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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 01:14PM
Bushwack to Western Lake

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
airmorse 10/02/2018 06:54PM
I like when old threads like this come up. Reminds me that I have lots more to explore.
djwillco 10/02/2018 10:27AM
The Great Outdoors: "moheep,




The map Ken supplied shows the location of the Lunetta cabin.




I believe it was removed after the 1964 Wilderness Act.




It was owned by Henry Niemi who spent the entire summer on the lake. When paddling by, you could hear him singing Finnish songs while he worked on whatever project he chose to do that day. As I wrote in an earlier post, one project was the building of a trail from his cabin to Cummings Lake. Not just cutting a trail, but smoothing it out and using sand and rocks when necessary to make it nice. I don't know if any recognizable portion of it exists today.




His wife stayed in Ely and ran the Trading Post, a store that sold Indian trinkets, clothing,postcards, and a few other items. I believe she was part Native American.




You'd have to have been familiar with Ely in the late 50's to remember the Trading Post as it was located on Chapman street, directly across from the Ace Hardware parking lot.




Henry was the grandfather of a friend of mine. We'd go to his basement apartment to get cookies from Grandma Niemi (never knew her first name. Of course back then it would have been Mrs. or grandma. You wouldn't have sat down for a long time if you called her anything else:)




Henry (Mr. Niemi) would only be home in the winter. I was always scared of him when we went on a cookie run, he never talked much, just grunted and always sat in a dark room on a rocking chair so you could never quite make out his face. As I think back, he could have been on some type of witness protection program:)




Their daughter passed away several months ago, the 3 grandsons and 1 grand daughter still live in town. My friend which would have been the oldest grandson, died in a mining company accident in 1970.


"



I read this thread before my trip into the area two weeks ago. I went looking for any remains of the cabin on Lunetta and found a few random pieces of siding, a wood sign that seemed to have had a tree grow around it (picture below, not sure if this is from the days of the cabin or after), and most significantly the reamains of this rock wall (picture below). No signs of the trail that he cut up to Cummings though. Was also wondering if he had a cold storage in the ground or a garden? Seemed there might have been some evidence of these as well.

Ken 05/16/2008 09:54PM
We did most of our 'dump diving' in the area between Battle and Phantom. We saw no Chevy there. I did find a hubcap from a 1953 Buick, parts from a GMC truck, a washing machine, Refrigerator a couple of heaters. You can see a sampling of our discoveries at Pictures. The Chevy remains a prize for the next bushwhacker.
The Great Outdoors 05/16/2008 07:47PM
Ken,

Did you find the '55 Chev in the woods by the old logging camp site???
Ho Ho 05/16/2008 06:43PM
I haven't been to Schlamn or Lunetta yet, so I can't comment on that portage. But water levels are high right now, so maybe normally it's not an issue. Or maybe you have to wade when portaging. I bet Beymer describes that portage in his BWCA guide, but my copy's at the cabin so I can't check now.

I love this time of year in the BW because of the way the forest is. It's a great time to hike on portages or bushwhack some.
Ken 05/16/2008 03:22PM
No sound or sight of wolves, However where snow covered the trail we saw some rather large paw prints. Also we noticed a number of deer kills. I think my flickr photos have a couple.
The trip raised more questions than answers. The windfall removal seemed to be make in the manner of a portage worker done with a hand saw. Two cuts and rolling the piece out of the way rather than that of a chain sawyer (many cuts and smaller pieces.) I'd bet a beer on no ATV's however I'd bet a case of beer on winter snowmobile use. The winter campsite convinced me of that.
We had rather cold nights. Thursday morning we notice a skim of ice on a small pond along side the trail. Except for the rain Tuesday night we had wonderful weather.
Have you ever been over the Lunetta to Schlamn portages? I am wondering how folks manage Schlamn Creek bisecting the portage? Perhaps the creek is not so swollen after the spring melt during the summer.
Maybe next time I will canoe to Lunetta and go north from the middle schlamn portage.
Actually the Bushwhack from the logging site to the trail/road was one of the better parts of the trip. The forest was positively gorgeous.
Ken
Ho Ho 05/16/2008 03:03PM
Thanks for the report, I really enjoyed it. I've been wondering if you actually made this trip, given that Burntside was still frozen most of last week. Then I was looking at BWCA pictures on flickr a couple days ago and saw pictures of a couple guys hiking this area and wondered if it was you. Turns out the answer is yes!

I'm intrigued by the fact that the old roads are obviously being cleared of windfalls. I really noticed this when portaging from Battle to Phantom Lakes and from Phantom to Sprite in September 2006. I figured people were using them as illegal ATV trails. But it sounds like you think maybe snowmobiles? Or just (perfectly legal) walking routes for hunters? Anyway, I'm going to explore sometime - maybe paddle in and walk from there.

We were camped at Keneu Lake on Thursday (you're last night in) on an overnight paddle from Slim EP. Got nice and cold! Wolves howled at night and the morning. Did you encounter any?
Ken 05/16/2008 01:55PM
I published a trip report called
Phantom Lake Bushwhack
. Thanks to all for you information and encouragement.

Ken
Ken 05/10/2008 07:03PM
A brief Wrap up
My brother and I completed our hiking May 5 through May 9.
We bushwhacked from a logging parking area just next to the gate on Wolf Lake Road. We walked to avoid private land and joined the old road after about 1.3 mile. (The hike from the campsite on Phantom to the car coming out was 3.4 miles and took about 3 hours.)

We camped at the designated campsite on Phantom Lake. (We had a BWCA travel permit - one canoe cause they don't issue hiking permits for this area although the personnel knew we were hiking.) Burntside was still icebound.

We got as far north as the middle Schlamn Lake - Lunetta Lake Portage. The portage cross a rather brisk and deep (about 2 canoe lengths wide) stream at that point. I wonder what canoeists do to keep dry feet.

The next day hiked south to the BWCA border. Then we found a trail over to Meat Lake and thence to Clark. From this excursion, I realized that in the past I got to Meat not from the Wolf Lake Road, but from the Clark Lake Road.

On the third day we got as far west as Soroll Lake.
The trail/road is easy to follow. Windfalls have been cut (except for the past winter's, I presume.) Obvious the old roads have not been unused in the past 30 years.

We hiked about 10 miles per day.

In some swampy places the trail has sunk which means you face walking in a trough of water of crashing bush to keep to the berm.
We had wonderful weather for hiking. Only rain one night.
I must admit we kept a leisurely pace usually not getting out on the trail until between 10:30 and noon!

I get a fuller report together with photographs when I have the time.
Thanks for your help here.
Ken 04/25/2008 10:53AM
I am grumbling about the weather!
This hike is set to begin May 5th and the BWCA is still pretending its winter.
Thanks for the information so far.
Looks our scouting trip up north this weekend may have to be postponed.
What are the snow levels like in the woods - pre-storm?
Ken
keithcatfish 04/25/2008 08:37AM
Thanks for the thread, its a great trip report. The isolation sounds very appealing.
Ho Ho 04/24/2008 10:42PM
keith, see this thread.
keithcatfish 04/24/2008 07:51AM
I plan to explore the little lakes west of Crab (Meat, Phantom, Saca, Glimmer etc.) beginning 6/21. Does anyone know if the fishing is decent and whether any campsites are particularly nice/nasty?
The Great Outdoors 04/22/2008 11:00PM
Ken,

What did you want to know about the portal zone??
Ho Ho 04/22/2008 11:11AM
Ken, when did you hear reports that the protages from Crab to Phantom aren't maintained? I was in there September 2006 and they were in great condition. I know others who were there last September - no problem. The old roads are very very obvious between Phanton and Battle Lakes. (In fact, if you look that the map of that area on this website, it shows the old road.)

For what it's worth, I think the ice will be out by May 5.
Ken 04/22/2008 09:14AM
It's now April and the Bushwhack to Western is still on.
I have a entry permit into Crab Lake for May 5th since that seems the only legitimate way of accessing the old logging roads.
(Probably by Schlamn Lake. I would prefer to access the road at Phantom Lake, but reports say that the Crab-Clark-Meat etc portages are not maintained.)
The delayed spring (or perhaps it's really just a normal spring) has me anxious that Burntside will still be iced over. My bother and I plan to scout out various aspects of this trip in Ely this weekend.
The stated goal of this trip is Western Lake on foot. Realistically we will be satisfied for some nice spring days in the wilderness.
(We have a summer canoe trip planned for early August which will get us into Western the 'normal' way.)
So does anyone have any fresh information on this old Portal Zone?

Ken
The Great Outdoors 01/25/2008 07:15PM
Ken

Burntside lake has been open 3 times by April 15th.

If it had stayed warm last spring, it would have been open by the 10th, maybe earlier.
The Great Outdoors 12/27/2007 10:04PM
Ken,

Call the shop tomorrow morning, and I can describe the location.

If that doesn't work, let me know when you will be in Ely, bring your maps, and we'll take it from there.

All maps should be either the Fisher maps printed in 1958 or as late as 1970, maybe. They will show you locations of cabins and logging camps.

If you can transfer these to GPS maps, they should put you right on top of everything.

These should also show you the State Cabin we talked about last time you called.
Ken 12/27/2007 08:45AM
TGO
You make this more and more complicated. Another way in and a 1955 Chevy. My first car (purchased just as I went to college) was that vintage. I remember shortly after purchasing it the transmission went and I had to scrape together the $45 to pay the repair bill.
So I may have to reroute my brother to visit the chevy?
My brother and I gathered for Christmas and we were planning the purchase of the new gear we'd need (decent frame hiking packs). My wife said you better buy a new one,"I tossed out the decrepit one you had."
I will post a report on the trip and pictures when we return.
Keep talking about the 'high lights' and 'must see' stops we should include on the itinerary!
The Great Outdoors 12/26/2007 09:20PM
HoHo,

The road that passes by Tamarack lake is the old road that continues for miles.

You can also take the Clark Lake road off to the right just after Burntside, cross Tamarack Creek, and go to Clark Lake.

Just before Clark Lake, the road has a turn to the left that will take you to Battle and Phantom, also a few other lakes, then re-join the Wolf Lake road just before the old logging camp where the gate used to be (40 years ago)

There is an old 55 chevy in the woods where the camp used to be, and a few other odds and ends.
Ho Ho 12/26/2007 05:33PM
This is an interesting thread. I don't know nearly as much about this area as TGO and others, but I can tell you that the old road is VERY clear where it crosses the portages between Battle and Phantom and between Sprite and Phantom. Looking south from the Sprite-Phantom portage in September 2006, it looked to me like the old road had been cleared very recently; I surmised illegal ATV use from the Wilderness boundary. Some people who have property on Tamarack said you could get to the old road from there, though the info was pretty vague. Of course, on the satellite maps it looks like the road gets pretty faint in places further north. If you go, tell us about it afterwards, Ken.
Moheep 12/26/2007 11:27AM
Thanks TGO, It has been a couple of years since I have bought bait from you. When I went to VCC from 1990-92 I was a regular in your store. I dated a gal from Ely for 5 years and her father knew Benny A and i would listen to his stories all the time. I was introduced to that Crab area from her Brother in Law and he knew a lot of the history too. We spent a lot of time in Coxey/Silica and I just kind of took off from there. Even though the relationship didn't work out and I really didn't end up using the VCC education I think my three years up there were priceless. I started coming to Ely around 1980 to Pineshore campground which was on Fourmile Lake. It was a great place for a young kid because you could portage over to Five Mile and get the "experience". When the owner was selling that I think it was around 87 or 88 my parents actually looked into buying it. I thnk back then it was for around 100,000 bucks. They have kicked themselves ever since for not pulling the trigger on that one. There three boys have kicked them also. I will probably stop in this winter as a few of the old VCC boys want to come up and fish the Ditch.
The Great Outdoors 12/25/2007 10:38PM
Moheep,

You seem to like the Crab area.

Crab portage was once a road, which the owner of a resort on Crab would drive his Duck across. (a duck was an amphibious vehicle)

Too much to elaborate in a forum.

If you ever get to Ely, stop in the shop and we'll talk.

Many logging camps in that area.

See if you can hunt down any 1958 Fisher maps, as they show all the old roads and locations of cabins.

When updates went on the maps, the roads and cabins went away.
Moheep 12/25/2007 07:56PM
Thanks Great Outdoors. I love to hear about the history of that specific area. I fell in love with it many years ago and love the solitude and the abundant wildlife. I would have liked to meet him and just hear some of the stories. Thanks for sharing !!!
The Great Outdoors 12/23/2007 10:32PM
moheep,

The map Ken supplied shows the location of the Lunetta cabin.

I believe it was removed after the 1964 Wilderness Act.

It was owned by Henry Niemi who spent the entire summer on the lake. When paddling by, you could hear him singing Finnish songs while he worked on whatever project he chose to do that day. As I wrote in an earlier post, one project was the building of a trail from his cabin to Cummings Lake. Not just cutting a trail, but smoothing it out and using sand and rocks when necessary to make it nice. I don't know if any recognizable portion of it exists today.

His wife stayed in Ely and ran the Trading Post, a store that sold Indian trinkets, clothing,postcards, and a few other items. I believe she was part Native American.

You'd have to have been familiar with Ely in the late 50's to remember the Trading Post as it was located on Chapman street, directly across from the Ace Hardware parking lot.

Henry was the grandfather of a friend of mine. We'd go to his basement apartment to get cookies from Grandma Niemi (never knew her first name. Of course back then it would have been Mrs. or grandma. You wouldn't have sat down for a long time if you called her anything else:)

Henry (Mr. Niemi) would only be home in the winter. I was always scared of him when we went on a cookie run, he never talked much, just grunted and always sat in a dark room on a rocking chair so you could never quite make out his face. As I think back, he could have been on some type of witness protection program:)

Their daughter passed away several months ago, the 3 grandsons and 1 grand daughter still live in town. My friend which would have been the oldest grandson, died in a mining company accident in 1970.
Ken 12/23/2007 07:53PM
The Topo maps show a cabin
(Located within the red circle.) cabin on Lunetta
Cummings Lake lies just to the north. (Again I apologize for not having the dates of these maps at my fingertips. I am downloading them using a program called ExpertGPS. All my paper copies are packed away for a major remodeling project at my house. The trail (dotted line at the bottom) comes from the Wolf Lake Road (and also the portage from Hassle Lake.

Wolf Lake Road
moheep 12/23/2007 06:36PM
I am interested in the history of the Lunetta cabin TGO. How long ago and what happened to it??
kanoes 12/22/2007 09:48PM
i feel like a dray animal on many portages. :)
The Great Outdoors 12/22/2007 09:23PM
Ken,

If my memory serves me correctly, there was a proposal to put a path to be used by horses very close to, if not the same area, you show.

This was 20 years ago or more, and think that Howard Wagoner from Tower was the one originating the idea just before or after retiring from the DNR.

The horse is considered to be a dray animal, which isn't allowed in the BWCA, so the trail never materialized.

If you get a chance, give me a call at my shop tomorrow between 12 and 2. (218-365-4744) Your name is very familiar, & am interested in finding out more about your time in Ely.

An old timer that lived in the only cabin on Lunetta in the summers, Henry Niemi, built a trail with pick, shovel, and wheelburrow from his shack to Cummings. Ever hear of him???
Ken 12/22/2007 05:12PM
More info.

Thirty years ago I hiked to Western Lake from the Mud Creek Road. My GPS map still shows the trail. The map show the beginning at n47 53.447 W092 09.925 and heads due north until it ends on the map at the portage between Glenmore and Schlamn, midway across the portage.

I studied some maps this afternoon

Trail to Glenmore1

I followed the trail 30 years ago using a compass and Topo map. I could still find the trail on the forest floor. One reason for hiking at the beginning of May, Spring displays history better in the woods (old trails, campsites, dumps, etc.) than Fall. I found many blaze marks on the large old trees.

Before I arrived at the Glenmore-Schlamn portage, I encountered a newly cut over area. That pretty much wiped out any evidence of the trail. I walked a bit on the main road until I realized I was close to Western where I camped for the night and retraced my steps the next day.

I never figured out the purpose of the trail. A 'quick' way to a canoe stashed on Glenmore or Schlamn, part of a trapper's route. Whoever used the trail wore enough of a track in the forest floor that I could clearly follow it.

This provides an alternative for our Western Bushwhack. We would hike a shorter route (6 miles), but truly be crashing through the woods. (I am sure all evidence of that trail is gone.) However, my GPS shows the trail. Examining the Topo map does indicate the old trail meandered to follow high ground.


Another alternative for a Spring Hike to Western.
Ken 12/22/2007 10:44AM
Thanks

Your suggestion about canoing part of the way was plan B forming if using the Wolf Lake Road was not possible.

I lived in Ely from 73 to 82 and have returned often. (I live in Cloquet just outside Duluth.)

I 'stumbled' across Western during a trip in the 70's. I went with a couple of my brother's rowdy friends. I believe we came down the Little Indian Sioux River. The trip was memorable for a couple of reasons. 1. One guy used the latrine and put the toilet paper in his back pocket (with the plastic bag not closed). He liked to jump in and out of the canoe. Well, he wiped out 1/2 our toilet paper supply. That quickly became a problem. So bad we tried to dry the toilet paper over a fire!!!

2. We discovered Western Lake. We dropped some fishing lines in the lake during lunch and caught some beautiful walleye, which then became lunch. We hooked fish; the lake hooked us. We had one evening of fishing catching Walleye with only having the smallest bits of bait. We caught them as fast as we could clear our hooks. Many, many went back into the lake - a few became a late supper.

I visited Western more than a dozen times during those years.

We also discovered Sorol Lake (south of Glenmore). It was a extremely clear, deep lake filled with large Northern Pike. We would catch and release just to watch the lunkers dart in after the bait. Of course, we always SAW bigger fish going after our bait that we actually hauled out of the water. But fishermen do tell tales.

Ken
The Great Outdoors 12/21/2007 09:57PM
Ken

Much of the Wolf Lake Road from Foss lake on has always been on private land.

From the start of Tamarack Lake on, was all private, until you got further towards Phantom.

Easements were granted for logging years back, and people (fishermen & hunters) continued to use the road without the land owners objecting.

Gates have now been put up because some of the property owners have had run ins with people that left a bad taste in their mouth.

If the lakes are open at the time of your trip, which is possible, you may have your best luck canoeing across Big Crab, Little Crab, down the creek to Lunetta.

On the portage from Lunetta to Schlamn, you will cross the Wolf Lake Road.

You could stash the canoe, and begin to hike the route to Western. Get some good maps with GPS data. Then return to your canoe and paddle back out.

I traveled the area quite a bit, way back then, & made my 1st trip into Western (through Schlamn and Glenmore)in 1962, at age 14.

Where are you from that you knew of this area, as not many did in those days.
ditchpickle6996 12/21/2007 09:26AM
Ken,
No I'm not familiar with that exact area so I can't tell you how grown over the "old Wolf Lake Road" is now. I have hunted a lot about 5-10 miles from there. Even though there was a rough road there at one point doesn't mean you won't be bushwhacking through some thick woods now. I'm sure you will do just fine as it appears you have done your research. Good luck.

pickle
Ken 12/21/2007 08:26AM
Thanks for the information.

You anticipated part of my next question: Access along the Wolf Lake Road.

We had contemplated a scouting trip with Cross country skies once the snow hardened up in late winter. I wondered how far the road was open in the winter.

Sounds like you say it is basically a private road from Foss lake on?
The Great Outdoors 12/20/2007 10:40PM
Ken,

The area, if I remember correctly was being cut in the 60's.

I went deer hunting up there while home on leave from the Army in 1968.

Two of us shot deer east of the logging road, just before Schlamn creek.

This area had already been logged, we shot them in the slash that was left.

The logger in the area was Winegartner (sp) The portal zone still existed at this time.

This area is very grown in, and will be nothing like you remember.

Best to take the portages, as they are bad enough:)

PS-You must also cross private land to walk the "Old Wolf Lake Road" anywhere past Foss Lake.
Ken 12/20/2007 04:00PM
So Mr. Pickle have you walked very far on the 'old Wolf Lake Road' - as one posting named it - toward Phantom Lake?

I am only considering this Bushwhack because I figure the old roads might provide a 'path with less resistance'. I tentatively plan to add a lot of mileage (double - total near 10 to 11) than a 'bee-line' (5 to 6) to Western through swamps and thickets.

As I understand it this area was cut-over in the 1970's, so I expect no 'majestic pine cathedrals'. I doubt this area was re-planted. So what kind of forest will I find in there now?
ditchpickle6996 12/20/2007 03:49PM
That's a very interesting trip. We have a cabin not far from there and I've done a lot of deer hunting in the woods near our cabin and they can be VERY thick and nasty. Good luck and be prepared!
Ken 12/20/2007 03:28PM
Yes! A couple (one for each of us - my brother - not the dog) with a track plotted with way points along the 'roads'. I went hiking around Grand Portage last spring. Even with new logging roads, I might still be finding my way home without the GPS!
Beemer01 12/20/2007 02:12PM
Ken - Shall I assume you're taking a GPS, or should we alert the FS now? ;-).

Seriously, I'm occasionally directionally challenged, so would only try this trip if I had a GPS safety blanket. I also just read "Lost in the Wild" .... faint disappearing logging roads and swampy areas can be a potion for trouble.
Ken 12/20/2007 11:48AM
Thanks.
Looking at Google Earth suggests that the road disappears here and there around Phantom (and in other places). I would expect the old road to grow over very quickly in low areas. In other places the road seems very pronounced.
A couple of times the wind made it impossible to get across Cummings so we would take the 'southern route' through Lunetta.
From posts I've read, I seems that Western has changed. 'Surrounded by a sunken forest of dead spruce' and the beautiful camp site 'burnt over'. It also sounds like beaver have raised the lake level and mucked up the portage from Buck.

Still the dream and challenge to 'Walk to Western' is strong! Any more information out there?
moheep 12/20/2007 11:02AM
Ken, I have spent many days in that area the past 15 years. I have come in a couple different ways. From Buck and from the other way through Lunetta, Glenmore etc..... I have to tell you that Western is not the fishing lake it used to be. Buck has become a much better walleye lake. I am not sure what happened to Western but it took a dive about 7 years ago. Lots of little NP that must be doing some major damage. The old roads that you talk about exist in some areas and dissapear in others. It is very pronounced near Phantom Lake and that general area and then kind of blends into the woods. We saw some giant wolf tracks on the old road in the mud a few years back so keep an eye on the pup. I think you could do it, it would be a challange as you know. I think maybe fall would be best. Good luck
Ken 12/20/2007 10:47AM
Unsure where to begin this discussion, I will start here. I'm fishing for information.

Each Spring (end of April to first week of May), my dog Lila and I take a 2 to 3 day hike in or around the BWCA. I love this time of year in the North Woods. This year I have engaged the interest of a brother (along with Lila) to bushwhack from the end of the Wolf Lake Road (Tamarack Lake) to Western Lake.

I planto follow the old logging roads (from the Portal Zone days - 30 years ago). These old road beds should keep me on high ground for the most part and avoid the numerous bogs, sloughs, swamps (aka know as 'wetlands'). Traces of these road are still visible on recent - I think - satellite photos. A rough track suggest the hike would be 15 to 20 miles. In the 1970's I hiked many of these road to the East and West of Western Lake on my Spring Hike.

The goal of this hike? To get there.

Western lake has a strong pull for my brother and I. We made many trips in for walleye fishing in the 1970 and early 80' (from Crab to Cummings across the 1 miler to Buck and thence Western.)I had the best walleye fishing of my life on Western Lake.

I would like to hear whatever information people might have about the 'state of the bush' east and south of Western Lake.

Please try to restrain your replies to condition of the woods and not to the state of my sanity! ;>)