Has anyone ever done it?

I realize it would be an amazingly difficult feat to hit all of those tiny land locked lakes. I am trying to plan a ridiculous 3-5 month long expedition... getting to every single lake in the boundary waters might just be crazy enough to be worthwhile.

Also, is there are legitimate count of how many lakes are actually in the BW? 1,100+ is a number that is thrown around, but I wonder about it's legitimacy.

Here's my take: seeing every lake in the BWCA for interest and beauty and to paddle where few have paddled before is an admirable exercise. Paddling every lake in the BWCA to check it off a list, or to say "I've paddled every lake in the BWCA," is not admirable. All at least to me.

To see them all in one season also seems like you'd be doing to do it. If that's who you are and what you're about, then go for it. It's not my style though.

There is also a "definition" problem, for lack of a better term: what will you define as a "lake"? There are countless ponds or fat parts of rivers that could be construed as lakes. Will you only paddle named lakes? DNR recognized lakes?

I know a lot of my comments can be construed as minutia, but just my thoughts as I procrastinate in my office.

Mike

Its an interesting goal and would be a cool life experience that you could talk about for the rest of your life. Doing it all in one season though seems like it would be awfully tough.

Defining what is lake and what is a pond or wide river isn't that big of a deal. Just pick a definition that makes sense to you and stick with it.

My concern would simply be whether 5 months is enough time. If 1100 lakes is a close approximation then you'd have to hit more than 7 new lakes every single day to make it in the time allotted. Of course you'll run into bad weather along the way which will slow or halt your progress for a time. Also some lakes are much harder to get to than others so some days you may bust your butt just to reach 1 new lake that day. You'll have to be able to pick up the slack on the remaining days to make up for those slow progress days.

Logistics of planning a route and resupplys would also be challenging but doable if you have a good support system. Remember you can't exit the BWCA to get new supplys without a new entry permit meaning someone will have to bring your supplys to you.

Lastly if you really want to do it then ignore every bit of negativity coming from me or anyone else and give it a shot. Worst case scenario you come up short but you still get to spend 5 months on a pretty cool adventure and you'll see more of the BWCA than almost anyone else.

You will obviously have to eliminate the lakes in PMA's from your plan to make it even thinkable. Bushwhacking is very time-consuming. As mentioned, logistics would be difficult. Some lakes are dead end lakes and would require backtracking.

It can be done. Maybe not in one season, but I say go for it.
Make videos and post them up when you come out.
I'm living vicariously off of videos this year.

Good luck! It will take longer than a year.......

I'd be very surprised if it could be done in one season, but you could make a heck of a start. Regardless of whether you're doing it to experience all the lakes or just to check them off a list, what it will do is give you enough exposure to various areas to let you determine which ones draw you to explore them further in coming seasons. Give 'er your best shot! It will be time well spent whether it is possible or not!

I'm still mulling over being able to take off for more than two weeks at one time! I thought I could paddle them all in my lifetime, but now realize that goal is out of reach. That's o.k., I've found many places I've been are just as satisfying, and often more so, than places I haven't seen. Give me some loon music, a fire, and a sunset and I'm good.

Sounds like a heck of an adventure, wish I could come along for the ride!

First, you need a list...
That is more of a lifetime goal. You can make good progress on the list each year, but to do it in a year... forget it. My problem too would be I get distracted. I like to go back and see some things over. I also like to try new places.

My 1st thought would be, man you must have a nice boss to let you take 5 months off to go paddling for 5 months.

My would be very hard those off established routes came and could be very difficult if not impossible. If you ever done any bushwacking up there you well understand.

If you haven't busy wack you have no idea.

Just getting to all the lakes on known routes would be a feat

Sounds like a grant adventure. I agree with others that say get a map and start checking off the ones you have been to. Take your time and have fun, maybe two or three years?

I think you need to do it in one shot. By the next year, some lakes will be gone and others will be created. Dam beavers!

To really impress me you would need to paddle them all in alphabetical order. ;)

3 questions for original poster:

How many Boundary Waters trips of 5 days or more have you done?

What is the longest time you have solo canoed in a wilderness setting?

What is the maximum number of miles you have solo canoed in one day.

If there are in fact, at least 1,000 lakes total, and you do 100 every year; you're talking about a 10 year commitment.

I think "burnout" is one of a number of major deterrents.
But if you can actually do 500 lakes; you "might" have a chance.


BOB

I do not know if it's ever been attempted or completed. I'd say it's very doable if you set yourself to the task. Only one way to find out...