Can I start with a wildly optimistic pre-trip event?  One where I actually learn how to correctly use all of the features on my new-ish Garmin In-Reach.

We'll keep hoping that these and any of our future plans will come to fruition next year! It doesn't hurt to plan!

P.s. I'm still learning how to use my Inreach as well.

BillConner wrote on Oct 17^th, 2020 at 11:02am:


BillConner,

Interesting.  Earlier this week, my brother & I discussed this same possible trip, though 2022 is more likely to be our year.

If I'm not mistaken, "the Allagash Waterway" in Maine is a prominent section of the North Forest Canoe Trail.  That 120 mile waterway was gorgeous and well worth paddling way back in 1979 when I did it.  If you do no other section of the NFCT, do THAT one.

A word to the wise: right in the middle, there's a very challenging 9 mile stretch called "Chase Rapids."  Believe me, you'll want the Forest Service to portage your packs & gear to far end should you decide attempt to maneuver your empty vessel through numerous Grade 3 & 4 rapids. I strongly advise availing yourself of that service if you elect to paddle it.

Anyway, the Allagash alone would be a great "alternative trip" in 2021 for anyone looking for such.  The first half is easy paddling on beautiful lakes in the shadow of Mt. Katahdin.  After a heart-in-mouth roller coaster ride on Chase Rapids, the balance of the paddling fairly straightforward on easy-flowing rivers and streams.  Finally, if you intend to fish, the whitefish bite was quite good throughout.

No doubt the area has seen changes in the 41 years since I was there but I can't imagine it being less than a wonderful wilderness paddling getaway.

Have fun with that one!

Jimbo   

Marten,  I do not even know where several of those places are located, and I would still rather be there, than here at my desk at work.

MB

DentonDoc wrote on Oct 19^th, 2020 at 10:59pm:

MossBack wrote on Oct 20^th, 2020 at 2:30pm:


Speaking of Indiana skill sets, here's something from TODAY's news: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I'm NOT trying to dissuade you, MB, but maybe they should be filtering the water a little more carefully in Indiana.  Could be something in it that inflames one's ganglia and disconnects one's synapses....

Jimbo   

P.S.  Just kidding, of course.  I've made bigger mistakes than that fellow that could have turned out far worse.  Luck is a poor substitute for good "judgment" in the wilderness.

The gentleman who was rescued is from Elkhart Indiana. He is as far North as you can get without being in Lake Michigan.  No worse weather in Indiana than being snugged up against the big lake.  I am not criticizing at all, just wondering how he was caught off guard?  Glad it played out well for him.

MB

Jimbo wrote on Oct 20^th, 2020 at 3:41pm:


  I took notice of them applying heating pads to him to get his core temps up.

FWIW, I keep 2 heating pads in the pockets of my PFD. You dump and get chilled so bad you can't build a fire right away, you put one pad over each kidney area and hunker down out of the wind.

Those pads will heat your core up enough to get some mobility into your hands and keep you from going hyperthermic.

Bentpine or Ted for next year if QPP opens.

I’m thinking about a longer one of 13 nights in Quetico. I’m gonna go light and fast and do a bushwhack or 2 while I’m still able.

Btw Highndry, there’s a nice level bushwhack along a creek from Ted to Robinson.

The main thing will be not taking Luna’s tent at 3 lbs. I’ll go back to my 2 man tent with a pad. I can still use my top quilt which is lighter and less bulky than my bag. It’s hard cutting weight in the packs. Maybe consider no fry pan....

TomT wrote on Dec 29^th, 2020 at 6:23pm:


I've heard about this bushwhack and I've got a good map for that one.....thanks for the tip, TomT!

Solus wrote on Dec 30^th, 2020 at 12:22am:


I remember it being fairly a good walk down by the creek but a little “holey” as well. The area where you climb on a big and old beaver dam to cross the creek is very scenic.

I did it once back in 2011. Damn, where does the time go? To quote Sandy Denny 

HighnDry wrote on Dec 30^th, 2020 at 3:37pm:


Could come from Prairie Portage and enter Ted via SW McIntyre.  Very secluded and scenic set of portages from McIntyre to Ted.  Multiple options for return to PP from Ted.  With tow to/from PP, nice route with decent fishing too.... 

The route Tom lists is spectacular.
Good options off this route:
Kahsh to Sarah to McIntyre.
Burt to Joyce to Brent to Ted from either back bay of Brent or via Northwest tip of McIntryre.
Ted to Milt, the Newts, Gardner, Bart, Robinson (Milt worth the trip or at very least a side trip from Ted)
Ted to Turn, Elk Gardner......

My favorite part of the park.

I can't reach that thread through my Firefox browser, MP. I think that i know which thread that you are referring to.

On another note, the trip through PP would probably take me to Side, then Sarah and possibly McIntyre or when I eventually would reach Sarah, there's a short portage into Tusk, two portages into Robinson and then onward to a bushwhack.

I've had an hankering to go in via Black Robe to McAree for some time. I'd like to get in to that area and then Argo  before reaching the Ted "area".

Much will depend on whether Quetico opens up this upcoming summer....

HighnDry wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2021 at 9:05pm:


the address gets modified when I post it.  the ...; should not be there.

"*** (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
109&confID=1***"
just trying something
It worked.  Copy the top 2 or 3 lines on this post and past it into a text document.  Remove the “*** from the beginning and the ***” from the end.  Copy what is left and past it into a browser window.

Another route from the west is what 6 of us did on a 13-night trip in June-July 2018 starting at Black Robe and ending at Bottle.  Day one saw one group of three (Jimbo, brother and DentonDoc) go thru Minn,  the Darky R into Darky Lake.  The other group (me, son, and Magic) went via McAree into Wicksteed to Darky.  We arrived Darky about 2 hrs ahead of the other Group as they struggled a bit more thru the river.  But we all arrived safely.  After that, our group then made the trek via Darky R into Brent then south into Ted campsite via Earl.  Followed that with camps on Elk via Hurn, Argo, Roland with last camp just NE of Curtain Falls.  Jimbo's crew stayed on Darky, Argo, Roland and Iron.  Excellent route, companions, scenery, campsites and fishing.

We did that infamous goat hill portage....it has a few steep parts, but since my son and I were expecting worse, it didn't seem that bad....of course, my son carried the canoe on that portage and after Ted he made me carry the dang canoe on the remaining portages back to Bottle....he is weaker than me, ya know.... 

I'm rebooting this with the pending opening of the border on August 9th. I'll be trapped for an additional 2 weeks with work so I won't make it until about the 3rd week of August. However, if others are resurrecting previous QPP plans, feel free to post them up here.