BWCA Help on nailing down my plan for 2018 - EP14/EP19? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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tombo131
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04/11/2018 12:11PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hey all,

I've had a few posts trying to figure out where I'm taking my group here in June 2018. Thought I had it nailed down, but now I'm second guessing it.
Current plan:

-I have an early June permit for EP14, 6 days on the water. Current plan to head straight north toward Fat/Gun area, then over toward Gebe, and down through Oyster and exit at EP 16.

-I just noticed that EP19 Stuart still has the permit available for our entry day. I'm wondering if it would be more enjoyable for 6 days to do EP19 to Stuart, then Iron, then Boulder River/LLC, then exit through Agnes and EP16.

We have 6 days, 5 nights. Any opinions on advantages/disadvantages of these two routes?
 
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04/12/2018 02:04PM  
Those are both great routes IMO. I wouldn't second guess it.
The only thing I would say is that the Stuart River is really a nice, peaceful way to start a trip. Only 1 permit a day and unlikely to see anyone the whole paddle in. Unless your group is not up for a little longer portage and navigating some beaver dams...then Stuart route is definitely not your jam. :)
If you stay on Stuart, site 1824 is awesome for a group.
Nice mix of fishing on both routes too. Never gotten skunked on any of those lakes.
Should be a great trip either way!
Thwarted
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04/12/2018 09:43PM  
Hi Tom. Since you already have the EP14 permit I would stick with it. That is a wonderful route though you will not have time to lollygag. My only disclaimer is that you should all be in good shape and into traveling everyday. It is ambitious with one day for a weather or layover day.
04/12/2018 10:47PM  
Another option with the time that you have allotted would be to stick with EP14 but instead of heading north, go through Shell to Oyster and then north to Gebe and up the creek, coming out on Lac La Croix before Pocket. Then work your way south on LLC exiting through Agnes and Nina Moose to EP16. That would give you a couple layover days.
tombo131
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04/13/2018 01:35PM  
Thanks all for the feedback.

It looks like essentially any route out of EP14 that gets me up to Fat, regardless of where I loop to, is going to be between 37-40 miles single portaging. Around the same travel time estimate too (~18 hrs).

A few loops out of 19 would be shorter; the one from EP19 to Iron, to LLC, to Agnes, and out EP16 would be right at 31 miles and 14 hours travel time.

I think I to just stop second guessing this and go with my original plan at EP14. Something about the Stuart entry just has captured my interest.

fishnfreak
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04/18/2018 01:36PM  
EP 19, Stuart to Iron to Boulder Bay and take the Dahlgren river back to Stuart and out
You can thank me later,

Consider getting the PMA permit for Sterling lake as well.
 
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