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BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
02/17/2016 06:52PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Ok, it's February. I keep looking at maps. Thinking about where to go. I've been there before, but not there.

This year, I think I may try to get to Rom Lake. I'd love to hear from others who may have been there, or thought about it. My previous posts talk about it. I'm thinking it's an easy-ish (if uphill) hike from This Man Lake.

My travel partners - including my son - have all deserted me. (The son is going with friends of his own. I'm not invited this year, even though I led the trip last year. Natural order of things.) So it's a solo. I'm good with that. June sounds good. Long days.

If I make Rom, should I go on and try to make Louisa? That would be a story!

I want to know what fish are in Rom. Want to know if there is a campsite. Want to see it with my own eyes.

If you've been there, please post back.

It's February.
 
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02/17/2016 08:13PM  
Rom is a bushwack lake,no trail and glad we have lakes like that. Good luck if you try to make it from Man lake to Louise-you might be the first person to make it-ever.
Eyedocron
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02/17/2016 10:32PM  
There was a discussion thread on this site a couple of years ago about going from the Glacier-Louisa connections to the Man Chain I think through Rom. If so, we can bump it up for continuing discussion. If I recall, it has been done but rarely.
OldGreyGoose
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02/18/2016 09:14AM  
Question was asked on the QJ site about 6-7 years ago...
"Kiporby" replied:
"According to Rom's book the portage to his lake is in two parts. The first part followed a stream to a small pond named 'Rog' Lake after his little brother. West from there he blazed a trail to Rom Lake. Apparently, Rom Lake is pretty shallow and he didn't think there were any fish."

No one else had and information back then. Hope this helps.
--Goose
02/18/2016 09:37AM  
I have bush wacked some in the vicinity and it was mostly in the winter and I just know portaging a canoe would take a little time and endurance. Would be a interesting challenge and accomplishment.
02/18/2016 12:04PM  
I was on This Man Lake last summer. Those cliffs along the north shore are high and steep. Getting up to Rom Lake should be "FUN".
02/18/2016 01:19PM  
quote Kiporby: "I was on This Man Lake last summer. Those cliffs along the north shore are high and steep. Getting up to Rom Lake should be "FUN"."


Isn't that one awesome pretty lake.
Eyedocron
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02/18/2016 07:13PM  
There are parts of the Quetico that are not reachable unless you are crazy and have far too much time on your hands. Several times, I have wished there was an east west connection between the Glacier area and Agnes to the west or eastward into the Man chain. If you look at the absence of small connecting lakes, and especially if you look at the topo maps, you will understand why these connections are not there. There is just nothing to go through like you can do in the S Chain.
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
02/18/2016 08:31PM  
That's certainly true. I've learned over the 35 years I've been going to Quetico that the portages are where they are for a reason. And where they're not, it's for a reason too - as much as we might want them to be.

But that doesn't stop me from wanting to get off the beaten path, even if it gets me beaten.

If you look at the Bing Maps of Quetico (better than the Google for this area) it looks like you ought to be able to get to the top of the cliffs and follow some of the high ridges to within about .3 miles of the lake. That's when you hit the stream and other complications. The high ground there burned about 7 years ago and it looks like some of the rock may still be pretty clear. Worth a scouting trip at least. My thought is to take a day trip without the canoe, then if it's doable take the boat the next day.

That cliff is something and This Man is a mighty fine lake.
02/18/2016 09:49PM  
According to Rom's book, they followed the creek up to the Rog Lake and then went west to Rom lake. You can see that valley where the creek is. I didn't get close enough to gauge how thick the woods were.
BearMandolin
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04/19/2016 09:47AM  
Ok, Rom Lake it is. I'm headed in May 21. I'll try the bushwack to Rom and hope to spend at least one night there. If it's not too bad I may try to get to Louisa via the four lakes to the west. I'll report back!
04/19/2016 03:28PM  
I've been on the lakes to the west and went north to Louisa during the 2010 bushwackers jamboree. The trick to hitting Louisa is not ending up on a cliff face when you reach the lake.

It's bushwacking. That area has a lot of drastic change in elevation. It isn't easy but it can be done with some sweat and swearing... and a good crew.

Hex

P.S. Haven't been to Rom
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
04/22/2016 09:14AM  
Looks like I'm solo on this one. My son backed out, which is his option (he's leading a trip later in the summer). I'm still going to try to spend a day or more on Rom, but that puts the `wack to Louisa out of reach. I'm not willing to pay the possible "idiot upcharge" on the rescue!
05/04/2016 06:00PM  
This sounds like quite an adventure. You're entry is just about 2 weeks out now. I really want to see your trip report.
05/05/2016 09:57AM  
My suggestion,is hike into Rom first to see if it is feasible to take a canoe in there?
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
05/05/2016 01:16PM  
That's my plan: Camp at the site on the west side of This Man near the creek. I'll take a reconnaissance hike to scout the possible routes and determine feasibility. Google Maps shows the distance from This Man to Rom at about 3000', but there's a substantial elevation increase. Then if it's possible start early the next day with the portage. My plan is at least one night camping on Rom. I want to explore, fish, chart bottom depths and maybe check out the 400' carry to the small pocket lake to the northwest. I'll report back either way.
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
05/05/2016 01:31PM  
By the way, I'm still researching options for a GPS. Any suggestions?
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
05/19/2016 01:29PM  
I'm headed north today, and into QPP on Saturday morning. I'll report back - hopefully with pictures of Rom!
Fishwhisperer22
senior member (63)senior membersenior member
  
05/19/2016 07:31PM  
Good luck!
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
06/01/2016 11:21AM  
I got back from my trip last Saturday. Great six nights in the Park with a loop from Prairie Portage through the Man Chain to Sag, then down through Lily Pad and Jasper to Ottertrack and Knife. Back through the Marten-Mink-Fisher-Beaver chain to Carp and on home. Great mix of weather and other adventures.

Rom was pretty inaccessible from the routes I tried. The climb up the hill was something and I can't imagine doing it with gear without sherpas (or teenagers). It was a tough bushwack. The top of the hill was hot and frighteningly dry when I was there, and the 2006 burn left 10' high jack pine and birch - almost impenetrable. The route up the stream wasn't much better. I'll bet I got about half way to Rom.

Funny story: I had my 10.5 year old Lab Hank with me. He really didn't like the bushwack since he had to go through rather than over all the deadfall. I was getting a little concerned at finding my way back to the boat from the top of the hill, but when I finally said, "Okay Hank, I've had enough. Let's go back to the boat." He turned around and took us step by step back the way we came.

Who needs a GPS when you've got a YLR (yellow labrador retriever)?
06/01/2016 11:33AM  
quote BearMandolin: "I got back from my trip last Saturday. Great six nights in the Park with a loop from Prairie Portage through the Man Chain to Sag, then down through Lily Pad and Jasper to Ottertrack and Knife. Back through the Marten-Mink-Fisher-Beaver chain to Carp and on home. Great mix of weather and other adventures.


Rom was pretty inaccessible from the routes I tried. The climb up the hill was something and I can't imagine doing it with gear without sherpas (or teenagers). It was a tough bushwack. The top of the hill was hot and frighteningly dry when I was there, and the 2006 burn left 10' high jack pine and birch - almost impenetrable. The route up the stream wasn't much better. I'll bet I got about half way to Rom.


Funny story: I had my 10.5 year old Lab Hank with me. He really didn't like the bushwack since he had to go through rather than over all the deadfall. I was getting a little concerned at finding my way back to the boat from the top of the hill, but when I finally said, "Okay Hank, I've had enough. Let's go back to the boat." He turned around and took us step by step back the way we came.


Who needs a GPS when you've got a YLR (yellow labrador retriever)?"


The nose helps.
Bill Rom had a heck of a time getting in there 40 years ago.I think he just hiked in?
Thanks for report. Man Chain and its clear water is just awesome.
BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
06/01/2016 11:57AM  
Man Chain is awesome. By the way, I can not recommend the Marten-Mink portage. the last 200 feet is a bad bog.
inspector13
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06/01/2016 12:27PM  

My how things change in 32 years. That was just a grassy meadow when I was there.

BearMandolin
senior member (72)senior membersenior member
  
06/01/2016 01:13PM  
It's deep now. Damn deep.
 
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