I will be taking my son's scout troop to the BWCA this June. We have decided on the Moose to Snowbank loop. A short 3 night trip but it should be fun. My intial thought was to camp on Ensign the first night; Ashigan, Boot, Abinodji or Ahsub the second night; and Disappointment or Parent on the third night.

The scouts are interested in fishing and hiking. It has been about 15 years since I have been on this loop and would love to hear from any of you who have been in this area more recently. Any thoughts/suggestions about campsites (there will be 8 of us), points of interest, fishing or hiking are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
JJ

I really liked Ashigan. Pretty and good sites.

Your distances seem pretty short, but you know your Scouts and what they can do. You might have an option to continue through Ensign to Kek and down through Thomas and Ima.

I assume you'll portage from Snowbank back to Moose parking lot?

Bill

I agree the intervals are short. The crew that is going can do those in their sleep. I have a more expansive route in mind, the one you suggest. I am hopeful that I can get them to take the outer route rather than the one I suggested.

Yes we will do the last portage to the moose parking lot. We will also forgo the tow to start and paddle moose instead.

JJ

JJ, are you using Northern Tier? My experience has been that the Moose lake area gets pretty "over run" with Scouts and tow traffic in prime season and large open sites can be hard to find. Snowbank to Lake One might be another option to check and let you avoid the tow motor boats and heavy Scout traffic.

GL

We are going on our own, not through NT. Good suggestion about an alternate route. It gives me a reason to look at maps this weekend. :) Also, would give me a good laugh as the scouts try to paddle the s-curves in the narrows to lake one. That last portage would be a beast though. 2 rods?

JimmyJustice: "I will be taking my son's scout troop to the BWCA this June. We have decided on the Moose to Snowbank loop. A short 3 night trip but it should be fun. My intial thought was to camp on Ensign the first night; Ashigan, Boot, Abinodji or Ahsub the second night; and Disappointment or Parent on the third night.

The scouts are interested in fishing and hiking. It has been about 15 years since I have been on this loop and would love to hear from any of you who have been in this area more recently. Any thoughts/suggestions about campsites (there will be 8 of us), points of interest, fishing or hiking are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
JJ"

I would skip Boot / Abinodji / Swing. There isn't anything really special about the lakes and the Abinodji to Boot portage is a real beast. The Swing to Abinodji is a swampy, muddy mess.

I have been looking at electronic maps and possible routes. I really like the Mudro Loop. In Mudro up to Friday Bay, loop east through Wednesday, back south thru Hose River and back out Mudro. all - total - 36 miles.

This was nice diversion from figuring out my own route on the east side. College Grandson and buddies are willing to let me tag along this August. I cook and outfit. They act as sherpas. I get to pick the route - they said "challenging" so I am working on it.

sylvesterii: "

JimmyJustice: "I will be taking my son's scout troop to the BWCA this June. We have decided on the Moose to Snowbank loop. A short 3 night trip but it should be fun. My intial thought was to camp on Ensign the first night; Ashigan, Boot, Abinodji or Ahsub the second night; and Disappointment or Parent on the third night.


The scouts are interested in fishing and hiking. It has been about 15 years since I have been on this loop and would love to hear from any of you who have been in this area more recently. Any thoughts/suggestions about campsites (there will be 8 of us), points of interest, fishing or hiking are greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance!
JJ"

I would skip Boot / Abinodji / Swing. There isn't anything really special about the lakes and the Abinodji to Boot portage is a real beast. The Swing to Abinodji is a swampy, muddy mess. "

The fishing can be good in Boot. If you do the Abinodji portage west-to-east, it's less painful as you climb less and then descend quickly to Boot. Just saying.

I like the idea of doing some hiking along the way. The only trail I've hiked in the area is a spur (I think) of the Kek Trail where it comes close to Alworth Lake just south of Ima. Looking at the Voyageurs Map #7 there are quite a few trails in that area especially around Disappointment Lake.

Maybe a bushwhack portage to some small lake would be a worthy challenge for the scouts too. I know you'll come up with some good challenges for them.

If you see a guy catching lots of walleyes, hopefully that'll be me. I'll be around that area in June too.

BeaV,

Hiking will definitely be on the "to do" list. 4 of the 8 that are going on this trip will also be going to Philmont in September to hike their way around New Mexico. They need to get into shape. (well I do.).

Good suggestion about the trails and the bushwhacking to a small lake. Knock the rust off their compass and map reading skills in the process.