Wow, that's a great video. I will always cheer for you in Korea I'm looking forward to a great video. Have a nice day.

“There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace. The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness and of a freedom almost forgotten. It is an antidote to insecurity, the open door to waterways of ages past and a way of life with profound and abiding satisfactions. When a man is part of his canoe, he is part of all that canoes have ever known.” -- Sigurd F. Olson

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Pat, if I had to choose a favorite Sigurd passage of all times, it would be the exact one you passed along. It was he who first introduced me to Quetico, as I just coincidentally grabbed one of his books off a library shelf down at Ft. Benning, GA, when I was in jump school there in the 80's. I remember it like it was yesterday, I felt such a connection to his love for the wilds, and then at some point I had to figure out what that strange place called Quetico was all about. . . So I wrote to the park, they sent a brochure and map, and I went up in '85 for the first time and have gone back every spring and fall since then. Thanks for sharing that, as well as all the good fishing info and advice that you've passed along over the years. Also, I'm really excited for you since you introduced your boy(s) to the sport of wilderness paddling last year. . . Finally, I can't wait until you have the time to make more of your own videos as you do an excellent job! It always amazes me how much you have going on, and how well you manage to do it all.

WOW, what a video and what an adventure. Great job, Thanks

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dave. Hope you get up there this year!

Along your route there were places I have been and places I am going this year. I really enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Ridgerunner: As I paddled that route, I could really feel the history of the area, all the thousands of Ojibwe warriors and families that occupied the area for generations, and then the trappers and traders who passed through with Montreal freighter canoes loaded with bundles of furs and trade goods. I get that nostalgic feeling much more along the border route than I do in the deep interior of Quetico, probably because the border was largely determined by the ease of passage along that corridor. Thanks for watching and for your kind remarks.

Crooked lake is my favorite… good memories has been made there. Awesome fishing 🙂

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

Me too, Dennis, since I can no longer get to my favorite Quetico Lake (Kawnipi). Crooked is very similar. If you have any favorite areas or specific memories to share, that would be appreciated by all. . .

AWESOME video of the journey!

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Spencer. I hope you get up there this year and enjoy this paradise.

Good video. Nice trip with a lot of paddling and not too much portaging. I have been to all those places with the exception that I have never been on iron lake. Curtain falls is awesome, and Thursday-Sunday Bay Area is one of my favorites.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. Hopefully, you'll get onto Iron (this video was my first time) as it is fed by Crooked and is full of fish and lots of nice campsites!

I came for video, I stayed for the new age music✌

Thanks for a nice video. I was able to do that route years ago, in both directions.

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

Brian: It's a great trip, glad you have been able to do it. Please share any specifics that would benefit the viewers as we all learn from each other. Hope you got back up there this year!

Thanks Mark - always a pleasure. I just gave a few of my fellow Quetico paddlers copies of The Singing Wilderness. Can't get enough of his stuff. Tight lines my brother!

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Pat, did you get up there this spring. I thought you said you were thinking the last week of May. Those were my original plans too, and due to a work conflict I had to push it back a week and wow did I get the perfect weather and hit the bass spawn spot on.

@reddysoft

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek I'm heading up May 2022 with my high school grad. Granted the borders are open. I have little interest in the BWCA after my last trip. Way too many canoes for my liking and having to stay in designated campsites really put a damper on our trip, as much as one can damper such a trip, anyway. 😄

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

@@reddysoft I'm hoping to get into Quetico too, but I have to tell you I'm losing hope as I observe what is happening up there with woresing restrictions.. The most crowded entry point, Prairie Portage, was actually closed when I came through in June. You should re-consider the BWCA-- this past trip was phenomenal. I hit the bass spawn right on, and due to the logistics of having the vehicle shuttled to Moose Lake, I was able to avoid the crowded areas and had terrific fishing all to myself. There are pockets of solitude out there, which I just discovered and will outline in the next video.

Solid journey, Mark! Well done! Been to Quetico/BW 1/2 a dozen times or so, did a 3 day solo while on a 21 day trip with my college professor/classmates from Northland College. Went on a nice trip with my Dad before he passed, and now I'm considering doing the same trip with my son next summer. Fingers crossed. Gettin' the itch now watching all sorts of vids. I'll keep watching and stay in touch, maybe you could advise me as I plan my journey. You do Sigurd Olson proud!

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Scott, thanks for watching and your nice note. First off, you are so fortunate to have been able to attend Northland College. Wasn't Sigurd an instructor there? Also, how great that you at least got to enjoy one trip with your Dad. . . I never did get to take my Dad on a canoe trip as I discovered Quetico too late but I spent my childhood fishing with him in the UP, so plenty of great memories. He is the one who facilitated and nurtured my love of the outdoors. I should also mention that I initially learned of Quetico after randomly picking up a copy of one of Sig's books. I wrote to the park, and I can still remember pouring over that map for months before I ever got there. At this point, I'm at about 80 trips, and every time I drive home from there I'm planning what I'm going to do better the next time. It never gets old. I think your next big thrill is going to be watching the look on your son's face during his first fishing experience in the park. Let me know how I can help and I would advise you to check out some of the videos that I posted in the past, as I usually mark good campsites and fishing holes. I prefer the Hunter Island area, but of course I've covered the entire park a few times over. Favorite trip was a one-month solo when I was in grad school, which started at Nym Lake and entailed a counter-clockwise circumnavigation along the perimeter of the park. There's great footage about that in a video called Music Video: Incredible Chance Encounter in the Quetico Wilderness--a amazing occurrence that for many years I told my friends about and I'm sure they thought I was exaggerating or just making it up. As you know, the most amazing things happen in the wilderness. Take care and hope you have a great trip!

Wow! Can REALLY tell how low the water was when you were making the trip from Bottle to Iron. We have come the other way a few times and where you started dragging the canoe over the boulder field was, in 2017, a great walleye hole. The water dumping from Iron to Bottle after the swift run over all those bowling ball sized rocks produced dinner in only a few casts. Then, in 2019, it was a mere 2 foot deep (August). The big flat bay it dumps in to produced a few pike, so needless to say, we didn't starve!

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Pat, I forgot to mention in my email that if you go to the last minute or so of the video, it lists the outfitters and provides their contact info.

Great video! Thank you!

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

I've been watching your videos, nice work yourself!

@SoloSchmitty

2 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek thank you for watching, I have a big quetico trip all planned out, patiently waiting... Look forward to seeing more of your trips!

Hey Mark nice the way you showed your route with the Paddle Planner maps, very handy web site. Crazy how low the water was this past year. If you make the run to the east, Knife and Ottertrack lakes are nice, Saganaga is also except for the burns. Rose lake has a beautiful camp site on a point on the U.S. side. When you get to Mountain lake portage to Clearwater then through West and East Pike lakes, much nicer than Mountain and Moose lakes, my opinion any way. Happy planning, take care.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Donald, I actually got into Knife and Ottertrack in October last year, but the weather was very tough so I didn't get to explore as much as I would have liked and the video I got is not meaningful enough to post. I can't wait to check out Rose, Mountain, Clearwater and the other lakes you mentioned. I will look them up on the map and see if I can route through there this spring or fall. Thanks for your advice and I hope you have a great upcoming season!

Hi Mark. Great video, that is a fantastic area to travel. Last year I stayed at the same campsite as you on your first night on Lac Lacroix and the fact that you saw Scott and John means I was there the very day before. I was one day ahead of them on the challenge.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Josh, that is amazing, you were on the same site one day before! Were you participating in that race, traveling on a paddle board?

@Josh-sx8tb

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek I was in the challenge but in my Swift Prospector 14. John and Scott were the only two on boards

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

@@Josh-sx8tb The 14' Prospector is pretty minimalist compared to my 17' Encounter. I get the impression that you are a much leaner traveler than me, especially knowing you were part of the challenge. I would love to read or hear about that adventure. Thanks for watching and your kind remarks!

@voyager5832

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek Josh moves that Prospector really well. My solo partner and I must have passed you somewhere along your route. We started from Rainy lake on Saturday. I was studying the far end of Bottle portage to see my tracks in the mud. We came through in the dark and missed the good place to put in. We were lucky enough to camp with Josh the last 3 nights of the challenge. He shared a lake trout!

Enjoyed the video, lots of good work. I watch because I feel like I am there. However, I would do many things differently

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Robert, that's a good one. You would do things differently, which is the universal story as everyone has their own systems. I've always made fun of myself for some of my old fashioned customs, like sleeping on the ground instead of a hammock, canoe paddle versus kayak, 17' Queen Mary canoe versus something much sleeker, hiding versus hanging my food packs, etc. I'm all ears if there's something that you think I could be doing better, from the perspective of technology or technique. Thanks for watching and your nice note. Hope you get up there this year!

I have a permit into there next month with the fires we will see but did crooked lake earlier. Your channel randomly came so I subbed I do videos too nice job!

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

I've been watching your videos, great stuff!

@GratefulTrekker

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek why ty the ones going forward sould be better I finally to a coarse on video editing and color grading my videos ty so much for watching!!!

Nice video. We will be heading down there this Spring. Crooked and Basswood looked pretty choppy.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

FishermanBoyle: Thanks for watching. I checked out your videos too, and loved them! Keep them coming. Hope to run into you someday out there.

@brentandellesoutdooradventures

3 жыл бұрын

We've enjoyed your videos a lot too. Our plan was to head down through Sturgeon to Tanner, then down to Crooked for a Spring Trip. We will be right along the border for a good part of it. But now our Parks are closed until at least the middle of May.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

@@brentandellesoutdooradventures I've reserved an entry for Beaverhouse on the last Sunday in May, but plan B is to start again on Crane Lake and skirt the border, this time all the way to Grand Marais. I don't think there's any way I'm getting into Canada this year, and you pretty much just confirmed the situation for spring. I'll be jealous of you on Sturgeon, my favorite part of the park (Hunter Island). At least I can enjoy Quetico by watching your videos! Looking forward. . .

@brentandellesoutdooradventures

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek This will be the second year in a row we have had to cancel our Spring Trip. Still hoping to go in the middle of May. If we do I’ll let you know.

Just loved your video. Not been in the Boundary Waters since College. Now age 61. We predominantly fished with countdown rapalla's. What is your choice of bait for Walleyes?

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Mike, sorry just saw this. Countdowns are still a favorite walleye bait, probably second to only jigs. On another topic, you are at the prime age for wilderness paddling, so hopefully you're planning a return! If you need any assistance, just let me know. I just returned from the spring trip, same route as this video, and it was fantastic once again. I'll post a video at some point, Thanks for watching and really hope you get back out there!

The place where you walked the canoe up before curtain falls. My brother and I needed to pattle at 99% to inch our way up

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

That's funny because every time I get to that spot I think to myself that it would be possible to just paddle over it but cannot do it solo. I LOVE that spot because Iron Lake is so full of walleyes and then right on the other side of the portage is Crooked, which is an awesome lake FULL of fish.

It’s obvious the guy telling the story at the 31 minute mark is a mans man! Haha. Great video Mark.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

No doubt about that. . , a man's man as well as the star of this video. You guys are great and hopefully next season we'll be able to spin some yarns around a campfire!

Mark, Great vid, what’s name of that sleep/bag system? Thanks in advance T

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Terry, thanks for tuning in. The sleep system is called Zen Bivvy.

I apologize if this was already answered but I didn't see it if it is. How were the pre and post trip logistics handled? Where did you drop you vehicle and how did you get back to it?

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

Agwanjin: I drove to Crane Lake and was motored to LacLaCroix (Snow Bay). Mark Anderson provided the transportation and then had my truck driven to LaTourelles, on Moose Lake. (see Special Thanks closing credits). I just posted a video from this spring, same trip, and really got lucky with the weather, hitting the bass spawn spot on! Here's the link: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gYKqrcmleqeqqaQ.html Thanks for watching.

Great video. What size tarp did you bring on this trip?

@markpotaczek

Жыл бұрын

Kevin: On that trip it was a 10X16' Cook Custom Tarp. The following winter I bought a 10X16' Cook Custom "Tundra" tarp, which is a much lighter material. I love them both but the new lighter Tundra Tarp just disappears into the pack--it's a great addition that you won't even know is there until you need it. I like to have plenty of tarp in order to shield the wind as well as the rain. Thanks for visiting the channel and hope you have a great year up there!

Just found your channel. Had to give you a subscribe. I also make videos of my canoe tripping mostly in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Keep the interesting videos coming!

@markpotaczek

Жыл бұрын

Dude, you are prophetic! Just last winter (2022) I made an impulse buy at the CanoeCopia event in Madison, WI. I bought a Hornbeck after I picked one up off the display rack at the show. 23 pounds, absolutely beautiful lines and workmanship, and a hull design that would accommodate long-range tripping on bigger waters while being easy for a soloist to handle on the trail. I also had to purchase new packs and of course a carbon fiber kayak paddle. I have come close to tripling my speed in my old barge of a solo canoe. Now here's something even funnier--I just yesterday inquired about the bungee yoke, and if I'm not mistaken you are the guy I may have spoken with on email. I had inquired about the product and got an informative reply. I plan to purchase one today. Now that I'm a "pack canoeist" I have become very interested in the NFCT--right in your backyard. . . I love this new way of traversing canoe country. I should also mention that my most recent video goes into great detail about the new boat kzread.info/dash/bejne/dK6uuZqMYsqeabg.html. After this season, I'm sure I'll be singing the praises of this exciting product and will feature in upcoming videos. Thanks for subscribing and be advised I'm now a subscriber of your channel, which I really look forward to exploring!

I have been at that first Iron lake camp site. The toilet is a long walk back on a narrow trail in thick woods. A trip back there on a moonless night and a failing headlaml was not fun

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Tim, That is hilarious.

@golfish8589

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek it was a little un-nerving. It was just black without the light on the trail. I had purchased a new name brand headlamp for the trip. I found out it had a very sensitive on off switch. It would turn on in my pocket. I went through 3 sets of batteries with about 5 minutes of actual use. It went into the garbage when I got home

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

@@golfish8589 I have a similar issue with the GO PRO cameras. I forget that I have it turned on and then discover a half hour later and have burned through an entire battery. I have a very long list of lessons learned on the trail so you are not alone.

Have you ever seen or heard about sasquatches in the area?

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Dude, you have hit a third rail that nobody else has ever touched. I've been doing alot of research on this topic over the past few years and the best source I've found is a YT channel called The Facts by HowtoHunt.com. There are many documented reports of sightings throughout this region (all regions of the world, actually) but this past year I read an account written by BWCA paddlers who had an encounter. I can't remember where but if I find it again, I'll reach out to you on your channel with a link. Those who are unlucky enough to ever experience an encounter are usually forever changed and many never return to the wilds. I'm hoping someday to be able to interview some Objiwa elders, who I think have the most to offer in terms of valid information with generational perspective.

I have never seen the water even close to being that low. Shocking. Curtain Falls is about 1/10 normal

When do the bugs disappear? In some videos people really complain about them.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Ray: that is a great question, as many people just cannot tolerate them when at their worst. I find that by about the second week of SEP they are almost gone for the year. All that's necessary are a couple of good frosts. The beauty of this time of year is that it still feels like summer--warm, fairly long days and the deciduous trees still mostly green. AND the fishing is still good. . . Having said that, I'm on my way up there as I write this and at this time of year I'll be wearing a bug suit when things get bad. Thanks for watching and hope you get up there this year!

Awesome bud, thanks for sharing. Would Love to get that walleye recipe from you! Regardless, consider me subscribed.

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Puddle Jumper. There's really no special recipe, mostly just adding a good soup mix to the broth, then (in this case) Italian noodles, and marinading the fillets in something tasty.. The big thing is that the fish gets steam baked in a bag, which means much healthier and easer to cook and clean up. I'm going to do a video segment on this cooking method this season although it's featured in many already but without explanation. If you want to see the actual product, it's called The Bake Packer. The sauce mixes I used were Knorr (Hollandaise and others) and McCormick Grill Mates marinade mix for the fillets. There are tons available and you'll have fun mixing them. Good luck and thanks for checking in.

@puddlejumper-sk

3 жыл бұрын

Mark, Thanks for the info. Will make sure I keep a eye out for the cooking vid!

What time of year was this?

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Mid September, my favorite time to be up there since it is still warm with some burgeoning color and NO BUGS.

That was a fun vid👍 stop by and visit sometime ✌️

I highly recommend a kayak paddle. It so much more efficient

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Tim, I think you're right. I've watched videos where experienced paddlers compared the two (in a solo canoe) and they said there was less fatigue and strain on the arms and wrists while using the double blade. I'm going to give it a try this year on the fall trip. I'll bring both and work my way into the kayak paddle slowly. I have a sea kayak, so I'm familiar but just not as comfortable with that stroke as with a bent shaft but I think it's just a matter of practice.

@golfish8589

3 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek I used the kayak paddle from Hook island on Saganaga to Silvers falls in Cache bay on my first solo trip. After silver falls I traveled out to the main lake and switched to my expensive kevlar fiber bent shaft. Used it for 20 seconds and put it back to the bottom of the canoe. I dont think I even used it for fishing. Stroke stroke switch and repeat. Every j-stroke is a waste of energy and hard on the shoulder if you don't pry on the gunnel. With a kayak paddle . Don't have the blades in line with each other. Many paddles are adjustable where one blade can be rotated forward or backwards. With it set up this way. One hand becomes dominant. While the other hand slightly rotates in-between each stroke. There are also newer kayak paddles that are even more ergonomic. They have multiple bends in the shaft to ease strain on shoulders and wrists. The youtuber Lost Lakes just switch to a kayak paddle . You have spent plenty of time in a canoe. You have developed great feel for the water. You will pick it up in minutes. I will be waiting for your review later this summer. What area are you located?

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

@@golfish8589 Ok, you've convinced me. I have a couple of these for my tandem sea kayak, but they are cheap ones and I haven't used that boat much (I bought a tandem thinking my wife would take to it but that never materialized). I"m going to start work on this and adapt. One big issue I have is carpal tunnel syndrome, and after most trips my hands are numb for days. I'm in the Chicago area, so there are plenty of places to obtain these paddles due to the proximity to Lake Michigan. Of course I can always obtain on line as well. Thanks for giving me the push I needed as I've been debating this for years. If you live in this area, feel free to reach out to me at markpotaczek@gmail.com and I'll introduce you to some local fellow paddlers. It sounds like you should be posting videos of your own. . .

How do you only have 126 subs? Well 127 now

@markpotaczek

3 жыл бұрын

Gene, Thanks for watching and for your nice comment. I really don't look at the numbers and spend zero time promoting the channel, but maybe one day when I have more time I'll apply some growth tactics. My main goal is to just share intel and encourage others to keep our tradition alive. . . In the meantime, I have a small group of very experienced and knowledgeable paddlers that I communicate with on a regular basis, so the rewards are great even with a small group like ours. This spring I'll be skirting the entire southern border, from LaCroix to Saganaga (first two weeks of June) so if you're in that region, look out for me and give a holler if you see me. I run into members of this group regularly, and it's always fun. Hope you have a great season and thanks again for watching!

The water is extremely low. Thats why the Boulder field was so exposed and your campsite on Iron is a 2*. With normal water levels there is not that much space

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

That's interesting about the water level. That site seemed fantastic to me, because of all the flat walk space. I'm new to BWCA, after having spent all my time in Quetico (around 80 trips). Since the lock out, I've shifted to the BWCA and now this is my new home. I appreciate all the intel that you BW guys continue to impart. I'm retiring this year and first trip will be a one-month paddle from end to end--La Croix to Royal Lake, which appears to be the eastern most tip of the park, just a hop and skip from Lake Superior.

@golfish8589

2 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek Don't give up on Quetico just yet. I am calling quetico tomorrow. We should be able to drive into Canada . And up at Atikokan, get Quetico permit. Anderson outfitters is great. I have done that boat ride 4 to 5 times. Its way better when he can drive you all the way to bottle portage. In bwca we fished iron. I can give you some spots there. We also fished Wednesday bay just south of your camp site. I can also give you some spots in quetico. East and west ends. I contacted you last year and highly recommended you go to a kayak paddle. I beg you to get a kayak paddle. My wife comment that you are like me. We like our Stuff. But I realize you are in no hurry.

@golfish8589

2 жыл бұрын

@@markpotaczek you also may want to invest in a canoe sail for your long westward trip. On crooked lake we had a couple Wizz past our camp with a sail. I bet if you use a kayak paddle . You will gain a mile per hour with a ton more boat control. If you rent canoes. I would put a seat in the middle of a Minnesota 2. I rented a 15ft solo from Andersons. 3 mph was max speed paddling at 100%. In my minn3, yes 3. I can cruise at 4mph

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

@@golfish8589 I've seen a few sails out there over the years as well. I've never really tried it but it does seems to be a viable option, especially since I normally plan my trips to take advantage of prevailing westerlies. Also, funny you mention the kayak paddle because I've gotten several recommendations from others that a kayak paddle would be much more efficient (usually the younger paddlers). Since I have a sea kayak I already have paddles, although cheap ones. I plan to bring one on the spring trip, so will be interesting to see how it goes.

@markpotaczek

2 жыл бұрын

@@golfish8589 Wow, so that was YOU on the paddle! That's funny, because back when you brought it up I vowed to follow your suggestion and come spring, we'll see how that goes. As for Quetico, I am on a new mission to cover the entire BWCA, so really no interest in repeating experiences in Quetico. I'm heading up to Lac Croix again in early June. I don't know if you saw the last video from last spring--kzread.info/dash/bejne/gYKqrcmleqeqqaQ.html. I got lucky and hit the perfect weather window and the fishing was as good as anything I've experienced in Quetico. Only drawback of BWCA is the number of people, so I try to circumvent that by going in the early spring and then fall.

nice video, depressing music. Thanks for sharing.

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