September Canoe Trip
Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:19 pm
Am planning a canoe trip for the end of September. Most likely will take the Voyageur II, but am considering all possibilities. My not too experienced adult daughter will be my partner, so even though it will likely be 8 days (due to the once a week VII schedule), it won't be an aggressive itinerary. I haven't been that late in the season before, which raises a couple questions/concerns..
- I know that winds pick up that time of year. And tend to shift to the north. What are the odds of getting stuck for multiple days that time of year?
- Have considered backpacking, but daughter has ortho issues that probably preclude it. Portaging <1 mile at a time shouldn't be an issue.
- Rutting. What do you do when you confront a hormone crazed bull moose with a canoe on your head???? Turn sideways and pretend to be a bigger moose ? And if that fails ...
- Needing help, especially on canoe only routes. Have been on 2 trips that required assistance, and am not overly confident that the 2 of us could handle all scenarios on our own. So mulling risk/reward. Will definitely be carrying a VHF.
- How's the fall fishing? (both Lake Trout and pike/walleye in the lakes)
So here's what I'm contemplating:
(1) Inland lakes, McCargo to Chippewa. Haven't done this for quite a while. Would provide the opportunity to do the only portage I haven't done (Richie to Chippewa) if we chose not to go around through Siskiwit.
(2) Belle Isle to Rock Harbor. Have done this more than anything else, love the area. It's the only trip my daughter has done before (15 yrs ago when she was 15). Biggest drawback is the potential of being weather bound and no place to day hike or explore, since a big draw of this idea is having plenty of time to explore by water.
(3) Chippewa to Rock Harbor would be the back-up plan for 1 and 2 if the boat has to take the south shore on the day out. I've just been dying to do the Richie/Moskey portage again !
(4) Just paddle Rock Harbor, explore the islands as weather allows, and day hike. Have done this before with my other daughter and had a great trip. Worst case is getting stuck at Moskey with a big NE blow--could also schedule pickup at Daisy Farm to alleviate that concern.
Any thoughts?
- I know that winds pick up that time of year. And tend to shift to the north. What are the odds of getting stuck for multiple days that time of year?
- Have considered backpacking, but daughter has ortho issues that probably preclude it. Portaging <1 mile at a time shouldn't be an issue.
- Rutting. What do you do when you confront a hormone crazed bull moose with a canoe on your head???? Turn sideways and pretend to be a bigger moose ? And if that fails ...
- Needing help, especially on canoe only routes. Have been on 2 trips that required assistance, and am not overly confident that the 2 of us could handle all scenarios on our own. So mulling risk/reward. Will definitely be carrying a VHF.
- How's the fall fishing? (both Lake Trout and pike/walleye in the lakes)
So here's what I'm contemplating:
(1) Inland lakes, McCargo to Chippewa. Haven't done this for quite a while. Would provide the opportunity to do the only portage I haven't done (Richie to Chippewa) if we chose not to go around through Siskiwit.
(2) Belle Isle to Rock Harbor. Have done this more than anything else, love the area. It's the only trip my daughter has done before (15 yrs ago when she was 15). Biggest drawback is the potential of being weather bound and no place to day hike or explore, since a big draw of this idea is having plenty of time to explore by water.
(3) Chippewa to Rock Harbor would be the back-up plan for 1 and 2 if the boat has to take the south shore on the day out. I've just been dying to do the Richie/Moskey portage again !
(4) Just paddle Rock Harbor, explore the islands as weather allows, and day hike. Have done this before with my other daughter and had a great trip. Worst case is getting stuck at Moskey with a big NE blow--could also schedule pickup at Daisy Farm to alleviate that concern.
Any thoughts?