Hey guys,

Girlfriend and I are heading up in 2 weeks to do a trip through Meeds / Omega / Winchell / Horseshoe/ Caribou etc and have EP48. We're ready for the mile long portage, but was wondering what condition the portage has been in so far this year from anyone else who's entered there? Just wanting to be prepared before we head up!

Also, this board has been an amazing help in planning our trip. I was last up there about 4 years ago and getting new information about the area has been very helpful. Thanks so much!

I'll be doing much the same route in reverse about a month after you, so I'll be watching this also. I also hope you have time to report back before I leave. Have a good trip.

quote boonie: "I'll be doing much the same route in reverse about a month after you, so I'll be watching this also. I also hope you have time to report back before I leave. Have a good trip."

I'll definitely take plenty of photos and put a trip report together once we get back!

I'll look forward to it. I leave shortly after Labor Day. I assume you've checked the comments on it on the "Maps" section here; they range from 2007-2014, from poorly maintained to above average, and from less than average difficulty to high (8 of 10). So . . . who knows? The length doesn't worry me and there's not a lot of elevation change and maybe a few wet/muddy spots, which it could be a bad year for that. That doesn't sound too bad to me; I'm sure I've done worse ones.

boonie & akeppler,
I look forward to the notes from both of your trips because I am doing much of that same route starting on 9/16.

I'll be coming out the 15th, but won't have access to post anything before you go in Northwoodsman. I'll probably be somewhere out the Gunflint that night, but I'm not sure exactly where. If you see a red Subaru with a WV license plate, I'd say there's very high probability I'll be the only one of those you'll see up there, so stop and say hi.

I can't help for this year but I did that exact route around Labor Day of 2014. The Meeds portage was the first portage of my first BWCA trip but I really didn't think it was that bad. The only thing that stands out to me is we tried to single portage and I was carrying way too much. I was also going on two hours of sleep the night before. My wife was 4 months pregnant and didn't complain about it at all. I don't think it's a very tough portage, just longer than most.

It's a great trip though and I really liked entering at Meeds. We only saw one group on Meeds and then not another until just one canoe on Omega. Winchell was even pretty quiet when we were there.