Thursday, June 19, 2025 This campsite (Kekekabic 1407) was not one I had found a rating on. It was nice that it was open, but it didn't have a lot going for it. It is very shallow close in, so I had to wade out to get the bucket to sink below the surface for water, Rocks at the landing made getting the canoe unloaded difficult. The fire grate is very exposed, and the only tree is not reachable to hang anything from. The kitchen is elevated above the rest of the site and not easy to climb up to. It probably would have been better if it wasn't raining and we could have gotten the cooking supplies organized up on top, but we had most of them down below under a large piece of Tyvek to keep stuff dry. The best things about the site was we found an area for the tent that was level, and the latrine was in a nice open glade and fairly newly installed.

We got up late since we were tired and we could hear what sounded like a lot of wind outside the tent. We made pancakes with dried blueberries and Lil smokies. It started raining just as we were ready to start cooking the pancakes, so we stuffed most of the loose stuff in a bucket and stuck it under the tyvek tarp. It passed over so we finished cooking and were able to eat outside. We packed up and left camp about 12:30 for the trip to Sagus.

It was a pretty long paddle to the Strup portage with a stronger wind from the side today. The Kek to Strup portage is pretty well known for the steep trail on the Kek end. We decided to sort of triple portage this one, with both of us carrying an end of the canoe up to the top of the hill. Just as we got most of the way up and dropped the canoe to the side, a group of 9 scouts (boys and some dads) with 4 canoes started coming through. We went back down to load up and waited for the scouts to get through. They are carrying heavy loads and single portaging. We chatted with them for a bit. They were heading for the South Arm of Knife and had started out at Hatchet that day. A 9 person group of female scouts from the scout camp were coming in as we went back for the next load. They seemed excited to see each other. We took the rest of our gear up to the canoe in 2 carries, then I went from there with a big pack and Dan took the canoe and guide pack the rest of the way and we came back for the last 2 packs and started up behind the last of the girls, also single portaging.

All together we had 3 packs at about 45 lbs, a 43 lb kevlar canoe (Northwind 17ft) , one smaller 25 lb guide pack, 2 hand carry bags (with cameras, snacks, raincoats, binoculars etc.), 3 paddles and fishing poles. We carabiner and tie the life vests to the back of 2 of the packs. So I carry my personal bag and the fishing rods with one big pack. Then the paddles with the next pack. Dan carries the canoe with the guide pack and then the last big pack with his personal bag. We haven't decided if we want to join Overpacker's United of or Overpacker's Anonymous. We don't seem to be able to cut out much of what we take.

We got to the Wisini portage as the last of the scouts were clearing the portage. A smaller girl was trying to pick up the canoe out of the water by herself. They seemed in good spirits and were talking to each other in Swedish accents. She had some trouble, but managed to get it overhead, I know it was heavy, it was a 3 person canoe with quite a bit of water in it, unfortunately most of the water ended up drenching her when she turned it up. She stuck with it though. Respect. They were heading to Fraser for the night a fact that the map reader wasn't sure of at first. We got through the next 4 portages, with a stop for sandwiches on Wisini. The campsite on Wisini that seems to be one everyone wants was open, but it is too verticle to be appealing the way our legs were feeling, and not far enough along. Wisini seems scary deep, with drop offs close to shore. We decided to take the longer portage to Sagus instead of the 2 shorter ones since we were tired of loading and unloading. We got to Sagus at 7:30. and checked out one of the better rated sites, but it was not promising. It (site 1912) was dark and closed in with no breeze likely. There is lots of room and it is pretty level with pine needles covering the ground, but no view and the logs look water logged and are collapsing from rot. We went around the island and checked out site 1910.

Campsite 1910 landing

It is hard to see from the lake. There is a steep trail up to the site and it is pretty level at the top and has a better view and decent sitting logs and kitchen. Much better fortunately since we weren't going much further.

We got busy getting water and rehydrating the marinara sauce, dried ground beef, and mushrooms, then setting up camp. We made salad and cooked spaghetti, cleaned up, put up bear bags and got in the tent at 1:15 am.

Kekakabic to Strup 85R, Strup to Wisini 10R, Wisini to Ahmakose 98R, Ahmakose to Gerund 27R, Gerund to Fraser 18R, Fraser to Sagus 57R 5 miles paddling, 2.8 miles portaging, 7.8 miles total.