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nctry
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quote HighnDry: "quote nctry: "Looking cool but sunny. Have fun... I'm stuck getting ready for winter. I have to work fast before shoulder surgery. "
Nctry, Thanks for the weather. That what I was thinking too. Just might be a good short stretch before I put my boat up for the long sleep in the garage. Good luck with the shoulder surgery and hope to see you out there in the Spring....I always do a shake-out paddle pre-Memorial Day. I'll look for you :)"
May do a paddle with Zulu and tony as a shake-out and to get a lake trout or two pre memorial day. If the shoulder lets me, I'm making good plans for WCPP in June, maybe July and possible August. Lack of paddling the last two years is really driving me. We keep our eye's open to bwca.com stickers.
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HighnDry
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quote quark2222: "Yes, I was wind bound on both Tuscarora and Gillis for a few days. Both of my campsites were on the eastern shores, so any winds except from the east were making the lakes pretty rough. I think that if you stayed at the island site in Tuscarora you could be stuck there with the wind as there are no coves or other islands to sneak around to find some calmer water.
I am pretty careful about not going on the water when it is quite windy. I don't like paddling in large rollers in a solo canoe. You might want to build in an extra day or two for wind in your trip. Tuscarora and Gillis are the only lakes where wind should be an issue though.
Tomster"
quark222,
Thanks. I'm of the same mind with regards to winds/water. I hug shorelines and ferry into the wind as much as possible when the wind is up. I was looking at the campsite on that southern/southwestern? shore across from the island site which has gotten decent reviews. I'll just have to see if I can make it that far with whatever the weather dishes up Friday :) Good advice from you and everyone else on this thread!
Let me pose one more question with regards to self-permits as it's past September. Can you issue yourself a permit at the public parking lot/put-in on Round or do you need to necessarily stop at Tuscarora Lodge to pick one up? I'd love to visit the lodge and meet the folks there but I am also weighing getting to the parking lot straightaway to save some time. Any thoughts?
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bhouse46
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Permits are at the entry points. Be sure to have something to write with.
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ducks
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Not very often, but sometimes the box of permits at the ep lot is empty so it can be a good idea to grab one at the ranger station when you drive by. We keep a few in the glove box at all times.
Have a great trip!
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HighnDry
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quote ducks: "Not very often, but sometimes the box of permits at the ep lot is empty so it can be a good idea to grab one at the ranger station when you drive by. We keep a few in the glove box at all times.
Have a great trip!"
Thanks guys! That's great. Now I have to rustle around for a pen to stash in my glovebox :)
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HighnDry
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This is my current thinking.. hoping weather...well....just doesn't get any worse! Cold, windy, steel-grey skies-- I'm ready :). Either hoping for the 9th or the following MEA weekend but would rather go earlier as work is threatening to get in the way...advice from any that have traveled there and back is most welcome as always....those thinking of going in around same time...let me know...
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SevenofNine
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The portage is long but very scenic from Missing link. Consider leap frogging your gear if you are worried about leaving it alone too long.
Be wary of turning your back at a portage on an empty boat. The wind just may catch it and take it out into the lake.
A couple tarps, one to shade you and the other to block the wind are handy.
An axe to split wood will be very handy.
Consider a lantern, it was getting dark early back at the end of September when I went.
Have a great trip.
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ducks
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HighnDry.... glad to hear you had a good trip and avoided wind problems.
Bogs.............ha ha you say you are like me but actually I got the idea from one of your posts several years ago. I should have started my advice with...."I learned from a very wise man......"
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quark2222
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The first campsite to the left from the Missing Link portage is a nice high one. Good swimming too, although it is getting to be hard n*pple weather now. Stayed there for a few days due to high wind about a month ago. Plus, the two portages from Round Lake really wore me out. Very hilly and bouldery. I was solo. Guess I'm getting to be a 60 year old wuss.
Look for the old trappers cabin going north out of Gillis. It is just up the portage a bit on your right. Can't miss it. Out of Gillis and the subsequent portages, e.g. Flying, there were several downed trees. Had to walk over some of them and drag the canoe and gear under one of them. There is a nice surprise "portage" between West Round and Round that I think you will enjoy. You can't miss it.
Tomster
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HighnDry
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quote nctry: "Looking cool but sunny. Have fun... I'm stuck getting ready for winter. I have to work fast before shoulder surgery. "
Nctry, Thanks for the weather. That what I was thinking too. Just might be a good short stretch before I put my boat up for the long sleep in the garage. Good luck with the shoulder surgery and hope to see you out there in the Spring....I always do a shake-out paddle pre-Memorial Day. I'll look for you :)
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HighnDry
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quote SevenofNine: "The portage is long but very scenic from Missing link. Consider leap frogging your gear if you are worried about leaving it alone too long.
Be wary of turning your back at a portage on an empty boat. The wind just may catch it and take it out into the lake.
A couple tarps, one to shade you and the other to block the wind are handy.
An axe to split wood will be very handy.
Consider a lantern, it was getting dark early back at the end of September when I went.
Have a great trip."
SevenofNine, thanks for the axe, lantern, and tarp advice. I was considering shaving off equipment to save on weight but I have lightweight versions of all of those and it's nice to know what would come in handy.
Thinking that island campsite also looks like my best option. Considering a night on Tusk then over to Gillis before heading out to perhaps Brant so that I can make the last day portages short and few :).
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HighnDry
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Thanks Tomster. I'm keeping plans open as I'm expecting the portages to give me a bit of workout. Did WCPP this year and have some QP experiences so if there is blowdown in places on portages or 'other surprises', I'll try to manage them :)...with a smile! Good advice though and appreciate it. I'm expecting that Tusk and Gillis are prone to some breezes, especially this time of year. Is that generally been your experience as well?
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Rob Johnson
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quote quark2222: "The first campsite to the left from the Missing Link portage is a nice high one. Good swimming too, although it is getting to be hard n*pple weather now. Stayed there for a few days due to high wind about a month ago. Plus, the two portages from Round Lake really wore me out. Very hilly and bouldery. I was solo. Guess I'm getting to be a 60 year old wuss.
Look for the old trappers cabin going north out of Gillis. It is just up the portage a bit on your right. Can't miss it. Out of Gillis and the subsequent portages, e.g. Flying, there were several downed trees. Had to walk over some of them and drag the canoe and gear under one of them. There is a nice surprise "portage" between West Round and Round that I think you will enjoy. You can't miss it.
Tomster
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+1 on that site. Know that after a summer of "logging" wood is hard to come by around that site. You may have to take a firewood trip in the canoe. Personally I would leave the hatchet at home. Not only extra weight but a chance of injury that is not worth the risk solo. You can keep a fire going quite a while with wrist sized wood that you don't have to split.
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quark2222
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Yes, I was wind bound on both Tuscarora and Gillis for a few days. Both of my campsites were on the eastern shores, so any winds except from the east were making the lakes pretty rough. I think that if you stayed at the island site in Tuscarora you could be stuck there with the wind as there are no coves or other islands to sneak around to find some calmer water.
I am pretty careful about not going on the water when it is quite windy. I don't like paddling in large rollers in a solo canoe. You might want to build in an extra day or two for wind in your trip. Tuscarora and Gillis are the only lakes where wind should be an issue though.
Tomster
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HighnDry
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Hey folks,
Just wanted to say thanks for all the great advice. I got back last night around 7:30. Very tired but had a fantastic trip. Rachael at Tuscarora was very helpful on route advice! Fishing was off for me though but then again fish were rising on Bat at twilight just when temps were heading way south so i opted for my warm sleeping bag! Tuscarora was a tough fish too but had the excellent island campsite so I was quite satisfied. I could say more about all the lakes & portages I traveled through but it will have to wait for the batch of trip reports yet to be filed. Was just able escape big winds on Gillis which I considered myself quite fortunate. Thanks again and hopefully cross paths with many of you next season up there.
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nctry
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Looking cool but sunny. Have fun... I'm stuck getting ready for winter. I have to work fast before shoulder surgery.
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ducks
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Have a great trip!
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WhiteWolf
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I'am also going in the 9th solo in the Sawbill/Baker area and as you can imagine have been following the weather very closely. Sun the 12th may have some light precip but that is even dwindling as it gets closer. Other then that-- the weather looks nearly ideal for the time of year---- I may even extend my trip another day into Monday...
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HighnDry
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quote WhiteWolf: "I'am also going in the 9th solo in the Sawbill/Baker area and as you can imagine have been following the weather very closely. Sun the 12th may have some light precip but that is even dwindling as it gets closer. Other then that-- the weather looks nearly ideal for the time of year---- I may even extend my trip another day into Monday...
"
good deal Whitewolf! I've been avoiding the weather reports and just thinking positive thoughts :) If I were in longer I would try to extend south towards your area for an overlap on some body of water. Have to be another time --- enjoy your trip in as well. Should be some good paddling and hopefully fishing...
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SevenofNine
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Glad you had a good time. Best time of year to be up there if you ask me. You just have to get a tad lucky with the weather.
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Bogwalker
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I'm like Ducks-I have a couple of permits in my glove box just in case as its happened to me before in spring and fall also. If you have time stop by the USFS Ranger station and pick up a handful to have just in case. If you want you can leave a couple in the box for others who might pass through after you.
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