Cache Bay loop to Prairie Portage

[mdeljb]

Am considering a loop that starts in Cache Bay (Saganaga), goes north through the falls chain, north thru Kawnipi to Shelley L., then south back thru Kahshahpiwi and down to Prairie Portage then out at Moose Lake. I am wondering if anyone has done this and if so, how many nights did it take. I am figuring at least 9 or 10 nights. I have checked with a couple of outfitters about transportation from Ely to a tow into Cache Bay. (about $250). I am just curious if my time allotment for travel is in the realm of reality.
Thanks for any input.

[qp]

I've been on all of that area a few different times in connecting trips.
This trip would take me about 7 to 8 days. But remember water and weather conditions can change this.
First I'll lay out a general plan I would take not allowing any other event such as fishing and things to see.
Day 1 Cache Bay to Saganagons
Day 2 Saganagons to McEwen
Day 3 McEwen to Kawnipi northwest end near Montgomery
Day 4 Kawnipi, Montgomey, Shelley to Cairn
Day 5 Cairn to Kahshahpiwi "McNeice Area"
Day 6 McNiece to North Bay "Basswood"
Day 7 North Bay to Prairie Portage

Add in layover days I would suggest.
Kawnipi for fishing.
Montgomery for bush whack to Indian Paintings.
Kahshahpiwi for sightseeing and fishing.
North Bay for wind.

So you are planning your timeline about right. I moved you into a couple areas you did not mention as I think they warrent a visit if you have time. McEwen offers a fantastic "one of the best in the Q" campsite "Hilton Hotel" and the fishing on Mc Ewen and Kenny Lakes are pretty decent.
Starting out on your trip on Cache Bay you may have windy conditions to deal with. I suggest you try to check in at the Rangers Cabin as early as possible, Cache Bay can be a very tough paddle. But, you can always use the wind and head up into the bay towards the paintings. Protected from the usual southwest winds. Visit the paintings then there is a very short portage "3 or 4 rods" which will put you on Cache Bay's west side, protecting you from most of the wind to Silver Falls.
Above Silver Falls in the canyon area is the location of an Indian battle fought between the Cree and Objiwa. I beleive the paintings "Cache Bay" reflect something about the nature of this battle from what I've read over the years.
Saganagons is a long paddle could as well be wind issues.
Fishing below the Falls to Kawnipi is usually good.
Kawnipi Lake fishing is really good just about anywhere. A visit to the on Indian Village might be worth the trip, never been up in that bay myself though.
Montgomery Lake Paintings and the lake itself are worth the detour. The portage from Kawnipi to Montgomery then to Shelly I did last Sept. Beautiful area fewer people usually on this route. There are a couple campsites in this area IM me for the details.
The Kahshahpwi Creek Portages are not hard but rocky.
Cairn and Sark Lakes have some really nice campsites, up off the water with a view.
Kahshahpiwi Lake has the tower, old site of the once Rangers Cabin, recent burn on the east shore makes for interesting sight seeing, and paintings on the south end. I would avoid the south portage heading out. The beaver dam broke there a couple years ago and it is a very mucky portage now. I will mention the Wilderness Passages CD Volume 2 has several details on Kahshahpiwi Lake. I also have a 3 hour DVD of a day by day of the Sept Trip. Videos of all the portages. That trip was PP to Kahshahpiwi, Trant, Hurlburt, Kawnipi, Montgomery, Poets Chain, McDougall, Cutty, Sark, Kahshahpiwi, McNiece to North Bay and out at PP.
McNiece burnt pretty good a couple years ago on the north shore and towards Walsh Lake. But McNiece still has several of the biggest pine trees in Quetico "Un logged area".
Heading out to Trant there are more Indian paintings. Fairly good paintings too.
Once you get to North Bay from the South Lake channel you'll find several campsites on the islands there. They are there for good reason the afternoon winds on North Bay can hold you up till morning. If it can be crossed, I would head on to Burke Lake for the last night camp. Singing Brook is a nice site as is the southern island.
Bayley Bay can actually get rougher than North Bay get across it early if you can.
Drop me an IM if you like I'm sure I can offer much more info.

qp

[mdeljb]

Great information. I am going out of town for a few days but would like to re-connect. I have not digested all that you told me yet, but plan to study your comments. Another idea by the way is to go out of Prairie Port and go up through Lousia and hit Glacier then McEwen to Kawmipi and on around as planned. We would miss Cache Bay and pick up the other route at about the mid point of the falls chain. It seems that this might add a day or two to the trip but Glacier has appeal from reading about it (Sigurd Olson).
Again thanks for your reply. I will email to you later.