When I look on the PCD at the bay in the NE corner of Wicksteed, I see a portage just east of the island cutting over to the Darky River.  It doesn't show on Memory Map or my other maps.  Can anyone confirm the existence of this portage?   Anybody ever been on it?

For better or worse, I'm always looking for "short cuts"....

Jimbo   8-)

It shows on MY Memory Maps ... but then I downloaded campsites and portages from the PCD.

Unfortunately, you ask the question about 3 weeks too late!  I paddle by it (twice) on the Darky River, but didn't investigate; didn't go into that area on Wicksteed. The normal Darky to Wicksteed portage wasn't too bad, but it was sloppy for maybe 30 yards on the Darky side.

BTW:  The portage clearing crew were in the area while I was there.  They did clear the Darky/Argo portage ... much better on the way out than the way in.  You can go around some of the sloppy near the Argo end by taking a short side trail on the northwestern side.

dd

I've paddled by there, several times, on Darky River. Never seen or heard of anyone using said portage. You might check with Park office, unless you're looking for another Baptism River style shortcut to impress your newbie. ;D

Old Salt wrote on Jun 30^th, 2012 at 8:14pm:

I've paddled by there, several times, on Darky River. Never seen or heard of anyone using said portage. You might check with Park office, unless you're looking for another Baptism River style shortcut to impress your newbie. ;D

OS -

Gotta break-in my new young paddling partner somewhere, I suppose, eh?

BTW, thanks to you & Snow_Dog for all the suggestions re: introducing a teen to this region of the park.  So far I've had two sons for guinea pigs and my batting average is pretty good but new perspectives & ideas certainly help. 

I'm thinking campsites with swimming holes/beaches will gain fairly high priority on my list if this heat wave keeps up!

Jimbo   8-)

Funny thing is I did both the portages between Wicksteed and Darky twice the same year ~20+ years ago and I remember absolutely nothing about either. I can still see 3 distinct parts of the portage from Pond to ~Wicksteed vividly. Argo to Darky Yup. Darky to Ballard and vice versa yup. I only did those one one trip. Funny what we choose to remember and choose to forget.

I'm gonna guess there is a little rapids and eventually a cliff of sorts on the Darkwater side.

In my head, I can still see a picture I took at the first portage down the river. Might take me an hour to find the transparency but the guy is out on a rock kneeling before a camera wearing Sorels so I'm gonna guess that was the spring recon trip that year. (Affectionately known as the tick trip.)

Thanks for the blast Jimbo! It's on all the maps so it's as reliable as any eh?

Jimbo, I would think that by now you would not be too worried about a line on a map. Those are for everybody else right?

Kingfisher wrote on Jul 1^st, 2012 at 12:11pm:

Jimbo, I would think that by now you would not be too worried about a line on a map. Those are for everybody else right?

...especially when YOU are around!   ;)

Jimbo   8-)

I've done that portage - not into wicksteed creek, but further east on the river, from the river to the lake - a rough estimate per the OBM was point one six mile so about 1/6th mi . 

I was going upstream, and it is hard to find that way, as you go past it and would have to be looking over your right shoulder to see it, as its back in a little bay.   After I was certain I'd passed it, I backtracked and found it - even then, I don't think it was really obvious.

I'd say that at the river end, its just about where the Ontario Basic Mapping shows it to be. I don't remember if its on the Fisher map, or not?  Tried to do a copy/paste of the OBM for you, but can't make that work.  Likely its the same as PCD as that uses OBM data?

I did it in 2009, so my memory is more or less blank, but I don't recall any difficulties on it.

That's good feedback, Mad_Mat, thanks! 

I'm considering camping on Wicksteed & exiting to Minn via the Darky River.  I expect I'll have a chance to reconnoiter some during the day or so I'm camped there.

Jimbo   8-)

I found this Trip Report by Ho Ho in which he comments on this very portage:    (You need to Login or Register

He even shows portage related pics and one of those great maps he typically couples with his reports!

You will note that Ho Ho's map shows the portage as located a bit further north than the one shown on the PCD.

Just another reminder of how the "Search" function on QJ can be so valuable for trip planning.  For those of you who haven't yet renewed your financial support of this website, I encourage you to reflect upon the various tools we have been given (PCD, portage database, Trip Report archives, etc.).  They are easily worth of price of Inukshuk admission!

And thanks to Ho Ho and others like him, too, who contribute their experiences from which many of us benefit.

Jimbo   8-)

"You will note that Ho Ho's map shows the portage as located a bit further north than the one shown on the PCD."

I'd take the PCD location as being closer to correct (at least it matches my memory better) - HoHo just free hand drew in his route I'd think. 

Mad_Mat -

You better believe that I've already drawn BOTH lines on MY map!

I've also printed off Ho Ho's picture of that marker cairn on the Wicksteed side.  Chances are that some semblance of that marker (& downed tree beside it) are still there.  I'll find the danged thing.  As I'm expecting an ultra tame trip this year, I'll use any excuse for what little "adventure" I can find!

Thanks for the inputs, folks.

Jimbo   8-)

Not sure if I'm too late to add value here, but i walked that portage from the Darky River to Wicksteed 2 years ago.  It is precisely as Mad_Mat describes.  It is tucked into a little hold on the shore and it's easier to see, but still not easy, if you are moving from south to north on the river.  It within sight of the log jam and portage just a little further north on the River.  I don't think this portage is taken very often.

If Jimbo had posted here PRIOR to his ill-fated 'shortcut', he might have found where the portage shortcut REALLY was located...just sayin. ;D

gfy_paddler wrote on Jul 11^th, 2012 at 4:47pm:

Not sure if I'm too late to add value here, but i walked that portage from the Darky River to Wicksteed 2 years ago.  It is precisely as Mad_Mat describes.  It is tucked into a little hold on the shore and it's easier to see, but still not easy, if you are moving from south to north on the river.  It within sight of the log jam and portage just a little further north on the River.  I don't think this portage is taken very often.

gfy_paddler -

Hey, just  in time!  Value-added, thanks!

Jimbo   8-)