Who has done the Savage / Bonhomme portages that can tell me how they are?

Also, what about the creek south out Alice that leads to Shelley Lake?

We are entering at Pickerel Lake and head towards the Cutty Creek area. Looking at the route above as an alternative to going through Olifaunt / Russel / Chatterton.

I did them once, I floated the canoe almost as much as I carried it, It was a wet summer that year. Cool looking lakes between the two portages. I have not tried the portage from Alice to Shelly. Alice lake was one of my favorites before a fire swept through and wiped out one of my all time favorite campsites. I have only been back for day trips using Chatterton, bushwhack into Gahn, then on to Alice. Shelly is a neat lake great fishing. are you continuing on to Kawnipi? Anthony

Thanks Miami1. We are actually head towards the center of the park---Camel, Delahey area. What year did you do those portages?

1999, Pickerel, Dore, Sturgeon, Russell, Chatterton, Gahn, Alice, Fern, Bud, Beg, Bisk. Entered and exited at Stanton bay. Had A bear in camp on the western most Island on Fern lake. The bear finally won so we left and paddled out to Pickerel lake for our last evening. Anthony

The Sauvage portage is a little tough but mainly long. The Bonhomme portage was fairly easy just long.

The creek from Alice to Shelly was partially navigable. Low water and weeds made the travel slow. We had to get out a few times to get through some rock gardens. This was two weeks ago. Higher water may make the trip easier.

Hex

In asking about those portages, I was told of thigh-high mud for pretty extensive distances.

It would be nice though, just to be able to say you did them!

quote hexnymph: "The Sauvage portage is a little tough but mainly long. The Bonhomme portage was fairly easy just long.

The creek from Alice to Shelly was partially navigable. Low water and weeds made the travel slow. We had to get out a few times to get through some rock gardens. This was two weeks ago. Higher water may make the trip easier.

Hex"

Thanks Hex. We would be going in the spring, so I imagine the creek would be navigable. I believe the last little bit into Shelly is a real portage, correct?

Correct, it will be at the very southeast end of the lake along the eastern edge. There is an old blaze on a tree above a sloping rock face and I believe a cairn was there. Otherwise difficult to see from the water. Wasn't bad as portages go.

Hex

thanks Hex,

How would you rate the Sauvage and Bonhomme portages? I imagine they will be a different animal in the spring with wetter conditions.

I went from Shelly to Alice in late August. It is a piece of cake. There is about a 350 yard portage to a No Name Lake and then a paddle up Alice Creek. There was plenty of water in the creek and the only portage is a 25 yard carry over. And that's it.

Miami1,
I am planning a trip nearly identical to the one your described, though in reverse (Pickerel, Bisk, then down to Chatterton and up through Dore, back to Stanton). Any concerns with that direction? My fourth Quetico trip and new territory for me. What about Sauvage and Bonhomme in late May? I welcome any highlights and/or fishing suggestions. Thanks! Scott

Beaverdam, I have no first hand knowledge of the fishing in May, the earliest I have entered the park was the middle of June. I would suggest you rethink your route and tackle Bonhomme and Sauvage later in your trip when your food pack will be lighter. Alice lake was one of my favorites before the fire which wiped out my favorite campsite. What kind of fish are you wanting to catch? Anyhow it is a cool area fast water, big lakes, small lakes and wildlife. Anthony

Miami1,
Thanks for the advice. I will rethink our route. Years back, I remember being told to "go with the flow" from Bisk down through Fern. But having gone that way a few times, I realize there isn't much flow to worry about. For fishing, we usually troll shorelines and I'm hoping that in May we might find some bigger pike, walleye, or trout in shallower waters. Along with the sights and silence, fishing is a big reason we paddle. I'll take any pointers. Thanks, Scott

quote Miami1: "Alice lake was one of my favorites before a fire swept through and wiped out one of my all time favorite campsites. Anthony "

When was this fire? I believe it affected Chatteron Lake as well. Looked that way when I passed through in 2011.

Dont remember the year of the fire some time around 1999. Been back for day trips caught SMB and nice Pike. Anthony

Anyone navigated the Fern to Alice to Shelly portages more recently? (Post 2012/2013 original posts from this thread).

Alternatively anyone ever gone this route on in the winter?

I am consider a summer trip from Pickerel in the Quetico to Moose Lake in the BWCA (Via Agnes Lake) and want to get a sense for how doable this route still is as opposed to detouring to other lakes to the west. We are also considering a XC ski winter trip along the same route if we deem the route doable from our summer trip.

Thanks!

Some more recent info: Portages