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Travel Time to Wine from Sawbill

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Date/Time: 04/29/2024 06:49AM

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Travel Time to Wine from Sawbill

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
Michwall2	05/27/2022 11:58AM Pilgrimpaddler: "Well, the travel time from Sawbill to Wine was about 7 hours for my group, but we got a late start right off the bat and our planned 9:00 AM entry became an almost 11:00 AM entry. It really didn't matter because there was no chance that all 3 campsites on Wine would be taken. No, wait, that's not right - there was actually a 100% chance that all the sites on Wine would be occupied! I'll have a trip report later on but it took us almost 24 hours from the time we put in at Sawbill to when we got to a real campsite on Wine. On the plus side, the long portage was mostly dry." I wasn't too far off on my estimate then. I am glad to hear that the beaver have allowed the middle section of the Lujenida/Zenith portage to dry up. I am not surprised that Wine was full. Early spring and lake trout go together.
Pilgrimpaddler	05/27/2022 11:32AM Well, the travel time from Sawbill to Wine was about 7 hours for my group, but we got a late start right off the bat and our planned 9:00 AM entry became an almost 11:00 AM entry. It really didn't matter because there was no chance that all 3 campsites on Wine would be taken. No, wait, that's not right - there was actually a 100% chance that all the sites on Wine would be occupied! I'll have a trip report later on but it took us almost 24 hours from the time we put in at Sawbill to when we got to a real campsite on Wine. On the plus side, the long portage was mostly dry.
Michwall2	05/08/2022 09:22PM There are a lot of factors in here. I would figure a little longer than 5 hours for this trip. The paddle to the portage to Kelso Lake is not bad. But, your newbie's could take a little longer. Especially if they are learning to deal with wind in the canoe. Any wind in your face will slow you greatly. Kelso Lake can be a longer paddle. The Kelso River north of Kelso Lake is twisty and will take you some time to find your way through. Will you be stopping to see the Viking Dolman? That will take a few minutes. Make sure you have have full water bottles before starting the 480 rd. portage to Zenith. We break up that portage into fourths. (I think there are portage rests at those spots.) There is a 200 yd spot in the middle of the portage where you will likely have to wade in water from ankle to knee deep. Depending on your fitness level and portage strategy, this portage will take 2.5 to 4 hours. You will need time to stop for lunch or at least a snack and to pump some water when you get to Zenith lake. You will likely need breaks in the middle of this long portage too. (Especially your newbies.) As you turn west toward Frederick, you will run into another twisting channel. Depending on the water levels, there may be a spot where you need to at least lift over here. The campsite nearest to the portage entry on Wine is a good one, but the best campsite on the lake is the on the island in the northwest corner of the lake. It seems to me that we started about the 7:30-8am and got to Wine about 2:30pm. Have a great trip.
straighthairedcurly	05/08/2022 08:18PM I did it in the reverse direction on my solo trip last summer. It took me 4.5 hours, single portaging, stopping to take lots of bog plant photos, and eating my oatmeal breakfast before the long portage.
Pilgrimpaddler	05/08/2022 06:35PM That’s exactly the info I was looking for! Thanks ace x 3!
AceAceAce	05/08/2022 05:32PM It's 7.2 miles from Sawbill to wine according to the route I mapped out planning to do this last year. The one long portage of 445 + another 73 and two little hops. I generally figure about 2 mph and it seems to be about right, with that long portage probably taking a little longer, 5 hours or so sounds right.
Pilgrimpaddler	05/08/2022 04:57PM Our group of four (2 experienced and 2 newbies) is putting in at Sawbill on 5/21 and we’re thinking of heading up to Wine. If you’ve gone that way in the past can you offer an opinion as to how long that might take, assume 1 and 1/2 portaging? TIA for any information you can offer.