Algonquinites:

How are the portages around Dickson? Specifically the 5300 m in, and the portages from Dickson to McKasskill?

Thanks!

Cheetah

The 5300 is everything you'd expect, and more.

Distance is never a good measure of "what are the portages like" question!
I find the Bonnefield - Dickson trek a walk in the park compared to
quite a few portages that are easily 1/3 or 1/2 the distance of the B-D
trail


The portage to Little Crooked is perhaps worth doing once
and then you'd never visit LittleCrooked again ( and it's not
because of the portage.. it was those black campsite triangles!! )


Raton Laveur
aka



*Rac n*

You can always take the cart path. I've done the D-B four times now but never did the cart path. Others say it is the way to go and I expect the next time I see the waters of Lavieille or Dickson it will be via the cart path. The portage is long and I would not hesitate to categorize it as difficult due solely to the length. There are minor elevation changes and roughly 700,000 rocks and roots along the way that require you to keep your attention focused at your feet for the majority of the hike.

If Dickson and the other lakes were "drive up" lakes they probably wouldn't look so beautiful and the food and liquor wouldn't taste so fine while you are there. The difficulty in getting there makes you savor your time on their blue waters.

PaPaddler

For anyone who is going there soon, the 5300m isn't so bad. The first 1/3 or so out of Bonfield is the most challenging, but the rest of it is not so challenging, other than the distance. It is not bad enough that we would ever think about taking the cart trail which is 2.5 km longer. In contrast, the 2355m portage out of McKaskill into Shrew is definately one of the worst in that area; in fact the gentleman at the park office told us we'd remember that one for some time, and I think we will.

My wife and I are going / hoping to write a trip review of our 4 night / 5 day loop (from this week) from Pt 17 to Booth, East Arm, Dickson and McKaskill.

Cheetah

Just did it last week. Its long but not particularily tough.
I took lots of pix. They are here:http://picasaweb.google.ca/freedom55/Algonquin2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCMOM5qmRmM28FQ&feat=directlink