Woodland Caribou PP - July Loop out of Leano Lake

[Sweetfancymoses]

After we had to cancel last year’s trip over the widespread wildfires, we returned this year for a 4 day / 4 night trip to Woodland Caribou Provincial Park for a loop out of Leano Lake, which we hoped would minimize the time spent in burned areas.

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Easier said than done. The 62 mile loop took us through Bunny, Jake, Mexican Hat, Hanson, Wrist, Aegean, and Paull Lakes. The portages were short and for the most part not too strenuous. The burned areas were stark with their charred trees and bare rock. They were loaded with blueberries, red raspberries, and red currants in their prime and many handfuls made it down our gullets.

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The first day was cut short by a thunderstorm that announced itself with distant thunder. We pulled into a little used and brushy campsite and hung the tarp. By the time the storm had moved past, we decided to call it a day and make camp for the night. The second day took us to Mexican Hat Lake where we camped by the cascade at the east end. This was the only well-worn campsite we saw.

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Wrist Lake was a little choppy and we made camp on the big island in the north-central part of the lake. The trees by the massive fire pit with the great view had died, I assume killed by bark beetles during a drought. We retreated to the shade of the woods and relaxed in our hammocks in the afternoon heat. The wind did not die down overnight. When we left in the morning, the waves were up. Good thing the lakes aren’t any bigger than they are.

We paddled through the maze that is Aegean Lake and into Paull Lake.

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We only came across 4 groups, two of them on the entry point lake. Not bad for the height of the paddling season.

We seemed to follow a green canoe judging from the skid marks on the rocks. He/she/they left red onionskins in their wake at every turn. Green Lantern, if you are reading this, what’s the deal with the onions?

No sightings of charismatic megafauna in the park. We did see a bear stalking the lunch bucket of a flagger who was working at a road construction site on the way up. That candy bar must have smelled irresistible.


A word about Longlegged Road: You can’t be in a hurry on this one. Plenty of potholes, gullies, exposed rocks, mud, and flooding have a way of slowing you down. 2-1/2 hours seem to be about the right amount of time to schedule for.


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[Jim Dodd]

It would seem depressing to see all those burnt trees. But visibility increased on the positive side !

Jim

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

Jim, yes, it is. You'd have to be a fire ecologist to find it attractive. Pretty bad to camp in to, no shade, hazard trees, and blackening of your kit.

 

[Alan Gage]

Jim, yes, it is. You'd have to be a fire ecologist to find it attractive. Pretty bad to camp in to, no shade, hazard trees, and blackening of your kit.

I never really minded traveling through a burnt area. It's a different look and it's nice to see farther. Rock formations, bones, antlers, and old remnants are easily spotted. Plus you might get to see a black backed woodpecker. It might not always be real attractive but it's part of the ecology. I like seeing the regenerating species that immediately begin to take advantage.

But that's just traveling through a small area. Wouldn't want to camp in one and it's more enjoyable on a cool overcast day than it is on a sunny 90 degree day.

I actually find the burned over areas to be much uglier and more aggravating 15-20 years later when regeneration of young trees is in full force and the old logs are still strewn all over the place, sometimes making a nearly impenetrable barrier.

I found it interesting that in the late 1930's PG Downes was traveling up around Reindeer Lake and lamented the many fires that were raging in the area, apparently more than normal. When I was in that area nearly 90 years had passed and I realized that those same areas that to him were lost forever had for me fully recovered. In fact there were many areas where I would cut a dead 3" black spruce and the growth rings indicated it was around 75 years old.

Looks like you had a great trip. Nice scenery and berries! Always a fun bonus.

Alan

 

[PaddlingPitt]

We had a fire on our property a few years ago, and the Black-backed woodpeckers moved in. They need fire to kill the spruce, which brings bugs that they prefer. Most importantly, they feed by flaking the bark off, rather than drilling holes. They require dead trees. Fires are natural in the boreal forest. Some ecologists refer to them as the “Fire of Life.”

 

[Robin]

I did that same loop 9 years ago solo but I added some side trips and spent 2 weeks in the park. Saw 2 other canoes (mid August), one older old guy and a young couple. The old guy paddled his canoe from the stern seat solo like lowangle Al likes to do. Saw no recent fire damage but saw new growth about 6 feet high near North Agean (by the cave).

I was wind bound on Wrist for 2 1/2 days, big wind storm.

I never experienced such quiet as I did at times there. Probably my favorite trip ever but Marshall Lake ranks right up there for me too.

Thanks for sharing your trip, brought back great memories.

 

[Sweetfancymoses]

I never experienced such quiet as I did at times there.

Yes, when the wind wasn't blowing my ears were humming for lack of stimulation.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Jackpines can't reproduce without fire as the cones depend on that to open.
It can be brutally hot which is why I do take a tight weave cotton shirt that I can get wet! And boy can you burn.. The sun is more directly overhead.
Like others I found the area incredibly silent
Except for my digestive system Yes you could hear it! Sounded like a bear!