Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Quetico Afficionados :: First Time Cache Bay
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Banksiana |
Slow and steady on the descent alongside Louisa. Can be very tough if wet or freezing. Not that difficult to manage most of the time. Louisa (the lake) is worth tarrying on. The transition between the burned northern half of McEwan and the southern half is stunning. Sill available for a Beaverhouse Swap when you're up for it. |
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Eyedocron |
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TomT |
The only reservation I have going clockwise is the downhill portage from Louisa to Agnes. If it's wet and you're solo, be extremely careful. |
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TomT |
Frenchy19: " How would a vehicle swap work exactly? I have a bucketlist trip where I enter at Beaverhouse and go for a month. I would first paddle east for 2 weeks to big Sag where I will have previously shipped a box of two weeks worth of pre packed food to an outfitter. Say I use Seagull Outfitters - I could then spend a night there to regroup before continuing back to Beaverhouse with a northerly or mid park route for two weeks. This would be a great opportunity to have the time to check out interior lakes like Delahey and Poohbah. |
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MagicPaddler |
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cowdoc |
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Frenchy19 |
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Jackfish |
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Frenchy19 |
TomT: "There is definitely big northern in McEwen. You will love the McEwen river system. Thanks, Tom. I have been to the portage, and it is a steep one! Was there a few years back with my daughter Allie. We visited the Falls (heading out through Agnes), but we did not carry any gear. Appreciate the reminder. Solo at this time, but I am hoping to find someone(s) to join me for all or part of this trip. I think your new Shearwater would enjoy this trip...! |
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Frenchy19 |
Jon, I will take you up on the BH Swap; will email! Eyedoc, if I do this trek, I will get in touch with you for some details-always open to input! |
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Frenchy19 |
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HighnDry |
MagicPaddler: "I have always used Seagull outfitters for a bunkhouse and tow. They have always been on time. " +1 on SO. Deb and her crew are great. They'll drop you at Hook Island. it's a short half hour paddle to the ranger station, if there's no wind :). Silver Falls is great spectacle. Strong current at the outflow though, particularly if you are solo. Saganagons are beautiful to paddle through, just keep your bearings and you should have no problem locating deadmans' portage. Enjoy -- it's a nice route. |
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joewildlife |
We could and should have just done it through PP and saved some driving time from Duluth, and could have avoided a lot of big water on Saganaga. Most every other trip is out of Prairie Portage and most with a tow in and/or out from LaTourell's. I've done the McEwen to Louisa route twice. If you go all the way through those 12 portages, it makes for a long hard day! Both times I did it I intended to stop halfway, but the first time we found no decent campsites around the halfway point, and the second time we found a usable site on the north side of Rod lake I think, but it could have been Edge. But both times we kept going to be rewarded with a layover day and nice campsites on Louisa. If you do the whole Falls Chain through to Kenny, the portage to McEwen is a long, memorable beast of a portage. It would be a lot easier to go through Wet to McEwen. We did real well on trout in McEwen, I don't recall catching much else there either time. Louisa is a great trout lake too. Joe |
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Frenchy19 |
Tom, Banks had made me an offer a couple years ago that wasn't really a vehicle swap. He was going to paddle to BH from Ely to get my car and return it to Ely for me where I would pick it up at Moose Lake after trekking SE from BH. |
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Frenchy19 |
If I do go into Cache, I was planning on going through the Falls Chain to Kawnipi and then down through Agnes to the border lakes back to the Gunflint. Eyedoc, your post has me thinking maybe I should go through PP. I have gone through the Falls Chain into Kawnipi three times this way, only if I do select this route, I think I will go clockwise for a change through Agnes, then Kawnipi and back via McEwen and Louisa. Have never been thorough McEwen, and some say there is really good smallie fishing there along with some good size northern. Again, thanks for the input; much appreciated!! |
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TomT |
Frenchy19: "TomT: "There is definitely big northern in McEwen. You will love the McEwen river system. I would love this route for sure but have already done it and have some uncharted waters in mind for the next couple years. The next time I go to the east end will be Mack and the Wawiag River. |
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joewildlife |
Hunter Island Loop next fall. Going to try a trip out of Beaverhouse in spring 2021 and I'm kind of pumped about it! Joe |
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bobbernumber3 |
MagicPaddler: "I have always used Seagull outfitters for a bunkhouse and tow. They have always been on time. " +1 |
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Eyedocron |
After a fine trip down Glacier and Louisa and up Agnes to Kawnipi and the Falls Chain we came out through Silver Falls and Cache Bay by noon. Beautiful and sunny. We turned the corner to head east on the big lake and a huge squall chased us. Monster winds and 4 ft waves directly from behind. Finally made it to the line of islands and later down the channel to the end of Gunflint. For this reason, I truly recommend someone coming in this way use the tow. There is no safe shore to escape to like you have coming up from Moose Lake to Prairie Portage. I wish I could remember the name of the outfitter at the end of Gunflint. I remember passing a crowded parking lot, turning north, and they were on the west side of the channel near its south end. They were very nice, parked out car safely, and had a hot shower for us. |