I've posted my trip report along with several photographs. I posted it on its own blog.

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Chuck

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I was planning on traveling those longer portages from Adventure to Wrist on day 6 of my trip. Since you read my report you know I was concerned about my right ankle and not knowing if the ankle was going to get worst so I made the decision to cut three days off my trip.

I also had some concerns about those upcoming portages through the burn since I already experienced two of them. I knew if my ankle got worst I would really have had a hard time crossing them.

I made the decision to cut those days off and it was tough to do so, but when traveling solo I needed to be realistic and look at the overall picture of the trip.

With the information you posted about those portages confirms I probably did the right thing or at least I made a wise decision. The 850 m portage was going to be my last portage of the day, so I would have been camping some where in the burn between Jigsaw and Wrist.

I'm glad you took the time to read the trip report.

Chuck

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The saw is a Corona 21” pruning saw with a 26” Weaver scabbard. It does the job and you don’t have to put anything together. This is the saw you want to carry when you expect there will be blow downs and most likely many of them. This is the saw to carry while traveling in the boreal forest. Dave Phillips turned me onto this saw.

If you go to my blog,   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) (this link will take you to take post), there is a closer photo of both under the post for May 30, 2009. It’s toward the bottom of that post.

As for the ankle I’ve had some prior injury to it and I think when I sprained it in Wabakimi last year I re-aggravated it. I posted some more info on my blog posted on June 29,2009 (   (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)) I’m wearing an ankle support and some slight modifications to my inserts to keep me from stressing the peroneal tendon. Most of the problem seems to be once the tendon gets sore the pressure from these boots causes the constant pain. When I wore my Danner boots at night I didn’t have any problem.

I have ordered a pair of the OTB Odfin boots to see how they feel.

I will be wearing this ankle support on a three week canoe trip to Crown land, Misehkow River, Albany River and Wabakimi in one month with Dave. I don't know which boots I will be wearing until I try out the OTB boots later this week.

Chuck  

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Edit: If you click on any photo in my blog it will enlarge the photo!

When I called NRS about a week ago to inquire about the NRS Storm boot the guy had no idea when they would be back on the market. He asked me if I wanted the work boot but after giving it a quick thought I told him I would have to call back it I did.

Last Friday I called NRS again after doing some research on boots and came up with the OTB Odhin boot. He said he thought it was a little higher than the other similar boot by OTB. I should get the boots later this week. Let me know what boot you got and your initial thoughts on them.

This was a different sales person and he thought the Storm boot would be back on the market at the end of the year. I really don’t know if it’s true or not. He was probably guessing.

Chuck


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Thanks for saw info, I can tell that's the ticket for clearing early season blow downs

CIIcanoe
Your description of the portage in the fire/blow down area is near what I experienced on the portage from Jigsaw to Wrist last week.  I had come to a difficult to cross pile of trees and went around them down in the marsh.  When I came back up on top I could not find the trail so I turned to my GPS and could see a near by lake.  When I got to the lake it was the wrong lake.  I zoomed out on the GPS so I could see the whole portage and started bushwhacking to Wrist.
Thanks for the report
MagicPaddler

If you want to experience the "challenge" of the Jigsaw portages, you need to hurry.  Doug Gilmore (WCPP Park Super.) in an e-mail I received yesterday, indicated that someone would be on the way to clear those portages by Wednesday.

dd

CIIcanoe wrote on Jul 15^th, 2009 at 12:34am:

Don't get too concerned.  All (nine) of us were traveling as a loosely cohesive group ... with half leap-frogging the other half just to spread out some and minimize traffic jams on portages as much as possible.  Over the 13 day trip, I think we shared the same lake for campsites only 3 times.  Still, the entire flotilla consisted of 5 canoes.

dd

Sounds like a good plan for Stumpy's Chub Pond next year...

 Very nice!
The Waldo looks good too

red_lake_rob wrote on Jul 20^th, 2009 at 11:22pm:

Since our groups split up (one group of 4 and one group of 5), finding adequate campsites for 9 was not really contemplated.  My group of 4 a "tarp temp" and two 2-man tents actually found very nice campsites for the most part.  Several early sites on our loop required anchoring with rocks since there was little dirt/duff in which to push a tent stake.  The group of 5 (two using hammocks, and others using two tents) tended to find sites that were described as "adequate" but nothing like 4 or 5 stars.

The motor boats were on Kilburn Lake ... not really unexpected since it shares an open waterway with Sydney lake ... a resort lake.  However, we did spot a number of boats cached on other lakes (just none were in use during our passing).

dd

Quote:

The fish is authentic (no "tom" foolery).  I also have another picture of the fish where Jimbo is using a middle digit as the standard measurement instrument.  However, I set up my photo gallery in a "G/PG" mode.

dd

I spoke to Claire last week and she mentioned something about going to check out some boat caches.

AS far as anchoring with rocks goes. I just assume I am doing that at every campsite. The hammock campers would have no trouble finding suitable locations I am sure.

No one has fussed up to taking home the stool softener.  I think some one who was in a solo canoe has it.  Has every one unpacked there gear yet?
MagicPaddler

DD -

Missed my opportunity when I mailed you that box of goodies, didn't I?   

That is one well-traveled medicine bottle!

Jimbo   

Now I know what to be watching for at 'copia next year...

Claire here... with regards to the portage trails from Haven to Wrist Lake through the burn... these were cleared by the crew later in July.  We have visited these trails every year since the fire.  Please note however that in the year of the fire, we were able to reroute a couple of these trails to better ground. 

Haven to Gulch trail - now on the east side of the creek thus avoiding the original soupy trail on the west side.  Nice flat traverse approx. 325m

Gulch to Jigsaw trail - same landing but instead of traveling through a low area in a small ravine, we opted to relocate the trail to higher ground to the east.  Climb up the bedrock and once on top, simply follow the rock cairns all the way to the launch.  You will see the ravine on your right... which was never reopened after the burn.  Yet, I know of a couple of canoe parties who have forged through the tangled mess.

Jigsaw to Wrist trail - a challenge to keep open - trees keep coming down - cleared this year and we will be here again next summer

Hope this helps a bit.  Always a good idea to get updates from your outfitter or from the park office.