If you are interested in making the Matchedash trip this spring let me know. If you have any sage advise pls send it along.

thx.................MrPirateCat

Be flexible on the date - Only do it when the weathers perfect.. We lost a couple adventurers last attempt

I wouldn't say 'lost' is the correct term....however 'dampened' may be appropriate.

Couple things about that trek...I would suggest May versus June, I suspect if you hit the blackflies it would take a whole lot of the fun out of the trip. It would also give you higher water levels (at least in a normal year) making a couple sections much easier from what we heard.

A group of us did the trek last year, I know I'd certainly think about doing it again, it's a nice area, and other than the main lake along the south side, there isn't a whole lot of signs of human activity. (Well, okay, there is the trapper's cabin.)

It is a trek that shouldn't be done solo by beginner/novice canoeists, unless as part of a larger group that contains some experience. At the more distant parts of the loop I suspect that if one were to get into problems, that help would be difficult, if not impossible to get, so one has to rely on their own skills, knowledge and equipment.

Another little word of advice on this trek, if there is a strong west wind, I would avoid the main lake (along the south edge of the loop) and go in and back out the northern half of the loop. This would still allow you to get all the caches, though you would have some more portaging to do. However, the lake is shaped such that with the wind just so, the waves and swells build along the length of it, and there is no shelter from it until the very end. The issue last year was the swells ended up being high enough that they were higher than the gunnels on my canoe (yes, it was one of my canoes that got swamped, with me in it.) Fortunately we were prepared, and other than one unfortunate camera and a GPS that didn't hold up to water resistance specs, the only major hurt was some pride.

If you really want to have a group come out, pick a date or two, and go with them...there will be people disappointed that the date(s) won't work for them, but there will be lots of others that will make it work.

Depending on date(s) for this, I would certainly consider doing it again though!

The cacher with all the expertise and knowledge regarding Matchedash is KSAcat. The Cat has been in that area so many times, he could do the Matchedash Tour blindfolded . The Cat has a phenomenal memory and I'll bet he can remember where all the caches are hidden .

IMO, contact the Cat and try and get him onboard as it will make the Tour much easier.

Me and my wife would love to join a group going for a Matchedash trip. Keep me posted! Seb (and Tiff) for FamilleCOTE

There is a group of us going on May 29th for those that are interested - See the Facebook Group