It's winter and I've got trip planning on my mind. It's pretty ambitious for me. 13 nights in the heart of Quetico using a lot of "back roads". Any advice is welcome.

1) Prairie portage through North Bay to camp on Side Lake.
2) & 3) Side into Sarah north to McIntyre then west thru no names into Earl for a layover.

4) & 5) From Earl into north McIntyre,east on Paulene, to Marj for another layover.
6) Marj thru Joyce to camp in north end of Kahshahpiwi

7) & 8) North into Trant then camp in north Hurlburt to layover
9) Hurlburt to Keewatin through the top of Agnes into Reid south to Silence.
10) & 11) Silence into big Agnes south to East Lake where I go west to Jeff Lake to layover and do the bushwhack into the no name just north of Jeff.

12)Jeff east thru North Bay south to Burke
13) built in wind day
Day 14 paddle back to outfitter

So I get a large sampling of small off the beaten path trails here.
My main concern is finding the portages. I'll have the Quetico Adventure map and MacKenzies for the trip. There are several bypasses to take in case of weather like using the "S" Chain home instead of riding the shore for miles down Agnes.

Going from Hurlburt through Keewatin and down to Silence seems like a huge day. Is this doable? Any info on the small lake north of Jeff would be appreciated.

not to sound smug, but why not just do it and c for yourself, adventure is the spice of life my friend!

Well, some sections of this route see very few visitors. I like to research where the portages REALLY are and where they conflict with maps. Going solo I like to be as prepared as possible, not so much when with a group.

I don't know anything about your route through Quetico, Tom, but I hope you have a really good trip. Enjoy yourself!

quote TomT: "Well, some sections of this route see very few visitors. I like to research where the portages REALLY are and where they conflict with maps. Going solo I like to be as prepared as possible, not so much when with a group. "

sounds exciting, good for you!
the last ten years i made my adventures by finding my own way.
that is why i responded as such. i understand what you are asking for.
my knee jerk response just came from ME doing things my way.
i have come to areas in the quetico, and bwca where i turned around due to, well, this just did not look right, but i still enjoyed it.
have fun with your trip tom.

Thanks man. I hear what you're saying. I do love me some adventure it's just that I've grown to distrust the maps location of portages. The one from Earl to Ted was off by 200 yards on Earl on a fisher map.

Then a more serious mistake on the unnamed from McIntyre to Earl had me going down a stinky 2 foot wide channel to nowhere at the end of the bay as the map said to do. the portage happened to be 50 yards back in the lake with a very difficult to see landing. That one cost me a lot of time and effort.

If anyone wants to join me for a few nights I'd be down with that. We could seperate and do proper solos after. Boonie?? Is 2016 the year you finally get to Quetico? I'll bake you a trout dinner on Earl. :)

Not 2016, Tom - I'm taking my sister to the BW, and I've got some date conflicts, but did read and consider your other post. Thanks for the thought though. I think I've gotten too old (out of shape) and need to get younger first ;).

i watched a u-tube film last night called "nine rivers."
4 guys paddled to hudson bay.
it was very well done. about 30 min. long.
talk about bushwhacking. bugs, rapids, weather. whew!
that was some tough going.

Gonna check it out, thanks.

Boonie, I ain't no spring chicken either brother. I use trips like this to motivate me to be in the best shape possible. I know as we age it's damn tough to stay in shape. We have to work a lot harder than our younger selves once did. This includes eating right. Don't ever resign yourself to liniting beliefs about your age. It's a number and is meaningless. Attitude is so much more important.

Here's what I do. Set a goal (my adventurous, difficult trip), develop daily habits by eating right and having a DAILY plan to be active. Maybe weight training 3-4 days a week and hiking (for me it's walking my dog) with a weighted pack and eventually wrist and ankle weights.

How much more will I enjoy this trip if I'm able to travel 6-8 hours and not be a complete wreck in camp the next day? It takes discipline but the benefits of staying fit will go far beyond your canoe trip.

Rant over, sorry. I just hate to hear resignation to our age. Fight that shit!

quote bwcasolo: "i watched a u-tube film last night called "nine rivers."
4 guys paddled to hudson bay.
it was very well done. about 30 min. long.
talk about bushwhacking. bugs, rapids, weather. whew!
that was some tough going."

+1 Ben, thanks for posting this. It's a good watch.

TomT, I've been on some of the parts of your planned route over the past 8 years or so. Great trip plan.

The southern route from McIntyre to Earl is really nice. The 2nd noname lake just prior to Earl is beautiful with white rock outcroppings all over. I've wanted to go back and stay a night or two as it would be max solitude and I'd like to see what lurks beneath the surface. I recall wasting almost an hour trying to find the portage take out in the NW corner at the end of the marsh (where I parked the canoe and stumbled around looking for signs of a trail--the actual portage starts about 100 yards south of the end of the bay on the western shoreline.

As your head from McIntyre to Marj, know that Paulene has an abundance of largemouth (nothing major, but lots of 12-14 inchers....I caught about 30 in about an hour just paddling across the northern shoreline a few years back. Once you get to Hurlburt, I doubt you'll see many paddlers, if any. Going all the way from Hurlburt to north Agnes and then down to Silence via Reid would be a really long day. I've done the portages between Silence and Reid on a solo trip--they weren't hard to find and not long, but a bit more rugged than most. I recall one take-out began at the end of a small pond in a knee-deep mudhole for about 10-15 yards and then an ankle busting boulder hop for a couple hundred yards that made the portage from Meadows into southern Agnes seem like a paved sidewalk. If it were me, instead of going all the way from Reid to Silence, I'd opt for the crystal-clear waters of Woodside (great campsite also) and maybe spend a layover day there instead of Reid or Silence.

Lastly, I've yet to spend any time on Jeff, but do plan to spend a couple nights there and fish that lake just to its north (I here it's got some good stuff).

I'm planning at least one Q trip this year, but haven't firmed up dates or plans yet. Also am planning to do a trip into the Lake Superior Provincial Park NW of Saulte St Marie and also an extended trip into the Temagami area in north-central Ontario.

What dates are your Q plans? I might be interested in visiting with you a couple nights on my Q solo...

quote PineKnot:

What dates are your Q plans? I might be interested in visiting with you a couple nights on my Q solo..."

Email sent. It's funny about that mismarked portage on the unnamed lake from McIntyre to Earl. That little bay is stinky! I was poling my boat in a very narrow channel following the trail of some other poor chap who did what the map said. I remember having to pole the boat out backwards for maybe 15 yards. I think what I'll do is compare my fishers and MacKenzies to the Chrismar and note any changes and defer to the Chrismar at first.

I drifted down the southern shore of Paulene in 2011 knowing there were largemouth and don't think I got a hit on my spinnerbait. Fishing is strange like that.

I like the Woodside idea. That area from Reid to Silence should be quiet.
Thanks for the good trail info. I'm really looking forward to this one.

Thanks for the pep talk, coach ;). I was in better shape two years ago when Steve and I looped from Kawishiwi through Little Sag to Sawbill. I need to get back to my hill walks and sand bag lifts :).

I did get a little walk in today and those hills are steep. I even lifted the sand bag, but it's gotten heavier - I don't know how it picked up so much water weight sitting in a dry basement with the dehumidifier running :).

I certainly don't want a repeat of last year!

quote TomT: "Well, some sections of this route see very few visitors. I like to research where the portages REALLY are and where they conflict with maps. Going solo I like to be as prepared as possible, not so much when with a group. "

TomT, I might be the outlier on this however I took me the better part of day to reach Isabella. That one is about 2 lakes shy of Side. I think others have made that trip faster. My mistake if you will was to choose a two-lake strategy to reach Isabella which seemed like a good place to stop around 5. There were alot of beaver dams coming north out of North Bay which slowed my progress. The next day I chose the "heartattack" hills which greatly slowed my advance.

I was aiming for Kahsh on day 2 and struggled to get there. It was early Spring (May) which perhaps was part of it. Wish I could get the time to do your route. Should be great fun!

Did you get a tow to PP? I've got the 1st tow lined up from outfitter so should be on the water after the ranger around 8:20. I've taken the creek route to Isabella twice in the past. Last time was 2001.

The weather could determine my progress but with luck I think I can be on Earl the PM of day 2. We'll see, my packs will be heavy. The heart attack hills nearly killed me literally in 2001. I was overpacked and it was hot and humid. Oooh... that was bad.

I would take the western route out of the unnamed after Isabella and avoid the heart attack hill portages- especially carrying weight. The western route is less traveled but I think it is much less stress. In September my brothers and I managed Kahshahpiwi on the first night (with a tow to Prairie).

quote Banksiana: "I would take the western route out of the unnamed after Isabella and avoid the heart attack hill portages- especially carrying weight. The western route is less traveled but I think it is much less stress. In September my brothers and I managed Kahshahpiwi on the first night (with a tow to Prairie)."

Yeah that's my plan but isn't "heart attack hill" the one from Side to Sarah? I don't think I can avoid that one. Where's my sherpa??

I remember in 2001 getting to the top with a very heavy pack in heat and humidity and laying down on my back thinking I was literally going to die. Very scary on a solo. I couldn't stop gasping for air and I stayed there for probably 10 minutes gathering myself.

Getting to Kahsh on day 1 is a nice feat. Did you single portage?

quote TomT: "Did you get a tow to PP? I've got the 1st tow lined up from outfitter so should be on the water after the ranger around 8:20. I've taken the creek route to Isabella twice in the past. Last time was 2001.

The weather could determine my progress but with luck I think I can be on Earl the PM of day 2. We'll see, my packs will be heavy. The heart attack hills nearly killed me literally in 2001. I was overpacked and it was hot and humid. Oooh... that was bad. "

Yes, I did the tow to PP. I also should have gone the creek route and single portaged into Isabella. Side lake into Sarah would be a good route to access McIntyre/Deer and Robinson for some great shoulder seadon fishing!

quote TomT: "

quote Banksiana: "I would take the western route out of the unnamed after Isabella and avoid the heart attack hill portages- especially carrying weight. The western route is less traveled but I think it is much less stress. In September my brothers and I managed Kahshahpiwi on the first night (with a tow to Prairie)."

Yeah that's my plan but isn't "heart attack hill" the one from Side to Sarah? I don't think I can avoid that one. Where's my sherpa?? ..."

I always take the short portages along the creek from Side into Sarah to avoid "heart attack hill" (creek starts a little north of the hill portage)....much easier as I double portage on my solo trips...

As Pineknot stated- take the creek to Sarah- two short portages (and a rocky pull over in low water), and a beautiful swamp creek paddle. Can be managed in very low water conditions.

I've usually heard the high route into Side as holding the heart attack hill portage, though I agree that the long portage to Sarah is more worthy of the name. Haven't taken it since I tried the creek route- and probably never will.

A great plan! Some of my favorite lakes.
I would offer a couple of thoughts: I have never seen a campsite to my liking on Side, take your time and go with Isabella instead.
Ditto with camping on Hulburt or Payne. I have been through a couple of times and checked several campsites and was not fond of any of them. They worked on one of my solos there but were not great.
The trip from there to Silence is doable. I was on a solo a couple of years ago and went from a campsite on Agnes just across from the portage to Silence and made it to Payne without too much difficulty.
I am nothing short of envious.

quote Banksiana: "As Pineknot stated- take the creek to Sarah- two short portages (and a rocky pull over in low water), and a beautiful swamp creek paddle. Can be managed in very low water conditions.

I've usually heard the high route into Side as holding the heart attack hill portage, though I agree that the long portage to Sarah is more worthy of the name. Haven't taken it since I tried the creek route- and probably never will."

That is very encouraging news. Thank you.

quote GraniteCliffs: "A great plan! Some of my favorite lakes.
I would offer a couple of thoughts: I have never seen a campsite to my liking on Side, take your time and go with Isabella instead.

Ditto with camping on Hulburt or Payne. I have been through a couple of times and checked several campsites and was not fond of any of them. They worked on one of my solos there but were not great.

The trip from there to Silence is doable. I was on a solo a couple of years ago and went from a campsite on Agnes just across from the portage to Silence and made it to Payne without too much difficulty.
I am nothing short of envious."

I've been thinking about the northern part of the route and just might forego Hurlburt and Keewatin in favor of going from Kahsh to Woodside to layover. Then go up and east into Reid and down to the unnamed lakes to camp before moving on through Agnes to Jeff.

Setting up and tearing down camp is something I don't really enjoy when solo. I think I prefer long travel days and then laying over so I'm gonna delete the northernmost section in favor of that.

Camping on Side lake would just be a pit stop for me. I wouldn't need much when there. A tent pad is all really. My dinner will be a subway sub. No fuss, no mess on the first day. My lunch is usually a sub sandwich with an apple. An Italian footlong hits the spot on day one.

On Silence,

there is a campsite on the point near the portage into Agnes... It is ok, but straight NW of that campsite is a bay. In the corner of that bay is the landing for a really nice site. Some of the maps have it on the NW side of the bay, but it is really closer to the little point on the West side of the bay. Whenever I go through Silence, this is my target.

sounds like a great trip.

What is your plan if you have a big southwest wind to contend with on that first day crossing Bailey Bay and then most concerning, North Bay? Would you hug the east shoreline of both bays, bucking the waves but staying close to shore in case of capsize, or head due west after the portage into North Bay, sort of along the shore, to avoid the biggest open water crossing, and get into Nest, I think it is, before turning north to head toward Side?

quote thinblueline: "What is your plan if you have a big southwest wind to contend with on that first day crossing Bailey Bay and then most concerning, North Bay? Would you hug the east shoreline of both bays, bucking the waves but staying close to shore in case of capsize, or head due west after the portage into North Bay, sort of along the shore, to avoid the biggest open water crossing, and get into Nest, I think it is, before turning north to head toward Side?"

Yeah, it's a roll of the weather dice when crossing Bayley Bay. I'll hole up on the island out of inlet Bay if the waves are bad. Crossing to Burke Portage is not to be taken lightly. If I can't make it on day one i'll make camp and be on the water before daylight on day two. Just hope for the best and don't take risks on the big water. I'd probably cross to the west shore on North Bay if possible.

What concerns me too is having my dog get startled and jump out of the boat. On my last solo in 2013 I accidentally touched her head when moving a fishing rod and she just bailed out on me over the side. Luckily it was calm water and shore was 20 yards away. She swam there and I picked her up.

Normally she's very good in the boat but it's something to be aware of on big water. I might try lifting her in the boat by her vest handle while on the water this summer. She's about 50 lbs dry but soaking wet .... different story.

If stuck due to winds there is a very nice site on Inlet Bay next to the portage to Poacher. Sand beach, sheltered tent site, very little use. You can also avoid big water by going to Poacher and onto Sunday- reverses your route, but you're moving.....

That's why I love to cheat and bring a weather radio. I think going to Poacher would have to happen if the forecast is really unfavorable. Having 13 nights gives a lot of flexibility.

Last August I crossed Bayley Bay in pretty bad conditions and we holed up on John's Island in North Bay unable to get back on the water for two days due to wind. The rest of the week was fine.

Tom, in 2014 we utilized your mistakes to get from McIntyre to Ted. Found all those portages easily.
For your first part....Izz to Sarah, you may want to look at the route we used to avoid the Heart Attack Hills.

Thanks Cowdoc. I'll print that out for myself. I'm hoping to get to Sarah on day one if I can. This route makes me think it's doable.