How many remember portage signs? I do miss them. Did the forest service remove them? Anyone have any photos or remember any special portage sign?

starwatcher

I remember these on many portages, cool at the time, but I'm glad they are gone now.

They are still up in Superior National Forest that is outside the BW. I did a loop from Fenske Lake last year with the orange diamond denoting the portage:



Fenske - Bass Loop trip report

Portage signs, canoe rests were purposely removed by the FS. I prefer a wilderness trip without these...just use a map

Forgot about portage markers. I don't miss them at all.

I might vaguely remember them, they where removed when I was very young.
I seem to have this memory of the Sawbill Canoe Outfitters asking my dad to hang a small flag or handkerchief or something on one of the portages out of Sawbill Lake so others could find it the same summer they removed the portage signs.

quote starwatcher: "How many remember portage signs? I do miss them. Did the forest service remove them? Anyone have any photos or remember any special portage sign? starwatcher"

I can't say for sure if the Forest Service removed them. I remember something about the Forest Service saying that when the portage signs fall into disrepair they would no longer replace them.

Funny thing though, the next year after that proclamation most of the portage signs were gone. So I don't know if the Forest Service physically removed them or if BWCAW canoe-campers took them as souvenirs figuring the USFS wanted them gone anyway.

Hans Solo

The portage markers were removed long before I began tripping in the BWCA.

The vast majority of portages are easy to find with any of the maps. Some of the portages are mismarked on some maps but even they get you close so you can find them.

Some portages don't require a map to find. Just observe where the other canoes are travelling to or from.

The majority of my trips since 1999 have been in the central region of the BWCA, so I know that area pretty well. I still bring maps and GPS because I like to use and reference them. I rarely bring a compass to the BWCA simply because I don't view it as being a place I need one. We stick to the lakes and portages and don't do much hiking so a map is all you need to keep your bearings.

There have been a few areas where it took some looking to find the portage. One that comes to mind is Makwa Lake to Boulder lake through Hoe, Fee, Vee, and Ledge. It would be nice if some of those portages were marked, but if you use common sense, review your maps and keep calm, all portages can be found without the aid of markers.

Having said that, I wouldn't care if the markers, canoe rests, bear poles or even picnic tables were used again. For me these wouldn't detract from the expereience anymore than toilets and firegrates do.

Sylvania Wilderness Area, Ottawa NF, Upper Michigan. Found this rotting portage post marker in the woods near this portage. The USFS pulled the markers and apparently discarded this one in the woods when the area was designated a wilderness from a recreation area. At this same time small picnic tables were removed from all campsites. As I recall this happened in the late 1980's or early 1990's. I sawed off the rotting back side and it is a rec room decoration now.

I certainly remember them, but can't say that I have missed them much. The last time we saw one, I believe, was at the portage to Iron Lake on our 1985 trip. There is a photo in my trip report that shows it if you look closely.

From 1978, leaving Stuart River and heading back to the Echo Trail.
Sign text:
PORTAGE
ELY BUYCK ROAD
513 RODS

I wish they still had portage markers, but given many of the stories of vandalism and destruction in the BWCA, I imgaine it would be more work than they are worth.