Where is your drop-off point on LLC? 

Plan on going up the Maligne River to Sturgeon?

You have an outfitter picking you up at Stanton?

dd

Don't the planes normally do the drop off over by the LLC Ranger Station?  I wouldn't assume they'll drop him off near Bell Island/Twin Falls... and my guess is that is why DentonDoc asked the question.  If it IS at the Ranger Station, then John has a substantial paddle on big old LLC to reach Bell Island. If it's me looking at that stretch, I'm seriously considering arranging a tow across the lake with either Zup's or Ed Ottertail (if you're brave & if he is even still in business... which is mostly problematic, year-to-year, based upon the condition of his boat). Anyway, LLC is big and can be pretty nasty when that breeze gets blowing.  John needs to ask where they are setting him down.

Jim J, I'm not sure I'd be terribly concerned about Deux Rivieres that early in the year (2nd week of June), although I'll allow that it CAN be the case if the snow melt isn't all that much.  Later in the year, however, Deux Rivieres is definitely more problematic, of course.  Jim J's advice to "have a Plan B" is sound.  Always best to check with park officials (or recent trip reports here on QJ) just before paddling into that area.  However, I'd almost be more concerned about the front end of the trip with the flow of the Maligne coming AT me.  In a big snow melt year, it can be somewhat challenging near some of the portages.  Again, check w/park officials or w/QJ trip reports.

7 nights/8 days for a couple guys in decent shape in their 20's?  I foresee see much of an issue, other than the two already mentioned... which, most of the time, won't be issues.  You probably even have a couple "layover days" to spare.  Of course, John would need to arrange pick up at a pre-appointed time in Stanton but that is likely included with whatever package deal he got from the fly-in service.  John, on the oddball chance that you were planning to do a DIY & leave a car in Stanton, just be advised that - unless you have Canadian license plates - you can't do it.

Sounds like a nice route for that time of year.  Don't cut yourself too short on your last day of paddling, however.  If I'm you, I'm camping on the north side of Pickerel on the last night.  Have been caught having to cross that body of water on the last day &, believe me, it ain't any fun when the wind gets to howling out of the west/northwest!

John, use the QJ PCD resource to plot out probable campsites en route.  If you have interest in fishing for specific species, let us know what they are & some of the veterans here can IM you with some suggestions re: fishing holes.  As you might expect, that information can be tough to come by via public posts.

Just a few thoughts from the peanut gallery.

Jimbo   

Jimbo wrote on Nov 25^th, 2013 at 7:12pm:


thanks for the reply

Yeah, I don't know where the exact drop point is over there.   I don't know if its 1 specific place, or if they can tailor it.  Agreed paddling north up the open waters LLC would suck, would need tow if thats the case.

I'm hoping deux would not suck that time of year and would be passable due to higher water.  Never been there, but reviews I read made it seem like mid-late summer sucks, but spring-early summer is passable in canoe.  Is that the case?

RE: you comment on paddling up stream.  We thought of this.  However, reviews I read on the Maligne made it seem like its slower moving (not sure if the case).  We thought about doing the trip in the reverse direction, but we thought the headwind on Sturgeon could be worse then the current on Maligne.  Thoughts?

We were hoping to get to scripture in 2 days, and base camp up around there fishing, maybe go in to surrounding areas for day-trips, like fred or russell. 

Thanks for your heads up on stanton - we will be using an outfitter though.  Car will stay with the outfitter.

I guess I'll throw this thought out there too. Is maligne route even worth it? Battling upstream and open water in llc/sturgeon. Or is it not worth it, and we should save cost of float plane and do a Stanton or nym loop down to access the same fred/Russell/scripture area, round-tripping back out through the north.

Again, any advice you have please keep in mind our primary goal is accessing remote areas for fishing.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

john_galt wrote on Nov 25^th, 2013 at 11:20pm:


I would reverse the route and go from Stanton to LLC. The current in the Maligne is a given, so why plan to pull upstream that far? The wind is likely to be in your face at least half of the trip, and the current plus headwind would be a chore.

I don't have a map in front of me, but I'd compare the distance from where the river enters LLC to both the village and the ranger station. CCO can also pick you up on LLC via truck, which would save you the cost of the flight, assuming canoe time is equal... just a thought.

Ranger