Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

2008 Trip Form Lake One to Solitude and Back
by Corsair

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe

Entry Date: 08/02/2008

Entry Point: Lake One (EP 30)

Exit Point: Moose Lake (EP 25)

Number of Days: 8

Group Size: 3

Trip Introduction:

This is my 4th venture into the BWCAW since 2003. My group is down this year from the usual 5 to just 3. Joining me are two very good friends Bill who has joined me on every trip and Paul who is making his 3rd trip with us. With 7 days and 6 nights ahead of us our goal is simple, with only 3 of us we are renting a MN III and want to push out as far as we can to get away from the edges of the BWCAW and see if we can get away from the crowds. We single portage every portage that we can’t float the canoe through. This year I have a small book with me to use as a daily journal, so I tell you now, this report can be detailed (lengthy) in spots. And maybe too much information, but I didn’t write it for any awards, simply my thoughts and notes from my journal. I also intend to use this report for future planning for things to do again (or not do again!) I have also tried to give credit to things I have learned from BWCA members through the message boards (via hyperlinks). If I have miss-stated someone I apologize. *Note: I do bring a GPS with me; it allows me to track speed, sunset and sunrise times, and accurate distance traveled. I use the maps to navigate. The 3” screen on the GPS just doesn’t compare, plus it takes something away from the experience to not use the maps.

Day 1 of 8

Saturday, August 02, 2008

I can hardly sleep through the night. My plan is to wake up at 5:30am and get going, but after waking up at 4am for the 3 time in 2 hours, I can’t go back to sleep. Fortunately the movie Glory is on TV and I decide to watch that to pass the time till my departure. I head out at 5:45am to Paul’s house which is just minutes away (both of us live in the western burbs of Chicago), he jumps in and we head north to I-90 and Randall road and pick Bill up @ 7am. We jump in and off we go for the 9 hour ride.

We stop for the occasional facility break and finally need to pick up some gas by the time we hit Superior Wisconsin. Paul and Bill thumb wrestle to see who gets to pay for the first fill up. Bill wins and decides he wants to pay first and realizes he should have waited as he drops $86 to fill up the mini-van. We then decide to stop at the Home Depot in Duluth and pick up some Yard Guard that was recommended in the BWCA tricks forum and some more $.99 cent carabineers( you can never have too many!).

Off we go again and we decide to wait till Ely to eat lunch at the Chocolate Moose. Bill has his thoughts on their fresh baked cookies. We hit Ely at 3:30 and pose for the Web Camera on Sheridan. After that Lunch! I have the blue cheese mushroom burger which is my absolute favorite! Bill is crushed to learn that they are out of their cookies, and vows to get some on the way out.

We hit Paragis for some last minute items and then decide to cruise the downtown for a bit before heading to LaTourell’s. Hit LaTourell’s at 6:30pm and are warmly greeted by Bob and Missy who recognize us from years past. We get our permit and set up for our MN III (we have everything else we need). Bob shows us to the bunk house. A little more primitive than I had expected, but it was clean. Had a refrigerator 6 beds (top sheets only, no blankets) and fans. But for the price it’s a good deal. We do miss catching up on the latest sporting news though! Oh well, have to wait a week. We settle in and open all the windows. I crash early, not having much sleep the night before. I didn’t want to unpack my bag so I didn’t have my sleeping bag and that was a mistake as at 1:30am the windows were promptly closed and I fumbled around in the dark for long pants and shirt. Next year if I do the bunk houses again, I will bring an extra blanket.