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      Trip Report - East Bearskin to Clearwater quasi-loop; and a lost kid
 
  Last Visit: 03/29/2024 09:00AM

Entry Point 64 - East Bearskin Lake

East Bearskin Lake entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (25 HP max). 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. Motors allowed on East Bearskin Lake only. No motors on Alder and Canoe. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1471 feet
Latitude: 48.0407
Longitude: -90.3800
Author Message Text
bsolak
membermember
 
07/17/2013 04:28PM
 
New Trip Report posted by bsolak

Trip Name: East Bearskin to Clearwater quasi-loop; and a lost kid.

Entry Point: 64

Click Here to View Trip Report
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Mocha
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07/17/2013 04:55PM
 
thanks for your report and sharing the story of your son "taking the scenic route". I can only imagine your thoughts of what could possibly happen to him.
remember when you were a kid and just wandered in the direction of something that looked interesting, or followed a game trail... you probably weren't concerned for yourself because you were into what you were doing.
thankfully your son was comfortable in the woods,(due to you and your wife taking him on wilderness trips and him paying attention to what you were teaching him, no doubt). the experience turned out good for all involved and will be talked about for a long time.


the Clearwater folks are great, and fast acting with a good plan.
inspector13
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07/17/2013 05:00PM
 

I don’t have to use my imagination as to how loosing a kid feels. And I would have had to face my sister and her husband for loosing their 7 year old on the Superior Hiking Trail. Luckily he turned around after taking a spur trail and freaked out screaming for help. We were also in an area popular with day hikers. We were reunited in less than a half hour, but it seemed like a whole day. I’m glad everything turned out for you.


boonie
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07/17/2013 07:45PM
 
Thanks for the trip report and "cautionary tale". I'm glad everything turned out well and you had a nice trip otherwise, but I'm sure that was a very nerve-wracking and frantic experience.
Dbldppr1250
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07/18/2013 01:30PM
 
So glad your story had a happy ending for all of you!

Walking School Bus
alpine525
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07/18/2013 02:16PM
 
Sounds like this is an experience your family will never forget - I'm glad everything turned out ok. One of our rules when hiking is to never split up. We did it once in Rocky Mountain National Park - my husband and my oldest daughter hike faster and they went up ahead on the trail. My younger daughter and I were probably a quarter mile back. Well - we eventually came to a split in the trail. We had no idea which way my husband and daughter went. My younger daughter and I hiked for a long, long time before giving up and returning to the trailhead. Eventually, many hours later, we all hooked up - thankfully. We were sweating it out for a while - but in the end we promised never to split up again while hiking. Lesson learned.

Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. Dalai Lama
mjmkjun
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07/19/2013 12:08PM
 
you did a good job of reporting the trip, plus path oversight incident. mishaps and scares teach us in such abrupt manner but so very effectively.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Sir Isaac Newton
campcrafter
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07/29/2013 01:26PM
 
bsolak


Wow - my heart was in my throat reading that. Thank you for sharing the story, not many people would. Hopefully some will learn from it.


I think one thing for me to take from it is the that members of the party carry whistles. Much better than yelling out.


Sounds like you are raising a fine young man who knows to keep his wits about him.



Blue Skies!
cc


The river calmly flows, Through shining banks, through lonely glen, Where the owl shrieks, though ne'er the cheer of men Has stirred its mute repose, Still if you should walk there, you would go there again.
ECpizza
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07/29/2013 11:30PM
 
Irony. I was just taking a break from typing my trip report from the BRT. I was trying to figure out how to describe that section of trail. It was the only place we (2 experienced in both backpacking and the BWCA) got lost. And also, the Clearwater Lodge people are the best.


So glad it worked out. That area is an especially worrysome area to get lost. Just the topography of the place. Safety note is always have an adult be last. And clearly designate who that is. Each of my kids first camping gift is a "glow in the dark whistle with built in LED."


You may laugh about this someday, but always remembering the pain. Be proud of this smart kid. At 11 he had the instinct to drink water... Lake water at that. He is confident enough to not worry too much, and stayed on the trail. He just lacked some knowledge and experience.


Sounds like a great trip.

Here is a photo from the area you lost your kid.
bsolak
membermember
 
08/28/2013 03:23PM
 
Glad folks got something out of the trip report. It's been a month and a half now and no, I'm still not looking back on that day and smiling!


Thwarted
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08/28/2013 09:05PM
 
Yipes, that was scary Group separation un the BW is not a good idea. I also found that out the hard way this year but with two canoes, four adults and a huge island. My report will be in December. Our incident is somewhat humorous now but was a huge time waster and stressful. Not nearly what you experienced though. Wow!
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