2020 Trip Report (Road to Road!) (scroll down for responses to Phil's Form)
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 2nd.
He utilized the services of Clem Quenville for their shuttles and car storage.
In return for providing us with detailed responses to Phil’s Form, FOW provided Derek with our big Planning map and FOW route map 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.
Route summary: 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)
They did 33 Portages; 9661 m total, and camped at 16 sites. He provided portage information useful for future paddlers and reconnaissance expeditions:
--Outlet Bay of Smoothrock to Berg River portage, heavily grown in but clear
--Portage from Ogoki River to Whitewater Lake, several large trees fallen/obstructions
--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
--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.
--All the portages between Shawanabis Lake south through into Kanakskaniss Lake each have large trees down needing chain sawing
--“Pinball” portage heading east out of Kanakskaniss Lake on to the Kopka River has several large trees down
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.”
He reports seeing only one other canoeing couple and a few motorboats on Smoothrock and Whitewater Lakes.
Derek owns and operates Both Hands Wood-Fired Pizzeria & Bakery in Thunder Bay.
From: Derek Lucchese, Thunder Bay area
(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.)
1. Start/end dates of your trip: August 2 to 21, 2020
2. Number of trip days not including the start/end days: 18 days.
3. Description of your trip route: Circuit
4. Average distance you covered each travel day: 11.85 km including layover days, 13.9 km only counting travel days
5. Total estimated distance you covered during your trip (Miles/km?): 237 km total
6. Primary road used, if any, to access the Wabakimi Area: Hwy 527
7. Secondary road(s) used: Caribou Lake Road used for put in, Bukemiga Lake takeout just off HWY 527 for takeout
8. Number of full-time paddlers: 8 full-time paddlers; 2 other non-paddling children
9. Source(s) of your non-resident Crown land camping permits or provincial park interior (backcountry) camping permits: n/a we’re from Thunder Bay Area — bought camping pass from Wabakimi Provincial Park website
10. Services provided by outfitter(s)/provider(s): Accommodation Canoe rental Full/partial outfitting Licenses Permits Shuttles Replenishment flight(s) Other Shuttle —vehicles from Little Caribou Lake, to Clement Quenville’s house for duration of trip, dropped off at Bukemiga the day before takeout
11. Identity of outfitter(s)/service provider(s) used for insertion/extraction shuttles or replenishment flights, if any: Clement Quenville — home phone 807 583-1346
12. Mode of shuttles to/from your trip insertion/extraction points: Road only
13. Location of where you left your vehicle(s), if any, for the duration of your trip: Clement’s personal residence in Armstrong
14. Locations of the start/end points of your trip: Put in at Little Caribou Lake, takeout at Bukemiga Lake
15. Description of the route you followed (a map would be helpful but is not necessary if sufficient detail is provided) : 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)
16. Map(s) used in planning and executing your trip: 1:50 000 series: 52-I/3, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14
17. Evidence of recent human activity on the portages and campsites used during your trip: Mainly just recent sawing of logs on some portages and campsites; garbage on several campsites on Smoothrock Lake (Bussey’s Island…)
18. 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:
Outlet Bay of Smoothrock to Berg River portage, heavily grown in but clear
Portage from Ogoki River to Whitewater Lake, several large trees fallen/obstructions
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
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.
All the portages between Shawanabis Lake south through into Kanakskaniss Lake each have large trees down needing chainsawing
“Pinball” portage heading east out of Kanakskaniss Lake onto Kopek River has several large trees down
20. Number of portages used during your trip with estimated total length expressed in yards, metres or rods 33 Portages; 9661 m total
21. Number and location of campsites occupied during your trip. Provide GPS location is possible
August 2: Little Caribou Lake, 352.8 E / 5583.3 N
August 3: Caribou River, 348.4 E / 5594.8 N
August 4: Funger Lake, 337.3 E / 5601.5 N
August 5: Lower Outlet Bay, Smoothrock Lake: 325.7 E / 5605.4 N
August 6: Berg River, 329.3 E / 5618.2 N
August 7: Southwest Whitewater Lake, 333.0 E / 5628.4 N
August 8 & 9: Whitewater Lake, Best Island, Wendell’s Cabin, 348.0 E / 5626.2 N
August 10: Northeast McKinley Lake, 346.3 E / 5618.8 N
August 11: Bussey Island, Lonebreast Bay, Smoothrock Lake, 339.2 E / 5609.5 N
August 12: North Central Smoothrock Lake, 329.5 E / 5605.2 N
August 13: South Smoothrock Lake (near Boiling Sand River), 324.2 E / 5588.5 N
August 14: Spring Lake, 320.9 E / 5581.1 N
August 15 & 16: Onamakawash lake, 314.5 E / 5575.6 N
August 17: Boulder Lake, 325.0 E / 5565.3 N
August 18 & 19: Kenakskaniss Lake, 325.6 E / 5553.6 N
August 20: Kopka River, “Spectacular” campsite, 329.7 E / 5553.8 N
August 21: takeout at Bukemiga Lake, 345.2 E / 5549.3 N
22. Locations of sites of natural, cultural, or historical interest visited during your trip and their respective conditions. Provide GPS location is possible.
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.
23. Locations & details of wildlife sightings (e.g., large mammals, fur-bearing animals, birds of prey, reptiles) Provide GPS location is possible
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
Mink on August 5 campsite
Osprey on Lookout River, 6 total over 2 days
Black bear and one cub on portage from Ogoki River into Whitewater Lake
Male moose on Spring Lake
Merlins on Smoothrock Lake (near Boiling Sands River)
24. 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.)
We met one couple in a canoe on the Berg River;
—another canoeing couple on Whitewater Lake;
—talked with a couple of fishermen in a motorboat on Whitewater Lake;
—saw the same canoeing couple from WW Lake on Smoothrock Lake;
—saw 4 motorboats returning south to Smoothrock Lodge one night, and then another 4 heading north along the same route in the morning;
—met another canoeing couple on Kopka River
26. Errors/omissions on current Wabakimi Canoe Route Maps that require correction in future editions Portages Campsites
Portage into McKinley Lake as described above
