It's that time of the year to start planning 2024 trips and I have two solo trips of 8 to 12 days in mind. One around May 15th and one in September just after Labor Day. One of those trips will be to Little Saganaga via either EP51 or EP52. The other is an undecided loop from EP50 or EP47. This post concerns the Little Sag trip.

I will be 74 in July and I'm still physically capable of doing extended trips, but I need to accept and deal with all the age related limitations, ie slower, not as strong, less stamina, and longer recovery time. I double carry, both pack and canoe at about 50# each.

If you were me, which would you do?
Option 1: EP51 to Tuscarora (most likely camping on Tuscarora) and then to Crooked and Little Sag.

My concerns are the length of the portages (142 and 430) on EP51 and bigger water on Tuscarora. The benefit is more campsite choices.

Option 2: EP52 Round to Brant (most likely camping on Brant) on to Bat or Gillis to Little Sag. If there are no sites open on Brant, I am committed to the tougher portages to the next possible sites on Bat. Benefits are shorter portages and smaller water.

I don't want to come from Sea Gull, Alpine or Jasper. I've been thru there before and am saving the Frost river route for another time. Suggestions for another route from the south?

Right now, I am leaning toward EP51 knowing that the longer portages will kick my ass, but I am paranoid of not finding an open site and figure two big grunts are better than 7 or 8 smaller ones.

Advice, comments, criticisms all welcome.

Why am I so paranoid about finding an open site? Any one else?

Thanks, Merlyn

I bumped into a gentleman in his 70s on my Spring trip this year and he was telling me stories about how he would just carry cash on him and pay the next group of young guys he came across at landings to haul his gear if he ever got bogged down.

Maybe not your best option unless you have deep pockets, but hey it's an option.

I would have zero concerns about finding open sites that early in May, it will still be a ghost town up there regardless of fishing opener the week prior. September is far busier than May, but after Labor day it starts to get quiet because kids are back in school. Not to mention, recorded entries are back to pre-covid levels according to the data released in October.

I think you're gonna be fine either way.

I'm about to turn 70, and don't think I could do either entry point any more. However, I have done both in the past, and I suggest going the EP 51 route. EP 52 (Brant) has much shorter portages, but some are quite steep and wet, and there are a ton more portages with the in and out of the canoe way too many times. The Flying Lake portage used to have wooden steps, but I believe they have changed them to stones now. It is pretty steep.

Little Sag is a great goal. Been there many times, and loved it each time.

Tom

With 8 to 12 days you might consider starting at Kawashiwi Lake and finishing at Sawbill Lake.

Day 1 Kawishiwi to Polly.
Day 2 Polly to Makwa or Elton
Day 3 Makwa to L. Sag.
Day 4 L. Sag to Tuscarora (I would go through Mora, Tarry, Crooked, Owl, Tuscarora)
Day 5 Tuscarora to Snipe (Howl, Hubbub, Copper).
Day 6 Snipe to Long Island
Day 7 Long Island to Cherokee
Day 8 Cherokee to Sawbill.

Toughest days would be Tuscarora to Snipe and Cherokee to Sawbill.

I've gone both directions and would go EP #51 like Tom. It's about the same distances to Tusc or Bat and like Tom said, the portages to Bat are not easy. There are 7 of them vs. 2 to Tusc. That's a lot more loading and unloading and the paddles between are short so not much rest between them. You are considering stopping at Brant and that's not much different from stopping at Missing Link and I don't think many camp there. You could always take a rest break(s) on the portage like those short paddles the other way.

I've also gone from Kawishiwi to Polly to Pan to Little Sag with Steve (2014). We went down through Hub, Zenith and Kelso to exit at Sawbill. That was a really nice trip, but has its challenges also.

I've also gone from Snipe to Tuscarora through Copper, Hubbub, and Howl that Michwall mentioned.

In my old age I have been double portaging with two 45 lb loads. I think the Brant entry route would be tougher with all the loading and unloading. Long portages are easily broken up into short sections. I have learned to pace off a quarter mile and use that for my poses, as the voyageurs called them. I always walk back and get the second load right away. That is my recovery/rest time. It also keeps moving my food so it is less vulnerable to critters.

The Missing Link-Tuscarora portage is long, but not difficult. The only issue might be flooded trail in May. Long stretches of the trail can hold water over ankle deep. Tuscarora Outfitters would have up-to-date info on conditions. I would expect all the trails are pretty dry in September.

Personally, I think the two portages to reach Tuscarora are easier than the series of shorter portages between Brant and Bat. While the Tuscarora portage is long, the footing is good (other than the potential for wet spots) and the terrain is more flat than steep.

The portages between Brant and Bat are rocky and nasty, IMO. And as you pointed out, if you can't stay on Brant, you are committed. My husband (70) and I ended up going from EP52 all the way to Bat in one day and it wiped my husband out (he is a fit guy for his age). Had to take an unplanned rest day.

Agree with the others--they may be shorter portages, but those are some tough up and downs between Brant and Bat. I've never done the longer one to Tuscarora, but if back in the area next time I would choose that one on my way to Little Sag. I recall that the Flying to Green portage in particular was a tester.