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Cache River Levels (Read 7215 times)

Chicken092 Inukshuk Offline Posts: 189 Location: Wisconsin Joined: Jan 25^th, 2006	Cache River Levels Apr 5^th, 2011 at 3:43pm	Quote Print Post
	I undestand that groups attempting the Cache River from Cache Lake would be will advised to go in spring, since water levels through out the summer make passage very difficult. What our group is considering is doing a loop from Ferguson down Cache River to Kawnipi. (I know the Ferguson portage looks like a killer, but thats half of the fun.) Our permit is for early August. So my question is, are certain portions of the river more passable in the summer than others? Would I be committing to be a several mile canoe drag?


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Kingfisher Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1814 Joined: Mar 8^th, 2004	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #1 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 4:37am	Quote Print Post
	I've done the Cache from Ferguson to Kawnipi in August during average/ normal water levels with no problems at all. From what I saw the water levels would have to be exceptionally low to prevent travel. Some of the portages may be a little longer but no big deal. The portage from Ferg. to Cache will be easier during a dry period. It is low flat and very mossy. Probably slow going when saturated with water. It was dry when we did it and easy but long.


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HoHo Inukshuk Offline Posts: 926 Location: Washington, D.C. and Ely, Minn Joined: Feb 21^st, 2005	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #2 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 11:57am	Quote Print Post
	KF, I think I've read that that portage is hard to find on Ferguson (or maybe that it was hard to find on the river). Any comment on that? I've eyed this area for years . . .


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Mad_Mat Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1548 Joined: Apr 21^st, 2003	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #3 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 12:26pm	Quote Print Post
	"KF, I think I've read that that portage is hard to find on Ferguson (or maybe that it was hard to find on the river). Any comment on that?" Not the Kingfisher, but I can answer that both ends are hard to find. and it isn't all "flat" either. It is actually two portages with a small pond in between. The landing on Fergusson is hard to find and not where the Fisher maps show it to be. It is farther west along the shore and starts at a smallish rock landing. At the start, it goes almost immediately up a steep hill - up and over to a small pond - maybe a 1/4 mi to the pond, the first port isn't too long. Paddle across to pick up the trail on the other side. Then it is a lot of alder swamp to wade thru. On the river end, there used to be several standing dead trees that were sawn off flat, about 6' above the water - not particularly easy to spot. I'd agree that water level would likely be ok in August for that lower half of the river - there are about 5 or 6 portages on the way to Kawnipi from there. That assumes an average water year.


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Solus Inukshuk Offline Posts: 967 Location: Northern Minnesota Joined: Oct 6^th, 2006	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #4 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 1:43pm	Quote Print Post
	Any insight on the stream between McKenzie and Ferguson?


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Chicken092 Inukshuk Offline Posts: 189 Location: Wisconsin Joined: Jan 25^th, 2006	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #5 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 1:57pm	Quote Print Post
	Solus wrote on Apr 6^th, 2011 at 1:43pm: Any insight on the stream between McKenzie and Ferguson? From my research this does not appear to normally be an issue. (Water level wise)


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Kingfisher Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1814 Joined: Mar 8^th, 2004	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #6 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 6:41pm	Quote Print Post
	Mad_Mat wrote on Apr 6^th, 2011 at 12:26pm: "KF, I think I've read that that portage is hard to find on Ferguson (or maybe that it was hard to find on the river). Any comment on that?" Not the Kingfisher, but I can answer that both ends are hard to find. and it isn't all "flat" either. It is actually two portages with a small pond in between. The landing on Fergusson is hard to find and not where the Fisher maps show it to be. It is farther west along the shore and starts at a smallish rock landing. At the start, it goes almost immediately up a steep hill - up and over to a small pond - maybe a 1/4 mi to the pond, the first port isn't too long. Paddle across to pick up the trail on the other side. Mad Mat describes one option for portaging to the little pond. It is by far the more difficult option because of the steepness of the trail both going up and down again to the pond. Just a little further west of this trail is another path that follows a seepage/drainage from the pond itself into Ferguson. It's a grassy path that can tend to disappear as the grass grows taller late in the season. This area does not get alot of use. This is nearly a flat option versus the up and over portage that MM has described. The landings at both ends were better too if I remember correctly. My partner and I (Magic Paddler) were incredulous that the steep portage, which had recently been maintained, even existed given the option that we used along the drainage. I believe this drainage is shown on the Fisher maps. The pond is very close and it really is not necessary to carry your stuff up and over. Check out the drainage about a 100 meters farther west. On the other side of the pond there is some tag alder and soft trail that quickly gives way to a long walk through unstable sometimes flooded black spruce. Quite a few step overs but not really that difficult overall. Finding the portage on the Cache River side would be difficult and I don't have any info that could make it easier.
	« Last Edit: Apr 7^th, 2011 at 4:13am by Kingfisher »

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Kingfisher Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1814 Joined: Mar 8^th, 2004	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #7 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 7:19pm	Quote Print Post
	Here is my map of the Ferguson to Cache River portage with corrections. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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Kingfisher Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1814 Joined: Mar 8^th, 2004	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #8 - Apr 6^th, 2011 at 7:25pm	Quote Print Post
	Solus wrote on Apr 6^th, 2011 at 1:43pm: Any insight on the stream between McKenzie and Ferguson? No problems paddle all the way swatting horse and deer flies. Plenty of water.


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Magicpaddler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1321 Location: Chicago Burbs Joined: Jan 7^th, 2004	Re: Cache River Levels Reply #9 - Apr 7^th, 2011 at 12:39am	Quote Print Post
	On the river end there was a small piece of red or orange tape on a twig 10 ft downstream of where we came out. It was about 6 ft above the ground. It was a soft soggy landing. Oh I got GPS tracks. At8:29:17 on 8/8/2008 my gps marked a position of 15 U 634254 5371841 which converts to 48.485366142 -91.1831766 which you can cut and paste into Google earth. I think that is the point standing at the water’s edge. On the creek I became a real believer in a wide brimmed hat. Deer flies do not like to get under that wide brim.


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