I'm thinking ahead to a trip next August with a Beaverhouse put-in, then into Cirrus to Sue Falls, down to Kasakakwog, then into Quetico Lake and circling back to Beaverhouse and out. My research tells me that it's about 38 miles, the portages (few that they are) are manageable and there are plenty of good to very good campsites to choose from.

NOTE: I will have visited the ranger station in Atikokan, so no trip to the BH ranger station is needed.

Looks like 4-days, 3-nights, or 5-days, 4-nights at most... and it very well could be my first solo in my Wenonah Prism.

Thoughts on the loop? Suggestions?

Group solo?

That's the exact route I took at time of Pagami Creek Fire. My first solo. Only the portage from Cirrus to Kasakakwog is tough at all. I took 5 nights but could have easily been out after 3. Spent last two on Beaverhouse and read a couple books. Plenty of great sites.

Canoe42: "Group solo?"

Not out of the question, Dave. I have an annual business event in central Minnesota that takes place in August so I thought, since I was halfway there, I'd bring my Prism and head into Q for a few days. We'll have to talk about it. If not this trip, another one.

billconner: "That's the exact route I took at time of Pagami Creek Fire. My first solo. Only the portage from Cirrus to Kasakakwog is tough at all. I took 5 nights but could have easily been out after 3. Spent last two on Beaverhouse and read a couple books. Plenty of great sites."

Bill, thanks for chiming in. I knew there was someone who had taken that route and I thought it was you, but wasn't sure. I might be bouncing some questions off of you, but the route is pretty straightforward. As long as the wind cooperates, right?

Despite having heard how difficult it is to find landing on that portage from Cirrus to Kasakakwog, it still took ma a long time with Chrismar, Fischer, and MacKenzie maps out to find it.

Otherwise very straight forward. Enjoyed poking around Edens Island, pictos, and that pond north off east end of Edens.

Probably could have made the loop in one, two for sure, nights. I spent a lot of time poking around coves, etc., something that becomes easy and more possible solo.

I found Cirrus a little choppy, a few white caps, as the westerlies really build up on the length. And the north shore of Cirrus is unique.

I should gave used the extra time to go southwest in BH. Looked interesting.

Four days/Three nights is plenty of time...It'll give you some time to explore, fish, nap, read, torture deer flies, etc. OF course, more time is usually better. :)

+1
Did that route a few years ago with some newbies. Very easily done in 4 days/3 nights. Could be subject to winds but you could exit from anywhere in 1 day. Caught LT and eyes on all the lakes.

I'm looking for a N. Side route to take either with a newbie or as a solo. Probably looking at a late August trip.

Would this be a good option? It sounds that one portage is difficult. I'm more concerned about big water + noob.

It was my first solo - and very first time in a solo canoe. Other than those first one or two loading/unloading wobbles, it's a great route to break in on. I took the portage from near BH access to West end of Cirrus. Avoided bad first day weather. So many options to shorten trip, and a few to lengthen. The Cirrus-Kasakokwog portage is not a killer, just quite a bit of elevation. I ate lunch at the top and recommend it.

Sounds like something to look into then!

Thanks much.

Pete -

I'll be making my 4th trip to that area in mid-June, so if you are in the mood for some recent "intel" give me a buzz.

For those seeking to do the Cirrus to Kas portage, you need to make sure insure you have somewhat recent maps. An old portage used to exist on the east side of a small notch bak as the SW slope of the shoreline changes to more westerly. The new portage is along an unremarkable stretch of shoreline roughly 750 yards west of the old portage. It is a bit difficult to spot since it angles to the right as it leaves the shoreline and goes uphill (not much of a visual marker to catch as your cruise by).

Is it difficult. The last time I did it was under less than ideal conditions, since the previous night's downpour made it somewhat sloppy. But how hard could it be ... I was 70 the last time I did it; and I carried a bit of extra weight across (check out BWJ article ... Jim Carrier, "A Little Help from My Friend", Winter 2016, p. 39 ... btw, you won't find this in the BWJ index ... let's just say there was a copyright dispute over a photograph.)

dd

Thanks Wayne... I'll reach out to you after June. Really looking forward to it.