Looking at my Fisher map - in the big Fisher map book - it appears as if one can go from Alice Lake right to Shelly. Got a McKenzie map, however, and the detail shows significant land in between the two. But it does not show a portage. I'm guessing the McKenzie is right and there's no direct way from one to the other....is that correct?

Howard, I use Memory-Map and it shows a 286 meter portage to a unnamed lake/pond that connects to Alice by what appears to be a fairly good size creek.

I have no first hand experience with the portage.

Thanks Boji!

Have not done the portage stayed on Alice for 4 days years ago great lake then, but went back several years ago after the fire most of the southern shore and the camp site I used were burned over I could have cried because it was an awsome site, well maybe in 100 years it will be nice again. The reason I am telling you this is camp sites are now rare or poor on Alice, so it might be easier to just go through Keats into Shelly. Anthony

Wow I now have 3 trees How many more posts untill I get 4??
Anthony

If it was several years ago, it might actually look pretty cool by now...though obviously not the same.

So, Howard, when are you going? We seem to be going to the same area. Do I have to be sure to get up extra early so you don't get my permit?
I'm going late July from French Lake.

Last week of June out of Stanton.

Which way are you going to get to Alice?
Anthony

Still don't know our route. One way that crossed my mind was to head straight south from Stanton bay, through Bud/Fern, etc and take those two long portages straight south to Alice.
I won't be the main route planner on this trip, but I'm studying the map and possible routes so I can put in my 2 cents worth.

Those two long portages are very swampy you will float your canoe as much as you carry it. Thats just my two cents.
Anthony

Good info to have, thanks!!

Howard, we may run into each other as we will ge going our of French Lake the last week of June. I was thinking of either coming back through Alice or the Poet Chain.

Maverick

That would be cool, Maverick! Will have to exchange some details as we get closer, just in case.
Not sure of the route we're taking yet, might not go through Alice & those two portages, but might do a layover 2-night spot (Chatterton, McDougal vicinity?) that would enable a daytrip into Keats/Shelly and those cool falls.

The portage Bud/Fern is very SWAMPY. I pulled my canoe thru some of the portage. I went south from Alice to Shelly but do not have notes on portage. There is small lake between and I walked my canoe down the creek

Did the the portages from Fern to Alice 2 years ago in June. Actually we went from Alice north - the Sauvage and the Bonhomme. They are long but fairly easy to follow with some wet spots as mentioned. My advise is they are very duable and save a lot of time but you should not expect them to be easy. Take plenty of water as the water sources were not very good. Good Luck. Also....it was the end of our trip and we single portaged these. I wouldn't do them if I had to double portage.