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Ottertooth Forums * Temagami canoe routes & backcountry travel * Archive through July 27, 2010 * East or West - which direction is easiest? < Previous Next >

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yellowcanoe
Member

Post Number: 57
Registered: 01-2010


Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 12:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post

Folks,

Any opinions as to whether it's better (easier) to travel West to East (moving upstream on the Sturgeon through swifts, etc.) or moving East to West (climbing Misibi)?

The route.

Night 1: Dougherty
Night 2: Stouffer
Night 3: Mudding
Night 4: Kettle
Night 5: Sturgeon
Night 6: Selkirk
Night 7,8: Solace
Night 9: Pilgrim
Night 10: Bluesucker
Nights 11,12: Florence
Night 13: Ames
Night 14: Ames through Lewbert portage to Beaver
Night 15, 16: Chapin
Night 17: Hortense
Night 18: Wakimika
Night 19: Shish-Kong
Night 20: Obabika

I leave this Saturday, but still can’t decide which direction is easiest. Key thing to keep in mind is that I bringing a teen and a 8 year old. I’m carrying the bulk of everything.

Paul
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fireman
Member

Post Number: 83
Registered: 08-2009
Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 1:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post

good luck, great route. Ames may be problematic but you will get through it somehow. worse case, portage down the east side if need be, it is not a long way.
go west east, if only for the 1,600 onto Naismith from Chapin.
You have lots of time, dougherty to stouffer is a two hour paddle at most.good luck
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brian
Moderator

Post Number: 1205
Registered: 02-2004


Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 3:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post

The portage into Lewbert is a tough climb from Ames. Look at the contours on the topo. Make sure you have a strong crew. Better to do in the other direction.
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yellowcanoe
Member

Post Number: 58
Registered: 01-2010


Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 4:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post

Thanks brian and fireman - the 13-year old and I are pretty strong. Noticed the contours around Lewbert. fireman, not sure what you mean by portaging down the east side if need be ... are you suggesting that I portage down to Pine? ... can you elaborate please?
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alscool
Moderator

Post Number: 250
Registered: 02-2004


Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 4:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post

As the dry season approaches, Skooztawgan on Ames will be a canoe sucking mud hole, be prepared to portage the complete length of this mud flat.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/photo.php?pid=3992348&id=646958813
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otter_mel
Member

Post Number: 148
Registered: 03-2004


Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 7:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post

Why not go straight down Ames and then over into Pinetorch and then back down Nasmith to Hortense. Also, I'd camp on Obabika not Shish-Kong (day trip is sufficient)
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fireman
Member

Post Number: 84
Registered: 08-2009
Posted on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 - 11:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post

I was referring to what alscool said, as well.
Skootawgan is a big mud pit. You may need to stay tight to the side to make it down the length of it. the east side is where the portage comes out,coming from the north.
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yellowcanoe
Member

Post Number: 59
Registered: 01-2010


Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 2:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post

Thanks all.

Otter_mel - that's what I intend to do... from Chapin take Nasmith to Dorthy/Hortense.

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curly
Member

Post Number: 224
Registered: 03-2006


Posted on Thursday, June 3, 2010 - 4:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post

Fireman,
When we were through the Florence-Skooztawgan portage last month, I found that the portage forks at the south end into Skooztawgan. The eastern branch has a nasty blowdown, so take the western. If the blowdown is cut out, it's a wash either way. The Ottertooth map shows this Y and is correct. The map in Hap's book only shows the eastern fork.

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