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Rockwood Lodge 
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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Wife's first trip. please help!! Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| Captn Tony |
11/27/2011 08:41AM Thanks Snakecharmer, I've only been there 4 times. No wonder I can't remember the name. |
| Woods Walker |
11/25/2011 01:19PM LIS & Disappointment are great options, I would suggest Moose River North also. You really can't go wrong if you pay attention to her & monitor her condition, enjoyment or stress level. This trip will be all about her so make sure you have good comfort food & drink mix she likes. When I took my wife on her 1st trip, I told her she only had to paddle if she felt like it... she helped off & on but we were in no hurry & she really enjoyed it & was more help on the portages than I counted on. Hope you have a great trip! |
| bruceye |
11/24/2011 10:17PMquote moose664788: "With the daily entry points not going up, there should not be anymore traffic on LIS North then normal correct? Just because there was a fire cannot mean more groups entering, am I wrong? 2 to 3 hrs from the portage on the N. end going into Ahsub to Cattyman falls. Like Fitgers said, the boats on Snowbank are hardly an issue. I've done 12 to 15 trips to Thomas via Disappointment and the Knife loop. The few boats that ever came close to me on Snowbank were courteous and in one case, helpful. |
| snakecharmer |
11/20/2011 07:02AM Eddy is located between Eddy and the South Arm of Knife. |
| snakecharmer |
11/20/2011 07:02AMquote Captn Tony: "The falls are called Eddy Falls not Gibson!!!" It's actually Cattyman Falls. It's located between Cattyman and Gibson Lakes. |
| Captn Tony |
11/20/2011 06:33AM The falls are called Eddy Falls not Gibson!!! |
| fitgers1 |
11/14/2011 01:09PMquote HikingStick: "quote moose664788: "These are all great ideas. I have narrowed it down to basecamping on shell or disappointment but I am having a hard tome deciding. Thoughts?" I've been into Dissapointment a couple times and have not had any issues with motor boats. It's not that far from the EP to one of the two portages. I wouldn't really count boats on Snow Bank as an issue unless you were going north. |
| moose664788 |
11/14/2011 12:41PM With the daily entry points not going up, there should not be anymore traffic on LIS North then normal correct? Just because there was a fire cannot mean more groups entering, am I wrong? How long would it take to get to Gibson falls from basecamping on dissapointment? |
| HikingStick |
11/13/2011 07:42AMquote moose664788: "These are all great ideas. I have narrowed it down to basecamping on shell or disappointment but I am having a hard tome deciding. Thoughts?" Getting to Disappointment via Snowbank means you'll likely be dealing with some motorboat traffic. If you enter LIS North, you only have to worry about motorboats if you head up into Lac La Croix/Loon. Both areas are beautiful. The portages going in at LIS North don't seem tough at all going in, but your final two have noticeable climbs on the way out. Not horrible, but if she's beat from the trip, they'll seem tougher. While LIS North typically has less traffic, I wouldn't count on that in the post-Pagami Creek Fire environment. It was extremely busy when I was in there this past September (saw 6-8 groups while I was on the way in, and ran across others most of my other days). The rangers said that EP typically never maxes out that late in the season. I'd assume that some will want to avoid the burn areas completely, so traffic might be heavier, but not as heavy as it was this fall (when the rangers were re-directing people who had planned to enter the burn area). |
| moose664788 |
11/13/2011 07:22AM These are all great ideas. I have narrowed it down to basecamping on shell or disappointment but I am having a hard tome deciding. Thoughts? |
| Captn Tony |
11/12/2011 09:14AM I think she will be happy with Disappointment. You can day days trips to the Gibson falls and to Jordan lake for scenery. I not sure if Gibson is the right name for the falls. |
| maxxbhp |
11/11/2011 08:28PM I'm working on a similar situation, after months of study here's my short list. EP 25, tow to Ensign. Sawbill, with the intention of staying on north Alton or Kelso. The wife advantage of those 2 is that there are outfitters ON the lake, shower immediately upon exit, etc. My 3rd is EP 47, not quite as handy but outfitters nearby. My last detail to nail down is latrine location on the various campsites, it's gonna matter. Me, I could live in a culvert, this ain't about ME |
| Kevlar |
10/16/2011 09:03PM Look at Hegman Lakes, out the Echo Trail a little bit. One portage, about .25 miles. Actually two lakes with a carryover. Great pictographs, and a hiking trail. |
| HikingStick |
10/16/2011 02:41PM I'll also chime in for LIS North (EP 14). The portage from Lower Pauness to Shell is long, but not too difficult in grade. In fact, if spring comes early enough, it will be quite beautiful along the way. Just take your time on the portage--make two trips and enjoy the walk back together. That said, there's a good chance you might get your feet wet on that one, if water levels are up. If this fall was any indication, however, there will need to be a lot of snowfall to help water levels recover. There are plenty of sites on Shell, so you're bound to find one open. Personally, if I had the time, I'd make the hop over to Little Shell. There's a wonderful site on the north shore (south-facing), maximizing your daylight in the early spring. Once in that Shell Lake chain, you have many, many options for day trips. It sounds like you already area planning wisely (e.g., not pushing too hard on the first day). That will really make a difference in her enjoyment. Pack in a good meal for that first night, and leave yourself plenty of time to prepare that meal. Pack as light as you can, but be sure to include any of those extra items that will make her more comfortable in camp (e.g., camp stool/chair, hammock, a good book). On my wife's first trip, she enjoyed wandering alone along shore and through the woods, snapping photos along the way (which was fine by me, since my hammock needed company). Just continue to plan around her interests, and she should get hooked. On our way in for my wife's first trip, she said "Don't be disappointed if I don't like it as much as you do." Before the week was up, she was already making plans for our next trip. I hope your wife has a similar first experience. |
| serenityseeker |
10/14/2011 11:30AM I would say LIS north and head whatever direction you choose. You could stay on one of the Pauness lakes and take Day trips over to Devils Cascade or any of the nearby lakes for fishing. It is a very pretty area. |
| schweady |
10/14/2011 07:41AM Those concerned about traveling the most recent burn area would be best served by looking at a map:  Edit 11-27-11: adding higher-resolution map which allows zooming in to read lake names  |
| snakecharmer |
10/14/2011 06:08AM Disappointment is a beauty with decent fishing and good day tripping opportunities. Being so close to the entry point, it does get some traffic. Grab a campsite early, and if possible, off the main travel route. Never had any bear problems when we stayed there. |
| moose664788 |
10/13/2011 10:15PM Agreed, after you get through Fourtown its a breeze. I would love to get her up to Thunder, but I think around Gun she would be looking to find one and point it at me. Is the K. Triangle area totally burned now? Also Any thoughts on the suggestion of staying on Disappointment, I am worried about bears and lots of people, this true? |
| paddlefamily |
10/13/2011 09:59PMquote tony: "Entry 50 (cross bay) down to Long Island Lake. Day trip down to frost and cherokee. +1 I'd stay on smaller lakes (less exertion and closer to scenery). Kawishiwi River triangle, (going west, away from burn area) is lovely and accessible via Ojibway Lake. LIS, as you know is great. Good day trip options. Mudro to Fairy. Fairy is a scenic lake with plenty of day trip options in many directions. Portage from Mudro to Fourtown would be the most difficult, but it is really scenic...and since you say you'll be carrying most everything, it might not be a big deal for her. After that, its a piece of cake getting to Fairy. |
| lundojam |
10/13/2011 09:21PM Include her in the planning. Narrow it down to two or three trips, lay out the pros and cons of each, and let her choose. The more stuff she chooses (routes, meals, campsites, etc) the happier she will be. Also, wives tend to like nice views. |
| ChazzTheGnome |
10/13/2011 02:08PM I think its just west of the burn area (not 100% though) bi took my wife in ar ep 33 llittle gabbro and then headed northwest into the kawishiwi river triangle. Base camped for 2 nights and then bummed around ely for a few hours. She loved it and wants to go back next summer. Took us about 2 hours from car to base camp. Double portaged. She took lighter stuff. I let her go over the maps at home and pick spots and the ep and the route ect. This was a trip for her so she picked... |
| boonie |
10/13/2011 10:37AMquote moose664788: "I have thought about the Gunflint, just I wanted to show her around Ely, bear and wolf exhibits, etc. Any Ely side suggestions?" I'm not sure just what was affected by the fire, but another possibility, if you don't mind the long first portage, would be to get a tow across Burntside and enter at Crab Lake. |
| inspector13 |
10/13/2011 09:39AM Enter at Moose, maybe get a tow to Splash and paddle into Ensign to base camp. You can make various daytrips from there including a trip to Cattyman Falls. |
| apugarcia |
10/13/2011 09:14AM I like Boonie's idea, take her to Johnson Falls |
| moose664788 |
10/13/2011 07:50AM I have thought about the Gunflint, just I wanted to show her around Ely, bear and wolf exhibits, etc. Any Ely side suggestions? |
| boonie |
10/13/2011 07:19AM Well, you know you could be on Fourtown in a half day, but with some portaging, and it's a beautiful lake. And you know about #14, LIS North and #16, Moose River. A lot of the central portion is toast now. Here's a thought for you: #64, E. Bearskin. I just did my first trip to the Gunflint here. In a few hours - 6 miles of paddling and one short, easy portage - you can be on Alder Lake. Another mile or two and one easy portage, and you're on Canoe Lake. Day trip to Pierz, Crystal, Pine, Johnson Falls. If you do this - take the 48-rod portage out of the southern arm of E. Bearskin to Alder. Do not take the 80-rodder out of the north arm. It's very steep and the trail near the landing on Alder Lake is blocked by a large pine. You can find some pictures here |
| tony |
10/12/2011 10:45PM Entry 50 (cross bay) down to Long Island Lake. Day trip down to frost and cherokee. tony |
| Savage Voyageur |
10/12/2011 10:31PM Might want to pick a route that has a tow to get you into an area fast since you only have a few days. Make it easy for her and you will have a trip partner for a long time. Don't leave out the East side of the BWCA, lots of great area on that side. |
| JoeWilderness |
10/12/2011 10:31PM My only suggesttion at this time would be to keep her from a burn area. I know others here will be more detailed. I wish you all the best. |
| moose664788 |
10/12/2011 09:49PM Let me preface this by saying I have done 5 bwca trips so far, mostly loops with my father. However this year I finally convinced my wife to go. It will be her first trip next June. She is not much of an outdoors women, so would like to pick a base camp lake to take her to, possibly 2-4 hours travel to get to camp with day trips to go on some days. I understand I will be doing most of the portaging / work. I just want to spend 3 nights with her up there to get her to see why I love the area so much. Snowbank to Disappointment has been suggested, any other suggestions for EP's to enter on / lakes to camp at on the Ely side? I understand I will be around people, but I don't want the mad rush that is Lake One either. I have been through Mudro and Little Indian Sioux north as well so I am familiar with that area. Also I have been on the Gunflint side as well. Thanks so much. |
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