I've toyed with the thought of canoeing WCPP (or Wabikimi) in the next few years, especially after reading some of the nice reports from this site and at Canoecopia.  

Here's a question I've had for a while.  Are the forests different between Quetico and WCPP (and Wabikimi)?  I love the old growth red and white pines prevalent in Quetico and parts of the BWCA.  It's my understanding that as one travels northward, the forests are more boreal in nature, with less of the red and white pines.  Forgive me if my forest terminology is inaccurate and thanks in advance for your insight.

This is where the tent pads were at this camp sight.  There is a lot more of this in Wabikimi than Quetico.
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I'd say that this view is reasonably typical of what you'll find in Woodland Caribou.  Finding trees to hang a bear bag is a hit or miss proposition (mostly miss).  Alder and Black Spruce are also common and you'll run into Birch ever so often.

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This shot was from my campsite on Hansen Lake (WCPP) from my 2010 solo trip.  

dd

Jack Pine are predominant with the fire driven forest ecology.

On a trip to WCPP we did find trees to hang 2 hammocks at each camp sight although 2 times we used 3 trees to hang 2 hammocks.  Other times I would brace a tree so I would not pull it over. I used a chain saw to clear enough of the area in the above picture to set up one tent.  There was another space where another tent could be set up.  There were other sights that were too messed up to reclaim. 

Very neat pictures... [smiley=thumbup.gif]  thx...brings the wild back into wilderness... :o


wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 2:01pm:

On a trip to WCPP we did find trees to hang 2 hammocks at each camp sight although 2 times we used 3 trees to hang 2 hammocks.  Other times I would brace a tree so I would not pull it over. I used a chain saw to clear enough of the area in the above picture to set up one tent.  There was another space where another tent could be set up.  There were other sights that were too messed up to reclaim.

A chain saw?  I know WCPP is tougher than Quetico, but... :-?

I saw alot of what both DD and MP showed. Although we never "needed" a chainsaw... One would have helped a few times. I have enough trouble carrying a folding saw let alone a chainsaw. It definitly won't discourage me from returning multiple times this year. I was at a couple campsites where we paddled to another location to go to the bathroom... Kind of wish others would have done similar. The nice campsite on So Aegean had potty holes within a few feet from potential tent pads. Yuk!

The trip I was on with a chain saw was a portage and campsight clearing trip with Phil Cotton in Wabakimi. There was some portage in WCPP that needed a lot of chain saw work.  I have found fewer poor bathroom remnants in either of the northern parks than the Q.  I think that is because of fewer people.

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 8:48pm:

The trip I was on with a chain saw was a portage and campsight clearing trip with Phil Cotton in Wabakimi. There was some portage in WCPP that needed a lot of chain saw work.  I have found fewer poor bathroom remnants in either of the northern parks than the Q.  I think that is because of fewer people.

Hmmmmmm.  "...I have found fewer poor bathroom remnants...than the Q..."  

Now, one could read that to mean you've found in the Q  not only richer better bathroom remnants, but more of them!!   :P ;D ;D

I have found messes in the Q at more than one camp sight.  You could say I stepped in it.

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 2:01pm:

On a trip to WCPP I used a chain saw

Great! Now MT is going to start a 20 page thread on the best and lightest chainsaw to bring along, just in case... ;D ;D along with the associated discussion of calculating quantities of bar oil and fuel.  ;)

LMAO ;D

Old Salt wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 1:31am:

wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:01pm: On a trip to WCPP I used a chain saw Great! Now MT is going to start a 20 page thread on the best and lightest chainsaw to bring along, just in case... ;D ;D along with the associated discussion of calculating quantities of bar oil and fuel.  ;)

Don't be ridiculous!!



But...........now that you brought it up, what would be the best and lightest chain saw..........I mean If a guy would actually.........oh, nevermind.

mastertangler wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 12:42pm:

Old Salt wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 1:31am: wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:01pm: On a trip to WCPP I used a chain saw Great! Now MT is going to start a 20 page thread on the best and lightest chainsaw to bring along, just in case... ;D ;D along with the associated discussion of calculating quantities of bar oil and fuel.  ;) Don't be ridiculous!! But...........now that you brought it up, what would be the best and lightest chain saw..........I mean If a guy would actually.........oh, nevermind.

Then there would be the gas and oil... What could have more than one use. Could that bar and chain oil also cook fish? Could the gas also be used in your stove? ;D

In MT's stove...NO. In my stoves, YES ;) , the mix could be burnt to make the bread; fouling could occur I suppose. I suppose the bar oil could work in an Altoid tin candle for those survival sitchiations, and if food grade rape seed oil was used one could have a sublime double use purpose ;D ...oh the bar and pan how  8-) wood that be :o

Here is a start...

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And a pack to haul it in... :D

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Might need a high-tech titanium muffler for stealth mode, and kevlar chaps for safety concerns :-?

Just saying...not that I would do it as I am a little set in my ways being the old goat that I am :-/

Since we've solved MT'S battery charging issues, why not go GREEN, and get one of these ;)
I would think in Jack Pine it would have enough juice to clear an area big enough for a solo camper.

Maybe even use it to gut/behead those monster NP he'll be catching.
When that pesky bear grabs your food barrel, instead of the flaming Bear Spray, you can whip out your Big 10 Inch  ;D

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solotripper wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 4:25pm:

Since we've solved MT'S battery charging issues, why not go GREEN, and get one of these ;) ...Maybe even use it to gut/behead those monster NP he'll be catching. When that pesky bear grabs your food barrel, instead of the flaming Bear Spray, you can whip out your Big 10 Inch  ;D   (You need to Login or Register /post/Ryobi_10_inch_Lithium_Ion_Chainsaw_/

Not sure the ten incher would work against this bad boy    :o:   :o

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pine_knot wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 12:07am:

solotripper wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 4:25pm: Since we've solved MT'S battery charging issues, why not go GREEN, and get one of these ;) ...Maybe even use it to gut/behead those monster NP he'll be catching. When that pesky bear grabs your food barrel, instead of the flaming Bear Spray, you can whip out your Big 10 Inch  ;D   (You need to Login or Register /post/Ryobi_10_inch_Lithium_Ion_Chainsaw_/ Not sure the ten incher would work against this bad boy    :o:   :o

Now that's where your off season conditioning program becomes REALLY useful. You duck and roll in a grid pattern approximately the area you want your campsite to be. IF your fast and lucky, you'll have a nice tent pad area and plenty of sawed firewood.
Once that's accomplished, you use the Bear Spray ( non-flaming) and drive the Bear- Saw away ;D

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Humaniod, its the OTHER white meat!  ;D

dd

DentonDoc wrote on Jan 4^th, 2011 at 6:57pm:

(You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register Humaniod, its the OTHER white meat!  ;D dd

You hear that MT now your are officially "white meat" ;D Happy New Year Buddy ;)

Dear Pine Knot

I'd have to disagree with Denton Doc - the photo he showed is not typical at all. I rarely see such colourful towels in the backcountry of WCPP.  Usually they are quite plain andmuch dirtier. Must be at the beginning of his trip!!!
I do agree with your discription tho as you go further north. You will lose the large red and whites - but then life would be boring if we were all the same.  The towel photo is a prime example!!!
The forest is different as it is derived from a different set of conditions.  We do have reds but they are fewer and farther between bscause of the fire regime.  We tend to celebrate those occurances more excitedly as they are at the northern extent of thier range.  Same goes for the Bur Oak that appears here and there.

its_worth_wild wrote on Jan 6^th, 2011 at 1:35am:

I'd have to disagree with Denton Doc - the photo he showed is not typical at all. I rarely see such colourful towels in the backcountry of WCPP.  Usually they are quite plain and much dirtier. Must be at the beginning of his trip!!!

Sorry, its not a towel.  Its a "WELCOME MAT" to one and all that might pass by.  My towel is only about 1/4th that size.

Just trying to keep up appearances with Jimbo's Flamingo gang!  They were used on the WCPP group trip in 2009 and it was amazingly easy from a great distance to determine where a party from our group was "hole-up" in a campsite.  Such unnatural colors easily stick out like a sore thumb and if it flapping in a breeze, its an absolute beacon.

I'm a chronic flag hanger on most canoe trips.  It lets others know I'm there (and potentially avoid a long paddle for someone seeking an available campsite.)

dd

I saw some of what MagicPaddler showed in his picture as well as what DD had in his... minus the "towel". Although my son used his bright pink sleeping bag for his dog for me to find him on Paull Lake like that. My point is you'll see it all and quite often it'll be the tangled mess you found in MP's picture. On better established routes you'll find better campsites and portages for obvious reasons. But I'm guessing like on Jimbo's past trip they had to improvise a lot off the beaten path. I'm looking forward to that myself this year. I'm going to upgrade my saw, but still not going to the power saw or the bear.  ;D And hopefully make some nice places to pitch a tent. It seemed to me Marten actually often times pitched his tent right out on the rock near the lake. I better be ready to do that and have a good mattress. Nothing "boring" about the WCPP. I'm excited to see what other areas have to offer. Thanks Doug!