Any more progress on nailing down prices or dates for this trip?

Might be a good idea to get some approximate dates so others can plan. I know that it's a ways off, but it will creep up fast in the end.

Is Viking our best bet for air travel? Who flies for Big Hook?
What are their canoe rates? I'm only asking in case someone has already checked rates. Otherwise, I'm fine with emailing them.
Would also be nice to have a list of people whose plans are definite, and definite-maybe's. So far, I AM IN. Put me on the list.
Do others have thoughts of what route they would plan? Obviously there are a lot of interconnected waterways that one could paddle with presumably fewer portages, but it'd be nice if peoples plans were in the open so others could shoot off in other directions for the sake of gathering more info about the park.
Ok, so I am obviously excited here and maybe jumping the gun a little. It just sounds like a great trip and I am anxious to plan!
Joe

Anyone that has plans to be in on this could post their wishes here. I am assuming that this thing will take up half the summer. I hope to spend 4-5 weeks up there.

I did E-mail Big Hook Camps about their canoes but received no response. I would like to talk to them but have not called.

If we have a list of committed paddlers and their preference for dates and duration  of stay we can start more planning. Once we lay out a schedule for 4-6 weeks we would have a better grasp on the final cost. It is going to depend on how efficiently we can use each leg of the plane flights.

If we can have three paddlers on every flight it will be cheapest. This would allow the common canoe to be used and another could be taken in and out on each trip. Pak canoes will add to the versatility.

There is so much that can be done to make this work easier. I would like to see common info packets that each group could add details to and leave for the next group.   

Joe -

I'm hoping to meet up with you and Steve on Friday, Apr 26th at the Midwest show.  I know that both Harlan and Claire plan to attend, so maybe we can all (including Jimbo) get together at some point during that weekend. 

Although I haven't coordinated any of this with Jimbo yet, my plan goes something like this:

My preference would be for mid- to late-July put-in for a 2 week "on-the-water" trip (but being retired, I have plenty of flexibility on this).

My understanding is that East Lake would likely serve as an operational hub for this adventure.  With East Lake having in excess of 20 miles of "straight line" paddling (you'd actually make something like a "J" route) before hitting the class 2-3 rapids headed west toward Cocos or Joint Lakes, I'd likely spend much of my time exploring that lake and the multitude of side channels.  If I decide to do an out-and-back headed west, I'd first check out the 80 rod "portage" south of the rapids.  Going to the south end of East Lake, I'd be interested in checking out the abandoned Native American fish camps, but would not likely proceed any further south than that due to what I've seen labeled as a "heavy use" area in the lake just beyond (and just beyond that you get into an area that is served by the main lodge of Big Hook Outfitters).  There is also a glacial moraine that approaches the shoreline in this area that might also be interesting to see.

I have a solo pakcanoe which should facilitate things a bit, since it can be loaded as "gear" in the plane.  I'll insure its efficacy for such a trip with a fly-in/fly-out trip to WCPP this year. (Actually I can configure it for a tandem, but I don't believe it suitable for that purpose for anything longer than a weekend-type trip.)

I'd be OK with a group of 3 (seems the cheapest way to do it) where a tandem canoe might be strapped on the floats with an opportunity for each to swap positions in the available water craft.

I do fish, but enjoy exploring at least as much ... and I don't have to make a lot of miles to have fun.

dd

You missed Joe (portagekeeper).

And, you don't necessarily need 8 weeks if some of the trips overlap by a week (might have more than 1 party in the park at a time).  However, this does complicate scheduling just a little.  Given the overlapping scenario, it would even be possible for a few 1 week trips.

dd

Marten wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2013 at 3:37am:

Agreed.  In addition, the single tandem canoe awating the next crew would also have an additional level of complication.

In the end, simple is better.  (But should it get beyond that, I believe I have ample tools at my disposal to deal with the problem ... and my personal time is not really an issue.)

dd