I have a permit reserved on July 25 for the Basswood river (on our way to Argo-Darky), and we decided to forgo the tow this year and paddle to Prairie portage and then to the Basswood River. Wind permitting, we will paddle across Bayley Bay and take the main lake (instead of going through Burke and North Bay).

Anyway, my Chrismar map of the Quetico shows a portage that cuts off Canadian Point (Leaves from Big Merriam Bay). Anyone been on this portage? I don't see it on my Fisher map.

Thanks

Not sure about that one. I would follow US shore to mitigate wind. Hoist & Back bays. Portage to Pipestone bay, hug west shore to the river.

With any luck you'll be on Crooked on 2nd night.

quote old_salt: "Not sure about that one. I would follow US shore to mitigate wind. Hoist & Back bays. Portage to Pipestone bay, hug west shore to the river.

With any luck you'll be on Crooked on 2nd night."

I will be in the BWCA on a day permit, so if I took that route I would either have to stop early (Canadian point) or put in a 25 plus mile day to make it to the Basswood river so I can camp on Canadian soil.

My son and I had no great difficulty - with only a very light breeze albeit - towing to PP and getting to Q site at top of Upper Basswood Falls. Adding paddle to PP would have made it hard. On the other hand, I'm not sure that portage would save a lot of time. I like those islands around Canadian Point. Whatever you do, ask rangers at PP about that portage.

Yes there is one,it has been about 4 years since I took it. It was in the northwest corner of Merriam bay. Chris the Quetico Ranger mentioned it to us that we should just try it and they had just cleared out the portage. I know some maps show it. It was fairly flat.
I don't know why they wouldn't,but I don't know if they continued to maintain it.
It would save a lot of paddling.

We came from North Basswood to Wind bay-to Wind lake and than Moose lake on the way home a couple of times.
We did the cut across because it helped some to avoid fairly strong winds on Basswood that day.

quote marsonite: "I have a permit reserved on July 25 for the Basswood river (on our way to Argo-Darky), and we decided to forgo the tow this year and paddle to Prairie portage and then to the Basswood River. Wind permitting, we will paddle across Bayley Bay and take the main lake (instead of going through Burke and North Bay).

Anyway, my Chrismar map of the Quetico shows a portage that cuts off Canadian Point (Leaves from Big Merriam Bay). Anyone been on this portage? I don't see it on my Fisher map.

Thanks"

Like I mentioned we took it,but it is interesting,looking at my Chrismar map- copyright date is 2004 it does not show the portage. Like I said we talked to the Ranger and he talked about just reopening and working on the portage.

What is the copyright date on your map? Bet you have a updated map showing the portage.

Copyright date is in the lower right corner-where it says about this map.Bottom of page 1 below colorful Quetico cover.

quote Pinetree: "

quote marsonite: "I have a permit reserved on July 25 for the Basswood river (on our way to Argo-Darky), and we decided to forgo the tow this year and paddle to Prairie portage and then to the Basswood River. Wind permitting, we will paddle across Bayley Bay and take the main lake (instead of going through Burke and North Bay).


Anyway, my Chrismar map of the Quetico shows a portage that cuts off Canadian Point (Leaves from Big Merriam Bay). Anyone been on this portage? I don't see it on my Fisher map.


Thanks"

Like I mentioned we took it,but it is interesting,looking at my Chrismar map- copyright date is 2004 it does not show the portage. Like I said we talked to the Ranger and he talked about just reopening and working on the portage.


What is the copyright date on your map? Bet you have a updated map showing the portage.


Copyright date is in the lower right corner-where it says about this map.Bottom of page 1 below colorful Quetico cover."

Thanks Pinetree! Yes my map is copyright 2010 so that explains it. I will ask about the portage at PP.

It's not just about saving time. I'm not a big fan of big lake paddles so I'd be looking to stretch my legs. And if the wind is up, sure would be nice to duck into Big Merriam bay. We always are pretty relaxed on our first day. I always feel the real trip doesn't start until the second day.

I would still think about a very early tow to PP, saving time, getting to customs right as they open, and being on BWood before the "normal" summer winds might kick up. That should also ensure you make it to the river. I never liked paddling th moose chain with motorboats zooming by.

I see so many decrying the Moose to PP paddle I need to sing its praises. However, I likevitvin the afternoon, when there is little motor traffic even in August. Especially entering thevQ, head up late afternoon before Q date, the 5 sites between Sucker and Ensign are usually open, cheaper than a bunkhouse, and first at PP ranger - no customs - in the morning. Hit Basswood before 8:00 and the falls are yours by 2:00 or 3:00. Guess I didn't come to BWCAW to ride in an aluminum dkiff with an outboard.

YMMV - but I like to paddle Moose and find it easy to stay clear of the motors. Works well for those who drive and can get to rly mid afternoon.

quote billconner: "I see so many decrying the Moose to PP paddle I need to sing its praises. However, I likevitvin the afternoon, when there is little motor traffic even in August. Especially entering thevQ, head up late afternoon before Q date, the 5 sites between Sucker and Ensign are usually open, cheaper than a bunkhouse, and first at PP ranger - no customs - in the morning. Hit Basswood before 8:00 and the falls are yours by 2:00 or 3:00. Guess I didn't come to BWCAW to ride in an aluminum dkiff with an outboard.


YMMV - but I like to paddle Moose and find it easy to stay clear of the motors. Works well for those who drive and can get to rly mid afternoon."

The Moose to Prairie Portage takes us 90-95 minutes. Leave the Moose lake landing 1 hour before opening time,you are only 0.5 hours after opening and getting there when the early birds getting done.
Wait for the rush is over the first couple of hours like Bill says,and Moose will be quieter from boats,but not empty.

If you can leave at sunrise you can miss it all usually,if it is light before 5:30.

My attitude is a little different this year because two weeks after I come back from the quetico my wife and I are going to Wabakimi for three weeks. We are going on this first trip to the Q because my daughter didn't want to miss out completely. (She can't do three weeks)

So my attitude is why rush anywhere? The second my paddle hits the water I'm done with schedules. If the wind is up on Basswood, so be it. We could camp early or head for north bay (and hang a left for Basswood River). via Burke or even Poacher.

I agree the Moose lake paddle is nothing to avoid. I've paddled it on the way out about three times. It's a nice way to transition into the "real" world or via versa if going the other direction. I understand if you have limited time or you're dying to get to lake x for some fishing a tow is great but that's not the kind of trip I'm taking this year.

To many people are in a hurry it seems.

Just a bit of follow up: I found the portage no problem, and it was a piece of cake. The landings are a little mucky, nothing you would want to take a group of four canoes through, but just fine by Quetico standards.

We stopped at a 2 star site on a small island at the end of Norway point (we were done in by the heat). In the morning we wished we had paddled into Merriam bay because there are some nice sites in there and it is quite scenic (and off of the boat highway on Bayley Bay.) Next time...

quote marsonite: "Just a bit of follow up: I found the portage no problem, and it was a piece of cake. The landings are a little mucky, nothing you would want to take a group of four canoes through, but just fine by Quetico standards.


We stopped at a 2 star site on a small island at the end of Norway point (we were done in by the heat). In the morning we wished we had paddled into Merriam bay because there are some nice sites in there and it is quite scenic (and off of the boat highway on Bayley Bay.) Next time...


"

I though Merriam bay would be worth a day or so exploring sometime.