My thought is to gather research on each PMA one at a time. I'll introduce them in numerical order so Weeny is Number #1. Please chime in with anything you know about this one...terrain, where to camp, hidden trails, fishing hot spots, etc.

Here is the basic info:

Most likely Entry Point is 14. Could also do 12 if you cut through Canada. Could also do 16 = slightly longer trip.

Closest Forest Service Office: Ely from the south or east; Cook from the west.

It is broken into 4 areas for overnight reservations.

Here is the map.



And the satellite image:

Funny, just the other day I started gathering info on the PMAs with an eye towards planning our summer trip.

I haven't been to the Weeny Lake PMA, but a few thoughts.

My preferred route would be to enter from the north, from Thumb lake into Contentment. My map has an old 50 rod portage between the lakes, & a campsite on the southwest corner of Contentment. From there it would be a quick jaunt to Brigand & Pagaent, then one could theoretically follow the Sioux-Hustler trail to Range Line. From there, one could forge south through to Lynx & the civilized regions again, or turn north to see if Lucky Finn is achievable.

I've read a couple folks who've gone thorugh Lynx -> Yodeler & come up form the south. Seems like a viable option, too.

Weeny is the PMA I'm leaning towards right now, though I need to do some research on a few others. The northern track would allow some quality time on small lakes, always my favorites.

Rob, where did you get the campsite info you overlaid on the satellite image? My map doesn't show the campsites on Nahimana or Brigand.

quote PaddleAway: "Rob, where did you get the campsite info you overlaid on the satellite image? My map doesn't show the campsites on Nahimana or Brigand. "

They came from the Google Earth file that Rambler_Dog created (see one of the first threads in PMA Paradise).

Sorry for the 2 message response...the longer version wouldn't post for some reason.

The data likely came from old maps. It might even include the Overview Map from the Maps section of this website which does show some old campsites.

Many of the PMAs have parts that used to be "maintained" as part of the Bdub. If they had a firepit or a privy they should have been removed. You can still likely find the old portages too. I question what the Forest Service wants us to do with these old maintained areas given the emphasis on Leave No Trace in the PMAs. I feel another thread coming on.

Here is a thread from Bogwalker on some of this PMA...

Bogwalker Thread

quote Rob Johnson: "Here is a thread from Bogwalker on some of this PMA...


Bogwalker Thread "

Now THAT is an old thread! ~I'll be hitting this PMA first. Because I have a friend who is DIEING to get to Rangeline, and it makes the most sense to 'tour the area' when I do that. If I have time, haha.

My 2 cents-

If you just want to access this PMA area in general go in from Contentment. That portage is still pretty easy to find and follow. They get harder to find and follow the further south you go.

If Rangeline is your goal come up from the south and then see if you still have the energy and drive to go through the PMA. I'd hate to go all that way only to find getting through the PMA to get to Rangeline took longer or was more difficult than expected and you did not achieve your goal of getting to Rangeline.

quote PaddleAway: "Rob, where did you get the campsite info you overlaid on the satellite image? My map doesn't show the campsites on Nahimana or Brigand. "

Some of the old campsites are marked in the big map book by Fisher. map book

So THAT is the book people mentioned! I'll have to get one of those. Thanks Cowdoc!

I believe Charm and maybe Mantle can be accessed via a creek from Gebe. Someone on this site has done it and I talked with him about it. Name escapes me at the moment.

I've been to Charm which was a nice little lake. Was not a far or hard bushwhack from Gebe. Mostly followed a game trail.

Went up the "Hustler River" to Lucky Finn. I would *not* advise that route to anyone, at least during a dry season. It was a long haul. Going through Yodeler is the better way to go, at least northbound.

Lucky Finn to Rangeline is floatable a fair part of the way. Was a pleasant surprise after the previous day on the Hustler River.

The Sioux Hustler Trail does indeed make a nice portage trail, though it is a very long portage the way we went. Our original plan was to head north through Brigand and Contentment, but due to concerns about time we re-routed through Loon. The Sioux Hustler Trail was nice enough that I'm planning on going back to do it on foot.

I posted a trip report for that trip you might want to skim through or just check out the pictures of the area. The PMA info starts at Part 6.

Just got home. Did the Hustler river all the way to Finger. Camped on Posse, old campsite does not exist. I had to make a camp on the east side of the lake, barely enough space for my solo tent on a moose trail. all of the open water from map was indeed open. Did about 8 bushwhack portages and pulled over 10-15 beaver dams. about 10 hours total from hustler to finger, and a rough ten hours. I will scan my map with notes in later.

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE...I'm jealous.

Good info on the non-existent campsite.

Lot's of beaver dams & small lakes...I'm going to guess you filtered all your water...

That looks like a pretty good distance for 10 hours solo bushwhacking.

Looking forward to hearing more about it.

RoJo

Congrats! I know that was a hard day. What was the water level like? Relatively high? Sounds like this is the time of year to do that, if you're of a mind to, rather than later in the year when it's drier. Looking forward to a trip report and maybe some pics!

Great trip! I'm a little jealous as well. I'd bet the chair felt good... after you got to camp. What lake is the center photo?

Wonderful pics, especially like the antlers/spine & the finger. We've all done that, but I never thought to capture it on 'film', brilliant!

quote PortageKeeper: "Great trip! I'm a little jealous as well. I'd bet the chair felt good... after you got to camp. What lake is the center photo?"

the picture on the water is the open body of water on the map above posse lake, which is where the camp was.

Yes, the chair was a lifesaver. was so nice to have a comfortable place to dump into when i needed to recharge or collect my thoughts after a rough bushwhack. I would never consider another PMA trip without it.

Yes, thanks for the rapid update! that is a PMA that is a bit farther down on my list. I'm going to start easy (is there such a thing?) LOL!!!

I don't know, I think Pitfall looks like one of the easier ones to get into. This one would not have been so bad if I had the knowledge I have now about portage locations and flat water. It was the uncertainty that really took its toll. I wasn't mentally or emotionally prepared for it. When I finished I said, "no more PMA trips, ever." But now I am already craving the next.

LOL! So.. are they more addicting or less addicting than a normal non-PMA trip?

Way more for me. Because while I can still remember all of the trips I've taken, the bushwhacks stand out in my memory. Less than two days out!

quote Amok: "LOL! So.. are they more addicting or less addicting than a normal non-PMA trip?"

I would say more addicting, because it is a twisted counter-intuitive addiction. With a PMA I am craving hardship, frustration, and near mental breakdowns. With normal trips, you crave normal good things, which makes sense.

Here is my map of the Hustler River. Most of the portages were through dense undergrowth and very tricky footing.

Weeny Lake Thread

Link to Weeny Lake Thread