Wabakimi Maps & Store
FOW Board & Associates Planning -- Sept. 7, 8, 9
Trip Reports
Wabakimi.org
Remember me
Forgot password
Join FOW!
Wabakimi & Beyond Volumes Narrative
Wabakimi Maps & Store
Donate! 2024
FOW Planning Retreat -- Sept. 7,8,9, 2024
Trip Reports Forum
Newsletter Sign Up/ Facebook
Reply to: August 2020 Little Caribou Lake (put in) – Caribou River – Smoothrock Lake (Outlet Bay) – Berg River – Whitewater Lake – McKinley Lake – Smoothrock Lake (Lonebreast Bay) – Onamakawash Lake – Shawanabis Lake – Kopka River – to Bukemiga Lake (takeout) Volumes 3 & 5
*
Mandatory
fields
Author
*
Body
<blockquote><strong class="quote">Anonymous wrote:</strong> <P><FONT style="font-size: 19px;">2020 Trip Report (Road to Road!) </FONT> <FONT color="#0000FF" style="font-size: 14px;"><EM>(scroll down for responses to Phil's Form) </EM></FONT></P> <P><FONT>Thanks to Derek Lucchese, Thunder Bay, and his troop of 8 paddlers and two children for participating in the FOW 2020 trip program. They did an eighteen day circuit beginning August 2<SUP>nd</SUP>.</FONT></P> <P><FONT>He utilized the services of Clem Quenville for their shuttles and car storage.</FONT></P> <P><FONT>In return for providing us with detailed responses to</FONT> <A href="https://www.wabakimi.org/uploads/1/2/9/3/129364235/reconnaissance_expeditions_.pdf"><FONT>Phil’s Form</FONT></A><FONT>, FOW provided Derek with our</FONT> <A href="/Sys/Store/Products/98407"><FONT>big Planning map</FONT></A> <FONT>and</FONT> <A href="https://www.wabakimi.org/wabakimi-maps.html"><FONT>FOW route map</FONT></A> <FONT>pages covering most all of his route. Derek also utilized topo maps 1:50 000 series: 52-I/3, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 14. </FONT></P> <P><FONT>Route summary: </FONT><FONT>Little Caribou Lake (put in) – Caribou Lake – Caribou River – Smoothrock Lake (Caribou Bay) – Smoothrock Lake (Outlet Bay) – Berg River – Whitewater Lake – McKinley Lake – Smoothrock Lake (Lonebreast Bay) – Smoothrock Lake – Lookout River - Spring Lake – Onamakawash Lake – Shawanabis Lake – Boulder Lake – Kenakskaniss Lake – Kopka River – Wigwasan Lake -- Bukemiga Lake (takeout)</FONT></P> <P><FONT>They did 33 Portages; 9661 m total, and camped at 16 sites. He provided <U>portage information</U> useful for future paddlers and reconnaissance expeditions:</FONT></P> <P><FONT>--Outlet Bay of Smoothrock to Berg River portage, heavily grown in but clear</FONT></P> <P><FONT>--Portage from Ogoki River to Whitewater Lake, several large trees fallen/obstructions</FONT></P> <P><FONT>--Portage from Whitewater Lake south into the small lake north of McKinley, very hard to find, then actual portage through burn, very grown in and thick at times, plus a few large trees down</FONT></P> <P><FONT>--Portage heading south into McKinley L, not as shown on “Smoothrock Lake to Whitewater Lake via McKinley Lake” Friends of Wabakimi map. Circle D should have a portage south on the east side, River left, approx 20m long into a very small pond/lake; then portage on river right, west side, approx. 120 m into north end of McKinley Lake.</FONT></P> <P><FONT>--All the portages between Shawanabis Lake south through into Kanakskaniss Lake each have large trees down needing chain sawing</FONT></P> <P><FONT>--“Pinball” portage heading east out of Kanakskaniss Lake on to the Kopka River has several large trees down</FONT></P> <P><FONT>On this trip they saw moose, bear & cubs, osprey, eagles, mink; and visited the Wendell Beckworth cabins on Whitewater Lake relaying, “it’s in pretty rough shape, only two of the buildings having any integrity. The campsite is well maintained, however.”</FONT></P> <P><FONT>He reports seeing only one other canoeing couple and a few motorboats on Smoothrock and Whitewater Lakes.</FONT></P> <P><FONT>Derek owns and operates</FONT> <A href="https://www.facebook.com/bothhandsbread/"><SPAN style="background-color: white;"><FONT>Both Hands Wood-Fired Pizzeria & Bakery in Thunder Bay.</FONT></SPAN></A></P> <P>From: Derek Lucchese, Thunder Bay area</P> <P>(Note: Derek participated in FOW's 2020 Trip Program. FOW helped by providing maps and in return, he provided this trip report and photos. Thanks to Derek and gang for participating.) </P> <P><FONT>1. </FONT> <STRONG>Start/end dates of your trip: </STRONG> <FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 2 to 21, 2020</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>2<STRONG>. </STRONG></FONT> <STRONG>Number of trip days not including the start/end days:</STRONG> <FONT>18 days.</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>3. </FONT> <STRONG>Description of your trip route:</STRONG> <FONT>Circuit</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>4. </FONT> Av<STRONG>erage distance you covered each travel day: </STRONG> <FONT>11.85 km including layover days, 13.9 km only counting travel days</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>5. </FONT> T<STRONG>otal estimated distance you covered during your trip (Miles/km</STRONG>?)<STRONG>:</STRONG> <FONT>237 km total</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>6. </FONT> <STRONG>Primary road used, if any, to access the Wabakimi Area:</STRONG> <FONT>Hwy 527</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>7. </FONT> <STRONG>Secondary road(s) used:</STRONG> <FONT>Caribou Lake Road used for put in, Bukemiga Lake takeout just off HWY 527 for takeout</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>8. </FONT> <STRONG>Number of full-time paddlers:</STRONG> <FONT>8 full-time paddlers; 2 other non-paddling children</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>9. </FONT> <STRONG>Source(s) of your non-resident Crown land camping permits or provincial park interior (backcountry) camping permits:</STRONG> <FONT>n/a we’re from Thunder Bay Area — bought camping pass from Wabakimi Provincial Park website</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>10.<STRONG> </STRONG></FONT> <STRONG>Services provided by outfitter(s)/provider(s): Accommodation Canoe rental Full/partial outfitting Licenses Permits Shuttles Replenishment flight(s) Other </STRONG><FONT>Shuttle —vehicles from Little Caribou Lake, to Clement Quenville’s house for duration of trip, dropped off at Bukemiga the day before takeout</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>11<STRONG>. </STRONG></FONT> <STRONG>Identity of outfitter(s)/service provider(s) used for insertion/extraction shuttles or replenishment flights, if any: </STRONG> <FONT>Clement Quenville — home phone 807 583-1346</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>12.</FONT> <STRONG>Mode of shuttles to/from your trip insertion/extraction points:</STRONG> <FONT>Road only</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>13. </FONT> <STRONG>Location of where you left your vehicle(s), if any, for the duration of your trip: </STRONG> <FONT>Clement’s personal residence in Armstrong</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>14. </FONT> <STRONG>Locations of the start/end points of your trip: </STRONG> <FONT>Put in at Little Caribou Lake, takeout at Bukemiga Lake</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>15. </FONT><STRONG>Description of the route you followed (a map would be helpful but is not necessary if sufficient detail is provided) :</STRONG> <FONT>Little Caribou Lake (put in) – Caribou Lake – Caribou River – Smoothrock Lake (Caribou Bay) – Smoothrock Lake (Outlet Bay) – Berg River – Whitewater Lake – McKinley Lake – Smoothrock Lake (Lonebreast Bay) – Smoothrock Lake – Lookout River - Spring Lake – Onamakawash Lake – Shawanabis Lake – Boulder Lake – Kenakskaniss Lake – Kopka River – Wigwasan Lake -- Bukemiga Lake (takeout)</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>16. </FONT> <STRONG>Map(s) used in planning and executing your trip: </STRONG> <FONT>1:50 000 series: 52-I/3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>17. </FONT> <STRONG>Evidence of recent human activity on the portages and campsites used during your trip</STRONG><FONT>: Mainly just recent sawing of logs on some portages and campsites; garbage on several campsites on Smoothrock Lake (Bussey’s Island…)</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>18. </FONT> <STRONG>Location(s) of portages or campsites in need of attention. (e.g., blow downs, washouts, trash, vegetative vandalism) Provide GPS location is possible Portages: Campsites:</STRONG> </FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Outlet Bay of Smoothrock to Berg River portage, heavily grown in but clear</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Portage from Ogoki River to Whitewater Lake, several large trees fallen/obstructions</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Portage from Whitewater Lake south into the small lake north of McKinley, very hard to find, then actual portage through burn, very grown in and thick at times, plus a few large trees down</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Portage heading south into McKinley L, not as shown on “Smoothrock Lake to Whitewater Lake via McKinley Lake” Friends of Wabakimi map. Circle D should have a portage south on the east side, River left, approx 20m long into a very small pond/lake; then portage on river right, west side, approx. 120 m into north end of McKinley Lake.</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">All the portages between Shawanabis Lake south through into Kanakskaniss Lake each have large trees down needing chainsawing</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">“Pinball” portage heading east out of Kanakskaniss Lake onto Kopek River has several large trees down</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>20. </FONT> <STRONG>Number of portages used during your trip with estimated total length expressed in yards, metres or rods</STRONG> <FONT>33 Portages; 9661 m total</FONT></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>21. </FONT> <STRONG>Number and location of campsites occupied during your trip. Provide GPS location is possible</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 2: Little Caribou Lake, 352.8 E / 5583.3 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 3: Caribou River, 348.4 E / 5594.8 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 4: Funger Lake, 337.3 E / 5601.5 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 5: Lower Outlet Bay, Smoothrock Lake: 325.7 E / 5605.4 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 6: Berg River, 329.3 E / 5618.2 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 7: Southwest Whitewater Lake, 333.0 E / 5628.4 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 8 & 9: Whitewater Lake, Best Island, Wendell’s Cabin, 348.0 E / 5626.2 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 10: Northeast McKinley Lake, 346.3 E / 5618.8 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 11: Bussey Island, Lonebreast Bay, Smoothrock Lake, 339.2 E / 5609.5 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 12: North Central Smoothrock Lake, 329.5 E / 5605.2 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 13: South Smoothrock Lake (near Boiling Sand River), 324.2 E / 5588.5 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 14: Spring Lake, 320.9 E / 5581.1 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 15 & 16: Onamakawash lake, 314.5 E / 5575.6 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 17: Boulder Lake, 325.0 E / 5565.3 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 18 & 19: Kenakskaniss Lake, 325.6 E / 5553.6 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 20: Kopka River, “Spectacular” campsite, 329.7 E / 5553.8 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">August 21: takeout at Bukemiga Lake, 345.2 E / 5549.3 N</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>22. </FONT> <STRONG>Locations of sites of natural, cultural, or historical interest visited during your trip and their respective conditions. Provide GPS location is possible.</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Wendell’s cabin was the only site that we visited that fits this criteria — it’s in pretty rough shape, only two of the buildings having any integrity. The campsite is well maintained, however.</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>23. </FONT> <STRONG>Locations & details of wildlife sightings (e.g., large mammals, fur-bearing animals, birds of prey, reptiles) Provide GPS location is possible</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Bald Eagle: Aug. 4 campsite, also 327.4 E / 5605.4 N, all along Outlet Bay of Smoothrock Lake, Berg River, Spring Lake and Whitewater Lake. Also several sightings on Smoothrock Lake heading south, and on Kenakskaniss Lake</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Mink on August 5 campsite</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Osprey on Lookout River, 6 total over 2 days</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Black bear and one cub on portage from Ogoki River into Whitewater Lake</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Male moose on Spring Lake</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Merlins on Smoothrock Lake (near Boiling Sands River)</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>24. </FONT> <STRONG>Locations & details of human encounters (e.g., lodge/outpost clients, paddlers, portage crews, forestry employees, prospectors, government agents including MNRF & Ontario Parks personnel, First Nation area residents, &c.)</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">We met one couple in a canoe on the Berg River; </FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">—another canoeing couple on Whitewater Lake; </FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">—talked with a couple of fishermen in a motorboat on Whitewater Lake; </FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">—saw the same canoeing couple from WW Lake on Smoothrock Lake; </FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">—saw 4 motorboats returning south to Smoothrock Lodge one night, and then another 4 heading north along the same route in the morning; </FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">—met another canoeing couple on Kopka River</FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;"><FONT>26. </FONT> <STRONG>Errors/omissions on current Wabakimi Canoe Route Maps that require correction in future editions Portages Campsites</STRONG></FONT></P> <P><FONT style="font-size: 12px;">Portage into McKinley Lake as described above</FONT></P> <P><BR></P> </blockquote><br>
You can use basic HTML tags.
Body should be less than 50 kilobytes
Powered by
Wild Apricot
Membership Software