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Winter Camping and Activities

Winter trips 2012-13

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Date/Time: 05/01/2024 06:44PM

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Winter trips 2012-13

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Author	Message Text
TuscaroraBorealis	02/28/2013 05:46PM quote Sobi: "We just got back from the Lake One area. As you can see the weather was sure kind to us. Hope to have a full report soon. " Looks downright balmy! ;-)
Sobi	02/28/2013 03:37PM We just got back from the Lake One area. As you can see the weather was sure kind to us. Hope to have a full report soon.
PINETREE	02/28/2013 02:24PM Yes if I get off my butt and just go. Hope for two trips in March. Probably 3-4 day trips each time. Last year my march trip was a BWCA canoe trip on March 28th for lake trout.
TuscaroraBorealis	02/28/2013 02:05PM Anyone with a late season trip?
catfish72	01/22/2013 11:58PM heading into Bog or Clear lake on the 7th-12th of Feb. can't wait!
PINETREE	01/22/2013 03:34PM Talk to the Hansens at Sawbill resort.
hubben	01/22/2013 03:23PM For those of you with experience in the Sawbill area, does anyone know if Phoebe is accessible in the winter time? It may be too distant for a three-night trip I have planned for this upcoming weekend anyway (entering by way of Sawbill). It looks like the flowing water (interspersed with portages) connects Grace Lake to Phoebe, and I'm particularly paranoid of walking on ice with underlying currents. Perhaps someone has some knowledge on the depth of Phoebe River and any potential dangers involved with traveling this route. Thanks!
TuscaroraBorealis	01/22/2013 10:18AM quote Flightmed13: "I will write a report when I get back and I hope to take a few nice pics! C" Looking forward to it.
Flightmed13	01/07/2013 02:24PM Thanks for the advice. Pretty sure I am going to stick to the Sag. area after researching the map. My only other option is heading to the Lac La Croix side. I am fairly well prepared, well traveled. I just haven't done the winter thing in a while! I am headed in Fri. and may stay til Tues. The only other problem so far is finding depth maps for Saganaga. No luck yet... I will write a report when I get back and I hope to take a few nice pics! C
tg	01/07/2013 02:05PM In other words the lakes inside the bwca have probably been worked over for a couple weeks now?
PINETREE	01/07/2013 07:23AM I wish all seasons would open the same day,that would take some of the excessive pressure off especially those lakes just inside the BWCA. They did change to the same closing date and that has helped quite a bit.
tg	01/07/2013 01:12AM Anyone else headed out this week? I hope to be out Friday-Sunday. Looking at heading into Duncan or Daniels-the laker season outside the BWCA opens saturday so I hope to find some space inside the BWCA-if that makes sense. tg
tg	01/03/2013 10:37PM If you are planning to target lakers know that the season for lakes entirely within the bwca is open now but lakes only partially in the bw like snowbank, or clearwater (not sure about seagull) are not open for trout fishing til next Saturday the 12th. I have done a few short solos and would echo others sentiments about not biting off too much to chew. You will find space if not complete solitude wherever ou goin the bwca ths time of year. Days are short, foot travel slow and allow plenty of time for wood harvest and fun stuff like fishing or free-skiing (without a pack/toboggan/or other load to haul). I am headed up later next week and don't plan to be more than a lake or two deep in the wilderness. tg
PINETREE	01/03/2013 05:17PM quote TuscaroraBorealis: "quote Flightmed13: "NEWBIE headed in next week for my first BWCA solo!! Not sure how far I'll go, not sure what lakes I am doing yet?? I know one thing... I need to find some Lakers, maybe a Walleye or a large Pike.. And last but not least SOLITUDE! Route ideas and lakes are always appreciated, I could not have set up this trip without all of you guys and your great posts over the years! C" Perhaps give Snowbank or Sea Gull lake a try." Have a great time,just don't over-extend yourself until you know your physical limits and your gears potential. I remember seeing people going solo or a group on their first trip and they had over ambitious goals. I seen they were over laboring and there gear they had was not the best. They had big plans and I knew they would not meet their destination goal in the time allotted. Enjoy yourself.
TuscaroraBorealis	01/03/2013 03:00PM quote Flightmed13: "NEWBIE headed in next week for my first BWCA solo!! Not sure how far I'll go, not sure what lakes I am doing yet?? I know one thing... I need to find some Lakers, maybe a Walleye or a large Pike.. And last but not least SOLITUDE! Route ideas and lakes are always appreciated, I could not have set up this trip without all of you guys and your great posts over the years! C" Perhaps give Snowbank or Sea Gull lake a try.
Flightmed13	01/03/2013 02:36PM NEWBIE headed in next week for my first BWCA solo!! Not sure how far I'll go, not sure what lakes I am doing yet?? I know one thing... I need to find some Lakers, maybe a Walleye or a large Pike.. And last but not least SOLITUDE! Route ideas and lakes are always appreciated, I could not have set up this trip without all of you guys and your great posts over the years! C
arctic	12/31/2012 08:00PM Have a great time! Excellent travel conditions and reasonable temps, although tonight will be a bit cool for first-timers. Kudos for introducing kids to the North Country in winter.
Frenchy19	12/30/2012 07:52PM Thanks, folks! The thing that is so awesome about this trip is that the kids are absolutely stoked, and rarely, if ever, do we ever sleep in a tent! In fact, the only time we've broken out the tents was two years ago when it rained. Otherwise, we're out under the stars.
PINETREE	12/30/2012 07:50PM quote Frenchy19: "I leave tomorrow with a group of 8 5th graders for a week in the bwca. Using Wintergreen as our outfitters, and this will be the 10th year I've taken students on a winter camping trip via Wintergreen. Not sure yet what the route will be, but I will share our experiences when we return on 1/6. Should be a hoot; these kids are tiny and none have ever been winter camping before!" Excellent job,what a Warrior.
TuscaroraBorealis	12/30/2012 07:00PM quote SevenofNine: "Best of luck on a great trip Frenchy." +1
SevenofNine	12/30/2012 12:54PM Best of luck on a great trip Frenchy.
Frenchy19	12/30/2012 11:27AM I leave tomorrow with a group of 8 5th graders for a week in the bwca. Using Wintergreen as our outfitters, and this will be the 10th year I've taken students on a winter camping trip via Wintergreen. Not sure yet what the route will be, but I will share our experiences when we return on 1/6. Should be a hoot; these kids are tiny and none have ever been winter camping before!
David Cap	12/28/2012 05:28PM I am planning a trip for the 3rd weekend in January, putting in on farm lake and setting up camp on clear lake for a few days. Last year I had good fishing on clear lake. I hope this year we will have a lot more snows to try out my new snowshoes.
arctic	12/22/2012 08:34PM quote PINETREE: "quote cjacoby: "Was fortunate to make it in twice last year - once to Clearwater and once an attempt to get to Gillis but only made it to Gutter with day trips to Bat to fish Lakers. Thinking about doing Clearwater again and trying Tuscarora. That was a hell of a trip trying to get to Gillis through unbroken trail, slush and tough portages with heavy sleds since we hot tent." Back in the 90's I use to go to French or Gillis every year with day trips to Gabi from French lake in the winter. Couple years we broke trail with three feet of snow. Never new how great of shape I was in back when I was young and age 45. Beautiful country in the winter. Use to loop from Round to Bat and come out by way of Tuscarora. Those were the days I remember fondly. Remember some portages would of been hard to cross,except in the winter moose used these all the time and there tracks crusted,which helped a lot. Slush can stop you dead in your tracks and it is very hard to move forward. Lucky most of our trips we had only spotty slush spots at most." That's one of my favorite areas too, winter and summer. A great winter loop, if the snow isn't too deep, and you don't travel too heavy, is: Round-Gillis-Gabimichigami-Little Sag-Crooked-Tuscarora-Round. Lots of trout potential and unlimited great camp locations.
PINETREE	12/12/2012 06:55AM I don't think they plow the Tomahawk road in the winter. They might have a logging project down that way to keep it open. Check with the USFS in Ely or Tofte.
Jradue1	12/11/2012 08:04PM quote catfish72: "December 9th-13th (if weather permits)I am taking a first timer into Bog. Jan. or Feb. I am planning on giving fortown a shot. In March it is on to the Kawishiwi. I will be super stoked and surprised if this all works out as planned. happy camping to you all and may your journeys be safe!" Any thoughts if bog lake will be accessible late January?
WhiteWolf	11/29/2012 02:26PM quote Arceneaux: "Definitely planning a winter trip this year - thinking about Ram Lake as the entry - possibly taking a snowmobile to get to the entry point. Tuscarora - we did the Missing Link Enty last year, with intentions of going both to Tuscarora and Mavis, but we ended up sticking around Missing link for 4 days - why move when you're catching fish! PS - the mid site on the point makes a great winter site with several different tiers to it." Like the X/Mas lights. Hopefully 12V of a Vex battery??
SevenofNine	11/29/2012 01:59PM Nice site for a view but you do get a workout climbing up to the fire grate!
TuscaroraBorealis	11/29/2012 01:53PM quote Arceneaux: "Definitely planning a winter trip this year - thinking about Ram Lake as the entry - possibly taking a snowmobile to get to the entry point. Tuscarora - we did the Missing Link Enty last year, with intentions of going both to Tuscarora and Mavis, but we ended up sticking around Missing link for 4 days - why move when you're catching fish! PS - the mid site on the point makes a great winter site with several different tiers to it." Thanks for the tip! Hopefully we have the same problem regarding not making it to Mavis or Tuscarora. :) BTW Welcome to BWCA.com!
awbrown	11/29/2012 10:48AM Currently I'm trying to slog my way through some health issues. I may have to limit my winter camping to car camping(at best), but at least it gives me goals to try to obtain. Something to strive for.......
DanCooke	11/28/2012 09:20PM Trying to plan a winter trip or two or a long Dec-Jan trip. Got to get it on the calender soon but life has some twists at the moment. i may have to live vicariously through all of your adventures.
walleye_hunter	11/28/2012 03:25PM quote davepi1: "Planning to hot camp on Duncan over the MLK long weekend in January. Did it twice last winter and had good luck with the lakers. Nice lake, only about a 45 minute sled drag from the entry point, and always have the option of snowshoeing up stairway portage for a nice view of Rose Lake. Just hope it stays cold enough this year to get a second trip in March, last year had to fight a lot of slush the first weekend of March. " Duncan is a pretty lake with all the pine trees. It can be a challenging lake to fish but it sounds like you figured a few things out. Catch any big ones? There are some pigs in there.
walleye_hunter	11/28/2012 03:11PM I try to get out camping at the end of March each year when the days are longer and warmer. Last year I had to take a boat with. We still caught lake trout but there was something unnatural about trolling for trout when I should have been jigging and chasing flags. Hopefully this year it will look a bit more like this in March.
funnelboy	11/26/2012 12:53PM Ive been heading in the BWCA camping for years. As i live in grand marais. Winter camping is the most secluded and quite! We have our first trip planned jan 1 to chase lakers! Next i do a seven nite solo trip!! Big lakers!!
catfish72	11/22/2012 12:33AM December 9th-13th (if weather permits)I am taking a first timer into Bog. Jan. or Feb. I am planning on giving fortown a shot. In March it is on to the Kawishiwi. I will be super stoked and surprised if this all works out as planned. happy camping to you all and may your journeys be safe!
jwartman59	11/21/2012 10:53PM no trips planned, yet. i wait for the right weather, but my brother and son are both in duluth, and both are ready for spur of the moment trips. we keep things simple, cold (very cold) tents, etc. we have many routes that we have used over the years, mostly off the echo trail.
Arlo Pankook	11/21/2012 07:15PM quote TuscaroraBorealis: "We've officially committed to Spending a night at one of Tuscarora Lodge's cabins, then heading into Missing Link lake for a few days. Hopefully we can make it to Mavis lake too. Ahhhhhhh winter... " You gotta love those snow covered spruce trees...I love this pic, note the spruce tops almost touching the ground.
motdur	11/21/2012 06:13PM quote mocha: "quote motdur: "After last years trip to Alder via Clearwater we will be taking a much easier route. Leaning towards Daniels. " you should try alder again but go in from east bearskin... then you have just one short flat portage." Hey mocha...we ended up coming out through East Bearskin. One of the guys from Bearskin Lodge gave us a ride back to Clearwater.
Papinator	11/21/2012 02:35PM We are officially going to the ice fishing derby on Feb. 16th (unless the date changes) and then heading up probably in to Trout Lake entry :)
WhiteWolf	11/21/2012 05:02AM quote TuscaroraBorealis: "We've officially committed to Spending a night at one of Tuscarora Lodge's cabins, then heading into Missing Link lake for a few days. Hopefully we can make it to Mavis lake too. Ahhhhhhh winter... " That's a great pic. Winter can't come soon enough. The one thing I miss about living in IA is truly having a winter. TB-- I'd love to winter camp with you sometime!!!
mocha	11/20/2012 07:09PM quote motdur: "After last years trip to Alder via Clearwater we will be taking a much easier route. Leaning towards Daniels. " you should try alder again but go in from east bearskin... then you have just one short flat portage.
TuscaroraBorealis	11/20/2012 05:45PM We've officially committed to Spending a night at one of Tuscarora Lodge's cabins, then heading into Missing Link lake for a few days. Hopefully we can make it to Mavis lake too. Ahhhhhhh winter...
davepi1	10/09/2012 09:07PM Planning to hot camp on Duncan over the MLK long weekend in January. Did it twice last winter and had good luck with the lakers. Nice lake, only about a 45 minute sled drag from the entry point, and always have the option of snowshoeing up stairway portage for a nice view of Rose Lake. Just hope it stays cold enough this year to get a second trip in March, last year had to fight a lot of slush the first weekend of March.
PINETREE	10/07/2012 09:07PM quote cjacoby: "Was fortunate to make it in twice last year - once to Clearwater and once an attempt to get to Gillis but only made it to Gutter with day trips to Bat to fish Lakers. Thinking about doing Clearwater again and trying Tuscarora. That was a hell of a trip trying to get to Gillis through unbroken trail, slush and tough portages with heavy sleds since we hot tent." Back in the 90's I use to go to French or Gillis every year with day trips to Gabi from French lake in the winter. Couple years we broke trail with three feet of snow. Never new how great of shape I was in back when I was young and age 45. Beautiful country in the winter. Use to loop from Round to Bat and come out by way of Tuscarora. Those were the days I remember fondly. Remember some portages would of been hard to cross,except in the winter moose used these all the time and there tracks crusted,which helped a lot. Slush can stop you dead in your tracks and it is very hard to move forward. Lucky most of our trips we had only spotty slush spots at most.
Minnesotian	10/07/2012 10:18AM Yep, probably in January. Don't know where yet.
motdur	10/05/2012 10:18PM After last years trip to Alder via Clearwater we will be taking a much easier route. Leaning towards Daniels.
cjacoby	10/05/2012 03:08PM Was fortunate to make it in twice last year - once to Clearwater and once an attempt to get to Gillis but only made it to Gutter with day trips to Bat to fish Lakers. Thinking about doing Clearwater again and trying Tuscarora. That was a hell of a trip trying to get to Gillis through unbroken trail, slush and tough portages with heavy sleds since we hot tent.
rharjes	10/05/2012 09:04AM Sawbill as well here, with plans to also camp in the SNF around the Wilson Lake/Harriet Lake area and a weekend or two in George Crosby to explore the trails and park.
RainGearRight	10/05/2012 08:48AM Tuscarora would be an excellent lake to winter camp on, but that portage in the snow would be a killer to haul my wall tent into. I'm hoping to get up to Daniels for a long weekend and chase some trout in march.
Papinator	10/04/2012 10:39PM Me me me!! Probably sawbill but haven't planned it out quite yet
Soledad	10/04/2012 09:06PM I was told that I am going in on Lake One, down to the edge of the burned area around Three to burn the wood that the Pagami Fire did not. I think there will be 5 of us.
TuscaroraBorealis	10/04/2012 08:11PM So who has plans for sleeping on the snow this winter? I think we're gonna try Missing Link EP #51.