Marten,
Apparently we had been spoiled during our trip upstream on the Wanipigow from Siderock to Crystal as there was plenty of water (a foot or more even in the shallow sections) for paddling to each of about 9 portages.
Eight days later returning downstream found me wading through long sections with six inches or less of water. Progress through these sections was about equal whether paddling or walking. Most of the section east of the small lake between Siderock and Crystal has a sandy firm bottom so walking and towing a loaded canoe while slow was a reasonable mode of travel. The section just west of the small lake is more rocky so that walking becomes treacherous to feet and legs as well as the bottom of a loaded canoe. I was in a solo so some of the skinniest passages were still possible with some scraping. Snowdog and partner were in a tandem and I'm sure they had many more problems getting through this area than I. We left alot of red on the rocks here and curiously there was none visible from our route through here just eight days prior. The eight days between our trips up and down the Wanipigow were very dry and only experienced one or two brief thundershowers.