Hi We are planning a three week trip to Quetico P.P. in northwestern Ontario at the end of september with our two sea kayaks(Fiberglass Sealutions). We are prepared for portages with a set of padded straps but we would like to see if anybody else has ever travel in this park with sea kayaks. Is there any rough rapids? too rough for sea kayak? Anybody with good advice on carrying sea kayak in portage trails, or any other advice on the park is welcome. Thanks Dominique *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Dominique Berube wrote: > We are planning a three week trip to Quetico P.P. in northwestern >Ontario at the end of september with our two sea kayaks (Fiberglass >Sealutions). I have to agree with Chuck H. on most of what he says. Canoes in that country are definitely easier than kayaks, and carry way more gear. We take lawn chairs and folding tables with us when we go. To me it's a vacation, not a lesson in deprivation. You CAN do the trip however, in sea kayaks. I've been to Quetico at least 8 times, most of them entering somewhere near Atikokan, Ontario, a few out of Ely, Minnesota. Take some of what I say with a grain of salt as my last trip there was about 1977 or so. The area is mostly strings of lakes, some with mostly unrunnable, or marginally runnable rivers between them. Few Quetico paddlers run much whitewater, so there are portage trails around most if not all rapids of any significance. The Quetico Park Map is sufficient for navigation, but didn't used to be waterproof, might be by now. You might want to pick some of the larger scale ones up that are on waterproof paper. The ones I used were printed by WA Fisher Company, there must be competing publishers by now. You might want to pick a route that has few portages, that is possible, though our trips were aimed at getting away from people, and the easy way to do that is make a few portages. People are lazy, but I find that the portages break up the monotony of paddling somewhat. Well as long as you don't have the kitchen sink along with you. Hmmmm...hafta figure out.... Unlike the Boundry Waters, Quetico has no marked trails. They're usually easy to find, though. The BWCA used to have little sign posts that told you how long the portage was to the next lake, I don't know if they still do. The only sign I ever remember seeing in Quetico was a portage sign for a rapids somewhere, not even sure where it was (Split Rock Falls up north somewhere?). Might be more signs by now, but I'd bet not very many. Finding portages is still pretty easy, usually just head for the low spots in the trees and look for the brown spots on shore where many feet have killed the vegetation. Seldom will you find rivers to run, though there are exceptions here and there. My info and experience there is old, but I'll try and answer questions privately if you want. Have fun and let me know how the trip went after you get back. Hank Hays Lightning Paddles, Inc. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
On portaging kayaks in the BWCA... Its not as easy as portaging canoes but it can be done. After a few trips there with kayaks I have to say, though, I'd rather use a canoe next time. What we did on our kayak voyages: We chose routes that had few portages and/or short portages and/or portages next to streams. On short or easy portages, two of us carried one loaded kayak at a time. If the trail was narrow (most of the time) we put it up on our shoulders (the only times I have liked my PFD with lots "stuffing" over the shoulders). If the portage was near a stream, we would line the kayaks through it (Do scout the stream first!). On long or dangerous (steep and/or rocky) portages, we would unload the boats and carry them ourselves or in pairs depending upon how strong we felt or how precarious the trail looked. >Sixth, food and gear must be stowed in small packages > in kayaks versus two or three large packs in a canoe. This means a lot > of time unpacking and repacking on each portage (I don't recommend > carrying a loaded kayak) The load/unload was a drag but lemme tell you - you can get REAL fast and efficient when the black flies are biting! We each brought a duluth pack to put all those little drybags and odds-and-ends in during the portage. Note: short, long, dangerous are all relative terms. Only you and your group can determine what they mean to you! Good luck, have fun and good job (I notice you picked a time when the frost has killed most of the bugs :-) -chris *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Has anyone tried attaching the Duluth bag to the deck? Given the very flat waters and no currents of the area would the stability still acceptable? ,,, (o o) ==================oOO--(_)--OOo========================== Bob Washburn whiterabbit_at_iw.edwpub.com or rwashbu_at_siue.edu The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. ========================================================= *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have made six or seven trips into Quetico Park over the past ten or twelve years, mostly with canoes. Having taken up kayaking a few years ago, and falling in love with it, I have wrestled with the problem of portaging the canoe in Shield country. After making at least four extended trips now with the kayak, I am getting closer to the right solution. The first experience manhandling it with two or three people loaded was a nightmare - a kayak from hell, VERY awkward. I tried wheels (Primex) - these are great - on about 10% of the portages - the rest are to rough for these to work well. Two trips ago, in Quetico I met a group from Wisconsin with 1 canoe and two kayaks - they had special yokes sold by Spring Creek (in Mt. Iron?) that attached to the kayak. They thought they were great! They contacted Spring Creek on my behalf, who then sent me a catalog. The last trip, I had ordered this yoke from Spring Creek (found them on the Internet as well). For the first time, I carried my plastic kayak as easily as my Wenonah (Kevlar). The down side was the unpacking into packs carried on the back deck, then packing again. But once on the big lakes again, all this was forgotten again. You could paddle for days in the northern part and avoid any portages, if you so choose. The solution for me, at least, has arrived. If you really want to kayak instead of canoe, this seems to be the best answer yet. And Quetico is a wonderful place to kayak! (once on the water!) John E Scatliff Winnipeg, Manitoba -----Original Message----- From: Dominique Berube <dberube_at_vdsagax.ca> To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Tuesday, July 14, 1998 3:22 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] Quetico Provicial Park in Ontario >Hi > We are planning a three week trip to Quetico P.P. in northwestern Ontario >at the end of september with our two sea kayaks(Fiberglass Sealutions). We >are prepared for portages with a set of padded straps but we would like to >see if anybody else has ever travel in this park with sea kayaks. Is there >any rough rapids? too rough for sea kayak? Anybody with good advice on >carrying sea kayak in portage trails, or any other advice on the park is >welcome. >Thanks >Dominique > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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