Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Burn Report - Roland, Wicksteed, Ted, etc.
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BassmasterP |
Thanks. Pat |
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Pat Reddy |
We are headed to Quetico next June from Missouri and don't want to drive to Canada to enter the park. Our outfitter of choice is Andersons at Crane lake. Our desired route: A loop starting and ending at Bottle. Bottle up through Roland chain - stay 1 night on upper Roland. Then...Roland to Brent, then Earl, Ted, Elk, Argo, Iron, & Bottle Also entertaining: Brewer to Wicksteed (via the goat) Basecamp on Wicksteed with day trips to Darky, Little Darky, Argo, & Ballard. We are a group of 4 hammock campers in pursuit of 1) solitude and 2) Big Bass (Cn'R only). According to P@ddle Planner's burn map and any others I can find, the entire area is gone. But really...how bad it it? We actually like the idea of paddling the burn area as the fishing pressure and crowds should be minimal, but we don't want to risk hanging from dead trees and getting clubbed to death by the dreaded 'widowmaker' (a.k.a. a Dead tree branch falling on you in your sleep). Can anyone shed some light on these routes and whether of not the entire area is indeed toast? Any pictures of the burn on these lakes? We love the beauty and serenity of Wicksteed lake - the long paddle across Brent - the cool deep waters of Argo, Cone, and most of all Ted. But, if it really is a barren wasteland we might need to make other arrangements. We saw firsthand in 2022 the carnage in and around Snow and Trail further North. The maps seemed to be pretty accurate with regards to that area. Any insight or pictures would be greatly appreciated. ~Bassmaster P |
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plander |
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goblu79 |
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sns |
Brent is sprawling, however most of the east looks to have burned hard like Ted, et al, and much more severe than McIntyre. Western side of Brent looks better, but it's still hit-or-miss. The SE part of McIntyre does look like it got crisped at a similar level to its neighbors. Roland looks charred though its two islands look pretty green. I've been in the Q five times since the fires but the closest I've gotten in person to this area is Sarah - all of my comments are based on satellite imagery, so your reality may vary. I love my hammock but I'd have a tent for camping in that area........... |
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BassmasterP |
PMR |
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goblu79 |
I found the map to be pretty danged accurate, and if it shows black, I think you will find very few trees made it through the fires. My big questions were the island sights. They outlined the areas in black, and the islands all appear to be burned. However, the McIntyre Island was not burned at all. It showed the area between Mac and Brent as black, and it was burned to the rock with only a scattered tree or two still standing. I'll try to post a picture. |
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BassmasterP |
Banksiana, please post your findings should you visit the area this week. It is an interesting dilemma for our small group of hammock campers. On one hand, burned trees is no bueno - for obvious reasons. On the other hand, our ability to camp in odd places where tents cannot pitch is a benefit to the style. That is to say....we don't need a campsite with trees...we just need trees, and not a lot of them. P |
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Banksiana |
BassmasterP: "Banksiana: "Park Rangers are requesting that people not camp in burn areas due to the danger of falling trees." I hope to check in on that area this week. The burn map is pretty specific and, having paddled (last season) some of the area last year, I would be leery of camping in any area shaded with significant damage. Red pines in particular lose "structural integrity" when fire burns around the base and can come down with little notice despite the appearance of health. In a couple of the portages I crossed in the burn the soil had been consumed by fire and a formerly easy trail was a crevice laden rock pile. |
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Freeleo1 |
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Argo |
BassmasterP: "Thanks for the info. Would be hard to start tent camping after all these years, but I may have no choice. I'm not familiar with the south end of the park but I believe you should be able to achieve your objectives by avoiding the burn areas. I'm not sure fishing pressure is a term I've ever heard applied to Quetico. And I'm with you about reverting to tent camping. For me it's a non-starter. Have a great trip! |
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Banksiana |
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BassmasterP |
Banksiana: "Park Rangers are requesting that people not camp in burn areas due to the danger of falling trees." I understand. But "burn areas" are not well defined or documented. From what I can tell all we have to go on is a map or two with some shaded red or maybe black areas. I'm just looking for first hand knowledge regarding the status of those shaded areas. If there are 2 green hammock trees on Ted roughly 12 feet apart, I'm headed that way! Thanks for the reply. P |