So we had started on Moose Lake and made a loop to the east. We were headed back west on the Kawishiwi River and we get to the portage going into Alice. This portage goes around a rapids. There are four canoes tied together end to end with one tied to the bank. Of course the current has them stretched out and they have the portage entrance and much of the bank on both sides of the portage completely blocked. We look around and see no one. My brother in the front just looks at me and says, "Don't do it."

I would carefully move their canoes to the side or bushwhack our way to the portage and portage anyway. I wouldn't wait for them to get out of the way because seeing them all tied together tells me they will be a while.

I would certainly not untie them and send them away. That would not be helpful. Don't start any trouble and there won't be any trouble.

I see three options, listed in my order of preference;

1. Wait a reasonable amount of time for a party member to return and ask them politely to make room for you to land.

2. Attempt to move the canoes yourself and proceed.

3. Let out the cry of "Ramming Speed" and just pile into it wide open, pushing it to shore or close to shore allowing you to land and power through the blockade.

Don't do it. Just do your best to move their canoes out of the way or bushwhack around. I, though, would probably try to locate the party and inform them of the headache their laziness caused, asking them to kindly return to their canoes and tie them up properly.

Sit back in the canoe, relax and enjoy the scenery.

I wish I were as patient as Mr. R1verrunner. I admire his calm, but I'd be like Ms. Aroo and I'd portage around them.

I should add you can hear them playing in the rapids.

dustytrail: "I should add you can hear them playing in the rapids."

Ramming speed it is.

Make a loud noise hoping to get their attention. Consideration of others is not common in teens and twenties, but if they can be heard, I would hope they would hear and respond.

Wait and determine a plan to clear the portage and if a decent plan arrives before they do, implement the plan. Secure their boats in a manner appropriate had they done the right thing, but I would leave the boats in the water, just do a better tie off.

Provide a respectful wilderness lesson as your group clears the portage.

I would take the last canoe, tie a rope to it and string it backwards and loosely tie it to a log so all the canoes are still floating and a clear path to the portage is allowed.

I have less and less patience for people like this who flaunt doing the wrong thing. I'd hate to see what the other end of the portage looks like with 8 people's worth of gear (only guessing at 8 since you stated 4 canoes).

If they are in the rapids, will you see them as you portage past? Someone could politely mention that their canoes have been secured away from the portage landing.

Find them. Inform them that they will have to move their canoes so you can use the portage. If they're cool, you could try to educate. If they're not cool, inform them that you WILL use the portage and will handle their obstruction yourself.

Mike

Even if the four canoes were on the shore stacked out of the way, your canoe(s) would put the portage over the canoe limit in any one place. You have no choice but to wait for their return to clear the portage end.

I think I know the spot you are talking about. Usually that portage end has lots of space, but if the water was high enough that it was restricting the space, then I would guess there was a lot of current/water headed over the rapids. In any case, it was gutsy of them to leave any boats in the water much less all four. Once the boats were trapped against the rocks at the rapids, I don't think they would have been able to get them loose. (If they were even in one piece.). The other thing is that it really doesn't take long for a rocking boat to dig a hole in the side/bottom of a canoe. Sitting in the current rocking or knocking against rocks may well result in at least one of the canoes sinking in place.

Here is a photo looking up the rapids at lower water.

Michwall2: "Even if the four canoes were on the shore stacked out of the way, your canoe(s) would put the portage over the canoe limit in any one place. You have no choice but to wait for their return to clear the portage end...

Very technically, yes, but a certain amount of common sense comes into play here. We've often waited out on the water to start our portage because a party headed the same way hadn't yet come back to clear out their stuff, only to watch yet another party with all of their canoes and equipment coming out at the end of their portage, adding to the piles. Though we were glad to have avoided a 3-party yard sale of equipment scattered about, it seemed that somebody ignored an unwritten right-of-way rule somewhere. Sometimes, if there is space, you get off of the water, move your stuff over to the side, and wait there, rather than bobbing about, watching traffic.

Michwall2: "Even if the four canoes were on the shore stacked out of the way, your canoe(s) would put the portage over the canoe limit in any one place. You have no choice but to wait for their return to clear the portage end.


I think I know the spot you are talking about. Usually that portage end has lots of space, but if the water was high enough that it was restricting the space, then I would guess there was a lot of current/water headed over the rapids. In any case, it was gutsy of them to leave any boats in the water much less all four. Once the boats were trapped against the rocks at the rapids, I don't think they would have been able to get them loose. (If they were even in one piece.). The other thing is that it really doesn't take long for a rocking boat to dig a hole in the side/bottom of a canoe. Sitting in the current rocking or knocking against rocks may well result in at least one of the canoes sinking in place.


Here is a photo looking up the rapids at lower water.

Same portage but it was June and a whole lot more water.
"

When I read the OP, I get the impression they are not traveling with gear, but are on a day trip so-to-speak. I think it was also hinted that the group in question was playing around in the rapids.

Some of the responses to "what would you do?" are assuming the group is double portaging and on their way back from the other end of the portage to get their canoes?

I may have interpreted the scenario wrong, but. That group blocking the portage may be a while?

JW

I will have to say cutting the rope crossed my mind, but I did not. We waited for their return, but gave up after a bit. We then went upstream, unloaded and bushwhacked to the portage start.

The icing on the cake is that their stuff was piled on the portage trail and not neatly. I walked down to them. It was a Boy Scout group. I have taken several Scout groups on BWCA trips over the years so it riled me even more. I asked one of the leaders to please move their stuff. He came up and moved a couple things and went back down.

We took the packs across and came back for the canoe. I did remove some of their packs from the trail so I could safely get thru with the canoe. Some of the said packs may have gotten moved a little more than needed. I sometimes wonder how long it took them to round everything up. Luckily we met no one else on the portage.

On a side note, my good act of not cutting the canoes loose was later rewarded. We set up camp on Insula and I caught a 28 inch walleye, my personal best. Also, I would like to say I have taken Scout troops and met others in the area over the years. This group, in no way, reflected the way 99.9% of Scouts act while in the BWCA.

I stand corrected.

Well shoot. It was a gear bomb!

Oh boy...

Just go around them. It’s no big deal. Don’t let jerky people ruin your own good vibe. Just be happy you’re not one of them. It would be hilarious if you cut the line, but nah, that seems like a bad idea besides that.
Cheers, scat

Bobbers out, light stogies, "guess we're fishin'".

I would be very tempted to tie the other end of the string of canoes to an inconvenient spot and make it a pain to untie. This would get their mess out of your way and the inconvenience is just a little petty revenge. Hopefully it is enough to get the message across that they are being disrespectful to others.

We've come across many yard sales at the end of portages and canoes floating and blocking passage. Early on we generally waited it out.

Over the years as we've become more efficient, if there's space to land at all, we do. I'm wet footing it, out of the boat, pack and canoe are up and i'm on my way. I'm gone before they're even done taking inventory of the packs, maps, paddles and nalgenes laying all over the place.