BWCA Nina Moose route to Agnes, LLC and Iron Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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jdsellner
member (16)member
  
05/06/2020 10:32AM  
Heading to Iron the first week of June and will be paddling up the river, Nina Moose, into Agnes, then up to LLC and down into Iron. Was curious if anyone knows how the river will be during that time as far as any liftovers are concerned or if there are any blockages in the channel along the way. TIA and safe travels to all this summer!
 
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05/06/2020 12:04PM  
I paddled up to LLC last September and we probably ran into two liftovers on the Moose River. It wasn't too bad at all. June should be just fine.
Porkeater
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05/06/2020 01:34PM  
It should be fine. There is one very short portage not shown on the map that you may be able to avoid if the water is high enough, and there are several beaver dams that may or may not require stepping onto and lifting over, depending on the water level. This is a well-travelled route that is passable all season. Last year, it took us 7 hours to get to the Boulder Bay area at a leisurely pace and double-portaging.
schweady
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05/06/2020 02:09PM  
There have been two unmarked portages along the Moose River over the years, both areas due to beaver activity. There may be times when they pop up again, but they were nonexistent the last time we went through (July 2018). In our late-summer travels, we've encountered as many as 6 beaver dams along the Moose and one along the Nina Moose, most involving some lifting over, some we could just power through. In good years, we encountered only only 2-3 total.
halvorsonchristopher
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05/16/2020 07:54PM  
Sweady, any other advice about the river?
Do you think our crew can wear muck boots the entire way?
Or will it be a certainty that we will need to get in and do some wading over/around the liftovers.
It might make a slight difference in how we pack the gear.
Thanks!
schweady
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05/16/2020 08:03PM  
Muck boots would be fine. I've been good for many years with Darn Tough socks and Keen sandals. (Yeah, not safe, sure.) All of the spots we needed to get out at beaver dams were ankle-to-shin deep at most, once you found a spot. Some, you could cruise right through. Others you'd be silly enough to try that at first and then the front guy would wind up getting out to pull it over a bit, then the stern guy got out to push it free. Others you approached a lot smarter and parallel parked, both got out on the dam, and worked/floated the canoe over. Depends on the year, the water level, and the ambitiousness of the beaver.

The unmarked portages over the years were at N48° 07.783' W92° 05.552' (2015) and at N48° 07.947' W92° 05.516' (2011).
05/16/2020 08:16PM  
Boots were fine last fall.
halvorsonchristopher
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05/16/2020 08:53PM  
Thank you both for the confirmation.
We'd love any info that could be provided on the trip between the EP and LLC.
What to expect.
Any fun info
Etc
WHendrix
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05/17/2020 09:20AM  
I was in there about 4 years ago. We lined the boat through one of the portages and carried the rest. There were several beaver dams that we paddled over but none required a lift over. We camped on Agnes and on Tiger Bay at one of the best campsites I've ever been to.
cyclones30
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05/17/2020 09:53AM  
WHendrix: "I was in there about 4 years ago. We lined the boat through one of the portages and carried the rest. There were several beaver dams that we paddled over but none required a lift over. We camped on Agnes and on Tiger Bay at one of the best campsites I've ever been to."


That's about what I recall, we stayed night 1 on Agnes, nights 2 and 3 on Iron, and then Tiger Bay 4 and 5, and Nina Moose night 6. A few years back in early June we had a couple small dams but nothing to get out for other than the standard portages between Entry and Nina Moose.

All portages are easy trails and well traveled. If you have time, fish the swirling water below 2nd portage rapids going between Nina Moose and Agnes. Same goes for the rapids portage between Agnes and Boulder River. If you're in Boulder Bay you can also paddle up the Boulder River a ways and fish as you go.

There's an overlook on the eastern shore of the river between the EP and Nina Moose. Check your topo maps, pretty easy to see where it climbs next to the bank. There's a small takeout spot on shore and hike your way up. Nice views from there.
scotttimm
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05/17/2020 02:51PM  
Last year on the river, mid-June, going up there were at least 5 beaver dams that required lift-over headed towards Agnes. Don't miss the pictos on LLC.
halvorsonchristopher
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05/21/2020 12:06AM  
schweady: "N48° 07.783' W92° 05.552' (2015) and at N48° 07.947' W92° 05.516' (2011).
"

Thank you. This is great to know.
halvorsonchristopher
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05/21/2020 12:07AM  
jdsellner: "Heading to Iron the.....!"
I hope you have a good trip. Maybe we will see you in the river.
halvorsonchristopher
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05/21/2020 12:09AM  
cyclones30: "
WHendrix: "I was in there about 4 years ago.... "

4 nights on Iron.
1 night somewhere 1/2 way back to the EP. Agnes or Boulder Bay.

Any advice for Iron?
Feel free to PM if it's too much to share with the world.
halvorsonchristopher
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05/21/2020 12:12AM  
scotttimm: "Last year on the river, mid-June... 5..."

Any idea on locations?
Anything that a guy would have needed to get wet for?
Muck boots cool for our crew?
scotttimm
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05/21/2020 09:20AM  
halvorsonchristopher: "
scotttimm: "Last year on the river, mid-June... 5..."

Any idea on locations?
Anything that a guy would have needed to get wet for?
Muck boots cool for our crew?"

Going north, I just remember hitting a number of them after the last portage during the winding route headed into Nina Moose, fairly evenly spaced, and I remember someone telling me earlier as they were headed south, "there's like 5 beaver dam liftovers". Each one was different, but for the most part, we would paddle up parallel, get the bow paddler out, get the stern paddler out, and pull the canoe over the part of the dam that had the most water/least resistance. We did not remove gear. One of them had an area to the left that folks had obviously pulled through. We were all wearing keenes, didn't really get muddy because for the most part you were standing on the actual stick parts of the dam.
 
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