BWCA Portage 686 (Round to Missing Link)

Missing Link to Round: Decently challenging portage (especially immediately after the long Tusc/ML portage). Nice trail to start, but turn it gets rocky. Great little cascading creek on the last bit.

Decent climb out of Round. It was a bit muddy here and there. footing was a problem at times. (6 out of 10)

Heading into Round, this wasn't as bad as the previous portage, but it still has its challenges. The first half was pretty straight-forward, but then there was the muddy boulder-fields to negotiate on the second half. We did hit this after 3.12" of rain, so the mud was likely at its worst for us. The elevation isn't an issue going this way, and coming after the Missing Link-Tusc portage, it is bound to feel easier.

Good landing from Round. Portage starts out hilly, rocky and wet with water trickling down the rocks and along side the portage. Levels out about 2/3 of the the way in. Landing on Mink is good, but shallow.

Muddy and rocky. There is a climb from Round, but it is gradual...a good warm up for the Tusc portage. 3/5

This one probably gets overlooked a bit, but it's a fairly tough trail. The climb out of Round Lake isn't steep but, it is a long gradual gradient with high potential for wet, slippery footing.