Well folks, way too many years have gone by since I first posted.  I never intended to be on the site daily, simply a result of work load but heard there was a lot of traffic in recent months so I dusted off my password and checked it out.  Just so you know I'm still alive and well and thought I should tell you what we are up to these days.

New map, as I see the post announcing our new map, yes its finally here and a very good product at that. The people at CHRISMAR took the map out of our hands and I think you will be happy with it.  It corrects all of the little glitches that were found over the years, enjoy!

World Heritage - While we have been busy over the past 8 years with our partners putting together our submission for UNESCO World Heritage Site status for a large area that includes Woodland Caribou, we had our day in front of UNESCO last year only to be told "we like it, it has merit, but there is a little more work to do". So we are back at the drawing board to tie up some loose ends for another presentation, likely in the spring of 2015. Wish us luck and check out the project at (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

As you have very likely heard we had a weather event we are calling a SNOWDOWN a little over a year ago that had effects on the entire park. With the help of our own organization giving us two additional crews for a couple of years, a local canoe outfitter clearing some trails and just your average run of the mill paddler clearing their way (and not asking for any compensation - thanks) excellent progress was made. We expect that the few trails remaining will all be "punched open" next year.  At that time we will begin the task of retracing our steps to widen the trails back to our usual standards.  If you are at Canoecopia this spring come and visit, I will be making a presentation about the SNOWDOWN event and the progress made.

Lastly you will notice a few additional routes on the map. Most of which have been identified by Martin Kehoe (thanks Martin) over the past few years.  We have now been able to take them under our wing, so to speak, but we still have a few details to work out on a couple of them so we didnt put the portage detail on the map. We will make it available to you upon request. We just didnt want people to assume that because it is on the map its good to go.  The CHRISMAR folks plan on doing more regular map updates than we were able to do, so the new info will be on the next map I'm sure.

As usual we are happy to answer any questions you may have.  Use is still about the same at 6-700 padders a year, so you can be assured of that solitude you are seeking.

We still happy to be part of the QJ experience.

I'll try and provide a few more updates if time permits.

Doug

Boy that was fast , thanks for the welcome

Hey Doug -

Thanks for spending the hour+ with me at copia!  I truly enjoyed our time pouring over maps and talking about fishing, artifacts and future plans for the park.

I've decided to go ahead and launch with Jimbo and company at Leano on June 28th (rather than use the Garner Lake EP from Manitoba) although my travel may be a bit more "detached" that many of the others in the group.  So like Jimbo ... looking forwarding to seeing you again on June 27th or July 10th!

BTW:  Thanks for forwarding the informational links!

dd

Welcome aboard! Snowdog & I did a WCPP trip about 10 years ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'm wondering if a mod can import past WCPP posts from elsewhere (I think most are in 'Other places...' forum) to this forum. 

Welcome Doug...I'm impressed! 

I enjoyed visiting with you in Madison, Wisconsin, this winter.  I just posted a note on this website in response to a question from someone interested in going to WCP, where I complimented you for managing the WCP so as to protect its fragile ecosystem, and not pushing for more visitors beyond the Park's carrying capacity.  It is such a treasure...I'm glad it's in good hands.

prouboy

Doug --  I'll be making my next trip to the Park in the summer of 2010. 

Several questions:

1. Is Albert Rogalinksi/Goldseekers still in business?

2. Is it true the Park will be removing interior cabins next summer? 

3. Can you send me your latest Park Plan?  If so, I will send you a PM with my address, etc., or I could just send a letter to your Headquarters.
 
Thanks much.

prouboy

My apologies to those who posted beyond this point in the thread.  (Most posts were in regards to WCPP Maps.)  I made a poor attempt to separate these posts to a separate thread to keep this thread more in focus, and in the process managed to remove not only my own post, but those of others.

Again, my apologies.

dd

Thanks much for your response to my questions Doug.  I'll send the email and look forward to reading the plan. 

prouboy

I just want to be clear. The 2010 removal of fishing cabins are only for the private recreation permits not the commercial outpost camps. If those permits are indeed to be cancelled then the cabins will have to come down in a timley manner (possibly within a year).
but to re-confirm the commercial fly-in outpost camps will remain.

DG

Welcome SunCatcher... I'm heading up Tuesday morning. Hope to be in Red Lake before noon.

SunCatcher,

If I can possibly assist with routing, I'd be happy to.  My party recently returned from a Lund - Knox - Murdock - Irvine - Royd - Gammon - Prairie - Indian House - Lund "loop".  Last year we did a Leano - Kilburn - Paull - Aegean - Wrist - Mexican Hat - Leano "loop".

If info on any of that might be useful, let me know.

Jimbo   

SunCatcher wrote on Jul 25^th, 2010 at 10:21pm:

You might want to take a look at my solo trip report from THIS year.  Based on your route, I ran from Leano to Hansen in JUne.  However, my route into Mexican Hat was via Jake rather than Burnt Rock.  I think the general consensus from our trip LAST year was the the route via Jake (although more portages) was easier than Burnt Rock (unless the portage into Mex Hat has seen a portage crew since then).

Going into Hansen, be prepared for the "Chute" just before Hansen.  Its a good place to get dumped.

dd

Just got back from that route from Leano, Jake, Mex Hat, Wrist, Aegean, Paull, Elephant Head and back to Leano. I saw no crew or sign of things being done... just signs of things to be done. I'm not complaining... we enjoyed the challenges. I thought of DD a lot while going the same way to Mex Hat... The portage going into Mex Hat was the biggest challenge and the dogs did better than I did. I fell pretty hard while carring two packs, but got right up to my sons surprize. I thought the falls were awesome. There was a float plane at the end of the portage, he seemed nervous about being there and took off. We walked up the portage to Burnt Rock Lake a ways... It's obviously much less used. If you intend to do the route you suggest in seven days, your pushing it in my opinion. Get an early start the first day... Getting a fishing lisense took a long time. We barely got our park permit and they closed the office for a little while. We were dissappointed with the campsite map. There is no way a fair amount of the sites listed are suitable. The road to Leano is not a fast road... Plan about two hours, they say an hour and a half... depends on your vehical and what your willing to put it through. By the time everything happened we could only get to a site at the end of Leano the first day.

nctry_Ben wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 3:55am:



Amen to that!!!  We spent 12 days in the park further north.  MAYBE 40% of the campsites shown in park literature even exist!  Either that OR their standards for campsites are incredibly low in WCP.  Their campsites are smaller, further apart, & often don't exist.  As a hammock camper, it doesn't much matter to me; just give me two suitable trees & a decent flat rock to land my canoe.  However, if you are tent-camping in WCP, think small tent pads and be prepared to clear out spots from the brush, especially if you get off the established canoe trails.

Nevertheless, none of this will deter me from returning to this beautiful park!  

Just be prepared & you will be fine.

Jimbo  

I suppose this should be a whole new thread... But we did get a map handed to us from the park office and although we found campsites by using it we found most campsites don't exsist. Even many with fire rings there was no way to clear for a tent pad, let a lone two. I thought of Jimbo and his hammock while I was out there... My next investment! I think group sizes in WCPP are best kept very small. At the present I don't see the park able to handle near the people as the BW and Q for the campsite reason alone. A group of three guys who we met going in and paddled parallel to us to Mex Hat made a point to ask me to not tell anyone about the park. I understand thier concern, but to late... The word is out. I saw at least six different groups out there as I was out there. None to big... The biggest group was a group of four on Aegean going to see the falls. I was at a campsite that Doc pointed out as a good one to me. It was... but the sad thing was a group had deposited thier human waste rather close to the tent pad. It looks like they had no choice, but I found a better place. Same with the little island on Wrist. We found ourselves paddling to the bigger island to do our business. And yes we had dogs with... We were careful to pick up after them in campsites and portages. We found ourselves picking up after others too. Well, I better get back to unpacking...

nctry_Ben wrote on Jul 30^th, 2010 at 6:05pm:


Campsites?!?  We doan need no stinkin' campsites!!  [And you ain't gonna find many, either, in WCPP!]

El Jimbo   

SunCatcher wrote on Dec 6^th, 2010 at 12:18am:

There is a map some place that identifies the fly-in lakes ... its part of the park management plan.  If Doug doesn't get back to you relatively soon, maybe I can locate it. (Doug is the park superintendent, uses the ID "Its_Worth_Wild.")

dd

Fly in lakes in 2011. In July of this year, locations to fly in to will be reduced to 4.  Lower Artery Lake, Sabourin lake, South part of Hansen Lake and Donald Lake.
This decision is identified in our 2007 approved mgt plan.  We heard loud and clear to find ways to reduce the amount of motorized use in WCPP.
On the aircraft part, the selection of lakes was based on average trip length and to place them where aircraft already land.  
We also considered the many lakes on the edge (outside) of the park where landing is permitted, such as Eagle Lake, Dowswell Lake, Carroll Lake on the Manitoba side, Obukowin Lake (MB), Gammon River (MB), Garner LAke (MB), Robert Lake, Job Lake, Mimi Lake, Valhalla Lake. Don't forget you can use those in your plans.

DG

Doug -

I noticed that you'll be presenting on Friday at Canoecopia.  Is this a joint presentation with Martin?

You staying around for Saturday/Sunday?  Any of the other WCPP staff going to be there?

dd

The Canoecopia website has the schedule. And I think I saw you on Friday at 5 or 5:30PM Doug. It sounded like Martin was going to be with you. I know he plans to attend the show.

Thanks Doug!  I enjoyed your presentation and am planning to try WC instead of Q before long.

Wed June 1st Claire will be here, I'll be in Red Lake at an open house but we may cross paths.  You may be one of the first people to walk the "magic carpet" on Johnson. Let me know how you like it and how it worked.  Wondering what I am talking about, I bet.  You'll see!

DG