BWCA Just returned, great experience! Boundary Waters Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
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   Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      Just returned, great experience!     

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larryb
senior member (69)senior membersenior member
  
07/11/2012 06:12AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Not too many posts here so I thought I would let you know that my brother and I returned from our first Woodland Caribou trip a few days ago.

Our trip began with a flight into Bulging and continued to Adventure, Jigsaw, Wrist, Aegean, South Aegean, Paull, Elephant Head, Boot Jack, Bunny and then out at Leano. The 850 meter portage in 90 degree weather out of Jigsaw kicked our old butts. Nine days total. I wore my rain jacket for fifteen minutes and my fleece one evening.

Thanks so much to Harlan. We could not have had a better outfitter experience. He communicates before the trip in a way that really reassured us that we would be ready. We had the opportunity to go through all our gear, food and get a great orientation to our route as well. He has selected equipment with care and everything worked just right. He was obviously concerned about us and our trip and that made all the difference..... we will be returning next year.

Highlights of the trip included seeing two caribou, the same number of human beings we saw the entire trip! The isolation was a big draw and it was incredible. It took us a few days to figure out there really is no one out there.

The fishing was a mixed bag for us. It was quite hot during the middle of the trip and the fish knew it. We caught walleye in the lakes that had them and a few lake trout trolling but I can's say that we really figured out how to locate and then jig for trout. I think I can do better the next time. As the weather cooled, we were able to find and catch northerns and that is fun for me as we don't have them here in South Carolina. They were quite predictable being in some of the deeper, isolated grass areas with access to deeper water. Where those conditions were met, we consistently caught them. They ate just about anything and we used Husky Jerks and Shad Raps quite a bit.

The scenery, weather, isolation and great outfitting made this an unforgettable experience and we have our dates for next year!
 
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07/11/2012 07:04AM  
Sounds like a great trip. Can't wait till I have the opportunity to go up there myself.
 
07/11/2012 01:23PM  
That is great to hear! I leave here for Red Lake in 8 days!!!!!!!
 
larryb
senior member (69)senior membersenior member
  
07/11/2012 04:01PM  
if we can be of any help, feel free to get in touch. Have a great trip,
Larry
 
07/11/2012 05:11PM  
Did ya see the "cave" on So Aegean? Glad you were able to get through with little rain. Nice area and seeing Woodland Caribou is a big plus. And yes, Harlan is a great outfitter... He bends over backwards to help you out.
 
Longpaddler
distinguished member(1177)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/11/2012 07:47PM  
Welcome back. Glad you had a great trip. I hope you post a trip report. We are going up the last of August and Harlan is flying us in to Bulging L as well. We are going to drop down thru Haggart and slip thru the Welkin system to pick up your route in S Aegean. Would be very interested in hearing about your trip, the portages, campsites etc.
 
Que
distinguished member (112)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/11/2012 10:19PM  
It is always great hearing feedback about paddlers experiences in the park. We at the park office rely heavily on the information that you share with us in order to prioritize our trail maintenance efforts. We do want to hear about your wildlife sightings, especially the caribou sightings... as we monitor their distribution in the park so we may offer these animals the best protection. Information we look for date of sighting, time of day (dawn, midday, dusk), # of animal, sex is possible, and what the caribou is doing at the time of sighting (swimming, walking along shore).

Good to hear that you had excellent service by your outfitter and that you will be returning for more. Woodland Caribou Prov. Park is indeed a very special place to paddle where solitude is found in great measure.

Thanks for posting Larry.
 
larryb
senior member (69)senior membersenior member
  
07/12/2012 11:53AM  
I will get with my brother and tell you the exact location of the caribou. He has a great video that he can post as well
 
McVacek
distinguished member (273)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/12/2012 09:44PM  
Yes, please share a trip report. We leave for WCPP in less than a month and are trying to pick our route.
 
07/13/2012 07:55AM  
Good update! I love that place and I bet you do to, now!
Congratulations
SunCatcher
 
larryb
senior member (69)senior membersenior member
  
07/16/2012 08:01AM  
Video of caribou we saw, not the greatest quality but it is there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-hbCYg0AF8&feature=youtu.be
 
bogwalker
Moderator
  
07/16/2012 10:55AM  
Amazing...thanks for sharing
 
danjb
member (41)member
  
07/16/2012 07:42PM  
We saw the caribou on July 4th and the eastern side of Paull I think where the islands are located. It swam to the island and the we took the video when got to land. A little later saw it again or another further east. Probably 15 min later again swimming.

Made the trip for us.

Dan- Larryb's brother and mule
 
07/16/2012 08:59PM  
 
07/16/2012 09:19PM  
60 hours....
 
Que
distinguished member (112)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/16/2012 10:02PM  
Thanks Dan for the caribou sighting details. The video is priceless. We will add this sighting to our database.

 
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