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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Quetico Forum Worst Portage in Quetico |
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04/20/2013 09:07PM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I wish to open this discussion as to the nastiest portages in the Quetico. I do not mean a temporary change due to a tree fall or fire. I have done the Yum Yum Portage (twice) in 21 trips, and I have not done the Death March Portages.
I will vote for the portage out the north side of Ferguson Lake to the Cache River. It starts with a short portage to a pond, then fools you with 500 meters of dry slow hill climb. The entire portage is 1700 meters long, and the north 1000 meters is thigh to waist deep muck. I have done it twice (foolish slow learner) and all you can do is crawl and slide your canoe a few feet with each pull. What else is like this?
I will vote for the portage out the north side of Ferguson Lake to the Cache River. It starts with a short portage to a pond, then fools you with 500 meters of dry slow hill climb. The entire portage is 1700 meters long, and the north 1000 meters is thigh to waist deep muck. I have done it twice (foolish slow learner) and all you can do is crawl and slide your canoe a few feet with each pull. What else is like this?
"I shall return" General Douglas McArthur
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04/20/2013 09:48PM
My vote goes to the Cache Lake Portages, especially the northern one from Baptism to Cache.
Very tough.
I've done the Death March, Yum Yum, and Memory Lane Portages, as well the one from Ferguson to the Cache River. None of them come close to the Cache Lake Portages.
I've heard the one into Badwater Lake is also tough, but I haven't gone that way yet.
Very tough.
I've done the Death March, Yum Yum, and Memory Lane Portages, as well the one from Ferguson to the Cache River. None of them come close to the Cache Lake Portages.
I've heard the one into Badwater Lake is also tough, but I haven't gone that way yet.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” -Edward Abbey
04/21/2013 01:05AM
portages? so subjective. our memories of them all rely on when when hit them. full food pack? depleted food pack? first portage of the morning? last portage of the day? that said...THE yum yum did kick my ass. thats a tough one. depends on air temp too.
04/21/2013 07:01AM
quote arctic: "I've heard the one into Badwater Lake is also tough, but I haven't gone that way yet."
I didn't think this was that bad, just long, and many sections quite beautiful. we went in a low water year so the entrance to the portage was MUDDDD! had a great time!
04/21/2013 07:16AM
The Side Lake to Sarah one known as "Heart Attack Hill" did me in but it was hot, I was low on water, and I had too much gear. I remember laying down at the top and seriously thinking that I could die. It's rough.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
04/21/2013 07:26AM
I have done the Cache lake portages, Meadows, Memory Lane and Death March multiple times. I did the Death March last year with 4 19 year old women and we ate lunch on Conmee. The Ferguson to Cache river is tough but the toughest is definitely the Poohpah straight north to the Maligne river portage through a small lake. It is on older Fisher maps and although not maintained it is well blazed, you just have to find the next blaze. There was an article about it in BWJ a few years ago. Far tougher than any other portage I have been on in Quetico.
04/21/2013 07:26AM
I have done the Cache lake portages, Meadows, Memory Lane and Death March multiple times. I did the Death March last year with four 19-year old women and we ate lunch on Conmee.
The Ferguson to Cache river is tough but the toughest is definitely the Poohpah straight north to the Maligne river portage through a small lake. It is on older Fisher maps and although not maintained it is well blazed, you just have to find the next blaze. There was an article about it in BWJ a few years ago. Far tougher than any other portage I have been on in Quetico.
The Ferguson to Cache river is tough but the toughest is definitely the Poohpah straight north to the Maligne river portage through a small lake. It is on older Fisher maps and although not maintained it is well blazed, you just have to find the next blaze. There was an article about it in BWJ a few years ago. Far tougher than any other portage I have been on in Quetico.
04/21/2013 07:29AM
quote TomT: "The Side Lake to Sarah one known as "Heart Attack Hill" did me in but it was hot, I was low on water, and I had too much gear. I remember laying down at the top and seriously thinking that I could die. It's rough."
Its one no one forgets. I hate going down it when it is wet. After you make tho either way,you feel wow,I am good.
04/21/2013 06:31PM
quote Primitiveman: "I have done the Cache lake portages, Meadows, Memory Lane and Death March multiple times. I did the Death March last year with four 19-year old women and we ate lunch on Conmee.
The Ferguson to Cache river is tough but the toughest is definitely the Poohpah straight north to the Maligne river portage through a small lake. It is on older Fisher maps and although not maintained it is well blazed, you just have to find the next blaze. There was an article about it in BWJ a few years ago. Far tougher than any other portage I have been on in Quetico. "
I looked hard for that portage a few years ago and could not find it. When were you last on it?
04/21/2013 07:16PM
I looked hard for that portage a few years ago and could not find it. When were you last on it?
1989 or 1990. I don't have accurate records but I could find out from others on the trip. Some of the blazes were huge and they were on big trees. I suppose some of them are now laying on the ground. The first blaze on the shore of Poohbah was on a really big tree. We would ferry everything to a blaze and then search for the next one, once found, ferry everything forward. The little lake in the middle had a floating bog on one side of it and several in the group became completely submerged in swampy water leading to some temper tantrums. It was a great adventure
04/22/2013 06:29AM
quote
I've heard the one into Badwater Lake is also tough, but I haven't gone that way yet."
Badwater in the 90's was a beast. This portage was my introduction to Canada, as a skinny 13 year old the bogs and length absolutely killed me. A few years after I did this the courdwalk was greatly improved, I have done the trail a few times since, just long but no big deal.
04/22/2013 08:02AM
quote TomT: "The Side Lake to Sarah one known as "Heart Attack Hill" did me in but it was hot, I was low on water, and I had too much gear. I remember laying down at the top and seriously thinking that I could die. It's rough."
When I first saw the Side to Sarah hill portage, I thought, --You have got to be kidding me-- who would put a portage straight up a steep hill. Not fun. Go slow.
I was thinking of doing the Yum Yum portage this summer, I hope it's not as bad as everybody says, maybe I'll get more advice and decide to go the alternate route.
04/22/2013 02:23PM
Been on quite a few but the one I remember the most was from the Maligne River to a creek (bog) flowing into the Darky River. The trail was not bad but went straight up over the ridge and then straight down the ridge to a bog. Almost 3/4 miles in distance. You think great, I am done but it comes out to a bog. We had to have one person in each canoe paddling/pushing the canoes through the bog while the others bush-wacked the shore (sort of shore) for another half mile. Each time you get out of the water pushing the canoe, you spent 5 minutes pulling the leeches off. Total distance was about 1.3 miles and comes out to the Darky River where it turns south to Darky Lake. Saved about 6 miles of paddling but not sure worth it.
Also, portage was tough to find, we actually went about a mile down river past it and had to back track up river. Fun times!!
Also, portage was tough to find, we actually went about a mile down river past it and had to back track up river. Fun times!!
I wish I were, I wish I might, I wish I was in the BWCA tonite!
04/22/2013 10:01PM
You are describing the Eat em Up portage from Tanner Lake to a side creek that goes to the lower Darky River. Been on it twice. You must have caught the southern end at a very low water level
"I shall return" General Douglas McArthur
04/23/2013 08:38AM
Trousers-Cache and Cache-MacKenzie, no contest. 2 miles and 2.5 miles, huge mud slogs, swamped in, etc. Nothing has come close, for me.
I've done Yum Yum, and the Q-Badwater portage, Ross-Cullen, and a few other bears. Even once tried to find/use the Jean-Albert portage that is on some maps - that was a mistake. Haven't done Memory Lane or the Death March.
I've done Yum Yum, and the Q-Badwater portage, Ross-Cullen, and a few other bears. Even once tried to find/use the Jean-Albert portage that is on some maps - that was a mistake. Haven't done Memory Lane or the Death March.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
04/23/2013 05:32PM
quote Eyedocron: "You are describing the Eat em Up portage from Tanner Lake to a side creek that goes to the lower Darky River. Been on it twice. You must have caught the southern end at a very low water level"
That is a cool name, applies for those of us that donated to the local leeches.
I wish I were, I wish I might, I wish I was in the BWCA tonite!
04/29/2013 09:45PM
Years ago we portaged in the rain from Cairn to Sark... on the WRONG SIDE of Kashapiwi creek. One of the crew had a map with the portage marked wrong, followed a Beaver trail for a bit and then just bushwhacked the rest of the way through the slop. Not really all that hard but was the worst for pure stupidity!
Wilderness both captivates your soul and sets it free :)
05/03/2013 08:18PM
quote Beaverjack: "Man, I gotta make a list."
Here is the list
1 Poohbah to Maligne
2 Ferguson to Cache river
3 Mackenzie to Cache Lake
4 Cache Lake to Trousers
Now #1 might be Cache Lake to Zephira Lake but no one has done it. I want to do it. Want to do it too?
05/04/2013 06:57PM
Man, this is my first tour of that country. I'm just going to fish, relax and come out alive. If I end up doing a bad one, it won't be intentional. 8^)
You cannot hope too much or dare too much. - R.W. Emerson
05/05/2013 07:47PM
You are going to have a great trip Beaverjack, and will return as often as you can, as long as you are able. It is one of the last really wild temperate places on earth and I think you are going to like it!
05/06/2013 04:36PM
quote 24trippin: "About ten years ago I tried and failed on the portage from Lynx to Snipe. It was marked on a map, and looked like a route to Red Pine, however after 2 hours of hacking around in the brush I turned back. "
There's a joke about snipe hunting somewhere in here...
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
05/06/2013 07:28PM
The worst portages are the ones that no longer exist. Or perhaps never existed but in your mind they did. You know where the portage used to be 30 or 40 years ago, or where it should be. And that next lake is not too far. You know, lets just try it. It won't be that bad. We can do it.
Thirty or forty minutes later you are stuck in a swamp on the worst portage in the Quetico. Too far to turn back but not close enough to see that next lake. In the rain no doubt or 90 degree temps. And bugs. Yep, you found the worst portage in the Quetico.
Thirty or forty minutes later you are stuck in a swamp on the worst portage in the Quetico. Too far to turn back but not close enough to see that next lake. In the rain no doubt or 90 degree temps. And bugs. Yep, you found the worst portage in the Quetico.
05/07/2013 09:35AM
quote GraniteCliffs: "The worst portages are the ones that no longer exist. Or perhaps never existed but in your mind they did. You know where the portage used to be 30 or 40 years ago, or where it should be. And that next lake is not too far. You know, lets just try it. It won't be that bad. We can do it.
Thirty or forty minutes later you are stuck in a swamp on the worst portage in the Quetico. Too far to turn back but not close enough to see that next lake. In the rain no doubt or 90 degree temps. And bugs. Yep, you found the worst portage in the Quetico."
Good post. I remember running into this issue with a "portage" from Jean to Albert, that was on the map we had... thought we found the beginning of it, probably did, but it faded out as we ascended a ridge. Ended up giving up on it at some point, not even sure how far along we got. It was a pretty high ridge, for Quetico anyway, and bush-crashing with that boat was a task.
Funny thing is, any maps I look at nowadays, there is no such portage.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
05/07/2013 11:03AM
quote GraniteCliffs: "The worst portages are the ones that no longer exist. Or perhaps never existed but in your mind they did. You know where the portage used to be 30 or 40 years ago, or where it should be. And that next lake is not too far. You know, lets just try it. It won't be that bad. We can do it.
Thirty or forty minutes later you are stuck in a swamp on the worst portage in the Quetico. Too far to turn back but not close enough to see that next lake. In the rain no doubt or 90 degree temps. And bugs. Yep, you found the worst portage in the Quetico."
With darkness descending. The pits. Actually, I don't mind the same "experience" at 8:00 am so much.
12/06/2015 07:29PM
Thought I might bump this up to go along with the other hard portage discussion. I still vote for the Ferguson Lake. Cache River muck portage. Much worse than the Yum Yum.
"I shall return" General Douglas McArthur
12/09/2015 03:12PM
I was through the Ferguson-Cache River portage again two summers ago. Lots of muck, brush, and bugs. Was glad to be single-portaging. I remember thinking "this would be a BAD place to have an accident"!
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” -Edward Abbey
12/10/2015 02:33PM
quote arctic: "I was through the Ferguson-Cache River portage again two summers ago. Lots of muck, brush, and bugs. Was glad to be single-portaging. I remember thinking "this would be a BAD place to have an accident"!"
Yeah, that's close to as remote as it gets and still being on a lake or portage in Quetico. You could leave a gold bar sitting in the middle of the trail and no one would pick it up for weeks or months.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
05/06/2016 11:28AM
Did The Cache lake portages this last year with my son, we had a late start on the first one, and a thunderstorm came in and the rain was heavy, so heavy that we had to stop about 3/4 of a mile to the end with no where to pitch a tent but in the middle of the trail that had a small rise because so much around us was flooded. The water coming down kept filling up my jacket sleeves and pool under my elbows filling my jacket like a water balloon. The water was very high and the river crossing was much further than usual, the logs that were placed in alignment leading up the edge of the river were floating and the waters edge was about 15 yards from where those logs were. Did I mention the water was high. So, Thunderstorm, lightning crashing, 7pm at night, my pup Spirit has taken refuge under the trees and is shivering to death, refusing to go on, and my 8 year old son is shaking and soaked to the bone. The mud would go waste high at certain points in the Muskeg and it was very hard to discern where to put your feet. Wet rocks, logs, wet gear, wet brain, it was a beautiful moment to share with all of you.
Going to go to the death March this year.
I love the beauty and stories and tales of a portage that wakes you up and helps you grow.
Going to go to the death March this year.
I love the beauty and stories and tales of a portage that wakes you up and helps you grow.
05/08/2016 06:33PM
The Cache Lake portages are for the memory books. I lost a pair of tennis shoes somewhere in the muck on day two of a 33-day Quetico paddle...
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” -Edward Abbey
07/04/2017 01:22PM
quote arctic: "My vote goes to the Cache Lake Portages, especially the northern one from Baptism to Cache.
Very tough.
I've done the Death March, Yum Yum, and Memory Lane Portages, as well the one from Ferguson to the Cache River. None of them come close to the Cache Lake Portages.
I've heard the one into Badwater Lake is also tough, but I haven't gone that way yet."
We did this portage mid-May this year (2017) and didn't think it was too bad. It was long - which we knew it would be. Mostly flat. There were several boot-sucking mud holes to contend with and a small river to cross mid-way through. I will say that there were virtually no bugs when we went through, and that mid-sumner would be a very different experience. Much of the forest floor is covered in moss. We went out through Cache River. Maybe a mistake. There are many more well established mandatory portages than are marked on the McKenzie map. Made for a long day.
I went into the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, . . , and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. Thoreau
07/05/2017 08:34AM
It is seriously fun just reading this!!!
If we aren't actively working to protect our planet, we are acquiescing to those who run their life as if their personal WANTS are the only things that matter. John
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