solos wrote:

What would really worry me is a portage so steep that you couldn’t climb up or you’d slip back for lack of traction. I sometimes encounter that in my local woods when it’s icy or muddy and it really sucks to have to crawl up the hill on all fours. Haven’t experienced that yet in Algonquin but I did once look at, in passing, the 45 m portage on the Islet Lake railway embankment. Jeff recommends 30 minutes+ to traverse that.

Often on steepest uphills one can drag the boat by a painter. But the real danger is falling backwards while carrying a heavy backpack - if there's nothing behind to break the fall then you are in trouble! Of course Unicorn hill is not in this league. It's not even steep enough to deserve a name, just longish.

solos wrote:

What would really worry me is a portage so steep that you couldn’t climb up or you’d slip back for lack of traction. I sometimes encounter that in my local woods when it’s icy or muddy and it really sucks to have to crawl up the hill on all fours. Haven’t experienced that yet in Algonquin but I did once look at, in passing, the 45 m portage on the Islet Lake railway embankment. Jeff recommends 30 minutes+ to traverse that.

I've had a few of those moments in Killarney but I can't recall anything in Algonquin that steep that I've personally been through.

Muddy is another story though, it doesn't even have to be that steep, but if it's wet/muddy I'll always be extra cautious.
 

solos wrote:

trippythings wrote:

...I was with my girlfriend so thankfully didn't need to double carry
 

 That’s funny. I always remember when ever I went with my wife I always ended up carrying more than when I went solo.

We bring a tiny bit more... but there's still only one canoe and one tent, so the load per person goes down dramatically. It's about 90-100lbs total when I'm solo (with all gear, food, boat, etc.) and only 20-30lbs more when she comes. So the load goes from >70% bodyweight, to <50%. And this year I'll probably have an extra 10-15lbs in camera gear as well.
 

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Seems like I should suck it up and just do it and enjoy the week in that area.

AlgonquinLakes wrote:

I double carried it a couple years back. It ate up time, but honestly the worst part was the bugs. I’d say it’s worth it. You could come out along the Nip if you really didn’t want to repeat it at the end.

I'd most likely be going in mid-September so hopefully bugs won't still be hanging around.

Did you go south from Catfish to Hogan? Are those portages marked on the old Jeff's Maps "very buggy" like it says?

dcmcelroy wrote:

If you want a real hill, try the portage from St. Andrews Lake to Tarn Lake.  Nearly 5 km long, with climb of more than a hundred metres, and down almost the same, for a net gain in elevation of less than 30 metres.  

Reminds me of the 2km from Grace to Carmichael that I did last summer in Killarney PP. Goes from 251m (Grace) to 267m (Carmichael) with a peak of 339m... so 88 up then 72 down, over the course of 2km. It was so gradual though that I really didn't find it bad at all. I was with my girlfriend so thankfully didn't need to double carry
 

deeptrout wrote:

Sunday

It's only Friday.

(but no sorry, not Sunday Lake).

There's a canoe rest at the top of the hill and a cleared area with benches -- party central.
The last time I did it I was 70; Diana somewhat less.  Yeah we were a little winded but no big deal.  For a young guy, just do it!  And on the return leg of your trip towards Cedar, you won't even notice it.  (Well, maybe just a little when you return empty to pick up your second load.)
(Oops, I didn't notice Diana posting ahead of me.)

Peek and MartinG are both right on.  It's a longish portage all right, but not a nasty trail - the worst thing is that it goes up and up and up in the most frustrating way.  Most of it is not particularly steep. I've done it quite a few times over the years in both directions, first time in 1975.  Last time was 2015, and I'd do it again if my back and knees weren't starting to fall apart.

The portage from Lynx to the NIpissing is the same hill but going down (mostly a better trail, though).

If you want a real hill, try the portage from St. Andrews Lake to Tarn Lake.  Nearly 5 km long, with climb of more than a hundred metres, and down almost the same, for a net gain in elevation of less than 30 metres.  

And yes, the wind can whip up some mighty waves on Cedar.  If the surf's up, it's best to just wait till things calm down.

trippythings wrote:

Is it just 1 small section of the portage that gives the bad reputation, or is the whole 2.3km nasty?

 
Honestly man, the 'hill' is just one section, probably a few hundred meters long at best - and there are benches at the top to rest at. MartinG nailed it above, when it's over you'll wonder what all the fuss is about.