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(6 posts) (3 voices) Started 6 months ago by canoejim Latest reply from Bryan Hansel

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canoejim
Member

A few of our guides and I are trying to line up a trip at the end of this season, 2010.

Problem:
Our problem is that being in the guiding business we can't get out during the season so are forced to go in early October. Okay, good so far except that our requirements are that wewant a mild river (good time of year for that) and it can't be frozen or about to freeze. Well, about to freeze is okay but not frozen.

Now anyone in their right mind would immediatly say that everything in the North is frezzing at that point, and if that's as far as you can think, then you're no help to us. Does anyone out there have some incredible idea to solve our problem?

We want a remote location and really scenic.

Thanks everyone for thinking about it.

I love paddling and make my living doing it. I spend much of my time planning and running Vancouver Island sea kayaking trips. Many of them into Johnstone Strait but also into Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands. Based on Quadra Island BC.

Posted 6 months ago #
Bryan Hansel
Member

If you want to do a BWCA trip, it should be ice free in early October. Maybe something like the Frost River. Feels remote. Nobody will be on it that time of year and you should see moose, etc. And it's one of the best trips in the BWCA that you can do.

Nessmuking.com - Lightweight canoe and kayak travel: a philosophy and a way of life

On Twitter: @bryanhansel

Posted 6 months ago #
canoejim
Member

Bryan Hansel - 13 minutes ago »
If you want to do a BWCA trip, it should be ice free in early October. Maybe something like the Frost River. Feels remote. Nobody will be on it that time of year and you should see moose, etc. And it's one of the best trips in the BWCA that you can do.

Hi Bryan and thanks for that.

We still want something really remote. Cheers!

I love paddling and make my living doing it. I spend much of my time planning and running Vancouver Island sea kayaking trips. Many of them into Johnstone Strait but also into Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands. Based on Quadra Island BC.

Posted 6 months ago #
James
Class V

I always like the Jacks Fork, Eleven Point, Current or Buffalo

You'll probably see me out there in October because the 14th is my birthday and the weather is usually good. It's cold enough that the bugs are dead and warm enough to give yourself a sponge bath.

The Jacks Fork and Current are so much better in October because there are no float trippers.

Check this tag "Ozark National Scenic Rivers" and look around in the trip reports section for photos.

We buy our gear at Amazon, NRS, Altrec or Rock Creek. If you're in St. Louis visit the Alpine Shop.

http://twitter.com/AdventureCanoe

Posted 6 months ago #
Bryan Hansel
Member

canoejim - 3 days ago »

Bryan Hansel - 13 minutes ago »
If you want to do a BWCA trip, it should be ice free in early October. Maybe something like the Frost River. Feels remote. Nobody will be on it that time of year and you should see moose, etc. And it's one of the best trips in the BWCA that you can do.

Hi Bryan and thanks for that.
We still want something really remote. Cheers!

Well, you do have to drive up a road (Gunflint Trail) that leads to a dead-end on a lake which attaches to Canada; the drive takes you 50 minutes away from the nearest town, which has a population of only 1,300 people and is a 2-hour drive from any city over 90,000 people (Duluth or Thunder Bay). To get onto the Frost River, you first have to paddle to Frost Lake, which is a full day of lakes away from the Trail, and the Frost puts you pretty far into the wilderness area. Since, you'll be only a few of the people in the 1,000,000 acres of U.S. designated wilderness you'll be remote.

In October, if we have rain, some of the northshore of Lake Superior rivers might be running, like the Steel.

Or pick a trip in the Wabakimi
Wilderness Park, which is about 200km north of Thunder Bay, and paddle the Kopka. It should be ice free. Wabakimi is remote and a pain to get to. Plus, you could plan to spend some time of Lake Nipigon with it's 500 islands. It'll be cold, wet, and windy weather that time of the year.

Nessmuking.com - Lightweight canoe and kayak travel: a philosophy and a way of life

On Twitter: @bryanhansel

Posted 5 months ago #
Bryan Hansel
Member

Did I mention that you have to grab a train and get it to stop in the middle of nowhere to get on the Kopka?

Nessmuking.com - Lightweight canoe and kayak travel: a philosophy and a way of life

On Twitter: @bryanhansel

Posted 5 months ago #

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