Oh dang -decided we're going to double portage on this trip!

I'm both excited and dreading it.

Last time we single portaged, but decided we'd make one pack (my new Frost River pack) our dedicated food pack with toiletries etc - the whole bag will get hung at night.

I will NOT pop this bag on the front of me as I feel that is downright dangerous.

Any tips for double portaging?

I am training for Grandma's Half marathon and Ely marathon (anyone else doing Ely Marathon in September?) - so I'm just going to chalk it up as marathon training -and maybe run with my food pack.... ;-)

Other than taking extra time, I actually envious to double portage. I make sure to have my camera handy for the trip back. It's the best trip to actually look and enjoy the sights of the portage. Usually if I'm carrying a pack I am concentrating on my footing, that I miss much of the beauty.

I say go with it and enjoy the peace and quiet. Take a couple of pictures and take in the sights.

Just remember to put your packs and canoes out of the way of others that are portaging.

Have fun.

+1 to dprochef. lindsay, you take wonderful photos and this is the perfect opportunity to do that plus let your daughter really explore the things closer to the forest floor.

we usually takes packs, paddles and pfd's across first (or just wear the pfd) and then go back for the canoe and other pack. when you cross back over you can set the canoe right on the water and load it while it's floating!

So many advantages to double portaging; photo ops, a chance to stretch the legs and get the kinks out from paddling, and just sight seeing. I also agree packs over first, canoe second. It can give you a good idea of the conditions so when carrying the canoe you are prepared for any of those tough spots.

+3 to all of the above! What's the hurry?

quote Magic: "+3 to all of the above! What's the hurry? "

First trip when I was forced to double portage I was a little aggravated thinking about the extra "Work." But that leisurely trip back for the second load, I've been treated to so many nice walks in the woods and wildlife sightings. I enjoy the more leisurely portage now.

We always double portage. No need to rush - and I've added a few luxury items over the years. I'd rather have my camp chair, canoe seat back, and other extras. It's really not that much effort!

I have always doubled. Like everyone else, I enjoy the trip back without a load.

No tips, just enjoy.

We do 5-6 trips on one portage... some day we will be back to just 2

quote BigTim: "We always double portage. No need to rush - and I've added a few luxury items over the years. I'd rather have my camp chair, canoe seat back, and other extras. It's really not that much effort!"

Agree, plus its safer. At work I felt like a pack mule some of the time. Sure didn't want to do the same thing on canoe trips.

I think of all the things I have seen that I would not have if I had single portaged.

And then there are the potty breaks, the eating, the trail clearing, .... or simply walking without a load.

Like others I'm happy double portaging and enjoy the walk back. I don't think of myself in a hurry, but I am pretty organized and always have a system for unloading and reloading. Sometimes I think groups at a portage are slowed as much by chaos as distance.

If you find your loads are a bit unbalanced you could try leapfrogging, especially on longer portages or toward the end of the trip when the food is mostly gone. This works well if you can organize into three loads with two people carrying. Each person then essentially does one and a half portages.

we just always bring too much junk and good food. Have always double portaged and at age 65 will continue to do so. If the portage is not too dicey I have had a pack in front and back and just take my time. If I get nervous I will leave it and come back for it.

dr bob

Every style of portaging has its pros and cons. Just because someone choses to single portage doesn't mean they are in a rush or hurry. I have singled portaged, double portage and relay portaged. Someone said they think about what they might have missed single portaging. Likewise, you can also miss things by double portaging. To me it is about where you would rather spend your time. You can spend it covering the same ground a few extra times and enjoying that or getting to see a couple extra lakes that day, getting to a prime campsite sooner, or having extra time to fish. One doesn't have to be better than another.

When double portaging, I usually like carrying the canoe least, so do that first and save the pack for the second trip.

quote Jaywalker: "If you find your loads are a bit unbalanced you could try leapfrogging, especially on longer portages or toward the end of the trip when the food is mostly gone. This works well if you can organize into three loads with two people carrying. Each person then essentially does one and a half portages. "

Problem with the leap frog approach is that you have to be fairly familiar with the portage in order to know where the halfway point is or you can end up really over or under shooting it. Not that it should be a big deal, but if someone is having a bad day or if something else is going on then it could cause unnecessary tension from either unbalanced work load or having to wait on the other person.

I like to grab a 4th bag that is smaller to use as a daytrip pack. You can load half the food or camp supplies in there to balance trips and then use it to counter balance the food bag at night. Then one of the trips is easy since the packs are split in half.

I like how someone else put it... "Don't think of it as an extra trip across, think of it as part of the experience, a leisurely hike in the woods." Do you ever hear hikers say that the trail had so much water on it that they had to use a canoe in places?

quote A1t2o: "

quote Jaywalker: "If you find your loads are a bit unbalanced you could try leapfrogging, especially on longer portages or toward the end of the trip when the food is mostly gone. This works well if you can organize into three loads with two people carrying. Each person then essentially does one and a half portages. "

Problem with the leap frog approach is that you have to be fairly familiar with the portage in order to know where the halfway point is or you can end up really over or under shooting it. Not that it should be a big deal, but if someone is having a bad day or if something else is going on then it could cause unnecessary tension from either unbalanced work load or having to wait on the other person.


I like to grab a 4th bag that is smaller to use as a daytrip pack. You can load half the food or camp supplies in there to balance trips and then use it to counter balance the food bag at night. Then one of the trips is easy since the packs are split in half."

I only leap frog the loooong portages...like the Long Portage from Rose to Rove (over 600 rods), and the portage from Missing Link to Tuscarora...I walk say, 20 minutes...put gear down..and walk back and bring the rest of the stuff to the stopping point...take a short snack break and repeat..

Thanks guys!

MiniMN will be carrying her own pack, MrMN will have his pack and the canoe, and I will run back for the 3rd pack.

Some will say its not fair for the "woman" to have to go back for the 3rd pack, but again - I decided to split my pack into two - and I am training for a half and a marathon - so like I said I'll chalk it up to more exercise and some alone time with God.

Day 1 we only have 4 portages. The entry portage is 40 rods, second portage is 60, third is 40 and fourth is 220. Then we'll stop on Shell for the night (or a few).

After that we plan to move to Lynx to get closer to Hustler without making the full move, and day trip to the surrounding lakes from there.

I'm sure we will take turns though. I'm not going to make little miss walk the portage more than once or I'll run out of Thin Mints to give her! ;-) (Anything over 200 rods and she gets Thin Mints!).

Never run on a portage.

Yes, enjoy that extra trip across the portage. Lots of stuff you don't see, especially on the trip with your canoe on your head.

quote FullGo: "Every style of portaging has its pros and cons. Just because someone choses to single portage doesn't mean they are in a rush or hurry. I have singled portaged, double portage and relay portaged. Someone said they think about what they might have missed single portaging. Likewise, you can also miss things by double portaging. To me it is about where you would rather spend your time. You can spend it covering the same ground a few extra times and enjoying that or getting to see a couple extra lakes that day, getting to a prime campsite sooner, or having extra time to fish. One doesn't have to be better than another.

When double portaging, I usually like carrying the canoe least, so do that first and save the pack for the second trip.

"

Very well said, one doesn't have to be better than the other. I doubled for years and it was fine. We always made it to where we were going. The more trips I made, the less I felt I needed to bring and soon I was single portageing. It doesn't mean I'm rushing though a trip, I just like to be efficient when traveling. Maximize time fishing with camp set and waiting for me.

The worst part of doubling is the extra time it takes. Other than that, just enjoy it. You are hiking in the woods.

we always fight over who gets to go back for the packs.. because the other person has to sit on the end with the kids and wait.. lol

Although our oldest is now almost 12, she goes back and picks up stuff and portages again

quote FullGo: "Every style of portaging has its pros and cons. Just because someone choses to single portage doesn't mean they are in a rush or hurry. I have singled portaged, double portage and relay portaged. Someone said they think about what they might have missed single portaging. Likewise, you can also miss things by double portaging. To me it is about where you would rather spend your time. You can spend it covering the same ground a few extra times and enjoying that or getting to see a couple extra lakes that day, getting to a prime campsite sooner, or having extra time to fish. One doesn't have to be better than another.

When double portaging, I usually like carrying the canoe least, so do that first and save the pack for the second trip.

"

Amen FullGo! I try to pack in a way that it is easy to single or double. I can change it up as conditions change. The advantage for me of at least preparing to single portage is weight and bulk. By reducing the weight, it makes singles possible and doubles a breeze. Many times I will start as a single portage, and shed some weight halfway making it a 1 1/2 portage.

I'll typically single portage anything under 100 rods - like most on here, when I double I enjoy the walk back through the woods.

I really need to try and double portage some time to take in the views of the portage trail a bit more. Last year I was so focused on completing the portage and watching my footing that I didn't notice the bear on the trail... I looked up surprised a bit which caused the canoe to hit the trail and that was enough to scare the bear away.

We have always double portaged. Too much fishing tackle and camp luxuries we won't go without to single portage. That said, my only absolute is not hand carrying things or hanging things of any real weight outside my pack. Either of these options really impairs balance, agility and safety on tough portages.

Have always double portaged but we base camp and eat very good so have some luxury items.
As someone else said DON'T RUN. just takes one slip and fall and your trip is over and you start all over training for your marathon next year.

Its a vacation so plan it in a way that makes it a vacation to you.

Now that I bring my 5 and 9 year old boys we have moved form single to double portages.

Still prefer single portaging but just resign yourself to it and enjoy it. Every style has it advantages and disadvantages, concentrate on the positives others have outlined already.

T

I really didn't care for the double portage. Soon a 220 rod turned into a 660 rod (over 2 miles)...

Canoearoo - I can't imagine 5-6 trips! You guys are hearty!

We all survived though, and were exhausted at the end of each moving day. The first day we went from the LIS EP to Lynx, and collapsed on our campsite 7 hours later. (we're slow I guess)....

I did NOT run on the portages - all y'all be rest assured!

The walks back with NO pack like you all said was very pleasant, and actually enjoyable.

I have always double portaged. There have been trips with young ones that I will do 3 trips.

My goal is to always help others at portages and help them carry a bag back across if the timing is right.

I never pick up another's bag or gear without permission.

We double portage. We've double portaged the Angleworm entry point twice. We are a little sick maybe, but once you do that all the 200 and under seem like a cakewalk.

The last trip up when we were loading our boats (we go solo) and i threw on my PFD my buddy let out a couple expletives. And said his was back in the pickup. He ended up meeting us on Gull ;).

I don't ever plan on single portaging anymore with the way you trip. You may end up liking it too.

Returned a week ago from Quetico, also running Grandmas half. We have always had to double portage. The combination of padding and portaging is great cross training! Felt better about the half when I got back than I did before leaving. Good luck with the run.

Double portage? Great! What an opportunity to get some extra photos, bird watch, look for animal sign/tracks, explore a rapids or waterfall, just sit and enjoy a quiet woods, or has been mentioned - help others. I've never dreaded double portaging.

[quote]When double portaging, I usually like carrying the canoe least, so do that first and save the pack for the second trip.[/quote]

For me the canoe always goes last. Much easier to find and follow the portage trail without a canoe on my head. If the trail needs to be cleared I can usually get by with the pack on and then clear it on the return trip with a saw. By the time I get to the canoe I've got a clear trail and a pretty good idea where I have to turn and where to watch out for tricky footing. But that doesn't mean I still don't find myself wondering where the heck the trail went now and again.

Alan