BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
May 09 2024
Entry Point 23 - Mudro Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 5
Elevation: 1166 feet
Latitude: 48.0356
Longitude: -91.8301
On the Water- Monday July 20th-
On the water late considering how far we need to go today. Up the Horse river to the falls by 6pm. Started raining and NO campsites available. Mudrow-Alruss-Tin can Mike-Horse Lake-Horse River-Basswood. 13 miles by water. (not counting portages)
Tuesday July 21st-
Rain all night, all morning and all day. Went north by petroglyphs, table rock and the the Crocked Lake Narrows across Thursday bay to campsite. Basswood-Crooked Lake-Wednesday Bay-Thursday Bay. 11 miles in the rain.
Wednesday July 22nd-
Up early and calm winds to take advantage of, considering the big water we have to cross. Found beaver dam to lift over and did a portage from hell between Pandos lake and Chippewa Lake. VERY steep and slippery after rain. Many mud holes. Then the mile portage after Wagosh Lake to Gun Lake. Never saw another soul in a canoe or campsite the entire day! Thursday bay-Friday Bay-Pandos Lake-Chippewa Lake-Wagosh lake-Gun Lake. 11 miles by water.
Thursday July 23rd-
Finally had a dry night. got everything dry!!! A few portages today to Fourtown Lake campsite. Easy day by comparison. Gun Lake-Fairy Lake-Boot Lake-Fourtown Lake. 6 miles. Put the long miles at the first of the week for a buffer for contingencies!
Friday July 24th-
Last day. Stormed last night bad. A few portages today with one bad one between Fourtown Lake and Mudrow lake. To entry point by 1pm. Ready for a hot shower! 4 miles
Total-
45 miles by water
13 miles by portage (3 trips each)
58 miles total.
Moose Lake to Lac la Croix & Back
Entry Date:
September 20, 2022
Entry Point:
Moose Lake
Number of Days:
16
Group Size:
1
Things I wish I'd known:
1. The Canadian side of the Sucker Lake--Basswood Lake portage is 20 rods shorter than the American side.
2. The Canadian side of the Horseshoe Falls portage is shorter but muddier. Because my dog, Sadie, was on the trip, I cut an old Ensolite pad to lie on the floor, which was tucked under the gunwales, this raised Sadie up a half-inch and kept her dry. Rain turned to hail while crossing Basswood Lake, and the pad became a quick shelter for man and dog. The pad stays neatly in place in the canoe on portages.
The first week temperatures were in the mid-30's in the morning and warmed to the 60's during the day. There was a fair bit of rain the first week, and then fair and warm temps the second week.
The wind was in my face crossing Basswood Lake, both ways.
Many swans on the Basswood River including cygnets. They flew down the river in the morning, past my campsite, honking, and flew back at night.
Finished about 8 plein air paintings, and took 1,471 photographs to serve as reference works for studio paintings. The canoeists were generous in agreeing to serve as "models" for photos of them paddling.
Wonderful trip.
