Once again I have seen a reference to the "Goat Hill Portage" between Black Robe Portage and Wicksteed Lake.  Is this the half mile walk from Pond Lake to the no-name lake due West of Wicksteed?  Or elsewhere?  Thanks for the help.  Kind Regards.

That's the one. What you may not have heard is the story of how it was named. There is a small flock of goats that roam the alpine meadows on either side of the port. They were left there to provide milk for the hungry, thirsty Voyaguers. They could also be utilized to carry the immense loads up the near vertical cliffs and back down the other side. If you are fortunate, you will see them and make use of these well-trained beasts of burden. If you are going early in the year, you will likely see snow in the higher elevations. This is the site of the last known glacier in Q.

So Old Salt... Is that the portage where it rises so high your above the clouds? The air gets pretty thin up there.

It would be a mistake to over exaggerate the difficulty of this portage. I've never heard of anyone having altitude sickness.  8-)

Mr. Salt,

Thank you for the history lesson.  Always glad to add to my base of near knowledge.  Borrowing a term from the old Andy Griffith Show, I feel as though you might be "Greening" me just a bit.

I appreciate your  confirmation that it was in fact the portage we were on last September.  It had poured down all day prior to our arrival in the afternoon.  The walk was interesting to say the least.

Regards,

MossBack

It's too bad the goats were hiding, they do that. I'm glad the portage provided a lifetime of memories.

The Picture Of the Day today happens to be on what I now know is the Goat Hill Portage.  It is about 4:00 PM and as dark as the photo shows it.  This is the West end at waters edge and the reason we were stalled under the canoe and not on the water was a lightening barrage as impressive as the portage itself.

If you look closely in the upper right hand corner, you can barely make out a pink eyed Alpine goat up in one of the trees.  I understand they have a higher percentage of cones in their eyes and are more likely to be out on dark rainy days. The lightening did not seem to be bothering him.  We knew it was a male because he was on the left side of the tree.

MossBack

THAT must be a hell of a portage IF it took 3 men to carry the canoe across sans packs.  ;) ::) ;D

The packs were nearby.  I am always impressed by how much weight my old canvas packs take on in an all day downpour.

Quote:

I am always impressed by how much weight my old canvas packs take on in an all day downpour.

  :'( ;D ;D ;D

POD today 4/7 is excellent. So nice. I'd like to be right there. I'm pretty sure there's a 30" walleye off that point too.

There's a jackalope in at least of those previous PODs. Just saying.