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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Ice In? Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| Jaywalker |
11/09/2018 12:46PMCretbo: "The Great Outdoors: "Many wolves and a lot of woods in the BWCA and surrounding area make it a tough area to hunt." Neither me nor anyone I know of has. Last year I was up on Blue Snow Lake for week. When I came back out to Brandt, I saw a wolf had followed my snowshoe trail in, peed on the spot where I had once set up my tent, and then turned around and went back out the way he came in. The prints were very fresh, so I had just missed him. I was the only person in the area, and there were more wolf prints on the main trail, but they stayed away. Hope to see one or more next time. 
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| Gadfly |
11/09/2018 10:02AMCretbo: "The Great Outdoors: "Many wolves and a lot of woods in the BWCA and surrounding area make it a tough area to hunt." I have seen a few over the years but usually they are far away. They are a non issue though, once they know you are there they are gone. |
| Cretbo |
11/09/2018 08:45AMThe Great Outdoors: "Many wolves and a lot of woods in the BWCA and surrounding area make it a tough area to hunt." Has anybody who winter camps had any issues with the wolves? |
| The Great Outdoors |
11/08/2018 08:01PM Many wolves and a lot of woods in the BWCA and surrounding area make it a tough area to hunt. |
| Jaywalker |
11/06/2018 05:49PM Bummer you didn't get a deer, but it sounds like it was still a good trip. I know folks see them up there, but the only deer I recall in 20+ trips was dead and mostly consumed. I wonder if they don't tend to stay toward the edge of the BWCA or just outside more, where there is more low growth from logging, lawns, trails and roads, and maybe fewer wolves. Not sure. The wildlife can be scarce up there. I did a week one October and saw nothing but a couple crows. Came home to my place just across the river from downtown Minneapolis and in a week saw two eagles, three beavers in the river, a couple foxes, several rabbits, a deer, and several turkeys that my dog chased onto the Stone Arch Bridge. Just doesn't seem right! Yes, I winter camp. It is GORGEOUS up there in the winter. I had 15 days last year in the BW, and another 6 a the dogsled race near Tofte. Snowtrekker's are great, but there are plenty of alternative and less expensive ways to keep the heat from blowing away. If you or someone you know can sew, there are even more options. I'm hoping to be up chasing lakers for about 10 days over new years. |
| wvevans_ |
11/06/2018 10:42AM Hi Jay.. Not a soul between Lake one and Hudson anyway. My boy commented that he he bets this is what the park would be like in an episode of the walking dead. No wildlife except a pair of eagles either. We gave it max effort . And I know guys like Stu do seem to have their crap together and can do well up their so we are going to go back to the drawing board and see if we can figure it out. It was a bit depressing to put that much effort into something and fail in seeing even one deer but to see the park during a time when a lot of dedicated folks do not get to was worth the time we put in I guess. Are you into winter camping ? This trip we took my 6 man hub and buddy heater.. But I have my eyes on a Tarp tent and an Alaskan jr. I could never afford a Snowtrekker but I could swing $600 on a that set up.. The YouTube videos seem to make this look like a good set up for the bwca.. I Hiked in about 5 miles two winters ago and cold camped solo. I whooped up on the lake trout. .I have pics in my profile from that trip. But night time was no fun |
| Jaywalker |
11/06/2018 08:01AMWvevans/: "Hey Pete. Yes sir came out last night. Very peaceful and quite. We checked with two different outfitters before we shoved offl and both said no problem. Fishing sucked and the deer hunt was what you would expect..." Just curious - were you deer hunting, and did you see many others inside the Bwca deer hunting? Glad you had a good trip. |
| peteb |
11/05/2018 10:34PMWvevans/: "Hey Pete. Yes sir came out last night. Very peaceful and quite. We checked with two different outfitters before we shoved offl and both said no problem. Fishing sucked and the deer hunt was what you would expect..."Thanks for the update. Sounds like a really cool time. |
| peteb |
11/05/2018 10:32PMJaywalker: "Thanks Jaywalker!peteb: "A hot tent is in my future. I know a few outfitters up there have them to rent- probably go that route first, along with other winter gear. I'd like to give winter camping/fishing a go. " |
| Wvevans/ |
11/05/2018 07:32PM Hey Pete. Yes sir came out last night. Very peaceful and quite. We checked with two different outfitters before we shoved offl and both said no problem. Fishing sucked and the deer hunt was what you would expect... |
| Jaywalker |
11/03/2018 08:42AMpeteb: "A hot tent is in my future. I know a few outfitters up there have them to rent- probably go that route first, along with other winter gear. I'd like to give winter camping/fishing a go. " If you haven't found it yet, there is a subgroup on this forum dedicated to winter camping. Go to the main message board page and look at the bottom under special interest groups. Winter is a fabulous time in the BWCA. |
| peteb |
11/01/2018 09:14PM WVEVANS- I'm a little confused. Are you reporting from Lake Four? Day tripping perhaps? At any rate, I'm envious, and I wish you and your boy a great trip! Pete |
| wvevans |
11/01/2018 08:34PM Sorry you had to skip your trip. We had the most incredible sunset on lake four tonight. My boy and i just brought in a 6 man hub shelter and a buddy heater for wake up time and getting ready for bed. It's working out great so far. Hopefully the weather let's us enjoy a few more days. |
| peteb |
10/31/2018 06:20PM A hot tent is in my future. I know a few outfitters up there have them to rent- probably go that route first, along with other winter gear. I'd like to give winter camping/fishing a go. Well, looks like the forecast has whittled my BW/Lake Vermillion trip down first to just the Vermillion portion, and now looks like that's a no go too! Guess I'll have to find some fishing to do here in southern California! Pete |
| Jaywalker |
10/31/2018 06:11PMwvevans: "Thanks for the good Intel.. sounds like a very nice trip. I love being in the woods this time of year. We are hot tenting so that helps also. " A hot tent is perfect for late fall. If you stay one day too long, you'll have a nice warm place to sit while you wait for the ice to thicken enough for you to drag your boats across. ;-). Be careful and watch your exits. |
| peteb |
10/30/2018 04:59PM I certainly appreciate the opinions and feedback. Between the advice and caution given here and substantial snow/low temps in the forecast, I'll be settling for muskie fishing on Vermillion 8th-11th. That should provide me with all the misery and frozen fingers/toes I was looking for, but with cold beer and a warm cabin. Again, thank you for chiming in. Pete |
| wvevans |
10/30/2018 04:38PM Thanks for the good Intel.. sounds like a very nice trip. I love being in the woods this time of year. We are hot tenting so that helps also. |
| poobah |
10/30/2018 03:08PMwvevans: "Still holding out hope for a trip up through the number chain leaving on the 1st... G.O. I had planned on giving you a ring a day or two beforehand to see what you thought." I just made a nice trip though the numbered lakes, coming around #4 to Bridge lake and Rifle lake, I encountered quite a bit of what I think is called "skim ice" which was very disturbing to me to paddle through. It was loud and somewhat violent - I half-worried about my kevlar Magic, but of course it was all sound and no damage...I've never experience this type of paddling before. I made it fine, but that big horseshoe curve that #4 makes - the ice was wide across the channel. |
| jwartman59 |
10/30/2018 02:21PM Photo from early November several years ago. If the lakes are ice free there is a very good chance the portages will be treacherous. This photo was from a backpacking trip, the lake had enough ice to support my Labrador. A solo canoe trip at this time would be very risky, that’s fine, problem is you would be putting rescue personnel in a serious dangerous position. Good time for a river trip. Real river with current. |
| The Great Outdoors |
10/30/2018 12:21AM The shop is currently closed, so contact me through this forum. :) |
| wvevans |
10/29/2018 01:21PM Still holding out hope for a trip up through the number chain leaving on the 1st... G.O. I had planned on giving you a ring a day or two beforehand to see what you thought. |
| The Great Outdoors |
10/29/2018 10:22AM Agree, last year Shagawa Lake near Ely froze solid on November 9th or 10th. I have never seen it freeze and not re-open somewhat that early in my life. |
| WhiteWolf |
10/28/2018 11:25PMThe Great Outdoors: "Too many unpredictable things could happen, so I'd forget about your BWCA trip before fishing Vermilion. Radical temperature drops are not unheard of. Years ago had two friends that stayed at a deer shack near Chant Lake off Burntside Lake. The trail to the shack was in short cut portage bay, and the low was predicted to be abut 20-25 degrees above. Well the temps plunged to -20 and the bay froze up tight. They ended up chopping the motor free from the ice, and laying it in the woods so they could retrieve it in the winter. Just guessing it may have been 2003. Earliest sub -10F on record at International Falls when it was -13F on Nov 8th-- (Saturday of Deer opener). Even colder temps where reported in the Arrowhead but the most reliable is the type of sensor used in I-Falls at the time. It was also below zero on the 7th of 2003 across much of N.MN. FYI- just last year it was -teens across N.MN with -13F on the 9th at I-Falls. Late OCT into early NOV things can go down hill FAST. |
| The Great Outdoors |
10/28/2018 10:02AM Too many unpredictable things could happen, so I'd forget about your BWCA trip before fishing Vermilion. Radical temperature drops are not unheard of. Years ago had two friends that stayed at a deer shack near Chant Lake off Burntside Lake. The trail to the shack was in short cut portage bay, and the low was predicted to be abut 20-25 degrees above. Well the temps plunged to -20 and the bay froze up tight. They ended up chopping the motor free from the ice, and laying it in the woods so they could retrieve it in the winter. They hiked back to the shack, then hung a right (east) and headed cross country to the Echo Trail-having to cross Dead River in the process. Both were very experience woodsmen, some with less experience may not have made it out. |
| Jaywalker |
10/28/2018 09:32AM This is one of those situations where "average" means very little, but any time in November and your in the risk zone. Ice in doesn't really happen the same as ice out, it can happen in bits and pieces, melt and refreeze, for weeks, and then one day one any given lake it just happens. Read MinnMike's recent trip report 27 day solo , or at least the last 2-3 days. The forecast certainly looks possible this year IMO, but be aware of the shallow bays and lakes you cross. Also, it's the time of year to keep the fancy carbon fiber paddles dry and bring a big heavy wooden whacker for breaking ice. |
| walllee |
10/27/2018 06:20PM You may have to break some shoreline ice in the morning, but looking at the two week forecast a trip should be doable. Can’t stress enough about warm clothing, warm tent, and smart decisions on when and where to paddle. Fishing will be awesome!! The Musky bite on Vermilion should be prime. Got a couple spots that I think would be great this time of year if your interested, they are in the Frazier Bay and Oak Narrows area. As far as “ice in”... who knows!! |
| peteb |
10/27/2018 04:11PM Hi folks, Please excuse me in advance, as I know I'm asking a question with many variables. So, can anyone share with me the average ice in on the average lake in BW? Reason I ask- I'm holding out hope to make a muskie fishing trip at my brothers cabin on Lake Vermillion, Nov. 8-11(assuming no ice on the lake). I'm coming a long ways, and am entertaining the idea of a 2-3 night solo trip in BW prior to the rendezvous at Vermilion on the 8th. I have dozens of May trips in BW and Q, and am familiar with ice out, but never ice in. I understand and respect the dangers/challenges of ice on a lake. Latest I've been is Halloween; it snowed, temps in the 20's, I was prepared, loved it. I'm flexible on the route, but probably Ely side of things. I am aware that rivers will be open longer into the season than lakes might be. Priorities are paddling and fishing. I sleep in a hammock with an underquilt. I'd appreciate any info/advice from members with intimate knowledge of typical conditions at this time(Nov. 5-8). If Vermillion has ice, obviously all bets are off, as she's a monster, and if she has ice, BW will be long iced in. Long story short- I know it's gonna be cold, but when does BW ice in? Thanks in advance! Pete |
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