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BAWaters
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07/11/2018 04:54PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hello all,

Entering at EP 16 in mid-August with my 13-year-old son and our dog. Looking at the Fisher Map, I see there are two ways to get to Lac La Croix from Lake Agnes. One has two portages of 24 and 65 rods, and the other a single 115 rod portage.

Any thoughts on which is the better route from Lake Agnes to Boulder Bay and why?

Thanks!

 
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07/11/2018 05:53PM  
No big difference in time or effort. The 65 is a bit of an up and over a ridge. 115 is pretty flat with some wet spots. Many prefer the 115 unless you're headed up LLC to Never Fail area. If headed for Bottle portage, you still have a 70 after the 115 to get out into LLC proper, so in that case, I think either route is a draw.
DRB
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07/11/2018 06:44PM  
I have been visiting this area since the mid eighties and this new this year used the 115 rod portage into the Boulder River. We always camp on Lac La Croix and typically camp in Tiger bay or sites further north. The two shorter portage’s work better for that route. I would like the 115 rod route if you are heading east. We were exploring a bit this year and thought that we would try it on a day trip from Agnes. Depending on water levels, the Boulder river paddle is a bit of a stress. Many hidden boulders and narrows then another portage to Lac La Croix that brings you right out at the Ranger cabin. The 115 rod portage ends with a swampy, muddy walk that would be more difficult with packs.
Good luck!
thlipsis29
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07/11/2018 08:24PM  
Have done this trip five or six times. The big problem with the 115 rod portage is the Boulder River end can be a mucky, muddy mess. It is the easier portage overall, but just know you can get stuck knee-deep swamp sludge. We've dubbed the 65 rod portage as the "widow maker" because it just seems to go up and up and up and up both ways. I know it's not that bad, but after getting gassed on all the other portages, it's just not what you want for the last one. Great area regardless.
Atrain
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07/12/2018 01:02PM  
Done both as well. Northbound is a wash (unless you're going to Iron), but I like the west route with shorter portages. You can fish by the small falls by the 20 rod, and you don't have to dodge boulders just below the surface like you do on the boulder river. Southbound id rather canoe along the (usually) protected shore of Boulder Bay and take the short portages vs taking the river against the current (especially in a headwind) to the 115. Especially if you're providing most of the power and steering!

Heading north, should you decide to do the first portage and ride the river out through the oxbow, watch for the area marked rapids right before it opens up to the area by the 115, you'll probably need to hop out on the west side depending on water levels. There's a little rock shelf there.

Have fun, beautiful area.
tarnkt
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07/13/2018 11:17AM  
I was just here a few weeks ago. We took the 115 on the way in and the two shorter ones on the way out. I prefer the two shorter portage route as the effort is pretty much a wash and the boulder river was not a very fun paddle with all of the rock dodging required.
07/13/2018 08:03PM  
I too prefer the shorter two portages due to the mud and current issues
07/15/2018 06:45PM  
Just exited EP 16 yesterday. the 115 was very wet and there were spots at the boulder river end where 2 of our crew sank one to the knee the other to the hip in the muck. It looked like solid ground and even had solid logs in the ground perpendicular to the path near the sink spots. So it was pretty much without warning.
schweady
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07/25/2018 04:32PM  
minnmike: "I too prefer the shorter two portages due to the mud and current issues"

+1
BAWaters
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07/25/2018 08:06PM  
Thanks for all the feedback! Definitely taking the two smaller portages.
07/27/2018 09:46PM  
thlipsis29: "Have done this trip five or six times. The big problem with the 115 rod portage is the Boulder River end can be a mucky, muddy mess. It is the easier portage overall, but just know you can get stuck knee-deep swamp sludge. We've dubbed the 65 rod portage as the "widow maker" because it just seems to go up and up and up and up both ways. I know it's not that bad, but after getting gassed on all the other portages, it's just not what you want for the last one. Great area regardless. "


Hah...we dubbed it the "widow maker" also about 1993....we take the 115 every time.
07/28/2018 09:30AM  
thlipsis29: "Have done this trip five or six times. The big problem with the 115 rod portage is the Boulder River end can be a mucky, muddy mess. It is the easier portage overall, but just know you can get stuck knee-deep swamp sludge. We've dubbed the 65 rod portage as the "widow maker" because it just seems to go up and up and up and up both ways. I know it's not that bad, but after getting gassed on all the other portages, it's just not what you want for the last one. Great area regardless. "


I agree...the 65 rod is not a bad portage. It's just a tough climb at the end of the push into LLC. It's the cumulative affect. We came to prefer the 115.
BAWaters
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07/28/2018 10:57AM  
snakecharmer: "
thlipsis29: "Have done this trip five or six times. The big problem with the 115 rod portage is the Boulder River end can be a mucky, muddy mess. It is the easier portage overall, but just know you can get stuck knee-deep swamp sludge. We've dubbed the 65 rod portage as the "widow maker" because it just seems to go up and up and up and up both ways. I know it's not that bad, but after getting gassed on all the other portages, it's just not what you want for the last one. Great area regardless. "



I agree...the 65 rod is not a bad portage. It's just a tough climb at the end of the push into LLC. It's the cumulative affect. We came to prefer the 115."


Gotcha. Seems like neither route is a big deal. Just trying to decide which would be best for my son and dog. Both have only been on one other multi-day trip in the BWCA, but they did great. What is the river like from the end of the 115 into Lac La Croix?
07/28/2018 11:44AM  
BAWaters: "
snakecharmer: "
thlipsis29: "Have done this trip five or six times. The big problem with the 115 rod portage is the Boulder River end can be a mucky, muddy mess. It is the easier portage overall, but just know you can get stuck knee-deep swamp sludge. We've dubbed the 65 rod portage as the "widow maker" because it just seems to go up and up and up and up both ways. I know it's not that bad, but after getting gassed on all the other portages, it's just not what you want for the last one. Great area regardless. "




I agree...the 65 rod is not a bad portage. It's just a tough climb at the end of the push into LLC. It's the cumulative affect. We came to prefer the 115."

It's called boulder river for a reason...in spring when water is high, fishing in the Boulder is quite good


Gotcha. Seems like neither route is a big deal. Just trying to decide which would be best for my son and dog. Both have only been on one other multi-day trip in the BWCA, but they did great. What is the river like from the end of the 115 into Lac La Croix?"
07/28/2018 11:52AM  
Bouldery :)
In the spring when the water is higher, fishing can be quite good.
I have been there when water is extremely low and you have to watch for rocks
thlipsis29
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07/28/2018 02:08PM  
Mooseplums is spot on; the Boulder River lives up to its name. If you want to keep your dog (and son) relatively clean, I'd opt for the two shorter portages at this point. The mud at the end of the 115 portage is just plain nasty, and unless you want to carry your dog the last 20 rods or so, I think the other route is the better option.
07/28/2018 05:29PM  
I've taken both and I guess I prefer the two short portages over the longer one. I think a lot would depend as well on water levels on the river and recent rains as the longer one has more of a tendency to turn to muck, especially at that north landing.
BAWaters
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07/29/2018 01:42PM  
thlipsis29: "Mooseplums is spot on; the Boulder River lives up to its name. If you want to keep your dog (and son) relatively clean, I'd opt for the two shorter portages at this point. The mud at the end of the 115 portage is just plain nasty, and unless you want to carry your dog the last 20 rods or so, I think the other route is the better option."


I hear ya. My dog loves mud, has long fur, and short legs. I can imagine how that would go! We hiked some of the Sioux-Hustler last year, and she went from tan to dark brown when we arrived at that first muddy pond. Thanks again for all the great feedback!
mr.barley
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07/29/2018 03:20PM  
I like the one longer portage. You don't have that extra load and unload. Much faster to me.
07/29/2018 07:24PM  
mr.barley: "I like the one longer portage. You don't have that extra load and unload. Much faster to me."

I agree. I have done this route at least 20 times and prefer the 115...
I know it's muddy at the end, but I have never sunk in the muck....theres a trick to staying mud free.
SOVOS
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08/02/2018 08:27AM  
mooseplums: "
mr.barley: "I like the one longer portage. You don't have that extra load and unload. Much faster to me."

I agree. I have done this route at least 20 times and prefer the 115...
I know it's muddy at the end, but I have never sunk in the muck....theres a trick to staying mud free. "



Please share your trick!

We like the boulder river portage because it's beautiful and quiet. The other portages can be very busy but i think they are quicker. We wear high rubber boots and have not had troubles with the mud.
onepaddleshort
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08/02/2018 08:46AM  
Just returned from a trip where we did both. Be very careful on the 115, stay on the log/ rock middle section. I decided to place my canoe off to the side to make room for the others in our group and ended up thigh deep in the muck. Had to use my elbows to pull myself out and almost left a shoe down in there. I had to take a little swim on the other side of the portage to get rid of the stink.
BAWaters
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08/06/2018 05:11PM  
onepaddleshort: "Just returned from a trip where we did both. Be very careful on the 115, stay on the log/ rock middle section. I decided to place my canoe off to the side to make room for the others in our group and ended up thigh deep in the muck. Had to use my elbows to pull myself out and almost left a shoe down in there. I had to take a little swim on the other side of the portage to get rid of the stink."


Wow, thanks for the heads up! Traveling to Gebe, so I'll try the 2 portages this time. Definitely keeping that in mind for the future.
SOVOS
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08/06/2018 07:48PM  
Onepaddleshort, how is the water level on moose river north?
BAWaters
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08/07/2018 09:51PM  
SOVOS: "Onepaddleshort, how is the water level on moose river north?"


I'm curious about that too!
 
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