Group of 6 of us will be going up LIS the 3rd week of July. Looking to do a loop of the smaller lakes south of LLC - Slim... Steep.... Thumb.... Pocket.... Gebe.... Rocky... Oyster... Shell and back out LIS
Is there an advantage to doing this loop in a certain direction? Clockwise as I described it? Or reverse it and go counterclockwise?

One real difference could be wind, if it is calmish on your entry day, then go for Loon Lake and do it clockwise. If it is windy stick to the smaller lakes going counter clockwise and hope it will be calmer when you get to Loon Lake on your exit day.

Have only ever done it clockwise. Yes, there was quite the wind and rain storm that came up out of nowhere while we were on Snow Bay. Not sure it would have mattered which direction we were trying to head.

Hadn't considered the wind. Thanks for pointing that out.
Was thinking more about currents and portages. I've read the portage going south into Steep is all uphill. I suppose there's another somewhere else down the loop that's uphill going the other direction that evens it all out. Any portages difficult to find going in a certain direction?

One book I have, mentioned doing it counterclockwise due to some portage grade but I can't remember it and the book is at my other cabin now.
If you are solo or have a fairly lightly loaded canoe you could probably do the small rapids from Thumb to Finger Lake without portaging if you do it clockwise. Counter clockwise you will have to portage, but it is only 5 rods or so. (I did this solo in 2014 without portaging) Also clockwise should make hopping the beaver dams on the river out of Pocket Lake easier because you are going from high water to low water.
I don't remember anything hard about finding any portages, should be easy enough if you are handy at reading a map.

Again the wind on Loon would be the biggest reason for which direction to go, especially if you are solo.

The steepportage Linden is thinking of is the one to . . . Steep Lake. Going from Slim to Fat is a relatively recent development here.

boonie: "The steepportage Linden is thinking of is the one to . . . Steep Lake. Going from Slim to Fat is a relatively recent development here. "

This is correct. I don't think I will ever forget it. Had a lot of time to contemplate the irony of someone naming the lake on the end of this mountain goat climb "Steep".

If you are concerned about portages...consider entering EP 14 and exiting EP 16.

I had this question last season.

I did the loop and wrote a trip report.

The guys going down as I was going up said, "there's a reason it's called Steep Lake" ;). It is a nice little lake though and I stayed the night there.

Wow, 3 different threads on EP14 going right now (4 if you count mine in the solo trip sub-group).

I am going in May and will be going CCW. My logic is that I will be starting the Wednesday before Memorial weekend, and will have the opportunity to go through the southern lakes before more people will arrive on the long weekend. When they are starting their trips I will be going further North.

rdgbwca: "

boonie: "The steepportage Linden is thinking of is the one to . . . Steep Lake. Going from Slim to Fat is a relatively recent development here. "

This is correct. I don't think I will ever forget it. Had a lot of time to contemplate the irony of someone naming the lake on the end of this mountain goat climb "Steep".


If you are concerned about portages...consider entering EP 14 and exiting EP 16.


I had this question last season.


I did the loop and wrote a trip report.
"

Great Trip Report! Almost my route except in reverse.

Cricket67: "
Great Trip Report! Almost my route except in reverse. "

Thanks Cricket67.

The portage from slim to little loon should also be easier if going counter clockwise.

So glad to see so many other threads about this. I have been planning a trip from ep14-ep14 for the last two years and we finally have an opportunity to make the trip out there from Pennsylvania. June 19-26, plus two and half days for travel (22 hours to get out there).
Our plan is to hit paragis for the permit and canoes at 6pm on friday, enjoy a nice last meal and beer at the boathouse, and stay at either Jeanette or fenske Friday night. Hitting the trail bright and early. Taking the long Shell Portage on the first day rather than our last. We did that Portage last on a previous trip and it was ROUGH after all the paddling and portaging that week.
Probably fish a bit on Lynx for a walleye supper and making our way to the northern most camp on Hustler. It's going to be hard going two very long portages on the first day, which is exactly why I have a layover day planned for the following day. If we end up not making it all the way the Hustler, we will still have enough left of day 2 to explore the SHT. I'm so mesmerized by Range Line Lake and I would really love to check it out.
Day 3 will be spent making our way up to GeBe. They have some awesome stone chairs, and I've read that the site directly across from them is the best on the lake.
Day 4 will depend on the weather. If it's not looking too windy and we get an early enough start I would like to try to take Laq La Croix over to Takucmich. If the wind is too bad we will take the lengthy route through pocket, finger, and the beartracks. Saving that route for another future trip when I will have more time if I can help it. I dont feel like those are lakes that should be paddled through without some exploration.
Day 5 is exploring Trygg, Gun, Eugene, and finally Fat, where we are planning on making canp.
Day 6 is another Layover day. Fat has been on my list for quite some time and I love the idea of being that secluded.
Day 7 we are going to attempt to navigate the unmarked Fat-Slim Portage. Rumor has it that it's something like 260r. Making camp early on Little Loon or East Loon. Dont want to risk not being able to get a site on our last night, as advised by someone else that made that mistake.
Day 8 we are planning to get back to the EP shortly after lunchtime so we can hit the boathouse one more time for more beer and our first meal in.

Hope this gives you some ideas!

We decided to go clockwise. Some of the longer portages are between Oyster and Lower Pauness 301, 265, and 220, and figured it would be better with less weight in the food pack. The portage between Ruby and Lynx has a nasty hill, that I was really glad i was going clockwise. If you're going west to east, enjoy the workout. Feel the burn!

About the only place we had a little trouble with navigation was Pocket Creek. We just got busy talking, and looking at other stuff, and missed the turn south to Gebe. It's easy to miss, but not if you're paying attention. The turnoff was just covered in lily pads, and I was looking ahead at something else. One other group turned too early, and went SW towards Mantle Lake in that stretch, and I was aware of their blunder, so should have been paying more attention.

We loved this video, and followed their itinerary very closely. This video is VERY well done, it got my wife and I hooked on the route. I think you'll like it.



LIS North loop Youtube Video

We loved the campsites we stayed at. We didn't get the one we wanted on Finger, but other wise I'd have given all of them 4s and 5s. The pinch point in the peninsula on Oyster, 118 on Gebe, 90 on Gun, 66 on Lynx, were all great sites. The water on lynx was like bottled water. It was so clear. That's a great view from the elevated campsite. My wife and I will cherish this loop for a long time. We'll probably do it again. It has 5 portages over 200 rods, but it's a very pretty loop. We loved some of the portages too. One we called Lady Slipper lane, and another one we called the emerald river (everything was covered in green moss). Truly a great experience.