Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Quetico Afficionados :: Quetico vs. Woodland
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jcavenagh |
This thread is timely for me. I am tossing around 3 different parks for this summer's trip. WCPP, Wabakimi, or northern Q. As I am bringing a group consisting almost entirely of 1st timers, I am really trying to get this one right. WCPP looks appealing. PROS-I have never been there and the most popular Mexican Hat route looks like a very pretty and not too strenuous trip. It also has the advantage of being drive in and out, and therefore, more affordable (even if we use RLO shuttle). Also, the small lakes will be much better for the newbs. I think they would enjoy themselves MUCH more if they are not worried about swamping and drowning in big chop. CONS -The one issue I have is that if we are going to drive that far, 18hrs from Chitown, I want to be alone in the woods. My impression is that the traffic on Leano-MH and back is fairly heavy in the last half of July. CLaire Q. says it is not anywhere near like BW. But still....???? Wabakimi PROS - may be a bit too remote, but it sure is great to have essentially no other campers in the park. I have a route or two up there that would be almost all small water. CONS- to make the small water routes work I would have to fly-in and paddle or train out. That is just cost prohibitve with a party of 6 and 3 canoes, requiring at least 2 flights. I could retrace last year's trip, in at Little Caribou and trian out from Schultz's Trail. But that trip may be too far for this crowd, being about 60 miles in 7 days. I want to have a couple layover days built in. NW Q PROS - At least 5 hours closer to Chitowmn. Certain lakes, I am told, can give a party solitude, especially if you take the Badwater portage. CONS - But, that portage may be a real turn-off for many in my group. Also, the bigger lakes worry me, as I am really the only one with any significant canoeing under my belt. Anyway, this comparison helps with my decision process. Thanks. |
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tumblehome |
I was lucky enough to see a woodland caribou on our WCPP trip. We went for trout and all we caught were walleyes. I also thought that since the park was more remote, the trees would be larger. Wrong. No big pines up there. I think it's too far north for them. Lots and lots of smaller spruce trees. Tom |
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jdddl8 |
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jcavenagh |
Originally, we considered flying into Irregular and paddling out to Leano. But we have 6 going now, so 3 canoes would require 2 flights. I just can't spend the samolians. Claire has been very helpful. She tipped me to the fly-in camps along the Gammon and Bloodvein when I explained to her that we wanted to canoe in solitude. She hinted that the southwest area of the park may be a good place for us. But now with 2 extra people, I will have at least 3 and maybe 4 first time canoeists. The Leano-MH route is really the most attractive in WCPP given the level of experience. That route sounds like it would be a good experience for everyone. I am guessing that my desire for complete solitude is not matched as fervently by the others. We haven't had a planning session yet, but that is coming up in the next week or so. Sooo...because I think complete isolation is not a main goal of the group, I added to NW Quetico area to our list of possible trips. One thing that Q has going for it is the Small Mouth. The boys will likely catch more bass than they would walleye (from my experience, at least). So I think they might have more fun in the Q. |
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PINETREE |
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SunCatcher |
You will LIKE the WCPP! SunCatcher email me with questions |
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kanoes |
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snakecharmer |
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jeroldharter |
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jdddl8 |
1/ I enjoyed the canoeing more in WC as the lakes tended to be smaller and narrower so the wind plays less of a role and the paddling is less boring. 2/ The portages are better as they tend to be shorter and flater than Q. Perhaps they are slightly harder to find but I did over 60 and didn't have any trouble. Some of the WC portages near rapids are dangerous for a solo canoeist because they start too close to the rapids. 3/ The campsites are not as distintive as Q and generally they are harder to find but you never have to hunt or leave the campsite for wood. I did not find any garbage at any WC campsites. 4/I like the topography of Q more because of the diversity as it tends to have more cliffs and bogs than WC. 5/ I love the vegetation of Q more because there are a lot more varieties of pines and deciduouse trees. 6/ The fishing was a puzzle to me because everyone says that WC is much better. I didn't find that but I may have picked a bad time. I also missed the bass fishing as it is practically nonexistent in WC. There also seemed to be less walleye lakes. 7/ I hated the fly-in fishing camps on a few lakes in WC because the planes are always ferrying in and out and it always bothers me to see others motoring while I am paddling. I feel the same way about the native fishing camps in Q. 8/ As far as animals are concerned if I judge by the amount of scat on the portage trails there are definitely more animals in WC. But I only saw one caribou versus nothing in Q. However over the years I have seen nearly all the large animals in Q. 9/ There is practically no one in a lot of areas of WC but the same can be true for Q when I go in late August. And lately there seems to be less people in general. Overall I would reccommend either park as they both have something different to offer. |
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fishguts |
Good information, those of us who consider trips to Woodland Caribou have nothing to base a decision on, and info like this really helps. Thanks again. fishguts |
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ZaraSp00k |
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PINETREE |
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jcavenagh |
The Dads requested the time off based on the boys schedule. Also, my daughter has school starting in late August. So we are left with the last full week of July. We had a meeting this morning and decided that WCPP is best, given the goals of the trip and the experience level of the paddlers. Of course, I fully expect to be back in the Q sometime in the next couple years. Until then, I have this forum to keep me up to date. My BIL and nephew did a trip across Q east to west one year. That trip looks like a cool one and I hope to be able to do something similar before 2020. |
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ZaraSp00k |
One thing strange about WCPP compared to Q & BW is that the fly-in camps make the interior less of a wilderness area than the perimeter, so unlike Q & BW, in which the farther you go in the better, in WCPP it is best to avoid the main river route through the interior if you want solitude. The same is true for Wabakimi. Avoid the big lakes with fly-in camps and river routes for solitude. |
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TomT |
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kanoes |
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jdddl8 |
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MagicPaddler |
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OldGreyGoose |
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gnegard |
As for the fishing, I have found it to be unbelievable, in fact one day, I had to put my rod away, so I could make up some time to get to another lake. This is an experience I have truly enjoyed, and look forward to going again, maybe in early September. By then, I doubt I'll run into more than a group or two. Q, BW, & WC are all great, it just depends upon what you as an individual are looking for. I've traveled for 30 years in BW, and find it too congested, unless I go in October. Q, has the solitude like WC, bigger lakes and a diverse landscape. As for WC, it has everything I am looking for right now. Who knows what the future will hold. I'm still hopeful of one day doing a trip to Hudson Bay, or a northern river system in Canada. |
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kanoes |
quote tumblehome: "The road to the Mexican hat route (I think it's Lerome Lake) is 50 miles of gravel road. It is a long journey once you're off the pavement. leano entry |
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PINETREE |
quote gnegard: "The last two years I have traveled WCPP exclusively. All of my trips have begun at Leano Lake and then headed north or south. The BW is like a freeway compared to WC. Even with the fish camps, you maybe lucky to see one group every three days, and this is the middle of the summer. Is woodland more walleye water than it is lake trout water? Reason I am asking I have become a lake addict for new spots. Just to say I added one more lake I caught lake trout from. |