BWCA WCPP portage report and fire info Boundary Waters Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
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      WCPP portage report and fire info     

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Marten
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07/03/2015 08:30AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
http://www.canoeing.com/vb/showthread.php?t=238 WCPP Park portage and fire info
 
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KerryG
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07/03/2015 09:05AM  
Helpful. Thanks Martin.
 
dentondoc
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07/03/2015 04:36PM  
In addition to the fire reported between Wrist Lake and Hansen Lake (Red Lake #25) referenced in the above link, there are currently 3 additional fires in the northern section of the park:

Red Lake # 46: Extreme western Sabourin Lake (near where the lake narrows back into a Bloodvein River channel that ultimately leads to Barkley Lake)

Red Lake #44: Between NE Larus Lake and SE Thicketwood Lake

Red Lake #24: Between, but north of Beaver and Pickerel Lakes.

You might want to check on with the park office and the Ontario MNR web site for more or less current fire infomation before proceeding into the park. Apparently all of these fires were caused by lightening strikes.

Safe travels

dd
 
KerryG
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07/03/2015 05:18PM  
Now I'm doubly glad I decided not to do the northern route I'd originally planned.
 
hobbydog
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07/03/2015 07:49PM  
I just went through these areas. The day I finished up I dodged thunderstorms all day. Got caught in one on the last few minutes of the trip. No place to hide. Saw a flash/boom less than a a couple seconds away just as i got to shore.
 
07/03/2015 08:25PM  
Ooopppsss!
 
07/03/2015 09:36PM  
Guess we better have a backup plan.
 
dentondoc
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07/03/2015 11:49PM  
quote hobbydog: "I just went through these areas. The day I finished up I dodged thunderstorms all day. Got caught in one on the last few minutes of the trip. No place to hide. Saw a flash/boom less than a a couple seconds away just as i got to shore. "

I've been in the woods when a thunderstorm came by. You know you are close when there is no timelag between the flash and the boom. You know you are REAL close when can instantly smell the ozone. Under those circumstances, its more like an explosion made even more real when there are chunks of wood flying by you.

dd

BTW: I do seem to remember reading that WCPP is in a area which has a very significant number of lightening strikes.
 
dentondoc
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07/11/2015 04:27PM  
New Fires (yesterday and today):

Red Lake #51 (identified yesterday): between Upper Kilburn and Paull -- probably cause is lightening and listed as "under control"

Red Lake #52 (identified today): eastern shore of Page Lake on the route between Hatchet and Indian House -- probably cause lightening and listed as "not under control"

Previously noted fires:

Red Lake #25: on the route between Wrist and Hansen -- listed as "being observed" but has grown to 1800 ha in size

I would suggest anyone heading in soon should check with the park staff or their outfitter before their put-in. It is always good to have a back-up plan (including different routing options) should the need arise.

dd

 
Marten
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07/11/2015 08:30PM  
The park report at the start of this thread has this update:

Please Note: Fire, Red #25 in the vicinity of Wrist Lake no longer poses a risk to paddlers at this time. The two canoe routes that were closed in the area (Wrist to Hanson, Wrist to Haven) have been reopened. Closure posters will be retrieved within a day or two. Portage maintenance will occur on affected trails in this area within two weeks.

I take that as good news for the park, recent rains have done some good. More rain in the forecast too.
 
07/11/2015 10:41PM  
quote Marten: "The park report at the start of this thread has this update:


Please Note: Fire, Red #25 in the vicinity of Wrist Lake no longer poses a risk to paddlers at this time. The two canoe routes that were closed in the area (Wrist to Hanson, Wrist to Haven) have been reopened. Closure posters will be retrieved within a day or two. Portage maintenance will occur on affected trails in this area within two weeks.


I take that as good news for the park, recent rains have done some good. More rain in the forecast too."


Yeah, good news! Thanks Marten.
 
dentondoc
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07/13/2015 04:19PM  
quote dentondoc: "Red Lake #52 (identified today): eastern shore of Page Lake on the route between Hatchet and Indian House -- probably cause lightening and listed as "not under control""

This fire has apparently been extinguished since it is no longer listed on the "active fires" Ontario MNR web page ... not overly surprising since it is on a route that is reasonably popular.

dd
 
Que
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07/19/2015 11:21PM  
Folks,

We have had a good number of lightning fires in WCPP this summer and most fires have been monitored - allowed to run their course. Conditions have been dry but we recently received considerable rain... so it should quiet down a little.

I wanted to stress upon our responsibility as backcountry campers. Although all fires to date have been cause by lightning, I have also received 3 reports of campers coming upon a smoldering campfire left by other campers. It doesn't hurt to remind everyone to please ensure your fire is DEAD out before lifting camp.

It is great seeing folks making use of the Ontario Forest Fire website to stay current on fire conditions in our neck of the woods. Again here is the link:
Ontario Forest Fires

Keep the trip reports coming. We rely on your information to inform others of the portage conditions, fishing, etc...
 
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