Hello everyone! I have never been thru EP #50, but heading there Monday. Anyone have a bug report or any advice? Doing a 5-night trip, going in and coming out EP #50. Thinking a 1-3-1 campsite route unless Long Island Lake is reachable in 1 day. I have newbies coming so I don't know how long it will take to go down the river and thru Ham, Cross Bay and Rib.

Any advice would be appreciated!

I have done Cross Bay several times and considering I'm old, fat and double carry I average about 5 hours to Long Lake.
Some things to consider: the water travel between portages is short at first and the ports can get busy, so delays are possible. You can stay before your entry date on Ham Lake (3or4 camp sites and has the BW vibe) and shorten your Long Lake trip by 3 ports. The first portage has a very poor rocky landing and only listed at 65 rods but always feels (to me) way longer, on the plus side the other ports to Long Lake are easier.

I did a solo mid sept last year where I started on Missing Link and made it to Long Island Lake in just under 5 hours double portaging and stopping for lunch. I have not done the route through Ham but it looks like the portages are considerable shorter.

Long Island was quite busy and I ended up settling for a pretty mediocre site (566) down in the very SW corner of the lake near where the Long Island river flow out of the lake. I was only there one night as I am more of a traveler and for that trip I was making my way to an exit on Poplar.

If I was going to be staying three days on Long Island Lake I'd try to snag campsite 570. From there take day trip to Frost and/or Cherokee one day and the other day just paddle the parameter of Long Island Lake.

Cricket67: "I did a solo mid sept last year where I started on Missing Link and made it to Long Island Lake in just under 5 hours double portaging and stopping for lunch. I have not done the route through Ham but it looks like the portages are considerable shorter.


Long Island was quite busy and I ended up settling for a pretty mediocre site (566) down in the very SW corner of the lake near where the Long Island river flow out of the lake. I was only there one night as I am more of a traveler and for that trip I was making my way to an exit on Poplar.


If I was going to be staying three days on Long Island Lake I'd try to snag campsite 570. From there take day trip to Frost and/or Cherokee one day and the other day just paddle the parameter of Long Island Lake.


"

Right on. Thanks for the Intel!

merlyn: "I have done Cross Bay several times and considering I'm old, fat and double carry I average about 5 hours to Long Lake.
Some things to consider: the water travel between portages is short at first and the ports can get busy, so delays are possible. You can stay before your entry date on Ham Lake (3or4 camp sites and has the BW vibe) and shorten your Long Lake trip by 3 ports. The first portage has a very poor rocky landing and only listed at 65 rods but always feels (to me) way longer, on the plus side the other ports to Long Lake are easier."

Right on! Thanks for the Intel...

I've made it to Long Island from both Missing link, and Cross bay. No problem to make it in a day. About 5 or 6 hours. As far as bugs, nobody's been in the Wilderness for 2 weeks so I'm guessing you're not going to get a very accurate report.

I've done it several times - it's about 8-9 miles double portaging. But there are 6-7 portages with all the unloading/loading time. For me about 4 1/2 hours solo, double portaging. Like Cricket I was usually moving on and have exited through Tuscarora and Missing Link to Round Lake which is a short walk to Cross Bay. I've also exited at Poplar after a shuttle from Rockwood.

It doesn't sound like you're planning traveling a loop but you can also go to both Frost or Cherokee in about 4 miles. Another option on exit would be to go back and exit through Snipe and Missing Link to Round and one walk back to the car.

Bugs? Always expect bugs, be prepared, and thank your lucky stars if they're not bad.

Hope you and your newbies have a good trip.