What is the more popular route for the Dog sled teams to get up to Knife Lake ? Would it be Moose or Snowbank ? Would you think by the second weekend of trout opener, the 11th or so, they would have a pretty good trail up to knife lake by then ?

Thanks, Bill

Bill, Kelly Murphy is probably the guy you want to get a hold of. In past years he has taken folks to find Trout on Knife. This year I guess he slipped on the ice and hit his head pretty hard. Saw him wearing a helmet yesterday, he may not be going up there alone because of that.

I am pretty sure that Moose is the route he takes.

Thanks Soledad, That's not good news. I had heard by more than a few folks that he is a really good guy. Id like to trek up to knife that week (Depending on Conditions, snow and cold) and was hoping that the dog teams would have a nice trail made all the way up by then.

quote Soledad: "Bill, Kelly Murphy is probably the guy you want to get a hold of. In past years he has taken folks to find Trout on Knife. This year I guess he slipped on the ice and hit his head pretty hard. Saw him wearing a helmet yesterday, he may not be going up there alone because of that.


I am pretty sure that Moose is the route he takes."

Murphy goes up thru Moose lake and different times I had the pleasure to talk to him while going winter camping by skiis. Very friendly individual.

I have done the Snowbank route also.

Hope he is O'kay.

Numerous accidents happening this year with the wet glare ice in Minnesota,my brother messed up his shoulder falling down.
It is slippery out there.

We had very nice trekking conditions this past Thursday-Sunday. Over 12" of ice, and enough snow to get a good footing. Toboggans pulled easily, mind temps, decent fishing. Quiet. I skied a little, but it was easier to walk, I did use cleats.

quote Soledad: "We had very nice trekking conditions this past Thursday-Sunday. Over 12" of ice, and enough snow to get a good footing. Toboggans pulled easily, mind temps, decent fishing. Quiet. I skied a little, but it was easier to walk, I did use cleats."

. Its probably too much to ask for those same conditions to last through mid january. Everyday we don't get 8 inches of snow lessons the chance of the slush nightmare of last season. Sounds like the perfect trip.

Kelly is a fantastic dog musher and guy to work with. This year his son is also helping out with the dog business. They will certainly take care of you and you will catch some nice lakers on Knife.

Kelly's Dog Sled Website

There is another musher, Basswood Bob, Bob Oliva that also runs dogs up to Knife.
Basswood Bob's Website

Thanks CP for the information. I was looking more to take advantage of their trail and follow it up to knife rather than take a sled dog shuttle. It is something I am going to do someday. I have to get these expensive teenagers out of my house first.

I've also looked into trekking up to knife and believe the best route is via moose lake. I only know this based on looking at the route via maps. The route from moose appears to be all lake travel. I'm betting u would pick up a dogsled trail right off the public access. We did a trek into Thomas a couple years ago but our trip was cut short due to snowstorm. Good walking conditions can turn poor in a hurry and make a trip tough

quote : "I've also looked into trekking up to knife and believe the best route is via moose lake. I only know this based on looking at the route via maps. The route from moose appears to be all lake travel. I'm betting u would pick up a dogsled trail right off the public access. We did a trek into Thomas a couple years ago but our trip was cut short due to snowstorm. Good walking conditions can turn poor in a hurry and make a trip tough"

If conditions are right you will pick up a dog sled trail in Moose.

You should be able to pick up the trail out of moose. If the trail is blown over, they have usually put "sticks" up marking the trail. Probably not an issue this year, as there is not much for slush. The winter portage through splash cuts through the woods, north of the narrows between splash and ensign. Also the portage out of Ensign to Vera goes through a swampy area to east of the normal portage. From Vera the winter portage is west of the regular portage to Knife, going through a swampy area to portage lake and then out to knife. Also, watch on knife as there is some current just west of Dorthy's that the trail will actually go off of the lake and through some swampy area.

Sorry I can't be of any better help, but you should be able to look a the map an figure out where the winter routes are.

Thanks a ton CP. If we keep the snow total down I was thinking of going snowbank, Boot, Ensign , Vera and then on to Knife. I plan on sticking around the Isle of Pine area. Would there be any reason to not take that route in your opinion ? Are there any other things to look out for on that route besides the current west of the islands ? I had already planned to stay away from that area and just stick to the area east of the islands. Thank you for all the insight you provide here.

with current snow conditions, you should be fine heading that way. If however, we get snow, you might find traveling the further distance but staying on the established routes make for easier travel.

What little snow I had here in Minneapolis is melting. Maybe not even enough to ski on the lakes this weekend. So, I am staring at the Minnesota snowcover map and I see snow mostly in the far northern parts of the state. I look at the weather forecast for Ely this weekend and it looks like a wonderful 33 degrees on Saturday. So, I was thinking this might be an ideal time to make an impromptu trip north.

If I were going to ski in Saturday, camp Saturday night, and ski out Sunday, would this Snowbank route be a good/safe route? Any recommendations or pointers on where to park, what permit I might need, route and campsite would be appreciated. I would not be fishing.

Thanks.

If you are on Facebook, Check out Sam Cook Outdoors out of the Duluth newspaper. He just did a story on fishing Knife with some video to accompany. It is on his page. Here it is

quote pastorjsackett: "If you are on Facebook, Check out Sam Cook Outdoors out of the Duluth newspaper. He just did a story on fishing Knife with some video to accompany. It is on his page. Here it is "

Love watching those dogs. Seen that team go by us while heading up winter camping over the years. Murphy has been doing it for a long time,now his son also does it?