BWCA Good Loop for Novices on Brule? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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1stMarDiv
  
04/22/2018 08:48AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hello all, I'm new to the forum, but have greatly benefited from much of the information I've obtained here. I have a good deal of experience backpacking/climbing/camping but I have had only one BWCA paddling trip. I am looking at taking a group of 4 on a 4-5 day trip to the boundary waters this summer. Unfortunately, I can't reserve a permit yet due waiting on some scheduling issues, but the time frame is from June-August.

I wanted to get some your thoughts on a proposed loop. I am considering starting at EP41 on Brule, then going to South Temperance - North Temperance - Sitka - Cherokee - Town - Vesper - Cam, and back to Brule. In your opinion, is this a reasonable loop for a couple of novices to take on in 4-5 days? Are there any other loops starting from Brule that you would recommend in lieu of my proposed route? I am really looking for great scenery and good campsites, with fishing as a minor consideration.
 
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Northwoodsman
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04/22/2018 09:31AM  
I'm looking at this from the "novice" perspective. Brule is susceptible to some very nasty winds which can make travel difficult and dangerous. The route that you propose is beautiful. Some of the portages are difficult, but doable (obviously people do them every day). I might suggest starting from #38 Sawbill and going up to through Ada, Skoop, Cherokee and back down through North & South Temperance Lakes, Jack, Kelly, Burnt & Smoke and back to Sawbill.

Another route in the area that is a good 3 - 4 day route is the Lady Lake Chain - starting at #37 Kawishiwi and going up to Polly, and back to the east through Hazel, Phoebe, Grace, Beth, Alton, and finishing at Sawbill. This would require 2 vehicles or a shuttle from Sawbill Outfitters. Beware Alton is another dangerous lake in winds. Winds are most prevelant late morning through the afternoon.

#39 Baker Lake EP is another good starting and finishing point for the first loop that I mentioned.
04/22/2018 03:38PM  
This is a beautiful loop with wonderful lakes and landscape and nice forest, too. The portages are a mixed bag, some real easy and some rugged. The Sitka-Cherokee portage is long and rough, but you can chose an itinerary where it is the only portage of the day. The Town-Brule day will have several rugged, rocky/bouldery portages. In this case there are no campsites until you hit Brule, so you will have to do them all. It will be the toward the end of the trip and you will have come to understand the portaging challenge by then. Get an early start, have your outfit packed well and keep moving so you can get to Brule early enough to find a campsite if you are staying the last night on Brule.

Given that several of the portages are rough and will be especially dicey in wet weather with wet rocks to negotiate I would , as novices, give special attention to good footwear.
04/22/2018 04:09PM  
I took that route a couple of years ago. I think as a novice you might want to look elsewhere. Brule can be a butt if the wind is up and many of the portages on that route are tough. Not length wise so much but just rough. Cherokee is a beautiful lake. Like mentioned come up from Sawbill.
scramble4a5
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04/22/2018 05:02PM  
My first trip was at EP41 with 3 experienced guys. The winds on Brule in the afternoon were pretty high and this rookie was pretty concerned. There are some pretty tough portages but that's par for the course.

South Temperance is a nice spot.

Just my opinion but I would not think it wise to have two inexperienced paddlers in the same canoe on Brule.
04/22/2018 08:50PM  
"In your opinion, is this a reasonable loop for a couple of novices to take on in 4-5 days?"

I don't know. I don't know you and your crew of novices or their expectations, mental attitude, physical abilities. I don't even know how much of what a BW trip entails -paddling, portaging, camping - that they are novices at doing.

It's not a long route as far as mileage goes, even double portaging, so certainly reasonable from that standpoint. There are some challenges as Northwoodsman and others pointed out. They wouldn't be insurmountable, depending on how much of a "challenge" they are up to.

I like Northwoodsman's suggestion of the Lady Chain from Kawishiwi Lake to Sawbill as a nice but slightly less challenging trip. It's about the same mileage, maybe 4 miles longer.
carmike
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04/22/2018 10:31PM  
As others have said, the winds can be a bear. If you are willing to consider day trips, you can head to the eastern side of Brule and find a camp. From there, you can head west to Veron and Swan if the winds are up, or you can head elsewhere if the winds are down. Gives you a bit of flexibility. You don't want to get stuck on the wrong end of Brule if the winds pick up.
dasunt
senior member (60)senior membersenior member
  
04/23/2018 02:09AM  
I'd suggest always having both a bad weather alternative (in case the forecast is bad), and a route that allows you to shorten it if the group isn't as able as you thought.

04/23/2018 10:33AM  
Like all the others have said Brule can be a bear if you get really any wind at all. The east side of the lake is more protected but your proposed route has you heading west into the main body of the lake which can get bad. Even a light breeze you wouldn't think twice about on most lakes can make Brule no fun to paddle. If its a true windy day Brule can be down right dangerous.

If you do paddle Brule plan your trip so that you are entering as early in the morning as possible before the winds pick up. On your return leg of the trip you'll at least be going east which if the prevailing west winds are kind to you will give you a nice boost on the way back to the EP. However, be mindful of that not always working out as you planned. My worst BWCA paddle was heading east on Brule back to the EP on our take out day, got unlucky and faced a nasty east wind the entire way. I have no desire to recreate that paddle.

Given all the feedback here you'll have to make your own determination if this loop matches your abilities. I wouldn't worry about portages assuming you're in relatively decent shape. A good attitude and reasonable conditioning will get you across any portage in the BWCA even if you're a novice. Only time I'd really worry about portages is if you have some sort of physical limitation that needs to be accounted for.

When it comes to paddling then I'd be more mindful of matching your ability level to the waters you'll be paddling. A novice paddler in rough conditions can lead to a dangerous situation with far more serious consequences than a novice on a portage.
04/23/2018 02:57PM  
Ditto what everyone else is saying about Brule, but I have been on that lake with a group of novices in high winds from the West, and they took it as a challenge and did quite well.

So kinda depends on your novices...strong, eager for a challenge? Then maybe yes. Zero canoeing experience just looking to have a wilderness camping experience? Perhaps a different route.

My $.02...
MerakiPaddler
member (5)member
  
04/25/2018 03:05PM  


Might be a little difficult to do in four days but here is a loop I did with a group two years ago.
 
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