Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Reports :: Trip Report - BWCA 2012 Autumn Solo
|
Author | Message Text | ||
PinkCanoe |
J~ |
||
boonie |
It was a nice site on Horseshoe and Horseshoe is a beautiful lake, especially that time of year. It was a little busy on the weekend, probably partly because the weather was so good. There are still lakes I want to see in that area and I'd like to revisit both Omega and Horseshoe. |
||
boonie |
quote Beemer01: "Nice report - thanks for posting - I NEVER get pictures of Moose!!" I only got it because I started carrying one of those waterproof P & S cameras in my shirt pocket like somebody on here suggested ;). |
||
mocha |
|
||
boonie |
quote TomT: "I love reading solo trip reports because that's what I love to do as well. We were in the BW pretty much the same time only I was on the west end. I could relate to your "ice in the water" frosty mornings. There are more photos of the gear and camps in the Snapfish link, Tom. If you don't have a Snapfish account, I think you'll need to create a log-in with your email and some password, but that's easy enough. Self-portrait...? I just look like me ;). It was great weather for the end of Sept though, wasn't it? |
||
boonie |
quote mocha: "great photos esp the tamaracks, glad you got to see the elusive moose. sorry i missed out on the dinner with you and george...next time! have you started planning the next trip?" Yeah, we'll catch you next time. Have I started planning the next trip? Oh yeah! That's why the questions about the north portage out of Boulder. May go in there, or may go back in the same area I was in to see some places I didn't see, or maybe someplace different. May depend on whether I'm solo or not, and if not, then it'll depend on who's with me. |
||
wetcanoedog |
the other thing that struck me is how far from home you came.for me it's a easy drive from Minneapolis and your trip report is a reminder of what a world class destination the BWCA is.. |
||
luft |
This route is on my list of solo routes as well. The boys and I have paddled portions out of EP47 but not in the direction of Omega. Sounds like you had a beautiful trip! |
||
jjk2160 |
|
||
Twins87 |
We've gone as far as Long Island on that trip out of Cross Bay (running in to nctry in Aug 2011 when we were on the way out and he was heading to Karl) We've been curious about the lakes between Long Island and Poplar but I'm thinking we might prefer to enter from Poplar and avoid the wall. |
||
cowdoc |
|
||
ducks |
From reading different reports/guide books I think I've estimated 7ish miles to Long Island, then 6 ish to Omega, and then 5 ish to Meeds. Does that seem close? Those are the 3 lakes I'd shoot for or maybe Horseshoe instead of Meeds. I've camped on Caribou and Gaskin before so I'd like different lakes to camp on. The opposite direction idea interests me also because as you know it will be a fairly short notice trip and Meeds Permits are easier to get. Downhill sounds good too :) I think I'd shoot for Omega, Long Island, and Cross Bay campsites that direction. |
||
boonie |
Sometimes it's hard to know just what to expect from someone's description, since it depends on one's perspective. I've heard the EP #16 portage described as a really tough uphill climb :) But the "wall" really was uphill ;). I really liked the remote feeling of that area though and would do it again...but I'd probably go the other direction :). |
||
boonie |
I went back and traced my path on Google Earth, including the circumnavigation of Omega, all the paddling around on Horseshoe, and added in the extra miles for double portaging. I came up with 45 +/- miles al the way back to Rockwood. If you haven't looked at it on Google Earth, you should give it a try. Are you planning to single or double portage? Now, about your food...:). |
||
boonie |
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! I don't know anything about paddling with dogs. You might enjoy the company. I guess it would depend on how well behaved the dog is in the canoe. The dog won't make solo paddling easier. It may have minimal impact, or it may complicate it. My non-expert opinion is that any of those three canoes will work for you and you wouldn't notice a whole lot of difference in stability or handling on a BW trip. They're all stable enough if you keep your weight low and centered. None of them are stable enough to stand on the gunwale and lean over the edge. Somebody said just to keep "the 3 "n's" in a vertical line between the gunwales :). I think they could all be fairly classed as tripping canoes and you won't be "free-styling", just paddling from point A to point B on a BW trip. I have used all three and they were more than big enough for me and my gear, and I'm sure they would all be big enough for you, your dog, and your gear. I prefer the smallest one that is adequate for me and my gear (about 210 lbs.). I have found a Bell Magic to be the easiest for me to handle solo and the SR Q 16 to be more difficult in the wind, but all those canoes have their proponents. On my last trip I used a Wenonah Prism. Why? Because that's what Rockwood had to rent. It worked fine, although I'd probably still choose a Magic if it was between that and the Prism. But others might choose the Prism. Any of them will work for your first solo. And next time you can try a different one if you want. And remember, ducks- it's your trip and you can do it any way you want :). You can even take a chair and a cot and a lantern. And "real food" with frozen water and, and...whatever you want. As long as I don't have to help you carry it :). If you carry it, I might even use it ;). Have fun dreaming about it this winter. |
||
TuscaroraBorealis |
Glad you were able to get to, and enjoy, that area this year. (After you had to scrap your trip there last year because of the fire.) You definitely made it sound like it was worth the wait. Thanks for the pre & post trip info as well. It's nice to hear a little about some of those things too. Really a well written report with some excellent photos that enhanced the story nicely. Thanks again for taking the time to share your story & photos. |
||
boonie |
Maybe I'll start calling it Kickedmya$$ portage ;). @luft (& ducks)- It was a nice solo trip for me despite those portages. You could go the other way and go mostly downhill, but they are steep enough that that would also be challenging. There are some beautiful lakes and scenery on that route. |
||
Beemer01 |
quote boonie: "quote Beemer01: "Nice report - thanks for posting - I NEVER get pictures of Moose!!" Touche! I must have slower reaction times! |
||
boonie |
|
||
Beemer01 |
Nice pictures! |
||
boonie |
quote Spartan2: "Great trip report, Boonie! I am off now to Snapfish to look at more of your beautiful photos. I was truly blessed with the weather and foliage on this trip. I also got some nice pictures the other day at Dolly Sods, WV, that you might enjoy while you're on Snapfish. Those portages are getting a lot tougher now. |
||
Beemer01 |
|
||
nctry |
Nice report! I have not the fondest memories of the wall going into Kissmya$$, I mean Kiskadinna Lake. :) And the portage following wasn't much better after that. I made it from Karl to Winchell August 2011, but I was pretty wiped. I like the fact you took in the different places on the way home. |
||
boonie |
I've got lots more photos on Snapfish You'll have to create a log-in with email and a password if you don't already have one. Let me know what questions you have.... |
||
Spartan2 |
It is hard for me to believe that we did all of that route ourselves in 1992. Couldn't do it NOW, that's for sure! :-( It was fun to relive those portages without actually being there. |
||
boonie |
None of the guidebooks had that exact route, so I cobbled together sections from several guidebook routes plus some eyeball guesstimates for missing sections. I also added in double the portage miles for double portaging. I also looked at the three options for exiting Omega Lake - east to Horseshoe, north to Meeds, and south to Winchell. The figure I came up with was 40 +/- miles depending on the option out of Omega. That number included 2X the portage distance for double portaging and a little wandering around. I've been learning to measure it on Google Earth (an idea picked up from Ragged), so I did that for you and came up with these single portage numbers: 8.25 miles from Rockwood Outfitters across Poplar, Meeds entry to south campsite on Omega. 7.25 miles from there to the Karl Lake entry about mid-point of Long Island. 7.5 miles from there to Cross Bay and EP #50 landing. That's about 23 miles without wandering around or double portaging. Double portaging would add 6.75 miles to your route for about 30 miles total. I think downhill would be the way to go :) even though you'd start with a long portage when your packs are heaviest. I'm not familiar with that portage but have heard it's not difficult other than length. I can't say that about the Muskeg-Kiskadinna portage :). But you are younger and stronger than I. Omega is a beautiful lake and you could paddle some more miles there. I did not check out the south campsite, but the one at the end of the north arm was nice. It is an elevated site. There are some pictures in mine somewhere. The west campsite was OK and it's right across from the portage to Kiskadinna. Camping on Cross bay will give you a really short day - an hour or two - on your exit day if that's what you need. Four hours or so from the Karl Lake campsite double portaging. |
||
ducks |
|
||
boonie |
|
||
cowdoc |
|
||
bear bait |
those tamaracs do look familar :) they really glow in the morning light. |
||
georgelesley |
|
||
eagle93 |
|
||
ducks |
|
||
boonie |
Trip Name: BWCA 2012 Autumn Solo. Entry Point: 50 Click Here to View Trip Report |
||
TomT |
I loved your pics but wish there were more detailed shots of your gear and camps. And no obligatory self portrait?? Also love that you included the drive up and back detail. Going solo is so different when making the drives. Loved the report as it brought me back there. |
||
IBFLY |
I want to try the northern route as well - Banadad and the like. |
||
ducks |
I'll probably double portage. W/ my wife we single and w/ just kiddo we double. I'd prefer to single but I should keep safety first. There's also a good chance I'll have the dog along so doubling would be better. I feel better having the dog home w/ wife and kids but my wife feels better about me having the dog w/ me so we'll see what happens there. Food will be simple: instant oatmeal and coffee for breakfast, clif bars, jerky, gorp for lunches, and knorrs side dish noodles or idahoan instant mashed potatoes for suppers. I've never been in a solo canoe but will rent one for a day or two around here to get used to it before the trip. But, how much difference is there in stability between the Prism, Rockstar, and SR Q 16? Do you think the Prism w/ dog (80+ lb lab) would work for me? Which canoe I decide I should rent may also play a factor in where I go. |
||
PinkCanoe |
|
||
boonie |
There is a private forum for solo trippers that you may want to check out. |
||
mcsweem |
|