BWCA Poets' Chain From the North? Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Quetico Forum
      Poets' Chain From the North?     

Author

Text

04/02/2018 06:47PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Last year, I went through the Poets' Chain while doing the Hunter's Island loop. Really liked the area, and I am thinking of bringing my wife there for an August.

Curious if anyone has any experience with accessing this area from the North. Looks like the quickest access would be from Batchewaung. I have never been in this area, so any input on portages and camp sites would be most appreciate.

Thanks in advance to all with something to offer!
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
dentondoc
distinguished member(1097)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/02/2018 11:44PM  
The quickest route would be to enter at Stanton Bay, but you'll need to use a Canadian outfitter (unless you are Canadian) to use that option.

From Stanton Bay, you would cross Pickerel and enter Pine Portage Bay to hit the portage into Dore. From there south to Twin Lakes and through the Deax Riveries to Sturgeon. Then continue south to Russell, then easterly to Chatterton (side trip to McDougall), Keats and Shelley.

For the side trip to McDougall, I'd recommend the short portage over from Chatterton (and return the same way). The Keats end of the portage from McDougall is relative vertical and a challenge if its wet (think in terms of belaying your canoe down to the put-in). Besides the return to Chatterton affords you the opportunity to see the full extent of Split Rock Falls.

Water levels can be a challenge depending on time of year. In the spring, the flow out of Russell to Sturgeon can be significant, making it a challenge to paddle all the way up. Fortunately there is a portage that is for just such circumstances. In the late season, water levels can be low, making the Deax somewhat challenging. Expect beaver dams along this section and hope they are impounding sufficient water to float your craft. If you are going back the same way, make note of the location where you clear the reed bed on the Sturgeon end. Finding the channel on the Sturgeon end can be a bit challenging.

dd
old_salt
distinguished member(2547)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/03/2018 07:46AM  
Spot on dd. That’s how I’ve gone. It’s a great trip. Great fishing in Poet chain.
04/03/2018 09:51AM  
Thanks, guys. I thought I remembered something about not being able to park in Stanton Bay unless you're Canadian, so last night I plotted a couple different routes from Nym.

I may look into Canadian Outfitters to shuttle us, but last year I had no luck finding one willing to shuttle me to Beaverhouse Leaving my car at Nym unless I literally outfitted with them, and I do not need to do so.

So, do you know any outfitters who will offer a shuttle only?
dentondoc
distinguished member(1097)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/03/2018 10:08AM  
You might try Doug Chapman at Canadian Quetico Outfitters. He is located just west of Dawson Campgrounds/French Lake which provides access to Pickerel Lake.

He did transport us from his headquarters to Beaverhouse a couple of seasons ago, but I did rent a canoe from him (since I flew up, I didn't bring my own). We dropped our car in the French Lake canoe launch parking area and meandered back to there from Beaverhouse (a "northern tier" lake trip).

Doug has always been helpful when I've approached him for assistance, even when I wasn't using him for outfitting. Certainly worth a call to see if he is open to a shuttle to Stanton Bay.

Of course, you could paddle west on Pickerel, but it will add about 4 hours of paddling to your trip. However, if you have the time, you might consider going down the "B-Chain" of lakes going in and use Twin/Dore coming out. You do have a longish portage between Fern and Olifaunt, but despite the ups and downs it is very scenic.

dd
old_salt
distinguished member(2547)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/03/2018 11:02AM  
I second the Doug Chapman recommendation.

If you wish to forego that alternative, you can start from French Lake, which IMO is still a little faster than Nym. Just be ready to go at daybreak, so you can avoid SW winds, which usually come up around 10 am or so. Once you get to Pine Portage bay, winds should not be a big deal until you hit Sturgeon.
04/03/2018 12:23PM  
Thanks again, guys. I checked their website, and this is what is posted:

"Our shuttles require that our guests are renting gear from our partial outfitting service."

I will call in any case; the worst they can tell me is nope!

I am looking forward to two northern entries this summer; both will be a first for me.
dentondoc
distinguished member(1097)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/03/2018 01:30PM  
Sometimes, the partial outfitting is a "wink and a nod" arrangement. I remember using a far north outfitter a few years ago and rented a tent so he qualified as providing lodging. He could then offer us crown land camping fees over Provincial park fees. Of course, the tent never left the outfitter's place.

On occasion, it depends on how you ask the question.

dd
04/03/2018 02:14PM  
You are correct, Wayne. I will give Doug a call and see what he has to say.

I also played around on the PP website with a couple options out of Nym and one out of French. The Nym, Batch, Pickeral Narrows, Dore, Twin, Deux, Sturgeon to Russel route looks good on the way in (providing, as you said, the water levels on the Duex are high enough) and then looping back through the B Chain.

Thwarted
distinguished member(1403)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/07/2018 03:18AM  
I put the B chain very high on my list of beautiful places I have been, including the Poet chain. Would be a worthy trip by itself. You might want to consider taking that route on the way out as that is downhill. It is all good though.
04/07/2018 10:30AM  
Thanks, Mike! That is somewhat the plan at this point. Will call the park closer to trip date to see what they have to say about the water levels in the Deux.
dentondoc
distinguished member(1097)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/07/2018 12:27PM  
Thwarted: "I put the B chain very high on my list of beautiful places I have been, including the Poet chain. Would be a worthy trip by itself. You might want to consider taking that route on the way out as that is downhill. It is all good though."

I think I'm understanding this, but to make sure ... from Pickerel to Sturgeon is downhill ... the water flow from Pickerel to Sturgeon runs down the B-chain to Fern and Olifaunt to Sturgeon. (There is actually a dam on Pickerel at the head of the B-chain to help impound water in Pickerel ... likely a relic of logging days of log ago). So your exit will be going uphill. Even if you go via Deax/Twin/Dore its uphill, but the portages aren't particularly steep this way ... mostly slight upgrade all the way.

As far was water level on the Deax ... I think you'll only have a problem here if the water level is particularly low or there is a beaver dam blow-out. I've run this from early June thru late September and never had a problem. However, I'll add that I paddle a solo craft that doesn't draw much water.

dd
04/07/2018 04:35PM  
dentondoc: "
Thwarted: "I put the B chain very high on my list of beautiful places I have been, including the Poet chain. Would be a worthy trip by itself. You might want to consider taking that route on the way out as that is downhill. It is all good though."

I think I'm understanding this, but to make sure ... from Pickerel to Sturgeon is downhill ... the water flow from Pickerel to Sturgeon runs down the B-chain to Fern and Olifaunt to Sturgeon. (There is actually a dam on Pickerel at the head of the B-chain to help impound water in Pickerel ... likely a relic of logging days of log ago). So your exit will be going uphill. Even if you go via Deax/Twin/Dore its uphill, but the portages aren't particularly steep this way ... mostly slight upgrade all the way.


As far was water level on the Deax ... I think you'll only have a problem here if the water level is particularly low or there is a beaver dam blow-out. I've run this from early June thru late September and never had a problem. However, I'll add that I paddle a solo craft that doesn't draw much water.


dd"


Thanks for the water level on Deax take in particular, but for the clarification on the B chain as well. Looking at maps, it does not appear that the elevation in that area is a big concern, and even though I am on the verge of being an old fart, I have never been too concerned about which way the hill goes. I figure that over time, it all works out to be a wash!

 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next