I got back earlier this week and finally got a few pictures to post. I went from Garner to Irregular Lake. Fished 4 days and then back out. It was on the warm side the day I entered. I was a bit concerned about the portages being open since Claire said there not reports of entry at Garner due to the fire. For the most part there was not much issue. On the 3rd port (850 meters) I couldn't get to where I thought the portage started due to high water (current) and some obstruction that turned out to be not that bad. I figured out I would find the portage and since it is mostly rock and cairns it should be easy to find. Despite having a GPS I saw parts of WCPP nobody else will see. Long story short....I did find the portage when I got to Jester Lake. The long version is a wing night story.







It rained as soon as I set up camp and rained all night and the next day. I stayed put.
Water levels were much high this trip than on the last trip through this area.






Good weather once I got to Irregular. Rain at night and light winds. Muskie fishing was ok, nothing big. I had never caught a Muskie before so it was a good experience. Nice camp site with a nice sunset porch.






Some of you who traveled this route might recognize this camp site. It is the little island site at the split to Haggert and Mather Lake . It got toasted really hard by the fire. There were lots of green areas in the burn zone. Brown areas where the under fire killed the tree. Areas that were crowns burned (black) and then there were the scorched areas. This are was pretty scorched.



Lots of areas like this where the fire took the crowns and right next to it green.





A few more pictures...

Thanks for the report-glad you enjoyed the journey and caught some fish. Good to know what the water levels are for our upcoming trip.

Irregular lake before the fire was one of the prettiest lakes I had ever seen. I am glad to see it is not as bad as I had thought or was led to believe. Sounds like it was a cool trip, I like the pics. The birds.....Mergansers? Is that what they are called? In spite of my quiet paddling they always flee before I can get close, great shot!

I for one would love to hear the long version of your trip.........my Wing Nights are in the land far, far away from the Twin Cities.

Thanks for the update. Interesting how those green areas survived. How much burned on Irregular?

quote mastertangler: "Irregular lake before the fire was one of the prettiest lakes I had ever seen. I am glad to see it is not as bad as I had thought or was led to believe. Sounds like it was a cool trip, I like the pics. The birds.....Mergansers? Is that what they are called? In spite of my quiet paddling they always flee before I can get close, great shot!

I for one would love to hear the long version of your trip.........my Wing Nights are in the land far, far away from the Twin Cities. "

Yes, they are Mergansers They were sitting sunning on the rocks on Garner Lake. I thought they looked a little like lemmings going over a cliff.


The area by the camp site you stayed at was the only area on Irregular that burned. Here is a picture of that camp site now.

quote Marten: "Thanks for the update. Interesting how those green areas survived. How much burned on Irregular?"

Maybe a mile long section in the NW corner. One of my motivations for taking this route was to see the burn area. I did parts of this route in 2013 so it was interesting to see the change. Fire is what makes WCPP a cool place so why avoid these areas. On my trip last year I thought the area between Haven and Wrist were some of the coolest areas with all the Jack Pine regrowth well underway. They have already started to sprout.

Great photos. Thanks for those. I'll be interested to read your review of your route. I've looked at that western entry for some time now as a possible future trip.

quote hobbydog: "

quote Marten: "Thanks for the update. Interesting how those green areas survived. How much burned on Irregular?"

Maybe a mile long section in the NW corner. One of my motivations for taking this route was to see the burn area. I did parts of this route in 2013 so it was interesting to see the change. Fire is what makes WCPP a cool place so why avoid these areas. On my trip last year I thought the area between Haven and Wrist were some of the coolest areas with all the Jack Pine regrowth well underway. They have already started to sprout.


"

Thanks for the update and pics. +1 on your thoughts about the burn areas.

Thanks H-dog. Great info on the route and post-fire condition of the park. Very nice photos as well.

Just curious what you were carrying during your walkabout. If it was the canoe, I'm very impressed and very sympathetic at the same time.

quote AndySG: "
Just curious what you were carrying during your walkabout. If it was the canoe, I'm very impressed and very sympathetic at the same time."

I only had my CCS Rucksack...about 15 Lb and drybag with misc loose items... gps, inreach, water filter, Nalgene , etc. I had a full Nalgene and it was empty when I got to the other end.

quote hobbydog: "

quote AndySG: "
Just curious what you were carrying during your walkabout. If it was the canoe, I'm very impressed and very sympathetic at the same time."

I only had my CCS Rucksack...about 15 Lb and drybag with misc loose items... gps, inreach, water filter, Nalgene , etc. I had a full Nalgene and it was empty when I got to the other end. "

Reply appreciated. Good call.