Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Quetico Solo September 2020 possible route. Input appreciated.
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GraniteCliffs |
A couple of thoughts: Agnes is indeed a pretty lake, and a long paddle. It can easily be broken up by camping somewhere in the middle, or simply meandering along the shore for miles. The Silence Lake Cutoff, as I refer to it, is an option, as is East Lake over to North Bay. Your trip has more than ample time even with some weather issues. Last, and not particular to your trip: Having a set date and time at PP for a pick up has started to make me feel a tad constrained. That certainty can become the tail that wags the dog. I find if I camp on Sunday, my last night it is not difficult to just paddle back to the outfitter or public landing. I normally get to PP 30-45 minutes early for the tow so it does not really cost me too much time and saves a few bucks. Mostly, I like the freedom of coming out when I want on my own time schedule. On the other hand I don't like the paddle back with all the boats. Have a great trip! |
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billconner |
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SlowTroller |
Banksiana: "I know that lots of folk go through Burke for the "easy" portage- never made any sense to me to add four miles of paddling and another loading and unloading to avoid 200 yards of portage trail." You make a good point on Sunday instead of Burke. I was just thinking of adding another lake visited and it didn't look like it added to much distance but taking on more big water is a risk for sure if the wind is blowing on Basswood! Thanks for the input. |
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AmarilloJim |
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Banksiana |
Either direction is good. More loading and unloading of gear when heavy if you start via Carp though probably more walking (in terms of distance) when heavy if you start via Agnes. Main advantage of Agnes first is the transition through the Agnes Narrows heading north- one of the most spectacular sections of the park. If you start via Carp you get the current with you on the Falls Chain. If you don't mind walking and like lake trout consider spending your last night on Poacher. Nice lake that you rarely have to share and it takes the wind on Bailey Bay out of the equation. Portage to Inlet Bay from Poacher does seem longer than its listed distance. Route from Sunday to Poacher is a wonderful stream paddle. |
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SlowTroller |
Day 1 - Carp to Other Man 13.4 mi. Day 2 - Other Man to the Falls Chain (Wet Lake Area) 14.5 mi. Day 3 - Falls Chain to Kawnipi (Mid Lake) 10 mi. Day 4 - Layover - Kawnipi Day 5 - Kawnipi to Dack Lake 8 mi. Day 6 Layover - Dack - fish and possibly bushwack to Swartman to see the Picto. Day 7 - Dack to South Agnes 11 mi. Day 8 - Agnes to Burke 8 mi. Day 9 - Burke to Prairie Portage 4 mi. and tow back to outfitter. |
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AmarilloJim |
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billconner |
It may be me but both times across Dead Man's portage - Saganagons to Saganagons - I got off track. Ive done Burke and Sunday Bay. If it's wet, rainy, but not too windy - take Burke. The Sunday portage is a stream iirc and very muddy when wet. High wind, Sunday makes some sense. |
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SlowTroller |
Great input, much appreciated! "You really don't need to tow from PP to Indian Portage. Just paddle into Birch - it will be less time." Great info BillConner I was thinking another option may be to jump out of agnes into silence after the pictos and skip the 2 large meadow lake portages? Im really not opposed to portaging but I may be ready to get off the big water and see more lakes. Banksiana mentioned the Agnes Narrows, I agree that I would like to see that area as well may be a last minute decision. Poacher lake is interesting but a major portage out. I thought I have read in the past that it doesnt get a whole lot of use. Staying on the secluded lake on my last night sounds really nice, especially if the fishing is good! This year I spent my last night on Pipestone bay across from the Newton Lake Portage. This was a mistake. Too many people. Kind of felt like I wasted a night staying there. I dont want to stay on basswood that close to the EP. |
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Banksiana |
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Banksiana |
billconner: "I usually go in September or October and no longer take a tow on Moose to PP. Sometimes I see no motors. One I saw 4. At most a 2 hour difference and i go to paddle. Ymmv. (Banks: that means "your mileage may vary")" I think you mean ytmv (your time may vary)- miles are constant. Takes 30-45 minutes for a tow. I usually can make the paddle in under two hours. |
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billconner |
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Banksiana |
billconner: "It's a stream iirc - if I recall correctly. " No stream on portage between Basswood and Sunday Lake. Generally slowly uphill towards Sunday with a somewhat steep descent at the very end to Sunday Lake. Flow from Sunday to Basswood is through Burke (Singing Brook Portage) and then into North Bay. Portages between Sunday and Agnes (through Meadows Lake) are nothing to be concerned about. You can break them up by camping on Meadows (nice largemouth)- not a bad option as camps on the south end of Agnes tend towards heavy use and trampled. The relative ease of portages on the Silence route (the S-chain) not worth missing the scenery on the south end of Agnes (South end of Agnes has very steep, tall shoreline that gets steeper and taller through the narrows and then as you leave the narrows (heading north) flattens into this wide vast lake- stunning). |
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TomT |
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SlowTroller |
AmarilloJim: "If you went the other way your packs might be lighter for the bulk of your portages." I was wondering if clockwise or counter clockwise made the most sense. I will keep that in mind! |