Magicpaddler wrote on Apr 7^th, 2013 at 1:58pm:

DD I think I see symbols on the topo maps where some of them are but the grand daddy as you call it is not marked.  Looking at google earth east and then north of Sandy lake shows the Severn river crossing the end of the moraine.  I think that water is beyond my skill level.

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As illustrated, the Opasquia Moraine stretches approximately 50 miles across the southern edge of OPP.  If you are into geology, think of it in terms of "shore line" since it has been suggested that the moraine shows evidence of wave action from a massive lake (Lake Agassiz) of 365,000 square miles that dominate this area at the end of the last ice age (~11,000 years ago).  By massive, maps show the lake would have stretched from this location south to the North and South Dakota border, and approximately as wide (stretching from Ontario to Saskatchewan).  I haven't checked for sure, but I'm guessing it ultimately drained into Hudson Bay when the "levy" broke.

Also, I'm not surprised that there are no documented reports of pictographs.  Amazing that people don't bother to look for them.  For example, the lodge owners on Hansen Lake (WCPP) apparently didn't know there were 2 sets of picto's on THEIR lake.  Also, there is some documentation of picto's on Island Lake to the west, as near to OPP as Manitou Narrows.  In addition, since there are still First Nation settlements in all directions from OPP, it stands to reason that there are likely some there.

Jimbo -

I'm confident that we can find enough water to explore with no more than 2 portages to cross (if flying to East Lake) to keeps us entertained for a couple of weeks.  And even if you start at Central (Big Hook) Lake, you can reach East Lake in 3 portages (longest being something in the neighborhood of 50 rods).  And the good news is ... you'd be traveling with the current going in.

Finally, I think if we expressed to the operators of Big Hook Camps that a lighter canoe would be a "make-or-break" issue for people wanting to do canoe trips in the area they'd find a way to get a more "portagable" canoe delivered to Central Lake.  As long as there were sufficient renters over the course of a summer, I think that would be a no-brainer for them.

If they have concerns about canoeist disturbing their fish camp guests, I think it would be worth point out that many (if not all) of us would intentionally plan routes to AVOID camps and outboard noise.  I've also found in WCPP that many boaters that I've encountered are actually curious about canoeist in the area and will actually drive over to talk.

dd