Got back late Saturday night from a 20-day trip to Wabakimi Provincial Park. After about thirty BWCA trips, this was my first time paddling in Ontario, and my first trip over eleven days. I've been trying to do a long trip in Ontario for several years now, and for three years running had a last minute problem cancel my trip. This year when I saw the fire ban was lifted there, I packed and ran in about two weeks, which was not a lot of time for me to get to know the park before going. I did get some very useful advice from Marsonite before I left, and took many notes from his report.

It was just me and my pretty faithful dog Rainy. We had a great trip, but were both getting a bit tired of all the wind and rain that we ran into. Weather basically stopped me four of my first eleven days and shortened a few others, so we did not do as big a loop as we had hoped, but that's ok - we ate a lot of pancakes and had fun. I put in at Little Caribou, paddled up to Smoothrock and north on the McKinley River to Whitewater then hoped to go to Kenoji, but with the weather delays turned south and headed upstream on the Berg River back toward Smoothrock. Going upstream on the Berg is not recommended by the park, but we did it anyway. It was an adventure, especially after some very heavy rains raised the water levels which were quite low when we started but came up significantly during out trek. I got some badly needed practice at lining my canoe. I refinished the bottom of my canoe just days before going so I could see how many rocks I hit on this trip - and that number was a lot!

Fishing was ok, and wildlife sightings were minimal - mostly Bald Eagles and beavers, which I literally see here on the edge of downtown Minneapolis regularly - but I did get to see a caribou which thrilled me.

A proper trip report will be forthcoming in a week or so. Hopefully also a video if my clips turn out ok.

Looks like you had a great trip!!

I am excited to hear more. I haven’t been to Wabakimi yet but hope to soon.
Tom

Nice pics.

Very cool....nice dog and yeah that's a few rocks!

Looking forward to your trip report. You traveled at a time of year when the weather is rapidly transitioning from summer to a rainy and cooler fall. I have been in the greater Wabakimi area in every month from May into September. I have been there twice in September and it always amazed me how rapidly the weather changes during that month.

Great summary of your trip! I look forward to reading your trip report. I want to get into Whitewater as well and cover some of the area that you just traversed.

Glad to hear you had good trip! I was wondering when you were going to come out. I’m impressed by your 20 day solo….more than I have the stamina for.

20 days. Wow. Congrats on such an epic and long trip. I hope to do a 10 day trip in a couple years and can't actually fathom 20 days.

Did you have supplies flow in at least once?

Longest I have been in W is 2 weeks..20 days is quite the epic trip. Did you see what is left of the Beckwith compound on Whitewater?

deerfoot: "Looking forward to your trip report. You traveled at a time of year when the weather is rapidly transitioning from summer to a rainy and cooler fall. I have been in the greater Wabakimi area in every month from May into September. I have been there twice in September and it always amazed me how rapidly the weather changes during that month."

I could not believe how fast the weather changed. I think of fall trips as having weather that lasts for days, but here winds were north, then south, sunny then rainy, winds east then west, and so on. I think of weather in the mountains changing that fast. It really did surprise me, and honestly wore me down a bit. It was wet, a lot. Weather will be a prominent part of my report.

I also wondered if I traversed any trails you had cleared, but I dont think I was deep enough in there for that.

marsonite: "Glad to hear you had good trip! I was wondering when you were going to come out. I’m impressed by your 20 day solo….more than I have the stamina for. "

If I remember your report correctly, you went further than I did in less time, and often in the rain. I think your stamina is in good order!

GeneH: "20 days. Wow. Congrats on such an epic and long trip. I hope to do a 10 day trip in a couple years and can't actually fathom 20 days.

Did you have supplies flow in at least once?"

No resupply. I carried 21 days supplies and an extra couple days worth for the dog. It slowed portaging for the first week or so.

yellowcanoe: "Longest I have been in W is 2 weeks..20 days is quite the epic trip. Did you see what is left of the Beckwith compound on Whitewater?"

I did stop by and was glad I did. I almost gave it a pass since I had seen it on YouTube so much, but was glad to have the personal inspection. I am fascinated by people who can live out on their own like that.