Good morning Voyageurs!

Any reports on Ice-Out? My son and I have a trip planned for May 17th to 27th and I understand that the ice is still fast to the shoreline! We are coming from Alaska and don't have many options for a change to our schedule. Our planned route is from Moose to Knife to Thomas to Number Lakes and out of Lake One.

Cheers,

Dan

You will not have any issue. My guess is that most of the Ely side lakes will be out by the middle of next week. Many will be done before this weekend is out.

Huge sigh of relief...and thanks so much for the reply! Hard to know when you live so far away!

That's gonna be an awesome route. Enjoy!!

Moose Lake Webcam

Fall Lake Webcam

Fall Lake Webcam with recently fallen bird feeder.

Looks like the owners of the fall lake cam didn't empty their bird feeders.

OHPaddler: "Looks like the owners of the fall lake cam didn't empty their bird feeders."

It was standing and feeding birds a couple days ago. Maybe a pterodactyl sat down on the feeder!?!?!?

I looked at the right time tonight and saw a deer cleaning up the remaining bird seed.

Lakes between Two Harbors and Ely should be going out this week. Really dark ice and smaller ponds and bays are starting to open up. Ely side BW should be mostly out this week as well.

Suggest you follow LaTourell's on Facebook, which I have enjoyed doing since 2009. Bob routinely posts during days leading to ice out. Noticed significant change since yesterday on the Moose Lake webcam. Last year Moose was clear on May 10, deeper lakes in the area were one or two days later. With rain coming I suspect Moose will open Monday May 8, everything will be open by Saturday opener, and by May 17 all will be perfect (might not be a good idea to swim though...). Enjoy your trip.

Thanks for the reply! I didn't realize that the BWCA climate was very similar to Alaska. I live on the Kenai Peninsula and our lake is just opening up around the islands, so it is at least another week before ice-out.

I always take my kids on a trip, anywhere in the world that they want to go, when they are 16. This is the last trip (of 7 kids), and I can't believe he chose the BWCA. I think it may be because it has been my dream since high school (when I lived in NE Wisconsin). Looking forward to the experience!

Cheers

Dan Baeten: "I always take my kids on a trip, anywhere in the world that they want to go, when they are 16. This is the last trip (of 7 kids), and I can't believe he chose the BWCA. I think it may be because it has been my dream since high school (when I lived in NE Wisconsin). Looking forward to the experience!"

That's awesome! I hope it's an epic adventure for you and your son!