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BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 15 2024

Entry Point 30 - Lake One

Lake One entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 21 miles. Access is a canoe landing at Lake One.

Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
My son Remy and I, and my friend Keith and his son Charlie put our canoes into Lake one at 9:30 Monday morning after dropping off a car at the Snowbank Lake landing. Lake One can be tricky to navigate. On our way to Lake Two we turned East too early and ended up paddling about a mile out of our way into a dead-end bay before we realized our mistake. We blamed the fact that Lake One was split between Fisher Maps #10 and #4 for our error. If the entire lake had been visible at once on a single map, we would not have made the wrong turn. Once we got back on course we portaged the 30 rods into a pond and then portaged the 40 rods into Lake Two. The weather was nice, and there was a bit of a tail wind out of the West. We stopped for lunch on the shore of Lake Two. After lunch we canoed through the North end of Lake Three and into Lake Four. We stopped for the night at a campsite on the West shore of Lake Four, just North of the channel heading toward Hudson Lake. We had to battle swarms of mosquitoes as we set up the tents. We then had a nice refreshing swim. Because we had brought steaks along for the first night, we didn't go fishing.

On Tuesday morning we had a bacon and eggs breakfast then packed up camp and headed out in our canoes. As we canoed past our campsite, we realized that Remy & I had left our hammocks pitched between trees. We landed again and quickly packed them up. Once again we had beautiful weather. We paddled East and completed 3 short portages before entering Hudson Lake. The 105 rod portage into Lake Insula was exhausting! Lake Insula is a large gorgeous lake broken up by multiple islands and penninsulas. We had lunch at a campsite on a large island just East of Hudson Lake. It felt like we had a tail wind as we were heading East, and then as we turned North it seemed like the wind shifted and was at our backs once again. We navigated Lake Insula flawlessly and camped for the night on the island just West of Williamson Island. After setting up the tents and a refreshing swim, Remy & I got back into the canoe and tried to catch some fish. We had no luck! At 9PM that night, just as we were going to bed, a thunderstorm rolled through. That night I was awakened several times by the loud croaking of bullfrogs from the shallows around our island. What noisy neighbors!

By Wednesday morning the weather had cleared, but the wind was now coming from the Northwest, pretty much in our faces. We paddled to the North end of Lake Insula and tackled the largest portage of our trip. The 180 rod walk to Kiana Lake actually seemed easier than the 105 rod carry into Lake Insula. We headed onward into Thomas Lake where we really started feeling the headwind. We finally made it to the campsite just Northeast of the portage into Thomas Pond in time for lunch. After lunch we proceeded across Thomas Pond and into Thomas Creek after hiking across the famous Kekekabic Trail. We managed to easily run the rapids in Thomas Creek and avoid the 2 short portages. We camped for the night on Hatchet Lake at the northern campsite. It was cool and windy, so we didn't swim. There was lots of threatening weather going by to the North of us, but we stayed dry. After supper we canoed back to Thomas Creek to fish and look for moose. No luck on either count, but we did see a beaver swimmming.

The weather was nice again Thursday morning, but the wind was out of the West which was the direction we were heading. We portaged into Ima Lake and canoed across it. Before portaging into Jordan Lake, we watched a bald eagle sitting in a tree get harrassed repeatedly by a seagull. The narrow channel leading into Jordan Lake is quite beautiful. It is narrow like a river with big rock outcroppings. We paddled across Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure, and Jitterbug Lakes. We found the Eastern campsite on Ahsub Lake taken, so we camped at the Western campsite which had a great place for swimming in front of it. There was a very brave loon in front of the campsite who didn't seem to mind if we got close to it. We tried our luck at fishing, but only caught 1 smallmouth which was too small to eat. Between 5:00 and 7:30 that evening we saw a number of canoes heading across Ahsub Lake from Disappointment Lake to Jitterbug Lake. We weren't sure where they were planning to camp, but it was getting late.

On Friday we awoke again to good weather. We paddled the length of Disappointment Lake and portaged into to Parent Lake and then on to Snowbank Lake. It was July 4th, and as we entered Snowbank Lake the sounfd of firecrackers reminded us we weren't in the wilderness anaymore. After a brief splash war on our way across Snowbank, we made it to the landing and our car was still there. What a great trip!

Fire lake solo

by Armored
Trip Report

Entry Date: June 22, 2013
Entry Point: Lake One
Number of Days: 6
Group Size: 1

Trip Introduction:

Day 1 of 6


Saturday, June 22, 2013 Left mom and dads at 5:30 am . Got to the ranger station at 8:30 am. Filled with gas and headed to EP 30. On the water by 9:30 am. Got turned around heading north but found the river in about 20 min. No wind till the first portage and bucked it on lake 2,3,4 . Got very disorientated on the second half of lake 4. Had to stop at a site to check the crapper (#1498) with my gps . It is very hard judging distance with so many bays and islands . The portage from lake 4 was so bad with bugs I might need a transfusion . Got to 1372 at 4:30 pm! Great site , flat rocks good trees for my hammock and tarps . Ate chicken and rice , cleaned up camp and in the hammock by 7:00 pm LONG DAY. 10 1/3 miles , 4 double portages , 3 eagles, many loons , and wolf scat on #3 portage and a beaver on fire lake. Site 47*55.576N 91*21.473W

 



Day 2 of 6


Sunday, June 23, 2013 Woke up at 5:00am with the sun. Layer in my hammock till 7:00am . Took a leak some time durning the night by rolling over and unzipping my bug net and letting it fly .( note to self put your sandles under the hammock so I don't pee on them again ) made coffee and bannock for breakfast got camp cleaned up and it started raining heavy at 9 :00 am for a half hour osprey and a loon playing right in front of camp. Only birds as friends ( that is good). Reading... A little fishing , one sunfish .lost a rapala on a rock, snagged a turtle by accident got off right a way .. That would have been a fight. 2 shots of rain so far one was really heavy all gear and myself stayed dry. NOAA said clear into tonight .. We will see. Listened to WELY this morning (dog mushers) now the twins game . Gathered some wood to the SE and made a bench for under my tarp. Got a fire going at 3:00pm. Just relaxing and reading . 1 pine squirrel behind camp that is not happy I'm here . Beef stroganoff for dinner with tang. Turned in at 8:00 pm read till 9:00 pm

 



Day 3 of 6


Monday, June 24, 2013 Up at 5:30 am laid around till 7:00 am moon was still up WOW very bright. Bannock and coffee with some trail mix for breakfast . Checked out the crapper and cleaned up . Went fishing around the island to the SE , no luck lots of wind . Found an active beaver lodge around the corner .... Later ;) paddled up the creek to drag lake . Found out why they call it drag lake. If you don't drag the canoe over a beaver dam you will tip over . Well got my bath for the day . Headed back to camp to change and relax. It wasn't deep but an eye opener. Noon now going to read till the wind dies down . Saw a canoe , first one since I left lake 4 . Took a 2 hour nap . Got up and made chicken teriyaki . Sent a spot ok message . Brushed my teeth and read till bed .

 



Day 4 of 6


Tuesday, June 25, 2013 Woke up late. Read until almost 10:00pm in my hammock. I can't remember the last time I slept until 9:00am. Some breakfast, bannock and coffee. Did a little fishing with some (special) bait. Got snagged on a large rock and lost the only leader I had. No worries. Very hot today. Radio said mid 80s. Little clouds, light breeze. Finished my book "American Sniper" by Chris Kyle. Very moving. even though I was never in combat, the things he went through after he got out were many of the same things I did. Rolling his truck stands out in my mind and always will. Just to back up, last night there were two loons fighting out in front of my hammock. I have never heard them so loud before. Listening to the weather, I think I will paddle out Thursday. Wednesday, rain, and Friday. And I miss Thor. I will tear down camp tomorrow after dinner, except hammock, sleeping tarp, and get on the water early. Fishing is not good here. Better chance at mom and dad's and I am just too lazy. Back is really sore. Beef stew for dinner with sea salt and garlic with tang. Clear night. Listening to the Twins. Bedtime soon.

 



Day 5 of 6


Wednesday, June 26, 2013 Woke up at 6am. Weather was good. Bannock and coffee, fished and listened to the radio until I had to poop. Weather rolled in about 11am. 11:40 it let loose for an hour and a half. Close to 2". Clearing to the west now. Glad I stashed all my gear. Hammock is a little wet, but I'll be fine. Twins game on. Took some good pics before the storm. I will pack everything but the hammock and rain tarp tonight before bed. Early start, hoping to be at mom and dad's by 4 or 5. Chicken breast and mashed potatoes for dinner. Mac and cheese tomorrow for breakfast. Twins lost 5-3. Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, not too happy about that. All in all, this has been a great trip. Bugs pissed me off, but I guess it could have been worse. I don't like to portage, maybe a different route or destination next time. One small mishap with Drag Lake, but learned a lesson. Would bring less non-essential stuff, too many multiples. Extra weight... Too many bull shit ideas to do, but lesson learned. Found a 2001 penny at camp.

 



Day 6 of 6


Thursday, June 27, 2013 Woke up at 3am to sprinkles, maybe 10 minutes. Fell back asleep and alarm went off at 4:30. Up and at 'em took a quick leak, wrapped up poncho liner, hammock and tarp, last picture, and on the water at 5:30. Sent last spot message and headed for the first two portages. Not one person on Fire Lake. Made the portage in 30 minutes. Bugs still bad. Second portage I blew out the sole of my Keens. Little or no wind on the north arm of Lake 4. First canoe on Lake 4. Took pictures of large rocks entering Lake 3. Bigger than my first apartment. Found a paddle on the south shore of Lake 2. Nothing special. Lots of full campsites. Got to the last 2 portages and met a guy that was leading an Outward Bound group that had been out 20 days. Talked with him for 20 minutes and thanked me for my military service. Never got his name but he looked like he'd been out for 20 years. Very nice guy. Made it to the landing by 11am. 5 1/2 hour paddle, better than going in. Made it to the ranger station by noon. Dropped off garbage and went to DQ for chili dogs. Mom and dad's by 3:30pm.

 


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