May I expect more company next year? Heading in next month with about 10 taking part in the adventure. Sorry to hear of various issues.

As for me, I'll be looking at your routing proposal for 2024 very closely.

I'll have new boots on... for what good it will do me.

Jimbo   8-)

We're basecamping Shiver to start off with. A few of us intend to venture from the nest after a couple of days to do a loop or two or just an out-and-back.

Looking forward to the adventure.  Glad to hear you get new boots Jimbo!  We were thinking about renaming you "Shoeless Joe"! 

Westwood made a good point in a previous post about all or us getting a little older.  I'd like to add that it's a matter of helping each other out when we're on the trips.

Later.......Mike

The Atikaki 2022 adventure stretched to 39 days for me. The whole stay ended up more laid back (lazy) than any of us expected. This year we have a whole new area to explore with a lot of options for all. Had a number of fish  fry potlucks last year that were a blast. My schedule dictates no June trips but others could certainly get the canoes in there and get the fun started. A real treat last year was bushwhacking over to a Lake Trout lake.

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On page 5 of this management plan for Atikaki you  will see  the proper lake names for our travel area. Other info too that adds to our knowledge of the area. I like the Shiver lake name more than Seagull so we may as well keep going with that. Doing that will prevent the hordes from following our trail to the lake. I have an inquiry in to Tanya about getting an Otter into Rundle Lake. I note the map shows a boat cache on Rundle. Also one on the SW corner of Shiver but no one ever paddled that shore during our visit.

Mosquito Lake and Mystery Lake. We (Mike, Kevin, and I) camped on Mosquito.

Tanya says they have flown hunters to Rundle and can get us there next year. With that info we can now plan on starting Atikaki2024 on Rundle. We should be able to bushwhack to Mystery Lake with a little work. Bush whacking to Black Lake will involve two unknown crossings. If it can be done there would be a physically difficult loop trip visiting Shiver, Rundle and Black. With our Inreach messengers we can change any of our changeout  flights with Bluewater Aviation.

For the most part this will be a basecamp style of trip. Arrival and exit would be from the same lake. Two tandem Kevlar canoes with Springcreek portage seats for solo paddling and portaging. I plan on tripping solo next year and will use my Pac boat 165. Each party will be independantly equipped. We will limit the first flying group to 4 paddlers as we have been too close to maximum weight with 5 paddlers and the canoes on the Otter. With leaner outfits we could still do 5 but would need to weigh and know our total weight ahead of time.

What is the attraction of Rundle Lake?

I figure it must be sizeable enough for a float plane to land AND offer you decent day trips, loops, etc..  Anything else?

If I could figure out a way to get Bluewater Aviation to drop me off (with a canoe, of course) on either Eakins or McMurray, I'd probably jump on it.  Logistics would likely be too difficult to work in concert with what you have planned, however.

So, I'm back to my original question: what is particularly attractive about Rundle?

Jimbo   8-)

And
Jimbo wrote on Aug 17^th, 2023 at 2:58pm:

What is the attraction of Rundle Lake? I figure it must be sizeable enough for a float plane to land AND offer you decent day trips, loops, etc..  Anything else? If I could figure out a way to get Bluewater Aviation to drop me off (with a canoe, of course) on either Eakins or McMurray, I'd probably jump on it.  Logistics would likely be too difficult to work in concert with what you have planned, however. So, I'm back to my original question: what is particularly attractive about Rundle? Jimbo   8-)

Because we have not been there!!

It is also an important piece of the puzzle up there. Can we access other lakes easily from there? Since there was only one Walleye on Shiver, and we ate that one,  Mike and Terry need new waters to search in.

Probable that one segment of the trip would involve portaging back over to Shiver after exhausting data retrieval on Rundle.  I feel Rundle is only one lake away from a major canoe route SE into WCPP and would like to verify that.

Jimbo, Marten can provide a more detailed answer but I know it came up as a place of interest while we were out there. As an FYI, Mike P and I spoke to Tanya on our way our about back haul flights to resorts such as on Dogskin. It's a far cry from Eakins for example, but we are looking at alternatives. I'd join you on Eakins or McMurray but we'd  need two more to make the costs work out. So.....there are options....

Hmmm... food for thought.

I would want to base-camp, with the possibility of day-tripping to other lakes.  For me, the attraction of Eakins & McMurray is that they also offer lake trout in addition to pike, walleyes, & perch.

Maybe I can drum up some more interest in a trip to those lakes.

I really enjoyed the total solitude & wilderness we experienced in that park (and also the humdinger thunderstorm!). So, I certainly would not rule out heading to a non-LT lake like Rundle.  Of course, if it's like Shiver and there's only ONE walleye in the entire lake, that would be a bummer. At least I KNOW what's over on the other side of the park.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

   

As Terry has alluded to it is all about splitting the cost. I would say that 4 paddlers, two canoes tied on to Brad and then the return would be just under US$1000 each. Atikaki 2023 cost US$505 each.

That's helpful information, thanks.

Since I would be basecamping, I only wish I knew I bit more about the fishing over on Rundle.  Once I get in, I'm pretty much committed to that lake due to my likely physical limitations.

From an "exploration" standpoint, it looks like a great location.

I'm going to research old trip reports that include Rundle.  That's how I learned about the presence of LT on Eakins & McMurray... and why trout was on our menu .

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

I would be pretty sure there are Walleye in Rundle. They are in all the lakes we have been on in that area. A stream connects to Clayton and then on to Dogskin. I am a flat footed fisherman and had no trouble catching my meals from our campsites when the real fisherman were not there to deliver my fillets. Even the park management plan says Eakens and McMurray are the only lakes with Laketrout and mention special rules concerning taking them. We found another boat on the north end of Eakens where a Cessna could be unloaded. Maybe Atikaki 2025 could return to Brad as I have a lot to learn about the port ages north of there and the Leyond River.

I agree with Marten on the topic the visiting Rundle.  "A wilderness is best visited but once".  Aldo Leupold.  I am sure Rundle is peppered with walleye and northern.  Because it's a "moose lake" for hunting purposes I would think that is has shallow bays, etc.  The topography around Rundle looks like it has some elevation making it more scenic.  Also, if the river is navigable up to Clayton the sky is the limit for exploring....without portaging.  The problem is going to the north you'll experience some boat traffic from Dogskin.  I enjoyed the solitude of Shiver and the surrounding lakes.  No cabins, no people.  I also agree the Marten with the canoe set ups. 
I told Terry not to catch the only walleye on Shiver ;)

PS.  Kevin is now a walleye fisherman! 

I added a Northstar ADK in blacklite to the arsenal. It can go inside the Otter and should allow me to easily wander on Rundle and carry across portages to nearby waters.
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Video of the camping on Atikaki 2023
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Nice video, Marten!

Approximately what dates are you looking at for 2024?

Jimbo   8-)

Enjoyed the video  [smiley=cool.gif]
I like to see how other's camp. I have no problem stealing someone's good idea  ;) ;D ;D

I can go in after the 4th of July holiday but if others took in the canoes earlier that would work too. I plan on being in for at least a month but the trip could go longer if somebody can bring the canoes back into the states and store them until I am making  a return trip from my MN cabin.

Everyone should start rounding up trip partners and we can start putting this thing together. Always the possibility of more than one trip taking place as interest builds. I want to explore Rundle next year but Shiver is a known top quality destination with known landing spot, great camps and very abundant mid-sized Walleye.

Four to five paddlers makes a good entry trip with the canoes. After that the Cessna can change out two paddlers for about $700US. Three or more and the Otter is used with no canoe tie-ons for $1400 per changeout. 2200 pounds max for the Otter without canoes . We may have canoe seats for 7 waiting for the incoming paddlers.

We will plan on dividing  the whole package of flights by the number of trip participants. Expect a cost of under $600 US per person for the flights and canoe tie-ons.

[quote author=Martin_Kehoe link=1688228892/19#19 date=1692756045]Video of the camping on Atikaki 2023
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That kinda hit the spot today. Thank you sir!

Hello Marten, I am interested in joining your 2024 Atikaki trip. Looking to go for about 2 weeks.  I know Mike Peebles and he has told me about your fantastic past trips.
Tim

pbrown07 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2023 at 2:52am:

Hello Marten, I am interested in joining your 2024 Atikaki trip. Looking to go for about 2 weeks.  I know Mike Peebles and he has told me about your fantastic past trips. Tim

Sounds great, you are on the list. I will start scheduling after Thanksgiving  so everyone can set the time aside.

Marten,
I hear you've landed another recruit for the upcoming trip :)

HighnDry wrote on Feb 9^th, 2024 at 2:44pm:

Marten, I hear you've landed another recruit for the upcoming trip :)

Yes, he will be with us on the first segment for about two weeks. Then two families come in on the Otter that will pick up you four. After a week the Otter returns with another crew when the families fly out.

That sounds like a plan. Let us know about canoe arrangements and such as we get nearer to that time. I'm sure we'll discuss at Canoecopia as well.

HighnDry wrote on Feb 10^th, 2024 at 2:05pm:

That sounds like a plan. Let us know about canoe arrangements and such as we get nearer to that time. I'm sure we'll discuss at Canoecopia as well.

This year we will have two big tandems with center seat yokes, paccanoe 165 and the 12 foot ADK 20 pounder. The last two fit inside the Otter.

Atikaki 2024 filled up fast. Otter coming and going from mid July until late in Aug. Only room left now is if a group took the canoes in for a stay on Rundle before we arrive mid July. We have 14-16 taking part this year.

Marten,

Are you around these days or up north at your cabin? I have a pakboat question for you

Terry

HighnDry wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2024 at 10:57pm:

Marten, Are you around these days or up north at your cabin? I have a pakboat question for you Terry

Just got back from Utah.

Can't wait to hear about that! I'll give you a call soon.

I thought that this might be of interest to start monitoring, although right now conditions don't look to be too bad:

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Lots of info on the link you posted. Thanks for sharing.