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I never understood that move? I could understand if you said you stayed at a nice site in the general area of the such and such place but leave the detailed report out.

  Even on the Paddle Planner when you read the comments on 4-5 star sites you often see remarks about how overused a site is.

TomT wrote on Oct 7^th, 2018 at 1:56pm:


Thanks, TomT!  I think the "scariest thing" would have been to publish a picture of my hip replacement scar.  Now THAT would have been terrifying! 

The truth is, the hip replacement has turned my entire outlook around.  Coupled with my training/therapy regimen, I have MORE than "stabilized"; I believe I have gained LOTS of additional paddling & portaging years.  I managed just fine during 4 weeks & a fair number of portages in the park this past season.  Zero limping, just some stiffness & soreness from where my hip muscles were still healing. At the time I wrote that BWJ story, however - months before my operation - my situation seemed much more problematic.

Age 60, 70 or even 75 doesn't have to be the end of all the fun if you take care of yourself.  My next big step in the right direction will be to take 20-25 lbs out of my typical portage load in future trips. It's fairly plain that's a big problem for me ("overpacking") so I'm working hard to fix it. 

Just borrowing some "magic" tricks from Magic Paddler....

Later,

Jimbo   

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I've fallen at one time or the other on EVERY outdoor trip I've EVER been on, starting in my 20's. Sooner or later you're going to slip on a wet rock, have a step crumble on an uphill or WORSE on a downhill.

I learned early on when I only backpacked that falling like a turtle IF at all possible is the safest way to land. The WORST is falling forward stretched out and trying to catch yourself with your hands/forearms. With a heavy pack, your looking to break a hand/wrist/arm sooner or later.

If I fall forward now I try to crumble to my knees then catch myself with my upper body.

I saw a couple of guys on a portage who were both wearing those tile layer knee pads like you can get at Home Depot. I thought they must both be kneeling in the canoe but they weren't.

I commented on the knee pads and they told me that they were tired of banging their knees up.

I have some 511 tactical pants too but I haven't taken them on a canoe trip yet but might after reading MP's post.

If you have pants you like but want to protect those knees, those tradesmen pads might not be a bad way to go.

For you married guys that have to BEG the little woman to take a trip, they'll make your kneeling time much more tolerable. 

Where is Lonely Ponds located?
Never heard that name before.

TomT wrote on Oct 8^th, 2018 at 11:36am:


Thanks, TT
I seem to remember there was someone here who once mentioned going to them but maybe they just said they would like too?

Did Stu go in via that stream or alongside it?
Looks like a day-trip if you're so inclined.

If I attempted it, I would basecamp on Lonely for a few days and mark the "portage" with squirrel tape before hauling gear across. Remove it as you leave.

TomT wrote on Oct 8^th, 2018 at 6:03pm:


Going in from Lonely Lk looks easier on the map than thru North Sturgeon?

I'll have to remember this and in the future, if I become more of a base camper, look into going in from the Lonely side?

Hey ST,

YOU even get “referenced” in this issue re: sagely advice that you provided.   Just an FYI.

Jimbo 

Can you buy just ONE issue or Jimbo's article?

Jimbo wrote on Oct 7^th, 2018 at 7:48pm:


Jimbo, you could start by leaving the 10 lb bag of potatoes at home....After seeing your loads this past summer, you may want to consider removing 40-45 pounds from your typical portage load....then you'd be in Magic's neighborhood....    ....just kidding....

TomT wrote on Oct 8^th, 2018 at 12:00am:

The unnamed lakes northeast of Lonely have been in my sights for a few years. I need to subscribe to BWJ, that article definitely would be great (and many others) to read. I imagine the "Lonely ponds" get visited very little, and I'm appealed by getting back in there, possibly more than just a day trip. Another set of unnamed lakes I've thought about venturing into are the three north of Quetico lake.

I've been to Antoine once, and the fishing definitely was good! I will say though that the portages into and out of there were quite a tough go, lots of elevation!

Westwood wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 10:10pm:


Wow that's awesome to know about getting into Antoine from Sturgeon. I'd presume during times of low water doing so would be questionable?

solotripper wrote on Oct 8^th, 2018 at 11:44pm:

I'm curious of that as well. Definitely sounds like an article worth reading

Quetico For Life wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 10:51pm:


I would order the issue directly from BWJ if you can't find it at a newstand.  Big bookstores like Barnes and Noble will usually have it.  This is a very good issue and worth the read. 

Going from antoine to Lonely ponds seems unreasonable.  Stu describes exactly what he had to do to get there.  It's mostly a bushwhack with some blowdown.  I'm game to get there.  It'll be a warm up to when I go into Pierna.    That's my holy grail in Quetico.

Quetico For Life wrote on Oct 18^th, 2018 at 11:00pm:


QFL -

I had an old map showing a portage from Antoine into those Lonely Ponds, too... and, no, Jim Clark didn't draw it on the map, either!  Tried to find that portage several years back without luck.  Looked to be a bit of a slog through there so I'm not sure how feasible it might be.

There's an OLD thread on QJ where this subject came up, I'm pretty sure.

Later,

Jimbo   

Jimbo wrote on Oct 20^th, 2018 at 1:15pm:


Good info, that it wasnt just a Jim Clark marking lol. That alone would make me really question ever trying!

Yeah, I have no clue, but certainly imagine it could be extremely interesting, if not impassible, at least not without heartache and strife beyond what I would desire to get myself into. Then again who knows, could just be a bit of a bushwhack. It would be interesting if there was a report of someone going through there to see just what it was like!

Regardless, going from Lonely makes more sense, no doubt about it.

Magicpaddler wrote on Nov 21^st, 2018 at 12:02pm:


Geez, Magic, your mail is slow!

By the way, I'll soon be writing a BETTER story about a September 2018 trip.  It'll feature: 1) a very friendly Border Collie, and 2) some old dude with a bad case of bronchitis paddling a solo canoe.  It turns out he "dusts" two young whippersnappers aggressively paddling a tandem.  The two young bucks DARED to "race" him to a five star campsite to claim it for their own... and the ancient warrior kicked their asses!  Might make a movie script of it and ask Rocky Balboa - I'm mean Sylvester Stallone - to play the lead.  It was something to cheer about!

Fun travels.  Can hardly wait until next year....

By the way, remember those two guys we met at Sue Falls in Sept 2017?  I mentioned them in my story.  Anyway, I just heard from them last night & they pass along their regards.  You did a nice job of catching our dinner right in front of their canoe... and they definitely remembered THAT.

Later,

Jimbo   

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Forgive me for being the dull one, but I have to admit to being confused.

Are the BWJ copies you are waiting on just a single back ordered issue that includes a member's article?  Or are you still waiting on several subscription copies that have gone missing?

MossBack

Mossback, Don't take me too seriously. I got mine, thought we were talking about a new winter issue. My fault for not keeping up with the tread. But I did miss an issue recently and had to borrowed a friends, so that''s my excuse.

Jimbo, Since I now know what's going on here, let me add. Nice job again. up up