Where do I go this year is a familiar question for most paddlers. Do I go back to the favorite haunts or strike out and try something new?

Let me help you with your dilema. This spring at Canoecopia, Woodland Caribou Park will be featured as one of the presentations at the show.

With me will be Martin Kehoe who is a regular contributor to canoestories.com. Martin will take you with him on at least one of his more remote trips tthe park. Martin loves to explore the older trails that haven't been travelled in quite some time.  I'll provide you with some background on the park for those that are not that familiar with it and give you an update on our plans for the upcoming summer.

After the presentation we will both be available for more questions at the Ontario Parks booth.

Plan on heading over to Madison in March, it should be another great show.

Doug

It's_Worth_Wild -

Ditto to Satchmoa's remarks!  I was on the phone with Claire this past week & she tells me Martin may be appearing at the Minneapolis Sports Show, as well.

I am researching for a possible Irvine Lake trip in July, 2010, & figure Martin to be the go-to guy for portage info on that route.  However, my current plan is to originate my loop from the Lund Lake entry point, so I may need to tap your brain & Claire's for eastern entry info.  The new road to Lund & the parking availability is hopefully more user-friendly/less dicy than the road to Leano.

I look forward to seeing you at 'Copia in March.  Also, please take a look at the info I sent Claire re: our 2009 trip into the SE quadrant of the park & let me know what you think!

Jimbo   

Hello All!

My apologies if this is an improper posting.  If it is, then I'm sure that our Moderator will trash it, chide me accordingly, and all will be well again.

After 10 years of doing BW/Q, I've decided to head up to WCPP for a week or two this summer.  No firm dates yet, and I haven't been able to entice any of my previous paddling companions to join me.

I'll go solo if I must, and I will enjoy it!  But I would also consider joining with a small group of 1-3 others for a quiet journey.  If interested, send me an e-mail.

Paddling bio:  Mostly I travel.  I've been known to fish, but I don't count on it for dinner.  I almost always use one of the 3 different strip canoes that I have built, and I favor "old school" gear (Duluth or home made packs, wood paddles, etc.).  Last year two good friends and I made the Hunter's Island loop in 7 days (but we used Kevlar for that trip!).  I've never paddled beyond BW/Q, but am quite comfortable with map & compass and wilderness travel.  I don't smoke or drink... it keeps the lungs healthier and the packs lighter.

Re: "The new road to Lund & the parking availability is hopefully more user-friendly/less dicy than the road to Leano."

We're not promising any highway! It's about the same time from Red Lake - road conditions for the most part are better for most of the distance but there are still a few beavers here and there that we have to keep a close eye on.

Its just part of the process if you want to drive to find your solitude, we want to ease you into it...can't have you leave pavement and then step right into the wild... too much of a culture shock!!!!

We continue to do our best to battle the beavers and to keep the road safe.

Doug

Garner Lake - closst accomodation is at the Beresford Lake Campground - from there is a relativily short paddle to Garner.

Wallace Lake - another provincial campground - then east to Siderock Lake and then into WCPP through Crystal.

As for a combo of wallyes and lake trout - not on the west side I'm afraid.  You would have to journey to Carroll LAke, down the picturesque Haggart R., for walleye (no trout here) or east of Haggart Lake to Glenn, Mexican Hat or Rostoul or Hansen for walleye (some of these have trout too).

Don't tell anyone but if you are coming in from Crystal, I would paddle (dragging a surface line if you are coming in the spring) through Broken Arrow, Haggart, Triangle, Welkin, Bulging, Aegean. If you have any arms left from catching and releasing all those trout, then head over to Mexican Hat for a quick walleye shorelunch before heading back.