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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum This year's trip |
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01/14/2019 07:31PM
I have been going to Quetico the last six trips, but this year I’m taking a newbie and want to break him in more gently. Was thinking about a Lake One EP and base camping at Insula. I know it’s a popular lake and it was affected by the Pagami fire.
Questions are, how arduous are the portages? How long would it take a bumbling crew to get there? How did the fire affect things? What might campsite availability be like May 20? How is the fishing, which is a high priority? We switched to Quetico mainly for the better fishing.
Thanks for the help.
Questions are, how arduous are the portages? How long would it take a bumbling crew to get there? How did the fire affect things? What might campsite availability be like May 20? How is the fishing, which is a high priority? We switched to Quetico mainly for the better fishing.
Thanks for the help.
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01/15/2019 08:21AM
I'd say the portages are all on the easy side for BWCA portages. The first couple are like super-highways; flat, smooth, and wide. The last as I recall has a little hill or two, but still on the easy side overall. Someone else will have to coach on fishing.
01/15/2019 12:22PM
The fire damage was mostly south of a line from the numbered lakes to Insula and beyond. Most of the campsites are on the north end of Insula and not affected, and there are some nice sites. I visited a couple years after the fire and regrowth is phenomenal. The view of the terrain without its usual coat of vegetation was also a positive for me. A nice side trip down the river to Alice and if you want to day trip on over to Fire to cliff jump or see the native art is an option. Some nice fishing along the way I have been told.
Portages are heavily used and pretty easy with decent landings. The last portage into Insula ends on the east with a steep drop, but otherwise not bad and it is the most difficult of the trip.
Portages are heavily used and pretty easy with decent landings. The last portage into Insula ends on the east with a steep drop, but otherwise not bad and it is the most difficult of the trip.
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