pknoerr wrote:
I've done two trips in that area. The first was the Upper Missinaibi from Hawk Junction to Mattice. It's around 13 days. You could take out at Peterbell, that's about 5-6 days according to my memory, along with catching the CN from Peterbell to Sudbury and a bit of a car shuttle from Sudbury back to Hawk Junction. Here's a trip report
http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=35630Here's another option. We did a loop trip via the Budd Car from the village of Missinaibie into Bolkow Lake and down the Little Missinaibi to Missinaibi Lake and back to the village of Missinaibi. I think that was 6 days. You could start from Hawk River and add on the Dog Lake and Manitowik lake segments in the Michipicoten drainage, stop at Missinaibie and catch the train. This adds logistic issues and a couple days or lake paddling. Little Missinaibie is a worthwhile visit to see the pictographs, plus you might get a chance to visit Fairy Point on Missinaibi Lake if the wind is down. Here is that trip report as well.
http://www.myccr.com/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=108&t=36105PK
Awesome, thanks for the suggestions. I've actually been looking into starting up north and ending in Hawk...I'll post the specifics tomorrow since I left the maps i printed at work, but i think it's a do-able route. Takes us via several lakes including Dog, and it seems theres tributaries and things that will take us all the way into Hawk.
chicopeesnowshoe wrote:
If you decide to do a river, the Goulais might interest you. In the upper part it winds around a bit, like all of them seem to. There really is not a high level of challenge, but you often have to watch the current in many places, especially if you do it earlier in the year. There is a waterfall not far from Searchmont that could surprise you. It's quite a drop. That's the only real portage . There are a couple of lift-overs. Campsites are fairly frequent, and they're free. You could take 4-5 days for the trip all the way to Superior from Ranger Lake.
The Sand starts at the railway to the east of Hawk Junction. Ther are 26 portages, and if the wtaer is down , you'll have to walk the bulk of them. I found the Goulais much more enjoyable.
The Goulais is a great option it seems; only concern is will it be wilderness enough- but with it being all of our first times, that may not be so terrible. As long as it's not a "constantly running into families along the way" type thing, i would think it would be suitable. What is your experience as far as that is concerned? Does the Goulais route offer at least somewhat of a wilderness feel?