No rain fell on our tents overnight, and we awoke to a fair bit of blue and sun. The weather was giving us a nice break this morning. As a result, we had a bit more spring in our steps as we went about our camp, doing the things one does on a morning at camp on a canoe trip.
As predicted, no one had shown up at the cabin, and it was still as we had left it - empty - when we re-entered it to create the morning fire.
Indoor fire, outdoor fire
As nice as our morning at camp was, we knew that we had a fairly long day ahead of us, and it was important not to dally too long. We needed to journey from here (from McKaskill Lake) all the way back to the Shall Lake put-in point. That would make it our longest leg of the three days. And in general we were anxious to get the troublesome and tiresome big portage out of the way. That had not been a pleasant experience the day before.
Leaving the cabin
So, by 10 a.m., we were on the water, paddling back west towards the first of our six portages. The skies were only partly cloudy and there was no sign of rain about. A slight breeze meant we didn't have the glass-smooth paddling conditions of the previous two days, but this was more than a fair exchange. I certainly wasn't complaining.
Morning on McKaskill
Jenn and I were very efficient today, quickly making our way through and over the McKaskill-Dove portage before the others arrived. Then, after a short paddle across Dove Lake, we arrived at the crux of the matter: the 2.4km portage back to Shrew Lake.
Now knowing all of the details of this portage from yesterday, I was mentally prepared. I had my rest stops mentally scheduled, I had the points of trouble identified and anticipated. I packed up in the most comfortable way for a long walk and clipped various things to the back of the canoe to improve the balance while portaging. Ready!
Start of the big one
Once again we were off up the trail before the others arrived, giving us a little head start and allowing me to pace myself and include some stops without holding anyone up.
Up, up, up, down, up, down. The portage was, as before, reasonably challenging terrain wise. In general there was a 150-foot gain between Dove and Shrew Lakes, but there's much more than that on this portage, what with all of the little micro-terrain features the portage trail climbs over.
With all of the physical and mental planning, and perhaps also simply because of the much nicer weather, the long portage went much more smoothly than I had expected. Even with our break at the 600m mark, Jenn and I managed to do the entire 2.4km length in only fifty minutes - nearly twice as fast as the day before. I did walk faster, but also we knew how to quickly navigate the various blowdown obstacles and the "canal". And there were no slips and falls, like there was the day before. huh... now the portage didn't seem nearly so bad. I guess it goes to show how much attitude and experience can change one's perception of a challenge.
Make sure the others are coming
The weather continued to be suprisingly nice - calm and with generous periods of sunshine - for all of the morning hours. It wasn't until we reached the shores of Shirley Lake, most of the way back to the start point, when thicker clouds started to move in. We stopped here for lunch, taking advantage of an adjacent grassy campsite right on the lakeshore.
courtesy JInnes
courtesy JInnes
It started to lightly rain during lunch, and one-by-one, we donned our rain gear (I, ever the optimist, waited until the very last moment before setting off in the canoes to rain-suit up). It was a wise choice, however, because the rain continued for the rest of the paddle back.
courtesy JInnes
courtesy JInnes
The rain was steady and trending towards heavy as we rounded the final corners and the Shall Lake station came into view. We had made good time, arriving about 2:45pm, under five hours after starting out.
Thank you to Arn and Gosia for organizing and inviting all of us, and special thanks to Jenn for coming along with me on yet another canoe trip. I appreciate and value your company.
Interactive trackmap with photo points - Paddle to McKaskill Lake - click map to view
Crotch Lake Friday Night
(Track color: )
Start Time:
4:54p.m.
End Time:
5:18p.m.
Duration:
0h24m
Distance:
1.97 km
(1.23 mi)
Average Speed:
4.9 km/hr
(3.1 mph)
Start Elevation:
1226ft
(374m)
*
Max Elevation:
1247ft
(380m)
*
Min Elevation:
1226ft
(374m)
*
End Elevation:
1247ft
(380m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
12ft
(4m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
0ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Crotch Lake Saturday Morning
(Track color: )
Start Time:
9:33a.m.
End Time:
9:51a.m.
Duration:
0h18m
Distance:
0.7 km
(0.44 mi)
Average Speed:
2.3 km/hr
(1.5 mph)
Start Elevation:
1322ft
(403m)
*
Max Elevation:
1322ft
(403m)
*
Min Elevation:
1284ft
(391m)
*
End Elevation:
1289ft
(393m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
9ft
(3m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Crotch-Shirley Portage
(Track color: )
Start Time:
9:51a.m.
End Time:
10:06a.m.
Duration:
0h14m
Distance:
0.99 km
(0.62 mi)
Average Speed:
4.3 km/hr
(2.6 mph)
Start Elevation:
1290ft
(393m)
*
Max Elevation:
1326ft
(404m)
*
Min Elevation:
1276ft
(389m)
*
End Elevation:
1308ft
(399m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
29ft
(9m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
11ft
(3m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Shirley Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
10:09a.m.
End Time:
10:29a.m.
Duration:
0h19m
Distance:
1.14 km
(0.71 mi)
Average Speed:
3.6 km/hr
(2.2 mph)
Start Elevation:
1306ft
(398m)
*
Max Elevation:
1316ft
(401m)
*
Min Elevation:
1302ft
(397m)
*
End Elevation:
1303ft
(397m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
5ft
(2m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
1ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Shirley-Ryan Portage
(Track color: )
Start Time:
10:29a.m.
End Time:
10:39a.m.
Duration:
0h10m
Distance:
0.52 km
(0.32 mi)
Average Speed:
3.1 km/hr
(1.9 mph)
Start Elevation:
1305ft
(398m)
*
Max Elevation:
1339ft
(408m)
*
Min Elevation:
1298ft
(396m)
*
End Elevation:
1324ft
(404m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
12ft
(4m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
3ft
(1m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Ryan Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
10:40a.m.
End Time:
11:06a.m.
Duration:
0h25m
Distance:
1.51 km
(0.94 mi)
Average Speed:
3.6 km/hr
(2.3 mph)
Start Elevation:
1324ft
(403m)
*
Max Elevation:
1333ft
(406m)
*
Min Elevation:
1304ft
(398m)
*
End Elevation:
1332ft
(406m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
11ft
(3m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
0ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Ryan-Big Red Portage
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:07a.m.
End Time:
11:13a.m.
Duration:
0h6m
Distance:
0.21 km
(0.13 mi)
Average Speed:
2.1 km/hr
(1.3 mph)
Start Elevation:
1336ft
(407m)
*
Max Elevation:
1359ft
(414m)
*
Min Elevation:
1317ft
(401m)
*
End Elevation:
1330ft
(405m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
7ft
(2m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
3ft
(1m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Big Red Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:14a.m.
End Time:
11:22a.m.
Duration:
0h8m
Distance:
0.48 km
(0.3 mi)
Average Speed:
3.6 km/hr
(2.2 mph)
Start Elevation:
1321ft
(403m)
*
Max Elevation:
1355ft
(413m)
*
Min Elevation:
1294ft
(394m)
*
End Elevation:
1331ft
(406m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
10ft
(3m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
5ft
(2m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Portage to Shrew Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:24a.m.
End Time:
11:39a.m.
Duration:
0h15m
Distance:
0.53 km
(0.33 mi)
Average Speed:
2.1 km/hr
(1.3 mph)
Start Elevation:
1330ft
(405m)
*
Max Elevation:
1392ft
(424m)
*
Min Elevation:
1329ft
(405m)
*
End Elevation:
1357ft
(414m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
40ft
(12m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
5ft
(2m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Shrew Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:40a.m.
End Time:
12:12p.m.
Duration:
0h31m
Distance:
1.29 km
(0.8 mi)
Average Speed:
2.5 km/hr
(1.5 mph)
Start Elevation:
1357ft
(414m)
*
Max Elevation:
1392ft
(424m)
*
Min Elevation:
1355ft
(413m)
*
End Elevation:
1392ft
(424m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
15ft
(5m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
0ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Long portage to Dove Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
12:12p.m.
End Time:
1:36p.m.
Duration:
1h23m
Distance:
2.41 km
(1.5 mi)
Average Speed:
1.7 km/hr
(1.1 mph)
Start Elevation:
1392ft
(424m)
*
Max Elevation:
1487ft
(453m)
*
Min Elevation:
1216ft
(371m)
*
End Elevation:
1216ft
(371m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
116ft
(35m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
267ft
(81m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Dove Lake Saturday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
1:36p.m.
End Time:
1:46p.m.
Duration:
0h9m
Distance:
0.52 km
(0.32 mi)
Average Speed:
3.5 km/hr
(2.2 mph)
Start Elevation:
1242ft
(379m)
*
Max Elevation:
1252ft
(381m)
*
Min Elevation:
1191ft
(363m)
*
End Elevation:
1229ft
(374m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
1ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
8ft
(2m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
McKaskill Lake Saturday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
1:47p.m.
End Time:
2:14p.m.
Duration:
0h27m
Distance:
0.98 km
(0.61 mi)
Average Speed:
2.2 km/hr
(1.4 mph)
Start Elevation:
1204ft
(367m)
*
Max Elevation:
1230ft
(375m)
*
Min Elevation:
1203ft
(367m)
*
End Elevation:
1212ft
(369m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
2ft
(1m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
12ft
(4m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
At Camp
0.03 km
(0.02 mi)
MckKaskill Lake Sunday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
10:01a.m.
End Time:
10:14a.m.
Duration:
0h13m
Distance:
1.0 km
(0.62 mi)
Average Speed:
4.6 km/hr
(2.9 mph)
Start Elevation:
1209ft
(368m)
*
Max Elevation:
1212ft
(369m)
*
Min Elevation:
1204ft
(367m)
*
End Elevation:
1210ft
(369m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
3ft
(1m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Dove Lake Sunday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
10:14a.m.
End Time:
10:24a.m.
Duration:
0h9m
Distance:
0.5 km
(0.31 mi)
Average Speed:
3.3 km/hr
(2.1 mph)
Start Elevation:
1208ft
(368m)
*
Max Elevation:
1210ft
(369m)
*
Min Elevation:
1207ft
(368m)
*
End Elevation:
1208ft
(368m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
0ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Long Portage back to Shrew Lake
(Track color: )
Start Time:
10:24a.m.
End Time:
11:34a.m.
Duration:
1h9m
Distance:
2.39 km
(1.48 mi)
Average Speed:
2.1 km/hr
(1.3 mph)
Start Elevation:
1208ft
(368m)
*
Max Elevation:
1444ft
(440m)
*
Min Elevation:
1208ft
(368m)
*
End Elevation:
1370ft
(418m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
218ft
(66m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
85ft
(26m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Shrew Lake Sunday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:35a.m.
End Time:
11:46a.m.
Duration:
0h10m
Distance:
0.44 km
(0.27 mi)
Average Speed:
2.6 km/hr
(1.6 mph)
Start Elevation:
1372ft
(418m)
*
Max Elevation:
1374ft
(419m)
*
Min Elevation:
1360ft
(415m)
*
End Elevation:
1374ft
(419m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
3ft
(1m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
1ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Portage back to Big Red L
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:46a.m.
End Time:
11:58a.m.
Duration:
0h11m
Distance:
0.54 km
(0.33 mi)
Average Speed:
2.9 km/hr
(1.8 mph)
Start Elevation:
1374ft
(419m)
*
Max Elevation:
1420ft
(433m)
*
Min Elevation:
1352ft
(412m)
*
End Elevation:
1353ft
(412m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
38ft
(12m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Big Red Lk Sunday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
11:59a.m.
End Time:
12:08p.m.
Duration:
0h8m
Distance:
0.45 km
(0.28 mi)
Average Speed:
3.4 km/hr
(2.1 mph)
Start Elevation:
1355ft
(413m)
*
Max Elevation:
1355ft
(413m)
*
Min Elevation:
1347ft
(411m)
*
End Elevation:
1347ft
(411m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
1ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Portage back to Ryan
(Track color: )
Start Time:
12:09p.m.
End Time:
12:15p.m.
Duration:
0h6m
Distance:
0.22 km
(0.13 mi)
Average Speed:
2.2 km/hr
(1.3 mph)
Start Elevation:
1336ft
(407m)
*
Max Elevation:
1377ft
(420m)
*
Min Elevation:
1336ft
(407m)
*
End Elevation:
1345ft
(410m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
4ft
(1m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
4ft
(1m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Ryan Lake Sunday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
12:19p.m.
End Time:
12:44p.m.
Duration:
0h25m
Distance:
1.49 km
(0.93 mi)
Average Speed:
3.6 km/hr
(2.2 mph)
Start Elevation:
1350ft
(412m)
*
Max Elevation:
1365ft
(416m)
*
Min Elevation:
1350ft
(412m)
*
End Elevation:
1365ft
(416m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
6ft
(2m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
1ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Portage Ryan to Shirley L
(Track color: )
Start Time:
12:44p.m.
End Time:
12:56p.m.
Duration:
0h12m
Distance:
0.57 km
(0.35 mi)
Average Speed:
2.8 km/hr
(1.8 mph)
Start Elevation:
1364ft
(416m)
*
Max Elevation:
1373ft
(419m)
*
Min Elevation:
1333ft
(406m)
*
End Elevation:
1333ft
(406m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
28ft
(9m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Shirley Lake Sunday
(Track color: )
Start Time:
1:48p.m.
End Time:
2:00p.m.
Duration:
0h12m
Distance:
1.1 km
(0.68 mi)
Average Speed:
5.5 km/hr
(3.4 mph)
Start Elevation:
1327ft
(404m)
*
Max Elevation:
1327ft
(404m)
*
Min Elevation:
1284ft
(391m)
*
End Elevation:
1284ft
(391m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
2ft
(1m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
6ft
(2m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Portage Shirley-Crotch
(Track color: )
Start Time:
2:01p.m.
End Time:
2:16p.m.
Duration:
0h14m
Distance:
0.98 km
(0.61 mi)
Average Speed:
4.2 km/hr
(2.6 mph)
Start Elevation:
1299ft
(396m)
*
Max Elevation:
1319ft
(402m)
*
Min Elevation:
1244ft
(379m)
*
End Elevation:
1244ft
(379m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
2ft
(1m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
47ft
(14m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Crotch Lake back to Shall Lake access pt
(Track color: )
Start Time:
2:23p.m.
End Time:
2:53p.m.
Duration:
0h30m
Distance:
2.44 km
(1.52 mi)
Average Speed:
4.9 km/hr
(3.0 mph)
Start Elevation:
1240ft
(378m)
*
Max Elevation:
1266ft
(386m)
*
Min Elevation:
1239ft
(378m)
*
End Elevation:
1266ft
(386m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
21ft
(6m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
0ft
(0m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Start-to-finish-and-back, McKaskill Lake from Shall Lk
Distance:
25.57 km
(15.89 mi)
Average Speed:
0.6 km/hr
(0.3 mph)
Time:
45h58m
Start Elevation:
1226ft
(374m)
*
Max Elevation:
1487ft
(453m)
*
Min Elevation:
1191ft
(363m)
*
End Elevation:
1266ft
(386m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
684ft
(208m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
653ft
(199m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
