Boundary Waters, Routes, Forum, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Parkwww.BWCA.com Trip Reports - Messageboard, Forum, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Park
Boundary Waters Route Blog
    Trip Reports
      Trip Report - 40 Years Celebrated by 4-Nights Solo
 
  Last Visit: 03/29/2024 12:13AM

Entry Point 44 - Ram Lake

Ram Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 26 miles. Access is a 90-rod portage from the parking area. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 1
Elevation: 1498 feet
Latitude: 47.9547
Longitude: -90.4423
Author Message Text
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/23/2018 03:20PM
 
New Trip Report posted by treehorn

Trip Name: 40 Years Celebrated by 4-Nights Solo.

Entry Point: 44

Click Here to View Trip Report
Reply Top Bottom Previous Next
boonie
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/23/2018 05:26PM
 
Nice report, treehorn. It's good to know you had a pretty good trip; too bad you didn't have a little better luck with weather. And got in and out of all those rocky landings without falling in :). Sometimes a challenge solo. Only time I ever did it was an easy one - over confidence, complacency, empty canoe too ;).
OldTripper
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/23/2018 07:13PM
 
Sounds like your trip was a success, treehorn. Congrats!
You took some beautiful pictures too, very nice.
scramble4a5
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/23/2018 08:16PM
 
I did the Little Trout to Misquah portage with just a day pack both ways just to say I did it and it was a real bear.


Chicago area myself. Heading up to Rockwood on 8/4 and planning to base camp on Gaskin.


My condolences on the loss of your brother.
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/24/2018 08:34AM
 
boonie: "Nice report, treehorn. It's good to know you had a pretty good trip; too bad you didn't have a little better luck with weather. And got in and out of all those rocky landings without falling in :). Sometimes a challenge solo. Only time I ever did it was an easy one - over confidence, complacency, empty canoe too ;). "


Thanks Boonie...the weather was bummer at times but in between those times I did get some awesome weather - you can see the sunsets were amazing. I shouldn't complain, it's all part of the deal.
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/24/2018 08:36AM
 
OldTripper: "Sounds like your trip was a success, treehorn. Congrats!
You took some beautiful pictures too, very nice."



Thanks!
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/24/2018 08:36AM
 
scramble4a5: "I did the Little Trout to Misquah portage with just a day pack both ways just to say I did it and it was a real bear.



Chicago area myself. Heading up to Rockwood on 8/4 and planning to base camp on Gaskin.



My condolences on the loss of your brother."




Thanks, enjoy your trip!
boonie
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/24/2018 09:05AM
 
Yes, I did enjoy the sunset pictures and the others as well.
mjmkjun
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/24/2018 03:20PM
 
Seems you savored every bit of that trip. Good for you! I enjoyed the well-composted read. Thanks for sharing.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Sir Isaac Newton
ducks
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/24/2018 04:20PM
 
I've been waiting for this one......... great report and thanks for sharing. So glad to hear you had a good trip.


There were a lot of similarities between your trip and my solo from Morgan EP and out Lizz. Carl dropped me off at the EP and I paddled back to Rockwood. I had planned on going to Omega but when I got to Horseshoe it was completely empty and decided why pass through a great lake when I had it to myself and I camped at the same site as you. I also spent 2 nights there because I liked it so much. I did the same daytrip as you but opposite direction and was fortunate to see a wolf swimming in Horseshoe near the Gaskin portage. My last night I stayed at the same site on Caribou as you and saw 3 moose when I was checking out other sites. I got back to Rockwood about 8:00 and Mike and Carl were shocked to see me so early.... I needed to get home in time to coach my daughter's soccer game.


I did my 1st solo at age 43 and have now done 5. I did my 1st one just to see if I could do it and fell in love with solo tripping. Are you going to do it again?

Ride EZ
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/25/2018 08:08AM
 
mjmkjun: "Seems you savored every bit of that trip. Good for you! I enjoyed the well-composted read. Thanks for sharing. "


I sure did...thanks for reading!
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/25/2018 08:09AM
 
ducks: "I've been waiting for this one......... great report and thanks for sharing. So glad to hear you had a good trip.



There were a lot of similarities between your trip and my solo from Morgan EP and out Lizz. Carl dropped me off at the EP and I paddled back to Rockwood. I had planned on going to Omega but when I got to Horseshoe it was completely empty and decided why pass through a great lake when I had it to myself and I camped at the same site as you. I also spent 2 nights there because I liked it so much. I did the same daytrip as you but opposite direction and was fortunate to see a wolf swimming in Horseshoe near the Gaskin portage. My last night I stayed at the same site on Caribou as you and saw 3 moose when I was checking out other sites. I got back to Rockwood about 8:00 and Mike and Carl were shocked to see me so early.... I needed to get home in time to coach my daughter's soccer game.



I did my 1st solo at age 43 and have now done 5. I did my 1st one just to see if I could do it and fell in love with solo tripping. Are you going to do it again?"



Wow, kinda eerie we stayed at the same sites and did the same day trip...


As far as doing it again...I am certainly open to the possibility and *would* do it again for sure. But do I see it happening anytime soon or on an annual basis...probably not. There's just not enough opportunity for me to get away like that. It's a big ask for me to just leave the family and all responsibilities for a minimum of 4-5 days (I've got a day of driving on either end of any trip). I've got a standing annual trip with my buddies that I don't want to give up, and if I do add a second or third trip on any given year, I should probably start bringing my kids, and I know some other people that have expressed interest in going with. And that's not a bad thing - I think I prefer the company of others. I don't regret the solo for a second, but it's not something I'm going to try to move mountains to make happen. Some day when the stars align I'll probably do it again.
pswith5
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/25/2018 08:54AM
 
Thanks for sharing. Well written trip report. I will try to remember your info about the landings on the eastern part of your trip. I have done poplar to vista before. Those landings weren't great either. Too bad rain up a damper on your adventure some. I am guessing it would have been more enjoyable had it been a little dryer. Maybe next time!

Without the bad times, the good times wouldn't seem so good.
ducks
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/28/2018 08:54AM
 
Yes...... prioritizing the trips is difficult. I've been at 2 trips per year the last few years and my top 2 are daddy/daughter and solo. If I ever have to pick just 1 trip for the year it will definitely be my daddy/daughter trip. That one is the "non-negotiable" and absolutely needs to happen.


There is nothing better than spending time in the bwca with your kids!!!!




Ride EZ
BigTim
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/29/2018 02:28PM
 
Awesome trip report. We love that area. It's been years since I've walked the portage from Misquah to Little Trout. The 5 star campground on Gaskin is one of our favorites! My son and I will be heading in on August 11th - our 19th consecutive trip together (our first was when he was 7). Back then, I did most of the work. Now, he does most of the grunt work. Rockwood is one of the finest outfitters. Carl and Mike know how to do it right. We'll be heading to Canoe Lake thru Bearskin - gotta swim at Johnson Falls another time!
treehorn
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/30/2018 08:46AM
 
BigTim: "Awesome trip report. We love that area. It's been years since I've walked the portage from Misquah to Little Trout. The 5 star campground on Gaskin is one of our favorites! My son and I will be heading in on August 11th - our 19th consecutive trip together (our first was when he was 7). Back then, I did most of the work. Now, he does most of the grunt work. Rockwood is one of the finest outfitters. Carl and Mike know how to do it right. We'll be heading to Canoe Lake thru Bearskin - gotta swim at Johnson Falls another time!
"



Nice, have a great time!
TuscaroraBorealis
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
05/07/2019 12:42PM
 
Great report of a great area!


I enjoyed following along on your adventure. Sounds like you were able to adjust just fine right throughout. Glad you were able to catch a few fish towards the end. Even though it's not absolutely necessary for having a great trip, catching a few fish always seems to make the trip more worthwhile for me as well.


Also, it was nice to see a different perspective on an area we recently visited.


Thanks for taking the time to share your story and photos.


callofthewild
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
05/07/2019 02:19PM
 
Very nice report. Thank you for sharing. I wish I was able to spend more time in the BWCA, but at least the good reads make up for some of it. Thanks again.


Happy Paddling!!!
Reply Top Bottom Previous Next
Routes
Trip Reports
a
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
x
Routes
Trip Reports
a
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports
x
Routes
Trip Reports
fd
hgc
Routes
Trip Reports