Going up for a week starting February 11. We would like to go "off the trail". We have three Malamutes to pull our gear and we (two of us)ski. Wondering if the lakes are windblown enough to allow travel other than going on the trail to Knife or going on the 4 mile portage up to Basswood. I know last year we could only go on the trail up to Basswood. I have looked at the snow depth maps and from my living room in the cities it looks doable.

I haven't been up in the BWCA, but two weeks ago I was in the Finland State Forest and judging from what it was like even in the woods there I think your plan would work great. There's a little more snow in the eastern BWCA than there was there, but not a ton.

(Side note: Where'd you get your malamutes? I'm looking for a breeder.)

I was up on Basswood 1/15. Hoist Bay had 2"-6" of windblown snow which was crusty. Sometimes my boot would crunch through the surface and sometimes it would not. Not bad conditions compared to years past. I'm heading up there again soon and will be taking my skis unless there is a big snow before then.

I'll ask my friend where he got his latest dog. They are excellent workers!

Thanks for the information. My friend got his last Mal from Helen Schultz in Spring Green Wisconsin.