1st Adventure of 2017- NW Ontario 27.5 km loop

[icedragonmx]

Please see the attached link to download for chrome users to see the photobucket linked pictures - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/...ed-fix/naolkcpnnlofnnghnmfegnfnflicjjgj?hl=en This link will allow use of all photobucket linked pics in my trip reports from day 1.



Starting on the southernmost part of Crane Lake and heading towards Split Lake, my adventure begins

 

[icedragonmx]

Day two
Time for some mileage to cover Willard Lake

A nice short port with a good trail to get on to Felix Lake

And time for some more paddling up to Dawson Lake

And another port with a little hill climb beside the falls at Dawson Lake Leading into upper Beaubien Lake.

Then time for some distance on Beaubien Lake after leaving Dawson Lake

And the wickedly nice Beaubien Falls

Middle Falls

Lower Falls

View from the bottom looking up at the two falls

This would be interesting with a foot less of water…

From High lake to Low Lake was interesting. Top of the upper Falls, lots of noise and a huge roar warned of what was hidden from view. I did not see this set as I had to go back a bit along the shoreline to find the port going up and over the big hill and the opposite down slope

Hard to show the scale of this in the picture but a great set of steps in this wickedly nice set of falls

And a nice cliff on the exit run

Then some more distance to the Low Lake to Crane Lake Ports…

What not to do when entering a canoe.. My little slip made for a nice wet seat and I was grateful to have all my gear in waterproof containers including the food!

That was after the first port so a few more barriers yet before getting to Crane Lake

Dinner on the shoreline and then on to the last leg of my trip, glad that it is a much warmer day today!

With the sun in the eyes for the last few kilometers. Wishing I had remembered my shades!

A great trip with a wickedly fun few extras thrown in and a very cold first afternoon and night with the headwind over the cold waters. I rushed this trip and finished in two days. Would be more relaxed doing it in three days but I was unsure of the ports and what would be required for the trails etc. Will have to drag a buddy with next time and do a proper sightseeing tour next time! Epic first trip for the start of the year!

 

[sweeper]

I agree 'Great Trip' and a great choice of canoe's

 

[Iskweo]

There are just so many awesome places to go around here. You find the good ones. I bet all the ADK crew were drooling big time ...a lot of it looks like what they have.
Christy

 

[icedragonmx]

I agree 'Great Trip' and a great choice of canoe's

Thanks, after a few years I am still sold on this being my best choice for a solo tripper for me. Was happy to have the light weight too!

There are just so many awesome places to go around here. You find the good ones. I bet all the ADK crew were drooling big time ...a lot of it looks like what they have.
Christy

Thanks! I had my eye on your last trip report too as that looks like a great area as well. I am trying to talk a pal into 4x4ing into the lake to see if that's possible. I have been googling that river for all its fun!

This trip is a great one with several wickedly nice water falls and challenges. I did the math on my dual carry and I went from 1055 meters up to triple that for the extra trip at each port. Did a whole lot of extra walking on this trip! I would highly recommend this trip for your next long weekend! Might want to park at Willard lake if you have a car!

 

[Odyssey]

Nice trip in beautiful country. Looks like you're really trimming and slimming the gear, travelling light.
Must've made the portages a pleasure.
Do you take city water rather than boiling/treating lake water, or was that ballast?

 

[Iskweo]

One of my coworkers took the mine haul road from the Pine Falls end and the pictures he has are not bad but you would want to have two vehicles as the road has deteriorated over the years. There is a ditch at the ends too to deter use. It does look as if one can get right to the river just short of the lake. A quad would probably be a better bet. I was contemplating a hike actually. There may already be a boat cache on the lake??

I will see if I can get the pics of the haul road. Karin had suggested Cat Creek as an access route but it looks even narrower than the Maskwa.

Brad....a jug of water would make things a bit simpler for a 2-3 day solo. Not quite as practical for group trips though. I usually start the day with 3-4 aluminum cans of water (1.0li) and work on them as needed for drinking. We start a new bag of water as soon as we make camp.

ICE....I was looking at a tent like that too. What size did you get and from where? It looks ideal.

Christy

 

[Odyssey]

I usually start the day with 3-4 aluminum cans of water (1.0li) and work on them as needed for drinking.
Christy

Aluminum cans of "water". Suuuurrre you do. And mem does too. (lol)!
Seriously though, if you don't scoop and sip straight from the rivers/lakes then processing water can be time consuming I know. I try to have 2-4 L of water ready during the day, and often it's not enough.

Ice...where is this area exactly?

 

[Robin]

Nice pictures, it's great yo guys are getting out so early. Any moose sightings, or caribou?

 

[icedragonmx]

Nice trip in beautiful country. Looks like you're really trimming and slimming the gear, travelling light.

Must've made the portages a pleasure.

Do you take city water rather than boiling/treating lake water, or was that ballast?

Thanks, the light weight gear is a plus! I had water with just as a trial run but will be traveling with just two 1lt water bottles and a filter pump next time.

One of my coworkers took the mine haul road from the Pine Falls end and the pictures he has are not bad but you would want to have two vehicles as the road has deteriorated over the years. There is a ditch at the ends too to deter use. It does look as if one can get right to the river just short of the lake. A quad would probably be a better bet. I was contemplating a hike actually. There may already be a boat cache on the lake??

I will see if I can get the pics of the haul road. Karin had suggested Cat Creek as an access route but it looks even narrower than the Maskwa.

Brad....a jug of water would make things a bit simpler for a 2-3 day solo. Not quite as practical for group trips though. I usually start the day with 3-4 aluminum cans of water (1.0li) and work on them as needed for drinking. We start a new bag of water as soon as we make camp.

ICE....I was looking at a tent like that too. What size did you get and from where? It looks ideal.

Christy

I have driven the haul road complete and part of the entry road to the lake up to a huge beaver dam that took out the trail. I want to revisit this in the summer time to inspect it better. I had thought they were planing to remove the small bridge at the start of the lake access road to limit access too. I went and rechecked my old pictures from my 4x4 adventures on this area.

The water bottles were nice but not ideal for the number of ports (15) needed on this trip

The tent is a 1.25kg MSR 2 person tent which is really a solo tent with elbow room - https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5046-115/Freelite-2-Tent

Aluminum cans of "water". Suuuurrre you do. And mem does too. (lol)!
Seriously though, if you don't scoop and sip straight from the rivers/lakes then processing water can be time consuming I know. I try to have 2-4 L of water ready during the day, and often it's not enough.

Ice...where is this area exactly?

Lol at the aluminum drink cans too! I normally have 2lt of filtered water and refill as required.

Google Maps - For the Beaubien Falls location which puts you right in the loop... 49.846936, -94.091427

Nice pictures, it's great yo guys are getting out so early. Any moose sightings, or caribou?

Thanks, was a great start to the tripping as this was a new loop for me to try. Was not sure if I could connect it all in one trip. I had several beavers and a few loons say hi but no moose or caribou. Maybe next trip!

 

[Odyssey]

Thanks for the locale info; so near (to the HWY) and yet so far (from the world). I've got to remember this little gem if I'm ever wandering that far with racked canoe. Beauty. Full.

 

[icedragonmx]

Thanks for the locale info; so near (to the HWY) and yet so far (from the world). I've got to remember this little gem if I'm ever wandering that far with racked canoe. Beauty. Full.

This little trip was a great find! There was so many different types of terrain from tight swamps to shallow creek to large lake areas, never mind all the trails and waterfalls etc. Worth the effort and would rate this as one of my best to date. I might have been just a little happy that there is open water too! Lol

 

[turnerde]

Thanks, after a few years I am still sold on this being my best choice for a solo tripper for me.

Sorry I am ignorant, what kind of canoe is it, I couldn't read the side in the pictures.

 

[sweeper]

Thanks, after a few years I am still sold on this being my best choice for a solo tripper for me. Was happy to have the light weight too!

I agree

 

[icedragonmx]

Sorry I am ignorant, what kind of canoe is it, I couldn't read the side in the pictures.

I have a Keewaydin 15 Packboat in Textreme Carbon Fiber with a total weight of 27lbs. I sit very low in the canoe and this is a huge benefit for stability and my sore back with the lumbar support in the seat.

I agree

Very Nice!!!

 

[sweeper]

I saw that, but preferred the web seat. I just ordered a Prospector 16 in Textreme Carbon Fiber yesterday.

 

[icedragonmx]

I saw that, but preferred the web seat. I just ordered a Prospector 16 in Textreme Carbon Fiber yesterday.

Wow, very nice! I hope that pictures and a trip report will follow as soon as your new Prospector arrives!!! Congrats on the new canoe. Looks like you have the best of both worlds.

 

[deerfly]

that was great, looked like an awesome trip. Beautiful canoe too.

 

[sweeper]

I have to wait until 24 July. I'm picking it up at the Swift Algonquin Store and taking it into the Park for an 8 day Shack Down Cruise

 

[icedragonmx]

that was great, looked like an awesome trip. Beautiful canoe too.

Thanks, was very happy with the trip and the canoe is all that I could ask for!

I have to wait until 24 July. I'm picking it up at the Swift Algonquin Store and taking it into the Park for an 8 day Shack Down Cruise

Will be a great trip for you with the new canoe! Enjoy and take lots of pictures! Lol