Boundary Waters Portage

A real-time, solo, single-trip, 20-rod portage on the Kawishiwi River in Minnesota's Boundary Waters

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• boundary
• waters
• canoe
• portage

[bapazian]

How are you stowing your paddle for the portage? I tried tying it into the canoe but it's really annoying and dangly. How did you like the Prism for solo stuff? I did a solo trip recently and the seat was set toward the back a bit. The front end lifted ever so slightly so it was very hard to track straight and when the wind was blowing if I got turned my canoe was like a sail at the will of the wind. In any case nice video and great example of a single portage!

[canoejack]

@bapazian I made some velcro straps that tightly hold both the paddles on either side of my head - if you look closely you can see them when I flip the canoe up and down. I liked the Prism well enough, but actually sold it after this trip. I'll do any future solos double-tripping with a heavy old wood-and-canvas - aesthetics win out over effeciency. I hope to post a video of portaging that way for contrast - next year maybe.

[dpmbn8]

What Wenonah model is that? Looks like an argosy or vagabond. looks great in kevlar.

[canoejack]

It's a Prism.

[HotKarl27]

As I'm looking over my map, I think I've found this particular portage, based on the 20-rod comment. Very close to Picture Rock, right?

[canoejack]

Yep, it's the portage from Fishdance to the river

[deino117]

Nice.

[youmabra]

just came from northern tier it was so fun except some of the portages that didn't even have a path anymore

[DackDack123]

yum yum portage is my favorite :)

[jgysland]

@RobertGary1 By far the biggest waste of time on a portage is double portaging. Single portaging saves a lot of time and energy, even if it is a bit more stress in a shorter time to get everything across at once.

Our method is two guys and three packs in a canoe — two personal packs, and then either food or equipment on a four-person trip, or a combination of both on a two-person trip. One man carries his personal pack and the canoe, the other carries two packs, one atop the other on his back.

[croixboy96]

No canned food is allowed and you cannot burn your garbage so it's best to repackage your food and eliminate bringing in excess packaging. You can catch fish and eat them at camp. We bring a lot of oatmeal, quinoa, pasta, beef jerkey, summer sausage, and rehydrate some dehydrated food. Better if you can dehydrate it yourself.

[SuperShadow]

loyal Duane outfitters patron representing.

[Oddity143]

Sometimes it seems rare to find a portage that doesn't have boulders / mud / downed trees / hills /slick rocks...you get the picture...I like it!

[RobertGary1]

He makes picking it up look easy!! Try it with a 20 mph wind while standing on mossy rock! :) We portage fast. 3 guys in a canoe. The first guy gets the "grey whale" (all personal gear in one pack) and the paddles, the second guy gets the "Green Monster" (the 90lb food pack). The 3rd guy gets the small day pack (sun screen, etc) and the canoe. I've seen some people take 30 minutes for a 100 rod portage but it shouldn't take more than 10.