T2K June 26

T2K -- Boundary Waters Fur Trade (La Verendrye) Route

June 26, 2000

Location Distance To,
Miles Portage Length,
Rods Total Miles
Including Portages Total
Rods Portaged Comments

North Lake 1.2 219.6 1852 Today, our meals consisted of food similar to what the voyaguers ate. Breakfast consisted of dried corn and bacon boiled together in one pot. This attempted to represent typical meals east of Rainy Lake as described by Alexander Henry, the Younger. (See 'History' page)

Height of Land Portage 0.3 80 219.8 1932 An appropriate ceremony was conducted for crossing the Height of Land Portage for the first time. (Even though we were going the 'wrong way'.)

South Lake 2.7 222.5 1932

South Lake Portage 0.2 57 222.7 1989

Rat Lake/Rose Lake 5.1 227.8 1989 Strong west winds on Rose Lake. Whitecaps at east end where we ate lunch. Lunch consisted of dry (See 'History' page) pemmican, typical of the meals west of Lake of the Woods. It was a 'little to greasy'!

Long Portage 2.1 660 229.9 2649 Portage not as difficult as references indicated. Trail was relatively dry. Took about 50 min. to complete.

Rove/Watap Lakes 3.3 233.2 2649 Sailed most of Watap Lake.

Watap Portage 0.3 100 233.5 2749

Mountain Lake 2.2 235.7 2749 Very heavy rain while setting up camp. Supper consisted of a small amount of cooked pemmican (See 'History' page) and other food from our reserves.

Day's Total 17.3 897

Maps: Fisher: F-13, F-14

HISTORY OF ROUTE TRAVELED ON JUNE 26
August 11th, JMcD: Slept at the Height of Land. Macdonell was "baptized" and became a "North man". Mr. Neil McKay and MacDonell gave the men a two-gallon keg. (Ref. 11, p 100) Mountain - Rove - Rose route is one of the few places where voyageurs departed from the Indian trails. The Indian trail went thru Arrow Lake. (Ref. 1, p 73) Long Portage: 2 miles long (?). First 400 yards rocky; must walk carefully. Two trails intersect about 1-1/2 miles from the west end . Take the left turn. Last half mile runs thru low swampy ground heavily infested with mosquitoes. (Ref. 2, p 12) MacKenzie comments on Long Portage: "…which is three thousand one hundred paces in length, and over very rough ground, which requires the utmost exertions of the men and frequently lames them." (Ref. 1, p 74) August 9th and 10th, JMcD: Spend two nights at northwest end of "Grand Portage neuf". Footnote indicates this is Watab portage, but Ref. 12 states it is Long Portage which I believe is correct. The first night was spent with Simon Fraser; the second day was spent waiting for canoes that were behind them (Ref. 11, p 99) Mountain Lake named because of it's high rounded shores (Ref. 2, p 12)

HISTORY OF ROUTE TRAVELED ON JUNE 26

August 11th, JMcD: Slept at the Height of Land. Macdonell was "baptized" and became a "North man". Mr. Neil McKay and MacDonell gave the men a two-gallon keg. (Ref. 11, p 100)
Mountain - Rove - Rose route is one of the few places where voyageurs departed from the Indian trails. The Indian trail went thru Arrow Lake. (Ref. 1, p 73)
Long Portage: 2 miles long (?). First 400 yards rocky; must walk carefully. Two trails intersect about 1-1/2 miles from the west end . Take the left turn. Last half mile runs thru low swampy ground heavily infested with mosquitoes. (Ref. 2, p 12)
MacKenzie comments on Long Portage: "…which is three thousand one hundred paces in length, and over very rough ground, which requires the utmost exertions of the men and frequently lames them." (Ref. 1, p 74)
August 9th and 10th, JMcD: Spend two nights at northwest end of "Grand Portage neuf". Footnote indicates this is Watab portage, but Ref. 12 states it is Long Portage which I believe is correct. The first night was spent with Simon Fraser; the second day was spent waiting for canoes that were behind them (Ref. 11, p 99)
Mountain Lake named because of it's high rounded shores (Ref. 2, p 12)

Height of Land baptisms

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Details for June 12, June 13, June 14, June 15, June 16, June 17, June 18, June 19, June 20, June 21, June 22, June 23, June 24, June 25, June 26, June 27, June 28 or June 29

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Last updated: December 26, 2013 f

Location	Distance To, Miles	Portage Length, Rods	Total Miles Including Portages	Total Rods Portaged	Comments
North Lake	1.2		219.6	1852	Today, our meals consisted of food similar to what the voyaguers ate. Breakfast consisted of dried corn and bacon boiled together in one pot. This attempted to represent typical meals east of Rainy Lake as described by Alexander Henry, the Younger. (See 'History' page)
Height of Land Portage	0.3	80	219.8	1932	An appropriate ceremony was conducted for crossing the Height of Land Portage for the first time. (Even though we were going the 'wrong way'.)
South Lake	2.7		222.5	1932
South Lake Portage	0.2	57	222.7	1989
Rat Lake/Rose Lake	5.1		227.8	1989	Strong west winds on Rose Lake. Whitecaps at east end where we ate lunch. Lunch consisted of dry (See 'History' page) pemmican, typical of the meals west of Lake of the Woods. It was a 'little to greasy'!
Long Portage	2.1	660	229.9	2649	Portage not as difficult as references indicated. Trail was relatively dry. Took about 50 min. to complete.
Rove/Watap Lakes	3.3		233.2	2649	Sailed most of Watap Lake.
Watap Portage	0.3	100	233.5	2749
Mountain Lake	2.2		235.7	2749	Very heavy rain while setting up camp. Supper consisted of a small amount of cooked pemmican (See 'History' page) and other food from our reserves.
Day's Total	17.3	897
Maps: Fisher: F-13, F-14