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Maxk
Guest Paddler
  
04/05/2019 01:19PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi Everyone-

We are planning a trip for two families with kids who are 8-10 in mid Aug. We've got 4 nights and are looking for a loop that is 20-30 miles in length and has a mix of portaging and big open lakes. We'd also like somewhere that wont be too busy / crowded (less campsite stress since we will be moving every day) and doesn't permit motors. Any reccs for entry points / routes I should consider?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have,

Max
 
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04/05/2019 02:29PM  
What's your idea of a big open lake? Are you sure you want to take kids that small on those types of lakes?
Maxk
Guest Paddler
  
04/05/2019 02:43PM  
I was thinking about places I used to go when I was an Outward Bound instruction in the early 2000s like Knief or La La Croix.... Any reccs?
04/05/2019 04:17PM  
What's everybody's skill levels? How many people? Are the kids duffing it or will they be expected to contribute to locomotion and portaging?

An easy route would be the Granite River from either Gunflint or Clove EPs. You might not see a lot of people except for the end on Saganaga and the entire time you have Canada off your right shoulder.
Another easy loop would be Sea Gull to Alpine, Red Rock, Saganaga, Gull, and back to Sea Gull - or in reverse.

If you really want to get to Knife, you're better off entering Moose & getting a tow either or both directions to maximize your time.

If you're gonna stick around the site I encourage you to register an account. We're pretty a pretty welcoming & easy going bunch and the information you'll get over time is priceless.
Maxk
Guest Paddler
  
04/05/2019 11:44PM  
Thanks for the ideas :-)
GraniteCliffs
distinguished member(1981)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/06/2019 10:54PM  
It does depend on your group make-up. Some of my worst memories on portages are families that are flat out exhausted, parents yelling at kids, kids yelling at parents, etc. Mix in bugs, rain and heat and the meltdown can start with adults or kids.
With my own kids I started them out with a couple of nights with virtually no portages and then slowly progressed to long all day paddle and portage when they were in their 20's. At least with my kids they had little interest or excitement in paddling or portaging much at all until they were out of High School. And it is flat out boring to sit in a canoe all day doing nothing.
I always figured I was just planting seeds when they were little . It was all about playing games, swimming, fishing, smores, cards, etc. Whatever was easy and fun is what we did. It took a while but it worked.
 
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