This last week I ran into a cluster between Wagosh and Gun and was wondering how others would handle it? On the portage at the same time were one group of four canoes heading north and one group of four canoes, two groups of two canoes and our single canoe heading south. What a mess, eventually the Gun landing had nine canoes and 21 people all trying to get in the water at once. Nobody was angry and the mood was pretty calm but it just wasn't right.

We tried to wait our turn but everyone was moving in so we did too. There was a couple nice guys heading for Moosecamp who helped me get my canoe over a log in thigh deep water and we got out of there.

I've run into similar issues from time to time. Last year when heading down to Caribou on a day trip from Poplar the first portage on poplar had a pretty good traffic jam. Mostly this jam was created by one inconsiderate and highly confused group coming up from Caribou. It was a group of 3 canoes and 8 people. It was a group of a couple adults and what looked like high school kids. They tossed their packs anywhere and had their canoes laying across the portage and across the two viable landing spots.

Then another canoe of two people came up behind them fighting to get through.

I waited off shore trying to give them time to get their act together. The group of two managed to fight their way through an get onto Poplar but the large group remained still blocking most of the portage.

I got close enough to check out what was going on and as I got closer I saw them pouring over a map trying to determine where the next portage was. When I heard that I decided to just push on up and fight my way through. I wasn't sure if I should have told them that there are no more portages and that they had exited the BWCA half way down the lake behind them. I left them to figure it out for themselves as I am a beliver in learning through mistakes. Of course it was 10am in the morning on a sunny day with no wind so they weren't going to suffer to much from their lack of map reading skills.

So to answer the question I usually wait my turn at traffic jams and encourage others to do so as well. Jamming the landing with more people and canoes just slows everyone down and increases the risk of mixed up packs. But if I run into people like on Poplar again I'll just skirt my way around them the best I can while chuckling to myself.

solution? its called Quetico.

quote kanoes: "solution? its called Quetico."

+1 or even farther north.

I live in SE Wisconsin which has become too crowded for me. The last thing I want to deal with in the bush is a lot in people, inconsiderate or otherwise.

You usually don't deal with the people like this that block portages and traffic jams when you move into the interior and have a couple days of portaging to get in and out. I usually go in for 12 days and still dread the first and last days. It use to be by going in early or late you could avoid this problem but last year in very late September we were heading out through Snowbank and started seeing people by Jordan and were amazed to get I think the only remaining site on Disappointment where one site after another were taken. The crowds and inexperienced groups are all near the access points usually.

quote kanoes: "solution? its called Quetico."

Shhh Jan....leave 'em where they are...

You mean like this?

quote OneMatch: "You mean like this?"

That's classic!

quote jhb8426: "

quote OneMatch: "You mean like this?"

That's classic!"

That's funny every time I see it! I've seen those two goofballs before...

Yes that happens all the time, I bet daily on the number chain. The problem comes when there is large groups of 8 on each side of the portage. Then some Einstein group decides to join in on the fun because they are only 2 and think they should go ahead.

Sounds like some of the traffic jams I've witnessed at Prairie Portage when everybody forgets their manners.

If only they'd watched the video.....sigh.

quote : "

quote kanoes: "solution? its called Quetico."

Shhh Jan....leave 'em where they are..."

Yep... move along... Nothing to see here. The park is all fished out anyway.

Not quite the same but...Last year Andy and I were heading in to WCPP and there was one group of 4 women traveling in with us. It sure seemed like a traffic jam at the first couple portages. We decided to let the gals go on ahead...

Another reason that I stay north of the border during tourist season. However, whenever we have been in these situations, good manners and words of encouragement are the routine...then we leave them in the dust!

Those are situations where I feel an obligation to calmly but firmly help sort out the mess. People usually respond well to an inquiry and gentle directions. Does not always work so in that case I often ask which pack they would like me to carry for them.
If that doesn't help I stand back and fume.

I've experienced it more the last few years. I find if I keep my wit's about me it is just a temporary set back. If I let it bother me it ruins a portion of my trip. Not a fan of big groups out there. What does bother me is two or more groups of eight or nine traveling together. I saw three groups that where traveling together. 27 people in all. They were loud. Seems some local schools and organizations don't have to follow the rules.

Early or late season, hardly any crowds.

I've been fortunate enough to never have that happen. It may help that on travel days I'm usually on the water at 1st light and usually done moving and at a campsite before noon. Maybe I'm just lucky! When I have met groups on portages they've always been very considerate. On my daddy/daughter trips when I've come across the portage with our 2nd load I've had a couple different groups floating in the water waiting for us because they saw our stuff from the 1st trip across sitting off to the side.

I will say that on one trip I did see a lot of what people are talking about in this thread though. On one trip my daughter and I were camped at the site on Caribou straight across the lake from the portage to Lizz. We saw a lot of "what not to do" on a portage that day. Groups (and yes that's plural) would set down their canoes across the portage next to each other and parallel to the shoreline completely blocking the portage and then stand around for 15 to 30 minutes. Then other groups would come down the portage from the other direction and have to step over canoes with their packs and/or canoes on to get to the water. Even my 7 year old daughter was making comments to me about how rude those people were being and asking me why they were doing it. There was also a lot of dragging canoes from the water and across the rocks up the portage. I told Mike at Rockwood after the trip that he could have made a good video for him to show customers on what "not to do".

One time we came on a group of Boy Scouts at a portage, way too many in a group, like the whole troop was traveling together. They were bringing in these five gallon collapsible water containers that had to be a nightmare to portage, and the one kid's dad was holding a gallon jug of water imploring his son to drink more water, you have to drink more water! I'll never forget the poor kid in that classic high pitched voice (think Vienna Boys Choir) insisting ' but I'm not thirsty!' I don't know if the parents thought they were going to die of dehydration in a morning of paddling and portaging, but it actually was quite humorous. After floating around for a bit watching the circus, we couldn't wait any longer so we weaved through the crowd and got on our way. That was my only trip in August and my only problem like that on a portage. I should also mention it was from Sawbill to Cherokee, a busy spot due to the campground and outfitter being at the put in. It was actually very funny and I bring it up now and then for a laugh.

Is it rude to just ask if you can play through if there is a group that is not very efficient at a portage?

Based on a tip here, when we portage, nothing hits the ground. We step out in knee deep water, help each other put on packs, I help the other guy grab paddles, ..., then I pick up the canoe and go. We have had others coming the opposite direction on occasion, but because we load up in the water, we must weave on by.

quote AndySG: "
If only they'd watched the video.....sigh."

Hahahahaha, I was thinking the same thing

Although I agree with heading north into Quetico for more solitude, there is still entry points that NEVER have this issue. It just takes homework and planning.

I think mid summer you sometimes get bigger groups and less experience groups in the BWCA. Be patient. Also mid summer my expectations before I leave are less than in the spring and fall when I hope to see hardly anybody.

quote jcavenagh: "Not quite the same but...Last year Andy and I were heading in to WCPP and there was one group of 4 women traveling in with us. It sure seemed like a traffic jam at the first couple portages. We decided to let the gals go on ahead..."

And Ritva would have torn us to pieces if we hadn't. ;-)

quote Chilly: "

quote AndySG: "
If only they'd watched the video.....sigh."

Hahahahaha, I was thinking the same thing"

The video.... I didn't mind the old one with a male narrator who was fairy stern and simple with the rules. The new (8 YO maybe) fluffy one with a female narrator is just plain ignorable.

Even worse, the second year in a row they didn't require me to watch the video during my permit pickup at the Kawishiwi station. I usually pickup at other stations, is this normal at Kawishiwi and are they violating their own policies?

Yeah, I probably need to get better at dealing with these sorts of situations, but they really irritate me. For me anyways, a little increase in perspective and wisdom would help, but at the time, I get really mad, especially if the people holding things up don't seem to care that they're causing a big backup.

I think next time I'll take the advice of a previous writer and offer to help carry some of the gear across the portage. It'd help move things along and get me busy. Plus, I need the exercise. :)

quote OneMatch: "You mean like this?


"

I laugh everytime I see this photo :-)

Its funny but I have never ran into a crowd or disrespectful tripper in May or October. I know that not everyone can go that early or late but when trippin in summer in the bwca sometimes it happens, just take a breath and muddle through.

I think they make you watch the video if they think you need it. If you seem to know what you are doing, I've had them not make us watch it.

And yes, we've "played through" less efficient groups. Often that can be done without creating a crowd.

As for traffic jams. I've only once seen one so bad that just waiting a bit wasn't going to solve the problem. That time, we were heading out through the numbers on a Sunday morning and we could have waited forever for the traffic flowing to the EP to clear. Things were well past the limits for congregating and so I just asked people to make room for a few of us to head the other direction. Everyone was in a good mood and quickly made room for us. Yeah, there were a lot of people but I enjoyed getting tips from multiple kids who were just finishing their first trip. Seeing their enthusiasm and happiness made a little hassle worth it.

By the end of the day we were on Insula and then further in and, overall, we had plenty of solitude.

quote andym: And yes, we've "played through" less efficient groups.."

"Playing through", I like that and may use it next time!.