I've seen maps that show a set of portages going from the far west of winchell, through the series of ponds and into Davis. Those portages aren't on the map on this site, not have they been marked by users. Can anyone confirm if they're there? Has anyone taken them?

Don't have any 1st hand experience but, seem to recall a past thread that said those old portages have all grown back in. I think Dan Cooke may have tried getting through that way at one time???

FWIW: I have used both of the maintained (marked) portages in/out of Davis and neither of them are what I'd consider a cake walk either! ;-)

I spent a couple of lay- over days in Winchell on a 2018 solo and spent an evening exploring the west end. I could find no sign of the portage from the water. The landings, however, are the first areas to grow over due to the extra light on the shore. If you push in through the alders and look around you often find an old trace. The landing was rough and my feet were dry and I just didn't have the desire to go bushwacking.

I do not remember those routes to Winchell either. We did clear the portages from Brule through the Cones and Davis- then through CLiff and Lilly and back to Brule last August. The portage form N Cone to Davis was a little of a bear in places. Wet and steep that day.

The portage thru Pup did exist many years ago. Many others have looked for it. The Davis to Pup end has been tried and seems easier to find a route. Pup to Winchell end is said to be tougher to find. Either way, its a bushwack with maybe some small traces of old portage. I seem to recall a TR with some pics.

Previous thread:

Pup Lake

Seems it was abandoned for good reason.