them (brought too much gear and helped others by carrying their packs as I was going back empty) so that also caused delays. By the time I got to Nina Moose lake it was past noon. With how busy the river and portages were, I figured that by the time I got to Agnes most sites would be full so I decided to spend the night on Moose. Glad I did too. Fishing was great! (small-eyes but lots of them)
Slept in the next morning and had no problem making it to Agnes well before noon. had to fight the wind to the far end of the lake before I found an open site. It was obvious the another group had just recently left, confirming that spending the night on Mooses was a good choice.
I spent the next two days exploring the area from base camp...travel was much faster without all my gear. Single tripped all portages as I only had fishing gear and day pack.
I checked my weather radio the day before leaving and it said big storms were coming tomorrow. So I got an early start in the morning. On the water by 7-ish. Nobody was moving and I had the river and portages all to myself. When I got back to Moose the headwind was strong (white caps) and I could see the storm on the horizon. Two groups were heading in and probabaly should have stayed on Moose, but they kept going. I pushed hard and made it to the EP, probably around noon, just as the skies opened up. MEGA BIG STORM! Glad I broke camp as early as I did.
So to answer your question... yes you can make it to Agnes in a day. But make sure to take everything into consideration... early start, weather, traffic, load size, campsite availability, canoe type,, etc.
Hope this helps, enjoy your trip.
cyclones30 02/09/2021 08:27PM
Looks like episodes 101 to 103 were that trip
cyclones30 02/09/2021 08:19PM
When we did it, with an early start we were on one of the north end campsites of Agnes by noon or so. That's single portaging and we had decent weather...other than light snow haha.


Usually the "pushing it" goals from this EP are somewhere on LLC like one of those south bays or the super pushers have made it to Iron in a long day.
etuller 02/09/2021 08:11PM
johnson1451: "Thanks for heads up. Any thought on what a good goal for distance is on day 1.
Trying to get a scale of travel between lakes and rivers. Is making lake agnes on 1st day a push. Thanks"



I went that way on my first trip about 7 years ago with my 5 year old son and my 30 something year old best friend. We made Agnes early afternoon after double or more portaging and a fair amount of lolly gagging to keep my son enthused. It was a great trip. It was late July and rainy/drizzly most of the morning and the river was just clouds of mosquitos.


The Tumblehome Podcast was a good representation of the area as best as my memory serves.
johnson1451 02/09/2021 07:34PM
Thanks i am gonna try to find podcast and listen. I saw a guy on
Youtube record some of the trip to.
johnson1451 02/09/2021 07:27PM
Thanks for heads up. Any thought on what a good goal for distance is on day 1.
Trying to get a scale of travel between lakes and rivers. Is making lake agnes on 1st day a push. Thanks
cyclones30 02/09/2021 12:38PM
Nice entry, portages are easy and WELL traveled.

Tumblehome podcast guys did an "in the field" episode or two from this EP last year I believe it was.
KDaily 02/09/2021 11:06AM
That's a fun route. Two things.


Agnes Lake can be a bear to get across if there is wind. It can get really choppy.

Finding a camp site can be tough on that route. Boulder Bay is really popular as is Agnes.


Have fun.
johnson1451 02/09/2021 10:32AM
Doing this trip in late July solo. 4-5 days to Lac La Croix and back. Possibly taking a Wenonah Vagabond. Planning to pack as light as possible. Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed.

This is my 3rd solo difference being may more remote. Previously have gone out of Lake One for other trips. Outfitters recommended this as a possible route that looked interesting.