I've been to Agnes Lake and Boulder bay from EP16.
I've been to Horse Lake and Lower Basswood Falls from Ep23.
I'd like to combine the two trips: go in at EP16, paddle up to Boulder bay, paddle across the top to LBF, paddle down the Horse River, leave out EP23.

How tough is this trip?

Now for the kicker: my group only wants to paddle every other day. So, is this itinerary feasible:
- Day 1. Enter EP16 and paddle to Boulder Bay
- Day 2. Rest
- Day 3. Paddle at least halfway to LBF
- Day 4. Rest
- Day 5. Paddle to LBF
- Day 6. Rest
- Day 7. Paddle from LBF to EP23

Being a little fresh on the paddling days helps... The only thing would be if you ran into wind on a traveling day. Be organized and get early starts and you should be fine.

how tough is this trip....what time of year? have you estimated mileage?

i made it to LBF from curtain in one day, with a lot of time to spare. crooked was nasty too, and the paddle south from wednesday bay was a workout...big south wind thru those little canyons, i never got a break.

quote Mad_Angler: "I've been to Agnes Lake and Boulder bay from EP16.
I've been to Horse Lake and Lower Basswood Falls from Ep23.
I'd like to combine the two trips: go in at EP16, paddle up to Boulder bay, paddle across the top to LBF, paddle down the Horse River, leave out EP23.

How tough is this trip?

Now for the kicker: my group only wants to paddle every other day. So, is this itinerary feasible:
- Day 1. Enter EP16 and paddle to Boulder Bay
- Day 2. Rest
- Day 3. Paddle at least halfway to LBF
- Day 4. Rest
- Day 5. Paddle to LBF
- Day 6. Rest
- Day 7. Paddle from LBF to EP23
"

That sounds like a great trip and is doable if everything goes as planed. If it were me I would let the group know that you may be paddling on one of your intended rest days, if weather and attitude do not corporate. Those are long days of paddling with some tuff portages, so plan to be flexible. If things are going wrong at the beginning of your trip you can cut south in Friday bay and shave a day or two, though you will miss some pretty cool stuff.

I have done this trip as well. I think it is doable but I agree with the posts about wind. You will be on some big lakes and if things go the usual the wind will be at your back (West to East). However should it turn and come from the East or NE and really pick up you could be struggling to make it with the all the layover days.
Lots of great stuff to see on that trip. Falls, table rock Pictos etc. Some great fishing as well on Iron and the Week day bays.
The last time we went we took 7 days and had two layover days. We did a lot of fishing and sight seeing. We also had perfect weather and were never wind bound.

quote Georgiaboy: "I have done this trip as well. I think it is doable but I agree with the posts about wind. You will be on some big lakes and if things go the usual the wind will be at your back (West to East). However should it turn and come from the East or NE and really pick up you could be struggling to make it with the all the layover days.
Lots of great stuff to see on that trip. Falls, table rock Pictos etc. Some great fishing as well on Iron and the Week day bays.
The last time we went we took 7 days and had two layover days. We did a lot of fishing and sight seeing. We also had perfect weather and were never wind bound."

Same here. It seems like Friday Bay (or maybe Saturday) was halfway from Boulder Bay to LBF. I mostly depends on wind direction. I'd keep a close eye on the forecast and adjust to keep wind at my back. One year it steady breezed out of the ESE for two days. Plan carefully....Crooked can be a long haul. Adjust to forecast and decide night before. Take nothing on "agenda -vs- weather" for granted. As lomg as the wind is at your back....just keep on moving (maybe) and let the weather pick your layover days. IMO, from Bottle P. to LBF is very doable in a good day (and we're fat smokers in fifties), but if the weather/WIND doesn't co-operate it may take 2. A good bow paddler sure helps in the wind too. Beautiful loop!

its a long run from mudro to moose. hitchhiking on the echo trail can also be fairly slow.

quote jwartman59: "its a long run from mudro to moose. hitchhiking on the echo trail can also be fairly slow."

I can attest to the fact that hitchhiking can be fairly slow on the Echo Trail, especially way out there between #16 and #14, late afternoon, late Sept - there's not much traffic out there and...it's all going the other way ;).

quote jwartman59: "its a long run from mudro to moose. hitchhiking on the echo trail can also be fairly slow."

I figured that we would have our outfitter take us out to EP16 and pick us up at EP23.

quote Mad_Angler: "

quote jwartman59: "its a long run from mudro to moose. hitchhiking on the echo trail can also be fairly slow."

I figured that we would have our outfitter take us out to EP16 and pick us up at EP23."

Yeah, we know - just kidding. I'd probably just drop my car at 23 and not have to worry about timing for the pick-up, but that's just me. Been a while since I looked at it, but the shuttle to 16 was some $ due to the distance and time.