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Message started by TomT on Jul 30th, 2017 at 12:51pm

Title: Re: Alice Lake in Quetico
Post by Mad_Mat on Jul 30th, 2017 at 9:05pm
I've stayed on the island site several times - it is pretty, in some nice big pines, especially the one right at the landing - its full of carpenter ants, so don't hang anything on its branches..   There are two other sites still functional on the lake (others were burned and now too overgrown).  Off the top of my head, there is one on the SW shore, before you get to the pinch/narrow spot (if coming from the north) - another to the NW of the island - don't think it is the one that is shown on paddle planner though.  Usually have the lake to myself, but have been camped on that island and asleep one night when I hear voices - someone had underestimated how long it takes to get there and were looking for a campsite in the dark - they moved on before I could exit the tent, and they headed back to the North.  I did Sauvage, Bonhomme, and the long portage from Fern to Olifaunt all in one day, but best to camp on Fern and start fresh in the morning.  You can also come in from Chatterton, which is a lot easier.

Bonhomme and Sauvage are quite civilized now, having been repaired a number of years ago - but the "new" corduroy has been taking a beating since it was put in.  coming form the north, the the start of the portage to alice is tricky to find - it is on a big sloping rock face that has a blown over pine tree on top - you can see the root ball - there is (or was) a small pine tree at the base of that big rock, on a little "shelf" at water line - that is what you need to look for - you can't see any sign of a portage there, until you are atop the big rock slope.

first time I did Bonhomme and Sauvage, it was like "The African Queen" movie - had to put my gear in the boat and tow it behind me while trying to keep out of the waist deep muck - much, much better since the fix of a few (10?) years ago.

usually don't fish Alice, though we have caught a few Northerns there on the way to Gahn - went thru there this year, but didn't camp - took the "adventure" portage out of Gahn to the tiny stream that feeds into Chatterton Lake - its only 3' wide and so windy you just have to pull your boat over the corners - can't float it for the first 2 or 3 hundred yards, then its ok.  Not recommended.

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