Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Advice for an old guy
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bobbernumber3 |
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deancal20 |
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tumblehome |
Silver Falls portage is one of many, many challenges of getting to Kawnipi. Too many people never follow their heart and miss all that the world has to offer. Go to Kawnipi. Dip you hands in the cool refreshing water and see all that the lake and land has to show. It’s a special place and worth the effort. The sunsets are more amazing. The rocks and trees are heavenly and the water is pure and clear. Kaw Kaw Kawnipi! Tom |
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bobbernumber3 |
deancal20: "...I am willing to begin strength training and loose 20 lbs...." A goal without a plan is just a wish. Sounds like you wish you were 20 pounds lighter and stronger for this portage. Commit to the trip, then figure out how you will make that happen! My main goal in exercising is to continue canoeing as I get older. Silver Falls Portage is challenging, especially the 7' rock descent with a load. Other than that, it is in good condition with a couple ups and downs and some decent length. Our group (ages 58, 61, 62, 66, and 73) are crossing Silver Falls on May 31. |
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deancal20 |
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Gaidin53 |
Ryan |
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BonzSF |
Gaidin53: "Here are my McKenzie map photos for Quetico. I spent some serious quality time on these last year putting the campsites in with the ratings I could find. Following and more questions to come. Possible Aug ‘23 route with entry at Carp from PP. Would fishing be better here or on the Agnes Sarah loop? Thanks |
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Wally13 |
I sent you an email about your Quetico KMZ files. Appreciate your post. |
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Wally13 |
GPX Files work best for GAIA App. |
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cburton103 |
TrailZen: "cburton103: "I’ve camped in bath Kawa and McKenzie bays. Both great choices, and I’ve had good fishing around both of them." Good clarification. I was in the area after the camping closure, and as such I stayed in an island site at the end of Kawa Bay nearest the main body of Kawnipi. There are several good sites in this area and further north. |
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Gaidin53 |
Ryan |
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mgraber |
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cburton103 |
bobbernumber3: "deancal20: "WOW! Awesome help with maps and markings! This really gives an understanding of the entire area. It definitely sounds like high water can be problematic. I thought it was interesting that one map said that most accidents happen going up stream. We have canoed quite a bit but not in really strong currents before. " I've canoed the falls chain in early September and early June, once each. The current was noticeably stronger in early June, although we were there in a pretty high water year. With some care around portage landings, it wasn't a problem. As long as you've studied the maps to know which shore the portage landing is on in advance and pay attention to the water, you should be totally fine. |
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deancal20 |
After looking at video posts of the Silver Falls portage, I am having second thoughts. I would go with someone else and we can do it with a double portage. I am 69 and in decent shape, but probably 30 pounds over weight. The other person is in about the same condition. I am willing to begin strength training and lose twenty pounds. I have no heart or health issues, but those of you who have done this, I wonder what you think. I know there are more portages in addition to Silver falls, but this seems to be the hardest. Would you try it if you were me? |
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TrailZen |
My wife and I each have a couple years on you, and we'd do it in a heartbeat! In fact, the 10-day trip I'm considering for next year is a loop from Prairie Portage with a Carp Lake entry: Carp, Man Chain, Bell, Blackstone, Saganagons, Falls Chain to Kawnipi. Haven't nailed down our exit route yet, but will probably turn south and do Cairn, Sark, Keefer, and Kahshahpiwi on our way back to PP. If only Silver Falls portage concerns you, consider the four-portage option into Saganonans that's east of Silver Falls. We don't do spring trips because of water levels, bugs and people. This year's late-August-early September Quetico trip was in the northwest corner, and covered a bit over 110 miles in 10 days. We still single-portage, but those days may soon end. Have a great trip! TZ |
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cburton103 |
I’ve camped in bath Kawa and McKenzie bays. Both great choices, and I’ve had good fishing around both of them. Lots of old growth Kawa and north. McVicar and south are mostly burned - more so on the west side of the lake if I remember correctly. It’s an obvious spot, but the “meathole” where Murdoch dumps into Kawnipi is a big producer. The final falls coming into Kawnipi from the Falls Chain and the adjacent shallow area can be very good as well. BTW - it’s awesome you guys are going for it! You guys won’t regret the effort, and it will make for great memories. |
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cburton103 |
If he can do it, so can you! Do some serious training, and practice portaging close to home to get your body ready for it. The Silver Falls portage is moderately long, but well-travelled and wide. From memory, that slick rock section is definitely the trickiest part. I would recommend putting the canoe down and probably scooting down that section on your backside without the canoe on your shoulders. Then you can pick up the canoe again and move along. The rest of the portage has some roots and boulders, but is easier than average by Quetico portage standards. Overall, I don't think I would rate the Silver Falls portage as the hardest of the portages leading into Kawnipi. You could always gauge your desire/ability to make it to Kawnipi based on the Silver Falls portage and spend your trip camping and fishing around Saganagons if you decide not to push on to Kawnipi. Eastern Saganagons is very quiet. In the Spring, fish are frequently active in the shallower, warmer bays, especially if they have moving water coming into them. |
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Gaidin53 |
I don’t remember the Silver Falls portage that much. Was first portage ever for me and I was just kind of overwhelmed with everything. I remember being really scared in the front of the canoe being that close to the waterfall. I was a little over a week from being out of Army boot camp so I was in phenomenal shape! Obviously that helped make portages not a big deal although we were load3d heavy for a long trip and had 120 lbs food pack I carried. On the end of the trip we decided to do the 3 or 4 portage route instead of the Silver Falls portage. By the time we were done loading and unloading for all those portages we both agreed we should have just taken the Silver Falls portage. Ryan |
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Jackfish |
mgraber: "How is this off topic?" I corrected it. |
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deancal20 |
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Frenchy19 |
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deancal20 |
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Gaidin53 |
Ryan |
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Gaidin53 |
Ryan |
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sedges |
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bobbernumber3 |
deancal20: "WOW! Awesome help with maps and markings! This really gives an understanding of the entire area. It definitely sounds like high water can be problematic. I thought it was interesting that one map said that most accidents happen going up stream. We have canoed quite a bit but not in really strong currents before. " You don't canoe strong currents on the Falls Chain. You get out in current and portage around strong. You'll do fine. |
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Gaidin53 |
1 to 5 scale with 5 being the perfect campsite. W is walleye LT is lake trout N is northern SB is small mouth bass J is a possible or known jump spot into the lake Ryan |
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TrailZen |
cburton103: "I’ve camped in bath Kawa and McKenzie bays. Both great choices, and I’ve had good fishing around both of them." Camping is no longer allowed along the Wawiag River or the northeast end of Kawa Bay. See map from the 2018 Quetico Park Management Plan . Most current maps of the Park reflect this restriction. TZ |
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bobbernumber3 |
Gaidin53: "Here are my McKenzie map photos for Quetico. I spent some serious quality time on these last year putting the campsites in with the ratings I could find..." Where did these ratings come from? And also W and LT spots? I am planning a solo Hunter Island Loop next September. Want to route plan and mark my maps this off-season. |
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Gaidin53 |
That is correct the campsites in Kawa bay are closed on Kawnipi Lake. I think it’s 3 campsites. Bummer since I stayed in the campsite on the point in Kawa Bay in 1992. Apparently where the First. nations village used to be. I’ve always wanted to go back since we had such epic fishing during the time we stayed! I mapped putting in all of Quetico on Garmin as well. Garmin corrupted my waypoint groupings twice now. So they aren’t as easy to share. I’d be willing to share them if anyone else wanted the KMZ files. Ryan |
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unshavenman |
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KawnipiKid |
Frenchy19: "The Silver Falls portage is not that bad; the concern for all the portages in the Chain is landing your canoe safely. " +1! After a number of trips up and down the chain and now being in my mid 60s with an unreliable knee, I'm still more focused on safe landings at portages and safe departures from portages than I am carrying them. I'm especially focused departing into the current upstream and away from a falls (not a time to look for your camera or look back to see if you left anything). Later in the year can be much more comfortable with lower water, of course. Like any on-portage challenges, I find the the Silver Falls rock face requires some extra time and patience but the overall carry is not worse than many others in in the BW or Quetico. |