BWCA Heading to Zephira July 12...wish me luck!!! . Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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      Heading to Zephira July 12...wish me luck!!! .     
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04/13/2015 06:12PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I have decided this is the year!!!! Plan on spending at least three days fishing every nook and cranny of this secluded beast. I will have the bushwack on video if all my equipment survives to that point!! Wish me luck, I think I'm going to need it!!!
 
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04/13/2015 07:52PM  
I'm really looking forward to that trip report, as Zephira has been the topic of much speculation on this site!
MagicPaddler
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04/14/2015 06:18AM  
Good luck and have fun.
Moosehopper
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04/14/2015 06:59AM  
Have a great time,

Enjoy:

The sweating, fretting, bites, bumps, scars, stars, cuts, scrapes, lakes, sunshine, pain, rain, terrain, bogs, frogs, trees, breeze, aching knees, and anything else that comes your way.

I will be in the area early June and have thought about Zephira on my route. Maybe just to dream about it. My son and I have 14 days in the area and will be doing the Trousers-Cache, Lindsey, expedition, so I thought why not go check out the creek that leads that way. The bush whack will be interesting did you get an over view look at the terrain.

I have been trying to get an idea of it but it might be wishful thinking on my part.

Let me know how it goes. I (like many others here are so excited for you and are anxious to hear about your adventure.
DancesWithTrees
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04/14/2015 08:50AM  
Jealous.

Looking forward to your reports! Are you going solo? I'd be a little nervous doing it myself to be honest, so I'd probably try to find a few willing friends. But solo, you may have yourself quite the special level of seclusion on Zephira.
Thwarted
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04/14/2015 09:44AM  
I think I will start an over under thread on this it I hope you get there.
QueticoMike
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04/14/2015 10:17AM  
Good luck!
04/14/2015 06:08PM  
quote DancesWithTrees: "Jealous.


Looking forward to your reports! Are you going solo? I'd be a little nervous doing it myself to be honest, so I'd probably try to find a few willing friends. But solo, you may have yourself quite the special level of seclusion on Zephira.
"
I will be going with another person.
04/14/2015 06:09PM  
quote Moosehopper: "Have a great time,


Enjoy:


The sweating, fretting, bites, bumps, scars, stars, cuts, scrapes, lakes, sunshine, pain, rain, terrain, bogs, frogs, trees, breeze, aching knees, and anything else that comes your way.


I will be in the area early June and have thought about Zephira on my route. Maybe just to dream about it. My son and I have 14 days in the area and will be doing the Trousers-Cache, Lindsey, expedition, so I thought why not go check out the creek that leads that way. The bush whack will be interesting did you get an over view look at the terrain.


I have been trying to get an idea of it but it might be wishful thinking on my part. Yes I have studied the terrain extensively. It is a bitch!!! I have planned for two days to get from Cache to Zephira, even though it is only a mile from the creek. The first day will be with no canoe, only minimal , necessary gear. If I get lucky and make it in one day, which I think is very doubtful , I will camp on Zephira
And retrieve the canoe the following day. Realistically , I think it will be two days to reach the lake, another day to retrieve the canoe, and start fishing the 4th day of the adventure. iif luck is with me I will be fishing the evening of the first day, if not I am prepared to take my time and camp in the bush for as long as it takes. Safety will be the number 1 concern, but with MTXE I believe this dream is possible.


Let me know how it goes. I (like many others here are so excited for you and are anxious to hear about your adventure."
Elydog
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04/23/2015 06:58AM  
Good luck!!
TheBrownLeader
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04/23/2015 07:37AM  
Wallee,

I just read your trip report from Poobah a couple summers ago as I am going there. It was great, btw. Are you guys going in heavy again, or a little lighter for the bushwack?

TBL
04/24/2015 07:25AM  
Fairly light to cache, minimalist gear to Zephira. I will not scrimp on fishing gear. Will take depth finder, 4 or 5 rods, and tackle for a grand slam. Who knows what lurks in the depths of that God forsaken lake!!
04/24/2015 07:26AM  
Are yah going solo Wallee?
04/24/2015 07:30AM  
I have two people on the fence, but I am sure one of the two will commit soon.
DancesWithTrees
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04/24/2015 03:37PM  
quote walllee: "Fairly light to cache, minimalist gear to Zephira. I will not scrimp on fishing gear. Will take depth finder, 4 or 5 rods, and tackle for a grand slam. Who knows what lurks in the depths of that God forsaken lake!!"


wallee's going to come back covered in lacerations, with two weeks' facial hair and ranting incoherently about a 6 foot musky that got away (while showing a blurry image on an iPhone with a cracked screen).

;)

Have fun.


(yes I know there are know musky in the park, that's what makes the joke work)
04/24/2015 06:29PM  
quote DancesWithTrees: "
quote walllee: "Fairly light to cache, minimalist gear to Zephira. I will not scrimp on fishing gear. Will take depth finder, 4 or 5 rods, and tackle for a grand slam. Who knows what lurks in the depths of that God forsaken lake!!"



wallee's going to come back covered in lacerations, with two weeks' facial hair and ranting incoherently about a 6 foot musky that got away (while showing a blurry image on an iPhone with a cracked screen).


;)


Have fun.



(yes I know there are know musky in the park, that's what makes the joke work)
"
I'll boat that 6 foot son of a #€£¥ !!!
04/28/2015 05:48PM  
quote GirlOnARock: "
quote walllee: "I have two people on the fence, but I am sure one of the two will commit soon."



Who's on the fence list? Sounds like quite the endeavor to me! "

I was wondering if one of them might be GirlOnARock.
04/28/2015 06:15PM  
quote AndySG: "
quote GirlOnARock: "
quote walllee: "I have two people on the fence, but I am sure one of the two will commit soon."




Who's on the fence list? Sounds like quite the endeavor to me! "

I was wondering if one of them might be GirlOnARock. "
I don't know if she's man enough!!!
MagicPaddler
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05/20/2015 06:03AM  
quote GirlOnARock: "So factually or in all reality. Has anyone ever been here? I don't know the history of the lake...if they have, when was the last time?"

A board member named Stumpy wrote a poem about Zaphira about 10 years ago and that has inspired many dreams about Zaphira.
Poem
And
More Info
DancesWithTrees
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05/20/2015 10:18AM  
As MagicPaddler gets at, it's a lake that seems to have spawned quite a few dreams. No one on here seems to have gone or heard anyone who has.

I remember thinking about it a long time ago, because of what it is - a decent-sized named lake with no portage or passable water path to it, in the middle of the wildest part of the park. When I asked a Ranger once (this would have been in the 90s) at French Lake, she said she'd never heard of any canoesits going in there.

It's kind of a wilderness trophy.
05/20/2015 05:50PM  
Makes me wanna go there. Best of luck!
05/20/2015 08:46PM  
I ordered a CCS Bushcrafter pack to use on this expedition. I loaded it up tonight with all the gear I will be taking into Zephira and it weighed just 19 pounds. This is not counting food or water. I was suprised it was this light. I might have to go with my CCS Pioneer when it is all said and done. There is a little room left for food, but taking enough water is my issue since I do not know if I will make it from Cache to Zephira in 1/2 day or if it will take three days. Water will be heavy and bulky, but I sure the hell want to have enough.
MagicPaddler
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05/21/2015 06:57AM  
I have run out of water a couple of times. Spending the night in the woods a long way from any lake with cramps that I thought were related to dehydration was scary. I now carry a filter that would allow me to get a drink from almost any water hole. Your last good water will be Cache lake and there will be little carrying until you get up the creek most of the way. If you have extra water it will be of little additional effort until you are most of the way up the creek. Extra water could be left there and possibly used on the way out. From the fly over reports Zephira is dark water and that is another reason to carry a filter.
05/21/2015 06:23PM  
quote MagicPaddler: "I have run out of water a couple of times. Spending the night in the woods a long way from any lake with cramps that I thought were related to dehydration was scary. I now carry a filter that would allow me to get a drink from almost any water hole. Your last good water will be Cache lake and there will be little carrying until you get up the creek most of the way. If you have extra water it will be of little additional effort until you are most of the way up the creek. Extra water could be left there and possibly used on the way out. From the fly over reports Zephira is dark water and that is another reason to carry a filter. "
I will have two filters with me. At all times, but I will also be carrying at least 3 gallons of pre filtered with me. I want to be prepared if this mile takes me 2 or three days. I am not counting on any water holes along the way. If I find one great?, but I am not counting on it. Like I said before , I hope to do the mile in a good 15 hour day, but I will be prepared if the mile takes 3 days.
mastertangler
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05/24/2015 06:39AM  
Who doesn't love a good Bushwhack? Of course everything changes with an 17' boat on your head.......

I would probably take a few days.......Day 1 would be establishing the route. Not much gear.........just lots of bars, some rain gear (or space blanket) and some flagging tape and a good small saw like a silky. See if it will even go before committing. How does it look on Google Earth?

I would flag the route and cut any problem areas. That would also enable me to get to the lake and give it a look. Are there going to be campsites possible? If I decided it was a go I would be sure to flag my entry point at the lake so when I left I would start in the right spot. I have found that after walking a route a few times it becomes much easier. Be sure to remove your tape on the way out even if you use the biodegradable stuff.

I am a serious believer in wearing safety glasses while Bushwacking. And as someone who spent a lot of time in Beaver country as a lad I would be aware that if you follow the creek up watch for beaver cuttings..........you don't want to fall on one and get yourself impaled and watch out for their runs........one minute your tromping along and the next minute down you go.

Anyway thats my 2 cents FWIW. Have fun.........if you come back and tell us the fishing is terrible I will know to plan a trip there :-)
06/06/2015 10:07AM  
I did find a Quetico 17 Souris River that will be perfect for this trip!! Not pretty, but is seaworthy, and has the large skid plates. I am sure this boat will be pulled, just as much as it is carried on the trip from Cache to Zephira. Taking lots of Gurilla tape to fix any punctures that might( and probably will) happen. As far as a trip mate that is still up in the air. If not, I will tackle it solo.
Bogwalker
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06/08/2015 07:16AM  
Walllee,

If you end up going solo what canoe will you use then? The Souris River is great as a tandem but its awfully wide to be turned around and paddled solo.

I have always felt that tackling difficult bushwacks was better done with someone and not solo. Going tandem you have two minds to think through the challenges and situation, someone along in case something doesn't go well and just to help carry the load, someone to help figure out the trail, stay put when you have to try a different path or line of attack to keep track of where you have been. It is so easy to get turned around that having a second person just makes life a little easier. I'm not saying it can't be done but it is a lot easier.

I hope you end up going tandem-seems like going solo would make it that much tougher.
06/08/2015 09:12AM  
quote Bogwalker: "Walllee,


If you end up going solo what canoe will you use then? The Souris River is great as a tandem but its awfully wide to be turned around and paddled solo.


I have always felt that tackling difficult bushwacks was better done with someone and not solo. Going tandem you have two minds to think through the challenges and situation, someone along in case something doesn't go well and just to help carry the load, someone to help figure out the trail, stay put when you have to try a different path or line of attack to keep track of where you have been. It is so easy to get turned around that having a second person just makes life a little easier. I'm not saying it can't be done but it is a lot easier.


I hope you end up going tandem-seems like going solo would make it that much tougher."
I will take my Bell Wildfire if I go solo. Not in the least bit uncomfortable going solo. I have did similiar trips before.
Bogwalker
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06/08/2015 12:57PM  
Nice canoe if you have to go solo-I'm sure you can do it but it sure would be better with a partner-I hope someone steps forward for you. Would like to see photos and read the trip report when you get back.
06/08/2015 04:18PM  
I am planning a detailed trip report. I plan to Go - Pro as much of the Bushwack as possible. Taking a solar charger in case it turns into a multiple day ordeal. As much as I love the adventure part of the journey, the only reason I am going is to fish a spot that has not been touched for many years, it is funny, I have talked to the DNR , and even old timers in Atikokan who can not give me any info on the lake at all. I am hoping the library at Dawson Trail might give me some info, but not counting on it . I will probably know in the first few hours of fishing what kind of fishery I am dealing with , but my main goal is to give people a overview of the entire lake. If it is good, I will share all my GPS coordinates with anybody that has the balls to attempt this journey. I am hoping for a lake with ample Walleyes, and Northern. If by chance it is a deep fishery, I will be hunting Lakers. By deep I mean over 60 feet. If I can find a football field size area of 60 to 100 feet of depth, with some shallow water(20 to 30 feet) close by I will be a happy camper. Not only will I have a chance at a huge Laker, but I have caught some monster Walleye in these same situations. Now in reality, if I find the lake to hold only marginal fish, or no fish at all I will still enjoy every moment of the journey. I can't lie, if I don't have any luck my ass is heading to Mckenzie!!!!!!

.
SaganagaJoe
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06/09/2015 06:43PM  
I hope you make it man and definitely post some pics.
Laketrout58
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06/12/2015 09:42PM  
Good luck and be safe! Hope you find monster lakers in there! Marc
06/13/2015 02:16PM  
Just wondering what the plan is for a route? You must have some idea of the initial assault. NE up the creek and then crossover?
06/13/2015 02:23PM  
Yep, northeast up the creek, then due east. The day before that assalt I may check out the terrain around the two " beaver ponds" east of the southern end of Cache, I bought some detailed maps from a company that has much better detail then any other maps that I had found. Water levels would have to be high for this route, even to check it out. Most likely it will be the northeast route, with the mile walk in the park! (Ha Ha)
ArrowheadPaddler
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06/15/2015 08:27PM  
Out of curiosity, what kind of maps are you using?
vishnu
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06/17/2015 12:48AM  
walllee, are you going to tape your route? I know you've done this kind of expedition before and I'm sure you know what you're doing, but then again so do I and that hasn't kept me from getting lost on _two_ separate occasions when taking what would otherwise been "short" walks in the woods. The first time was in the woods behind the infamous lake formerly known as Jap (500-plus rod portage south of Seagull) in the BWCA, and the second was while exploring the original abandoned portage from McKenzie to Belaire Lake, on our way to the Wawiag river in the Q. If not for my companions hearing my shouted request for a "directional beacon," my bones might well be bleaching in either of those locations.
starryridge
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06/22/2015 04:58PM  
Hello Walllee.

Many times an overland route is easier than a creek, even though the brain says "you must be kidding". I took a look at both Bing maps and Google Earth. It's very hard to tell, but a lot of the walk from Cache to Zephira looks partially bare (logged? or maybe on granite) along this route:

645197E 5378590N (Cache) to
645947E 5378590N to
646406E 5379183N to
646964E 5379625N (near mouth of Zephira Creek)

The total length is 2.2 km according to GE and probably a lot longer in practice, but it looks dry. Nothing worse than being dumped in a bog at the end of a long portage.

It might be possible to put in farther up Zephira Creek and save a couple of hundred meters. Anyway, take a look.

We're all dying to read your trip report! Be safe.

Dave
06/22/2015 10:17PM  
quote starryridge: "Hello Walllee.


Many times an overland route is easier than a creek, even though the brain says "you must be kidding". I took a look at both Bing maps and Google Earth. It's very hard to tell, but a lot of the walk from Cache to Zephira looks partially bare (logged? or maybe on granite) along this route:


645197E 5378590N (Cache) to
645947E 5378590N to
646406E 5379183N to
646964E 5379625N (near mouth of Zephira Creek)


The total length is 2.2 km according to GE and probably a lot longer in practice, but it looks dry. Nothing worse than being dumped in a bog at the end of a long portage.


It might be possible to put in farther up Zephira Creek and save a couple of hundred meters. Anyway, take a look.


We're all dying to read your trip report! Be safe.


Dave"
Thanks Dave
Bogwalker
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07/11/2015 06:45AM  
Not sure if Walllee is leaving Illinois tomorrow or he is staged and headed for Zephira tomorrow but either way good luck and hope you get to Zephira. Look forward to hearing all about the adventure and the fishing.
07/11/2015 04:53PM  
Yeah I hope he reports in that the trip is a go.
GeoFisher
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07/14/2015 12:12PM  
quote Bogwalker: "Not sure if Walllee is leaving Illinois tomorrow or he is staged and headed for Zephira tomorrow but either way good luck and hope you get to Zephira. Look forward to hearing all about the adventure and the fishing."


Yea, I'm definitely looking forward to the trip report.
SaganagaJoe
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07/15/2015 02:41AM  
Good luck!
 
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