The Delahey to Conmee one. Tell me about it. I've read everything from a "long walk in the woods" to "it almost killed me". Planning to take this portage next year in late May / early June. Some have said the portages are marked incorrectly on the Fisher Maps. Anyone take it recently and can comment how it was?

We did the Yum Yum portage this year and survived. How does this one compare?

I could lie to you and tell you it's a piece of cake. But it's not. However, there are many factors that will decide whether a portage is easy or not. The temperature, bugs, rain/snow, weight of the gear, and attitude.

I did the Death March, alone last June. It was very hot. Bugs were horrendous. Numerous trees covered the portage, and with the water in the ponds between the portages 4' higher than normal, I could not find the portage trails. That said, I'm proud to have done it and I don't want to do it again. Here's an excerpt from my unpublished trip report upon returning from the Q.....

After Brent, I paddled through Conmee then prepared for the dreaded Delahey Death March. One person recently told me that's it's really just a long walk in the woods.

On the contrary. It was everything worse than that. Especially doing it alone, in hot weather with no breeze, and before the portage clearing crews had arrived. It was torture. Additionally, the water in the ponds between portages was so high that the portage entrances were buried in the woods, and the maps do not accurately show the portage locations. I spent a lot of time wondering through the woods looking for the trails and at one point almost thought I would have to turn back. Knowing that the trails really exist kept me searching until I found them.

This is an unflattering picture of me on the Death March. I tried to snap a photo of myself but I was constantly swatting hoarse flies that encompased my body and face. Not a pretty sight.

Our experience a few years ago was the opposite of tumblehome's. It was more like a long walk in the woods. I think the time of year had a lot to do with that. We did not have bugs, the portage had been cleared earlier in the season, water levels were normal-to-low.

It's hard to compare to Yum Yum because the portages are so different. Yum Yum is moderately long but it's difficulty comes from the elevation change, the crazy steep patches of slick granite, and the rugged tread. The Death March has none of those. It's just long (assuming you don't encounter tumblehome's conditions).

A couple things to note. Bring a lot of water with you. The water in the ponds along the way is not inviting to drink. I think we consumed 4 liters between the two of us, and could have drunk more. The middle stretch of the portage is very open and sunny, which can be a problem on a hot day. It also has grassy vegetation that will beat up your legs if you wear shorts, as we did (but it was worth it to stay cool). Last but not least, I believe the west end of the portage is marked wrong on all the maps, including the Chrismar/Adventure map, which is usually accurate. I think the errors crop up because the portage route changes from time to time due to beaver activity.

Click here for the day of my 2008 trip report when we did the Death March.

HoHo,

You mean the west end of the 2nd (ie longest) portage is marked wrong, correct?

Thanks for the help and info.

I went this way solo in October 2010. Most of the portaging is "a long walk in the woods", but as Tumblehome notes the beavers and weather conditions have changed the ins and outs of the portages through the ponds/creek on the Conmee end. I think it is easier to find the portages going from Delahey to Conmee than vice versa- The beginnings of the two long walks (from this direction) are quite apparent. However, once you get to the flow that the beavers have messed with it is time to navigate more with you eyes and less with the map, and expect the number of lifts, carries and paddles to be variable.

quote Kiporby: "HoHo,

You mean the west end of the 2nd (ie longest) portage is marked wrong, correct?

Thanks for the help and info."

Part of the problem is the beavers have created a pond that consumes a section of trail just after the start (from the west) of the longest portage.

It's hard to tell exactly where the west end of the longest stretch of portage is - whether it is actually at the pond, or continues further during the stretch we paddled and pulled over the big beaver dam. So I'm not sure whether the maps show the west end of the long stretch in the wrong place, or they incorrectly omit an additional stretch of portaging further west, or we just got off the trail, or some combination of those.

The good news is that that the western part of the route essentially follows the long low-lying draw that the beavers are messing around with; the western part of the long stretch of portage seems to follow the draw just north of it. So if you get on the water and are confused, look for a trail just north.

Thanks all for the great information. About how long did it take you all to complete the March?

I did it this June as well. My experience was very similar to Tumblehome's. With the blow downs cleared, it would have been just long.

I describe it in a trip report (day 4) .

Kiporby, I couldn't remember how long it took us, but my report says 5 hours double portaging. That was an hour longer than we planned. At the time I felt like the confusion at the west end was responsible for the extra hour.

I just looked at marsonite's report from this June. From his description, it sounds like the way we went in 2008 is now pretty much the established route. At the time, there was no clear path over the big beaver dam at the west end of the small pond at the west end of the longest stretch of the route. But if people have been going that way for the last several years, I assume there must be a path by now, and if you know what to expect, it would probably be easier.

The other thing I noticed in marsonite's report is that he said the trees were over the portage from this year's April snowstorm. That makes sense, and it also explains why both he and tumblehome had such a tough slog in the early season this year. That storm really bent down a lot of trees here on the Echo Trail, and it was much worse just over the border, from what I understand. So I would not expect those conditions most times. But since you are going relatively early (though not super early) in the season, you might double check whether the Death March has been cleared when you start you trip. They had a great map at Prairie Portage when we checked in this year showing which portages had been cleared so far this season. Of course, even if it hasn't been cleared, it might only have a little windfall, but you would be able to have some sense based on other portages before you got there.

I don't think it took me five hours to do but it might have been close. It's basically a days work. I camped on Brent the night before and camped on Delehay after the march at the olive jar site.

A few notes: There is one more portage than the maps show. I don't have my notes handy but I think it comes out to one more portage than the maps show. I went from west to East. The extra portage is on the west end and I think it was about 40 rods. The portage itself isn't the problem, it just screws with your head since you don't know where you are on the map.

There are several trails along the portage routes that start out nice and then just end. A lot of people can't find the actual trail (including me) and start along a path until is stops. That was very frustrating to me. I put logs and brush over the dead trails to hopefully prevent others from pursuing a dead end.

On one of the middle portages I just could not find the trail. I finally got back in the canoe and went back to where I started at the west end of one of the ponds and then searched for a trail in the canoe as I slowly paddled along the pond. "Where would a logical person put a portage?" I thought.

I found it not at the far end of the beaver pond but near the middle. Like I said, the water was very high in those bright tea stained ponds and the portage entries were under water. It was very frustrating.

Once I reached Delahey, out of drinking water and exhausted, I stripped down to my birthday suit and jumped in the lake. In part for celebration, and in part to save my life.

Tom

quote tumblehome: "I don't think it took me five hours to do but it might have been close. It's basically a days work. I camped on Brent the night before and camped on Delehay after the march at the olive jar site.


A few notes: There is one more portage than the maps show. I don't have my notes handy but I think it comes out to one more portage than the maps show. I went from west to East. The extra portage is on the west end and I think it was about 40 rods. The portage itself isn't the problem, it just screws with your head since you don't know where you are on the map.


There are several trails along the portage routes that start out nice and then just end. A lot of people can't find the actual trail (including me) and start along a path until is stops. That was very frustrating to me. I put logs and brush over the dead trails to hopefully prevent others from pursuing a dead end.


On one of the middle portages I just could not find the trail. I finally got back in the canoe and went back to where I started at the west end of one of the ponds and then searched for a trail in the canoe as I slowly paddled along the pond. "Where would a logical person put a portage?" I thought.


I found it not at the far end of the beaver pond but near the middle. Like I said, the water was very high in those bright tea stained ponds and the portage entries were under water. It was very frustrating.


Once I reached Delahey, out of drinking water and exhausted, I stripped down to my birthday suit and jumped in the lake. In part for celebration, and in part to save my life.


Tom"

Yes, the confusion adds to the fun, doesn't it! It's tempting to launch in the beaver ponds, but then you have to factor in the work (and danger) of taking out again where there really isn't a portage landing. My general rule of thumb is that if there is a trail, stick to it.

I know I ate lunch on Delahay, and had an afternoon nap on Conmee, so it must have taken me about two hours. That's single portaging for the most part. A day's worth of energy though.

We need a Delehay Death March patch. I want to sew one on my Frost River pack. It seems like it's a right of passage.

Marsinite, I didn't know the trail is actually one long portage. For me, the portages clearly ended at the ponds, and at that point I had to toss my stuff in the canoe and paddle a whopping 100 yards to the next portage. That said, some of the trail was slightly under water from the flooded ponds so it is certainly agreeable that there was a trail the whole way but it was not visible.

-Tom

The Yum Yum is essentially a mid-length portage over a big hill, with one very steep rock face to descend. Not too bad, if you're not over-loaded or in poor shape.

The longest portage of the Death March is a fairly long, brushy, sometimes mucky, hike. Water levels in the ponds affect both the length of the portage and the navigability of the pond/stream segments. This also affects how long the portage takes to complete. When I went through there we camped on Marj in the morning and were on Delahey by late evening.

Back in the day, I found the last portage into Delahey tougher, because it disappeared after a couple hundred meters and became a bushwhack that took us two hours. It's probably better now, with more use and maintenance.

quote Kiporby: "The Delahey to Conmee one. Tell me about it. I've read everything from a "long walk in the woods" to "it almost killed me". Planning to take this portage next year in late May / early June. Some have said the portages are marked incorrectly on the Fisher Maps. Anyone take it recently and can comment how it was?

We did the Yum Yum portage this year and survived. How does this one compare?"

I think that was me you quoted as saying "it almost killed me."

I completed a lengthly solo in 2011 that took me through both Yum Yum and the Death March. Yum Yum was tough, but the Death March was much tougher and longer (6 hours to double/triple portage), at least for me. Part of it had to do with weather. Yum Yum was in cooler temps, some drizzle. Death March was during a windless cloudless, humid day with the temp at 90 degrees.

If the weather had been cooler, I think the Death March would probably resemble the more "long walk in the park". But at 90 degrees, the Death March is a death march.

Prior to my trip, I used info from Ho Ho's trip a year or two earlier to know how to navigate the route. Thx Ho Ho, your info was quite accurate, although I went the opposite way (Delahey to Conmee) you did.

Some of the highlights from my report (see link below) included:

"...It’s a hazy sun, warm and humid already, with not even a hint of wind. Not good. I’d find out later the temp hit 90 degrees... The horseflies are simply ubiquitous... the next 1.5 mile long portage...just keeps winding back and forth, with gentle ups and downs for what seems to be well over ½ mile before it dead ends at another small pond. On the way, I drop the canoe twice which rarely happens. I was getting quite fatigued on this leg... I feel just a hint of breeze and take my shirt off and sit on a boulder in the shade. The breeze feels good,...So I just sit there, trying to cool off. After 20 minutes, my heart rate is still 120. Another 10 minutes. Still 120....“Take it slow and take it easy”, I tell myself. “You’ve got plenty of time”. I triple portage the last part of this long leg....

Death March Comments

When I finally made it to Suzannete, I was dead tired and sore. On my digital voice recorder, I said, "Today was a bitch. Hardest damn day I've ever had canoeing, easily.... I'm 2/3 thirds of the way done with this tough trip...not sure I'm enjoying it that much....Not sure I'll ever do that Death March again without the boys or a partner."

quote tumblehome: "We need a Delehay Death March patch. I want to sew one on my Frost River pack. It seems like it's a right of passage.


Marsinite, I didn't know the trail is actually one long portage. For me, the portages clearly ended at the ponds, and at that point I had to toss my stuff in the canoe and paddle a whopping 100 yards to the next portage. That said, some of the trail was slightly under water from the flooded ponds so it is certainly agreeable that there was a trail the whole way but it was not visible.


-Tom"

I didn't mean to imply that I did the west part is one long portage. I was just saying that sticking to the trail is usually best IMO. I know I launched on the second beaver pond, and wound up bushwhacking back to the trail. But for all I know I might not have been able to stay on the trail if I had chosen to.

Thank you all for the great information.

One last question.... should I pack a stretcher for Kanoes? :)

No, just bring a body bag.

I assume being buried in Quetico is desirable anyway. It's not called the Death March for nothing!

(Although as I said in my report, it was really just a long walk in a dry bog).

quote Ho Ho: "I assume being buried in Quetico is desirable anyway. It's not called the Death March for nothing!
"

I should put that in my will! Bury me in the Quetico when I pass. :)

Well, it seems to me that no matter what the beavers have done or the water levels are we should keep in mind that the trail is mostly along the north side of the creek / ponds the whole way, right?

That's what I recall.

quote Kiporby: "Well, it seems to me that no matter what the beavers have done or the water levels are we should keep in mind that the trail is mostly along the north side of the creek / ponds the whole way, right?"

That is correct. The trail veers far from the ponds at times so you can't just hop out and walk back to find the trail. If the water is high just do what I did. Paddle on the north shore of the pond slowly to find the trail. At one of the ponds, it's at the end on a large rock outcropping and looks like a portage entry you would find in the BWCA

The portages are rather well worn for Q trails so if you are on a trail the peters out, you are not on the portage, you're on a spur that leads to nowhere made by dazed and confused visitors that preceded you.

-T

As I recall "12 years ago" there's an extra portage out of Veron to Camel not marked on most maps. Waldo's on Camel.
qp

I guess I better quit smoking (again)

SunCatcher

I like funeral hotdish....just sayin'

quote mr.barley: "I like funeral hotdish....just sayin'"

ha! :)

First week Sept 2012 we did a point to point from Beaverhouse to Moose via the middle. The beavers were still active on the death march and several parts of the trail were flooded; and the beavers may be there a while. It was an unusually hot humid day. I agree that the march is a long walk with some downfalls, a bog, and areas of standing water. Four hours for us double portaging, plan 4.5. If it is to be a hot day do it early, it is well protected from wind; and it pays to be in shape of course. The route was worth it for the challenge and especially to see no one from SE Sturgeon all the way to Sarah (ymmv). We'll be giving Memory Lane a try September 2013.

quote SunCatcher: "I guess I better quit smoking (again)

SunCatcher"

Hope you keep it up Paulie. Congrats on quitting. It shall serve you (us) well on the March. :)

Many maps show 2 portages out of Delahey. Anyone know if this is true?

There might be two, but I did not see a landing on the southern-most trail on your map. I recall paddling from the Olive Jar campsite to about that location, then heading north along the shore, finding the clearly defined landing just south of your northern trail. The 1/2 mile trail went slightly uphill and then through some forest for the first 100 yards or so, then becoming mushy with some corduroy the rest of the way. You can see some of the pics of the landings on both ends of this portage from my 2010 report.

I enjoyed meeting and talking with you at Angelo's, Kip. Best of luck on your trip this coming season.

Back to the top. Any new reports?