WCPP July 25 - Aug 5 2015

[Qayaq]

Shelley and I enjoyed a 12 day paddle in WCPP. We left Erickson, MB after Shelley got home from work and drove as far as Richer, where we camped at Rock Garden Campground. We were on the road again by 7 on Saturday morning and got to Red Lake early afternoon, where we self registered at the Park office and then made the bumpy drive to the Leano Lake put-in. We paddled our 15 foot Bob Special as far as a small lake north of Bootjack Lake where we made our first camp.

The next day we started towards Paull Lake, through Elephant Head Lake. The weather was calm and hot - in the low 30s. By noon we had had enough of the heat and found a spot to camp on Paull Lake. Thunderstorms were brewing so we set up the tarp.

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Cooking breakfast in the morning.

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West of Paull towards South Aegean we ran into a few ports that needed cutting out.

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Very hot again so we stopped for a swim and found this old HELP sign on the shore. Not sure what the story is on it but I can’t imagine depending on this sort of signal for assistance. Made me happy we had the sat phone along.

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Heading north from South Aegean we found some nice portages. We were double carrying this trip.

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From South Aegean we headed NW to Welkin Lake and then north to Adventure Lake. On the way east to Haven Lake we crossed a small unnamed lake where we spotted what we both thought were 2 strange looking birds splashing and diving. Once we got closer, we realized that it was a moose feeding in the middle of the lake. It would go under for about 10 seconds at a time and then come up for a gulp of air and go back down again. We paddled up about 75 feet away and watched for about 5 minutes before it noticed us. The feeding must have been good because it was very reluctant to quit feeding but eventually it started swimming to shore, but still stopping to feed along the way.

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After the first 2 days of heat, the weather had turned and we had 7 straight days of high winds and intermittent rain and thundershowers. From Haven Lake, we were heading south towards Wrist Lake. This whole area had seen a burn several years ago. Since we were using hammocks we were looking for larger trees than we were seeing for campsites. By 5:30 we had completed 6 portages including a 650m, 675 and 575. The last port brought us to Jigsaw Lake where we were really hoping to find a few larger trees to hang the hammocks. We paddled around the lake in the wind and rain looking for a suitable site but weren’t finding any larger trees or even level ground to set up camp. We really didn’t want to take on the 825 m port into Wrist Lake at this point so we found a sheltered spot on the lee side of an island and rigged up a tarp over the canoe. We only carried thin reflexive underpads for the hammocks and didn’t look forward to sleeping on the ground with them, so we took out the yoke and slept in the canoe. It was actually nice and cozy and the wind kept the mosquitoes mostly at bay.

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By morning the Old Woman had finally given us a break and the lake was calm. We made the port to Wrist Lake through the old burn and just before getting to Wrist we came upon an area of fresh burn.

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Once on Wrist we were mostly out of the burn and found an excellent campsite in a small bay. The White Spotted Sawyer Beetles were in abundance and having a Lovefest.. On one tree that our hammocks were tied to we counted 18 pairs.

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Shelley rounding up supper to get a break from the dehydrated meals.

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More burn on the short port south out of Wrist.

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Headed south to Aegean, and South Aegean where layed over for a day while the Old Woman did her thing again. We were making good time so decided to go south and check out Talon Lake. We had the wind at our backs crossing an unnamed lake and finding the port with a nice smooth sloping rock ledge that made the landing easy.

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Shelley found lots of plants and other things to photograph.

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Pitcher plant.

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Making our way back north to Paull.

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Then north to Lunch Lake.

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Back towards Bunny Lake where we saw the first other paddlers since we left Leano.

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After camping on Bunny Lake we decided to head back to Red Lake a day earlier than planned in order to visit the Heritage Centre, pay Harlan a visit and take in the townsite for a day before driving down to Ear Falls to take in the Trout Forest Music Festival on the weekend.

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Another great trip and planning the next time when I think we’ll come in from the Manitoba side.

 

[Iskweo]

Another great trip full of good old Manitoba get er done spirit. I especially like the sleeping in the canoe idea, smart. I hae found the lakes on the west side of the park to be not as scenic as the ones by Red Lake. The fishing is not so good either, mostly just pike. It's neer a bad day to be in the park though.

I am watching the weather and trying to nail down an idea for a late september trip. Maybe Caddy Lake area. We will see. Maybe Siderock Lake, I hae not been there in quite a while and it sounds like the water is up.

Christy

 

[sweeper]

Looks like a great trip

 

[red langford]

Wowzers, the portage into Bunny looks like water levels were very high. Early spring high and the deluge of rain we got and are still getting today will help that even more.

Did you have any trouble finding somewhere to hang two hammocks?

How did you enjoy the Trout?

 

[Qayaq]

Red, we didn't have any trouble finding trees to hang 2 hammocks except in the burn. A few times we used a common tree so we only had to have 3 trees but if the common tree isn't really stout then you feel the other person move during the night.

It was the first time attending the Trout although friends have been going for several years. Camping is nice and close to the music and we enjoyed both the music and the coziness. From what I hear it's growing by leaps and bounds. Being right on the water was great and we had some lovely early morning paddles.

Christy, hopefully the weather cooperates for a September trip for you. I'm thinking of doing a solo trip in September to check out the Garner Lake access through Beresford Lake. Have you or anyone else been in that way?

 

[Marten]

This park report says the Garner to Haggart route was cleared this year. It also mentions the route you had to chop on. http://www.canoeing.com/vb/showthread.php?238-Canoe-Route-Conditions-August-17-2015-UpdateWater levels were the highest I had ever seen on the Wanipigow east of Wallace Lake last week. Should be good news for the Garner entry as it can be shallow getting over to Jester Lake.

Nice report by the way and liked your attitude concerning what others may have gotten discouraged about. Like Christy said, It is hard to have a bad day in WCPP.

 

[Iskweo]

I hae not been to Beresford in a couple of years....that used to be our labour day trip. This year it is Ear Falls. It looks like you should hae good water this year. It is a twisty little riwer but not owerly tough. Cole Lake might be good too.

 

[Qayaq]

Thanks for the information Marten and Christy. Much appreciated!

 

[Canotrouge]

Great report, thank you for sharing!!

 

[Marten]

This is a trip report I did on a Garner entry 13 years ago. http://canoestories.com/garner2f.htm I have always thought there is a need for a shuttle for paddlers that would like to go in at Garner and come out at Wallace Lake. Easiest would be if someone at Wallace Lake would ride down to Beresford and drop you off and bring your vehicle back to Wallace Lake on the Wanipigow River. Sometime I hope to get back to Garner and try to find a way directly into WCPP's Irregular Lake.

 

[Robin]

Nice report, liked all the pictures.
I spent 2 1/2 days windbound on eastern Wrist Lk, every time I tried to round the point to the s portage out of Wrist I got scared off. It was still kicking up when I finally found the nerve to get er done.
That port wasn't burnt when I did it in 11 iirc, looks recent.

 

[Odyssey]

Really nice trip, thanks for that Qayaq.