Quetico Portage 5683

This describes the portage from an Un-named lake into Grey lake located along the chain connecting Shade and Grey lakes. As described in the other write-ups, there are apparently two portage trails out of the un-named lake that lead up to an odd intersection midway along the portage. If you are not careful at the intersection and take the easier path presented you will find yourself back at the Un-named lake between Grey and Shade lakes. The intersection occurs just before a very difficult boggy crossing across an old beaver meadow. You must go across the swamp section in order to get to Grey lake. If you try to bypass the swamp by taking the other fork in the path it just leads back down to where you started. Numerous logs and debris have been placed along this 50 yard swamp to help with footing with varying degrees of success. Take your gear one piece at a time across this section. A person could get in serious trouble if they fell in while carrying a gear pack and canoe simultaneously across this mess. The group in front of us lost a shoe and never did find it. Once you get through the swamp, the rest of the rocky portage is not bad as it descends to Grey lake.

Coming from the unknown lake side to Grey... two choices for landings on the unknown lake side that meet halfway just before the marsh. Conditions were dry so the marsh wasn't horrid but you can expect to sink at least to your knees. From the junction, there is a single trail to Grey. If you are coming from the Grey side, when you get to the junction, it is easy for your party to get separated if individuals take separate paths.

This is a difficult and long portage through a swamp. The beginning and ending portions are elevated and straightforward, but the center portion is through a swamp. The Adventure Map (Chrismar mapping services) shows this as a 720 meter (138 rod) portage. The Mackenzie maps show this as a single 128 rod portage. Paddleplanner shows this as 2 portages divided by a swamp. The Fisher maps show the first portage leg of 100 rods into a swamp and then... no way out. However it may change - and contrary to the Fisher map there is a way out - this year it was a single portage with a very (waist) deep swamp in the middle. There are well intentioned cut logs to aid with footing, but these have rotted and high water levels make them less than stable. In years of high water like 2018 this will be a challenging portage.