Soloing the South Kawishiwi this weekend. I know there is a rapids by the "hilton" campsite near the portage to Little Gabbro. I floated up and down it about a decade ago in low water, and also basically walked through it last year.

Question-- How do you handle that paddle upstream if you are soloing. I have seen some videos when it looks as though the current gets fairly strong? There is a campsite there and from what I recall no real way to portage around it.

Anyone with any experience in a solo (I'm older so not as strong as I used to be)? Also, anyone seen what the water level is like there recently?

Can't speak to water levels right now, but I have paddled that way solo, about 4 years ago. I was not strong enough to paddle up it, though I gave it a try. I was able to portage around it, there was enough of a rocky area near the "hilton" to do that.

I’m not sure on current levels and how it compares to when I was there, but on my first solo about 10 years ago, I was able to paddle through it. I was there in the fall so it’s most likely that the water levels were lower when I was there, especially with all the rain this year.

Good luck and have fun, I’m taking my 5 year old on his first bwca trip next week to that area.