Cedar Lakes bushwack?

[Justin]

I'm wondreing if you can hike into Whitney Lake via the French Louie Trail, (or just bushwhack around Pillsbury Lake), to access the trail/path that connects Pillsbury LK and Whitney LK to Pillsbury Bay on Cedar Lakes. Then head north to Pillsbury Bay on Cedars, and bushwhack around to the west, around the southwestern most point of Cedar Lakes, and pick up the NPT near West Canada Bay near it's lean-to on Cedar Lakes? (might be called "Fisherman's Lean-to" according to McMartin's guide)


Has anyone ever done this? Is there a herd path at all, maybe a fisherman's path around the shores, or is it pretty thick?

I know that the path leaving Pillsbury Lake near it's outlet on the west shore is there, and it's pretty obvious, but I don't know for how far. I did locate this trail in the spring, but only walked it a short ways.

Thanks for any thoughts--- JF

[Justin]

Hey, It's me again. Does anyone think that this is possible? Do you understand where I'm talking about? Is this a dumb question? Should I try somewhere else? Or should I just go and find out for myself, like I've done to answer some of the other questions I've posted with no response. Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Dick]

Hi Justin,

I don't know the answer, but I'm guessing that some who I think do know are out hiking. Give it a little more time. Perhaps PM some of the respondents to your Pillsbury Lake thread from last spring. Not everyone opens up every thread. Finally, yes, do give Adkhighpeaks and VFTT a jingle.

Dick

[Justin]

Thank you Dick. I did want to make this part of the trip my father and I went on in June, to Pillsbury, but we had bad weather that changed our plans. I'd like to now maybe try again, but without carrying in the pack canoes.

Sorry if I seem impatient. I haven't been camping since then. A few day hikes here and there, one that got me in trouble with the girl, and she will not let me go by myself for awhile, my friends keep backing out on trips, and I'm dyin' to get out. This is an area that I am new to, and can't wait to explore! Thanks again for the response and info. -- JF

[AntlerPerak]

Justin

That sounds like an interesting whack, but easier said than done. The topo maps show a trail going into Whitney Lake to a shelter. This trail begins off the Pillsbury Lake to Sampson Lake and West Canada Trail. We poked around in there several times and never found that trail into Whitney Lake.

There are a lot of unmarked old roads in there, but we never saw one to Whitney where maps indicated it should be. I will add each time we stopped at Pillsbury Lake then onto to Sampson and beyond. Every time through there we did a half a**ed poke around to see if we could locate that trail. Never did but we never put a lot of effort in it either. So if one was determined I'm guessing they could find what's left of it. I am thinking it is an overgrown road but there are many of those in there.

Perhaps a whack around Pillsbury via Puddle Hole may get you to that old route, it looks wet in there. good luck with it.

[Justin]

Thank you AntlerPerak, The last time I was there, I did locate the trail that leaves Pillsbury Lake at the far west end and heads north to Pillsbury Bay on Cedars. The trail seemed pretty obvious and traveled well enough, but I only hiked it a short ways and then turned back to Pillsbury. From that I'd gather you could use it to get to Cedars, but that means carrying the boat. I don't think I want to try and bushwack around Pillsbury for it is very thick and wet. --JF

[Justin]

I still can't stop thinking about this! I might do a day-hike this weekend and see what I can find out about it.

Anyone that would like to tag along is more than welcome to come. Just reply or PM.


Please feel free to add any suggestions or comments.

I'll be sure to post a trip report.

---JF

[Tom Ranney]

Justin

I have done some of what you propose. Beaver activity had one stretch underwater as of a year ago. Other areas have extreme hobblebush and spruce or fir thickets. I do this sort of thing for fun and hunt deer in that area. I would allow more than a day to reach the south (fisherman's) lean-to on Cedar Lake.

I visit this site infrequently. Try my email at tomranney@aol.com and allow a day or two as I am not online regularly.

Tom R.

[Justin]

Thanks Tom.

[deanroczen]

hey

Justin,

This is my first post on this forum. In, let's see... 1990 me and a buddy bushwacked full packs on the route that you describe. I cannot remember exactly much about it, so long ago. But, we did it in September, and my memory of it was always favorable and I don't remember it being difficult at all. I would do it again. Great to see the irregular views of Cedar Lakes.

Dean Roczen

[Neil]

From Pilsbury to Cedar Lakes it's only about a mile but you would go through some extensive looking (on the map) boggy areas, then if you wanted to pick up the NPT you have that ½ mile to go west to pick it up. My memories of that region are of mostly open hardwood forests but I was sticking to the trail.

Basically, if you can draw it on the map you can hike it. Don't count on any trails being there, if they are there that's a bonus. Also, plan on making less than 1 mph off trail. Going in winter would get you across those bogs easily and then you could walk right across the lakes.

[Justin]

Thanks Dean and Neil. I'll probably try this next year sometime. Tom Ranney was able to help me out quite a bit, and I do believe this may be quite difficult for my ability(espescially in winter), and my experience bushwhacking. I'll scout it out little by little, see what I can come up with, and be sure to post trip reports. Thanks again everybody for your input.

---Justin

[madison]

I'm jumping in kind of late here but I can tell you what I know. The trails to Whitney and Pillsbury Bay stopped being maintained sometime in the late 80's I believe, so they are faint and downright unrecognizable in some places. 3 years ago I found the trail to Whtney off the Pillsbury Lake trail and without too much difficulty and made my way to the lake fairly easily. The trail disapears in places but always reappears again, and Whitney is a beautiful lake with a few good places to camp and even a couple of canoes that are only half-heartedly hidden. I've never continued on to Pillsbury Bay, though, so I can't tell you anything about that.

Actually, I have a friend who has gone into Whitney with a GPS, so I may be able to get GPS coordinates of that trail for you. I didn't own a GPS yet when I went there so I don't have them myself.

[Justin]

Thanks Madison. I don't have a GPS yet. I'm pretty comfortable with the ol' map & compass gag, but I would like to own a GPS especially for a trip like this. --JF

[Justin]

I went to see what I could find out about this today.

I made it to Whitney Lake ok from the western end of the southern fork on Pillsbury Lake, and continued on the path heading northeast towards Cedars, but after crossing the Pillsbury outlet, the path deadends in THICK spruce and THICK blowdown.

Hit me with a P.M. if you care for more details.

Whitney Lake is beautiful, and I will return there. --JF