New member on this board and thought I would start a new thread on trips you have planned in 2018.

My daughter and I are going in June 3 on our first trip to WCPP. We've done Quetico several times and wanted to see new water. Going in with ground shuttle to Johnson Lake and coming out water shuttle on Red Lake.

I'm told we may be the first to take Kruger Sea Winds into the WCPP. So if you see a couple red/white kayak-looking things, even catamaraned together, that would be us!

Joe

Sounds like a plan! I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip. Some very beautiful country and great fishing.

I'm heading into WCPP for three weeks in Aug. sometime. Destination is not set in stone yet but it will be in the north central part of the park. Recently retired brother is coming along this year. Can't wait!

Safe travels.........Mike

You boys are both going to have amazing adventures up here! Looking forward to meeting you Joe and seeing you again Mike!

Looking at an entry in through the Chukuni river at the moment (it's on the road to Lund lake access). I don't have an entry date set but it probably will be in the second half of the summer.

Johnson is a nice entry. Watch out for the morass of mud at the first portage that will actually cross into WCPP. There is a matted walkway that tends to be submerged under the water and boarded on the left and right by high swamp grass. Watch your (first) step getting out of the canoe! The trail is only treacherous for the first 20 to 25 yards and finally hits solid ground as it enters the forest. Pleasant walk.

Good fishing for walleye on Douglas. Hatchet has good laker fishing. Enjoy your time up there. Thunder/rain storms can roll up quickly and be hit or miss depending on the part of each lake that you are on. That early in June, it could still get a bit chilly at night as well. Harlan will sort you out on all the gear prep and transport issues.

I am planning a June solo trip to WCPP as well. Not sure on date or route just yet, but Harlan has been contacted. Either enter June 10th, or 17th for 6 nights. Getting excited thinking about it. Waiting to hear back from Harlan is worse than waiting for Christmas was...

Email delivered!

solotrip: "Email delivered!"

Thanks Harlan! Map ordering is in my immediate future!

Looks like June 17th entry, fly in to Haven Lake and paddle out to Douglas Lake for a shuttle back on Red Lake. 158 days until I leave!

Where's Haven Lake? I certainly am not a WCPP expert so I'm curious where your initial drop-off will be --- mostly so that I have an excuse to go and dig up my WCPP maps!

Great route! Paddled that route four years ago with side trips into Jigsaw and Mexican Hat Lakes. You are going to love it!

Mike

HighnDry: "Where's Haven Lake? I certainly am not a WCPP expert so I'm curious where your initial drop-off will be --- mostly so that I have an excuse to go and dig up my WCPP maps!"

Haven is NW of Jigsaw, which, in turn, is W of Mexican Hat.

HighnDry: "Where's Haven Lake? I certainly am not a WCPP expert so I'm curious where your initial drop-off will be --- mostly so that I have an excuse to go and dig up my WCPP maps!"

Just east of adventure lake, and a bit northwest of jigsaw.

Yes, of course! Thanks. I don't know why I was drawing a blank on that one. That will be a nice paddle. I've only been down to Mexican Hat while on a Gammon River trip with a group of guys but I've wanted to get back into that area again.

Sea Winds? I have an Expedition which is a Sea Wind knock off designed by Scott Smith. A bit more of a tunnel style hull with a larger load capacity. Scott said he wanted to be able to stuff a deer into the hull.

You may be tougher than I but I would not relish the prospect of portaging Sea Winds in WCPP. Short portages of 1/4 mile are fine in the normally clear and well trod trails of the Quetico but I like my 35lb carbon fiber Bell Merlin for WCPP.

Looks like I am on for my Lund to Bigshell trip this summer. But who knows what a day may bring? Despite work demands I am not waiting until last minute to get in shape. Last year I kept putting off dropping weight, getting flexible and strong. I ended up with debilitating tightness issues which effected my back, hips and knees. Reality is a cruel task master and the still small voice of the Lord prevailed upon me to get the Expedition out to Isle Royale instead of my long planned and anticipated trip to WCPP. Excellent trip on Isle Royale, glad I wasn't stubborn.

I have dropped about 15lbs so far and been putting 10 miles a day on the bike. The plan is to stay on the bike, add some yoga and core routines along with some weight training. People might have to wait a bit longer for their work to be complete but Woodland Caribou is high on the priority list this year. Need to make it happen.

While long solos are my norm and I am perfectly content being alone like minded individuals who don't mind grinding out long days with a emphasis on fishing are welcome. Own transportation, own tent, own canoe........we can be independent together ;-)

Mastertangler, I doubt I have any more strength or endurance than the next guy. Truth is, the Sea Winds are a smaller boat than the Expedition, and at least 10 pounds lighter. Maybe they are just at my max...but I wouldn't want to portage an Expedition around. My Sea Winds are about 55-60 pounds. They balance perfect and have a great portage yoke.
I usually "miss" a flip once or so per 9 day trip we take, and have to get it up on my shoulders on the second try. Happens only on the long days with 8 or 10 portages when I'm worn out. I carry the two boats on the portages and my daughter carries the packs, as we do each portage twice. Overall, it seems like we our routes in Quetico involve much longer portages than those in the WCPP--but I imagine the WCPP portages are a lot rougher.

I helped Scott get one of his last builds out of the mold a few years ago. And paddled an Expedition a test paddle. He took Verlen's design and enlarged it a bit. I would guess a Sea Wind could fit inside an Expedition, if it werent' for the flotation tanks in the bow and stern.

paddle on,
Joe

Hi joe

Alrighty then.......I stand corrected. I had always thought the Sea Winds with their S glass addition were a slightly heavier but stronger boat than the Expedition. But I make no pretense as to being knowledgeable about either the Sea Winds or the Expedition (even though I own one LOL). I can only guess the weight of the Expedition........I probably knew at one time but have long forgotten.

55 is not so bad. I have had a fair amount of portaging a Bell Northwoods which I think is right around that.

I do love paddling the Expedition as I am certain you like paddling the Sea Wind. I had looked at the Sea Winds being inspired by the book "All things are possible" where Kruger had paddled the design in many differing conditions. I thought it would be ideal for costal ocean travel here in Florida.

But I just couldn't pull the trigger on a 6K canoe and used Sea Winds for sale are not real common (or so I'm told). I got wind of Scott selling a fairly comparable vessel for $3500 and I was quick to send him a check and later that evening sat Mrs MT down for the news. I wish I was as smart as she is.......I told her "I bought something"...............10 seconds later she said "you bought a boat".

In any event kudos and good luck on your venture. Research your chosen area. There are places where fires have rendered the landscape a bit less pristine than previously. Also trees which have been subject to fires tend to continue to fall and make some portages a bit messy despite the good work of the park.
BTW........not so sure the portages are rougher at WCPP but they can be harder to find on occasion and not so well trod. I like the addition of a Silky Saw in my kit when in that park. You might well consider one yourself.

getting off topic MT, but the Expedition is a fine boat, and probably tougher than the Sea Wind. Scott worked for Verlen and when Verlen was getting ready to sell his business to Mark P, Scott designed the Expedition "one step above" a Sea Wind as far as he saw it.

The Sea Winds are great expedition boats. I say the Expedition is a heavy expedition boat, one you could take down the Yukon and kill a Moose and pack out, along with a Caribou as camp meat.

speaking of paddling the FL coast...Kruger Sea Winds are THE canoes used in the Watertribe Everglades Challenge and Ultimate Florida events. The SupEx has been used a few times as well. I've done the 300 mile event once in a Sea Wind and once in a Clipper Sea 1. The Clipper is a much different boat...a guy bought it for the BWCA but only took it on one trip because it is much harder to get on the shoulders due to lack of a cockpit rim to grab, no good lifting points, and doesn't have a good portage yoke.

Thanks for the tip on the burn...I've looked into it and we should be north and east of most of it on Mexican hat, Haven, Glenn, etc... It ought to be fun. I carry either a Bob Dustrude or a Kobalt saw with custom sheath for portage work. Had to use it a couple times on portages when we get deeper into Quetico. Some of those portages aren't much more than a game trail too. Really looking forward to experiencing the WCPP!

Joe

Yup you'll have a fine time in WCPP. Be careful on the drive up, road is best travelled during daylight hours IMO. A bit twisty and rocky and prone to have wildlife on it after dark as is most of that country. I was pushing darkness on my way out and sure enough I rolled up a small deer about 2 miles before my motel. Glad it wasn't a big buck or a moose.

Scott is a good dude. We kept in contact for a while afterwards. I enjoyed meeting him. When we loaded the boat he was super careful not to put even the smallest scratch on it ;-)

I am a bit intrigued about the Everglades Challenge but racing is not my thing. All my trips, wether backpacking or paddling, are focused on fishing. I don't mind putting in torturous days to get where I'm going but the payoff needs to be big stupid fish (my favorite kind ;-)

Nice talkin to ya joe.

Just decided. WCPP it is for last week of September. Not sure of route yet but I’m sure it will be good! Hoping for amazing solitude and great fishing, not to mention numerous wildlife photo ops.

After watching Harlan's presentation at Canoecopia, I'm sold....on my list to get up there next year.

I'll be telling my wife pretty soon. Telling, not asking :)

HowardSprague: "After watching Harlan's presentation at Canoecopia, I'm sold....on my list to get up there next year.


I'll be telling my wife pretty soon. Telling, not asking :)


"

It's well worth the effort! So many interesting places to explore. Great fishing. You won't be disappointed.

If WCPP is as full of big stupid fish as Harlan says, it will ruin Quetico for us, just as Quetico ruined BWCA for us! Not that we went hungry for fish very often anywhere...but it did happen.

I'm about to start packing. I think ice-out has something to do with my anticipation. And the video of hundreds of walleye that Harlan posted on Facebook didn't help, either.

Joe

Harlan (RLO) is reporting ice out up there. It's time to start packing. I probably won't get up there until early August. I'm not sure of the entry point or route yet.