Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Quetico Afficionados :: Another Q trip
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fishguts |
McAree #44, after the tow across Lac Lacroix you can enter #44 at Brewer Rapids, then after a brief sheltered stretch of McAree and Pond Lake you cross the Gratton (Long Haul Portage) 220 Rds. and are on Little Gratton. Of course after that are Wicksteed & Darkey Lakes. Then there is Sue Falls Entry on the north side, but it too leads to bigger lakes. Some times the wind blows, some times it doesn't. Keep on paddleing! ;-) |
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flaxman |
That said, I second the suggestion of taking the man chain, returning via MEwen or the border route. Both are spectacular, but I would definitely encourage the former, despite the longer distance. You might also wish to consider a cache bay entry for a change. Much more character and solitude than afforded by the PP area, IMO. |
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sterngirl |
That said, I'm looking for some route suggestions for my group. In August we took a tow up Moose, etc to PP. The only real complaint we had is that the gals in my group aren't fond of big water. Spending the fist and last day paddling Inlet Bay, Bayley Bay, and North Bay was not our idea of fun. Even paddling in the morning, we hit significant wind on all the bays. We spent hours paddling those darn bays. So... in 2011 we'd like to find a route that maybe doesn't require being on big water much. We're all fine using a tow to get off big water at the start and to move into the Quetico quicker. Any suggestions? I consider myself a real newbie when it comes to the Quetico. Thanks. |
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bojibob |
Sterngirl, Welcome to Q snobs club. If you go up to PP you can avoid the Big water by heading east to the Man Chain. The Man Chain is on my bucket list to do and there are many excellent trip reports to give some details. Here is one written by Ho Ho that would give you a great starting point for thought. Ho Ho and David Man Chain 2009 |
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old_salt |
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PineKnot |
SG, IMHO, you can't really get away from starting/ending through fairly big water, unless you arranged tows or fly-ins. Even starting at PP or Cache Bay for the Man Chain can have significant winds coming or going. One of my favorite areas is North of Crooked including lakes such as Argo, Elk, Ted, Suzanette, McIntyre, Robinson) you'll find some really great paddling and potential solitude. One way to get there is via tow from Crane Lake (haven't used this tow service yet, but I've read many reports of the great service of Zup's who get you right across LLC). Another way is the tow to PP and then the battle through North Bay over to Basswood Falls or Sarah. First week of July last summer, my son and I went through Nest and Point up to Sarah, McIntyre, Robinson, and Kett, saw very few paddlers after North Bay, and had a really great 8-day trip. |
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Obergut |
I would add another vote for the Man Chain. While i'm not a big fan of crossing big water in a 30mph wind (i'm not very tough), it's almost unavoidable anywhere but the Man chain. If you can get to Mack (fly in?), the route to the Falls Chain through Munro is really really cool. Lots of mooseseses. And lot's of small waters through the Falls-Man Chain-PP. |
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kanoes |
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arctic |
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old_salt |
BTW, I know lot's of great female and male paddlers. |
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sterngirl |
Our trip this past summer was through PP up to Kahsh. Once off the bays, we loved the lakes that we traveled through. Shan Walshe was probably our most favorite lake. The small site on that lake is really quite beautiful and amazing. I understand that sometimes "big water" is unavoidable. Since I'm not as familiar with the Quetico, I was just posing the question for ideas of different routes. |
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Obergut |
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PineKnot |
quote old_salt: "No, you do not need to rent anything for the tow. I've used Anderson's, Randy, and Zups. Zups is the only one I've had poor service from. I prefer Anderson's." quote Obergut: "Yeah, Zups' tow service is really only for tough paddlers. You have to have some big water tow toughness to get across LLC in a Zups boat." HAH! You guys crack me up Thx for the tips. |
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old_salt |
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OldGreyGoose |
quote PineKnot: "quote old_salt: "No, you do not need to rent anything for the tow. I've used Anderson's, Randy, and Zups. Zups is the only one I've had poor service from. I prefer Anderson's."quote Obergut: "Yeah, Zups' tow service is really only for tough paddlers. You have to have some big water tow toughness to get across LLC in a Zups boat." Everyone on board here has to take a "grain of salt" now and then. ;-) --ogg |
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Longpaddler |
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OldGreyGoose |
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snakecharmer |
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PineKnot |
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bojibob |
quote PineKnot: "Just curious. Do you have to rent a canoe and/or gear to book a tow from Crane to Bottle Portage?" VNO took care of our arrangements for next year and it doesn't show on the website that you must rent anything. Check with Lynn I'm sure she will work with you. |
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old_salt |
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TomT |
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sterngirl |
Anyone care to share a preference between these two points? We'll be entering late August. I appreciate all feedback. :-) |
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Ho Ho |
The only time it might make a real difference which of these EPs you choose would be if you wanted to go from McAree Lake over a series of portages to Wicksteed to Darkwater. In that case, you would want the McAree entry, not Bottle. But that's a more arduous journey and doesn't sound like what you have in mind. |
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fishguts |
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billconner |
quote sterngirl: "I think we've narrowed it down to either #43 McAree, or #44- Bottle River. We'll use a tow. We aren't fisherwomen, but will wet a line on the trip. We're a group of women ages 42-68 who love to travel, swim, and explore. My oponion - if your heading into the Q you can't go wrong. |