Marten wrote on Sep 19^th, 2016 at 1:33pm:


Good to learn of that.  The Scouts quit using that route during the 1980s as 1.  The adult crew leaders complained about the trail conditions ( some of them were reported to be absolutely furious, as the trails were a great deal more difficult than they expected ), and 2.  there was a fire in the area during the mid to late 1980s, making the trails tough to locate.  It is one thing to cross a mucky trail full of mire and mud at the end of the trip, after one has learned what to expect, and quite another to begin the trip with three trail of such condition.  People routinely underestimate the rigorous physical challenge some of the trails can present.

From the Rockford IL area it takes the same amount of time to Red Lake or Wallace Lake near Bissett, Manitoba. From the Twin Cities you would head to Fargo and go up 29 to Winnipeg. That way would be about 10 hours for you with even the gravel roads near the end that allow 40 to 50 mph travel speeds.

HighnDry wrote on Oct 5^th, 2016 at 1:20am:

I have accessed Walking Stick in WCPP from the east, west and up the creek from Carroll. This summer the creek from Carroll was a hard pull,literally, the last mile because the beavers and their dams were gone. Coming from the west is my favorite but has a some 900 meter portages. There are no maintained or blazed portages but I can get you  my gps tracks through the area.

A little less than 8 from the Twin Cities which means about an 11 to 12 hour trip. This is almost identical to the drive for Wabakimi which I've done twice. Not bad really if it can be done in one long day. It allows for a longer time in the park.

I will try to talk you into it at the Copia dinner.