Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Kevin's first overnight BWCAW trip to Jordan Lake
by Bogwalker

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 08/19/2006
Entry & Exit Point: Snowbank Lake (EP 27)
Number of Days: 3
Group Size: 2
Trip Introduction:
I had written up this this report in 2006 shortly after our trip but had never published it. With the recent discussions of full lakes near EP's it seemed like a good time to relive the memory and post the report. This was my son Kevin's first overnight BWCAW trip after numerous day trips. He was 13 at the time of this trip. I hope you enjoy it.
Day 1 of 3
Friday August 18th.

My wife, Kevin and I head north with the SR attached firmly to the truck. I need to drop Betsy off at her sisters in Poplar, Wisconsin so they can prepare for my nieces bridal shower the following day. I’ve never enjoyed bridal showers much so Kevin and I decide to take a one night trip and grab a surprisingly available permit going in Snowbank Lake.

After we drop Betsy off, Kevin and I are off to Ely to see Lynn at VNO. We arrive to find Lynn in the back room. She comes out to meet us and prepare the paperwork for our permit and Bunkhouse. She tells me she sees no need for us to watch the video as she knows I know the routine. Kevin, however objects and insists he watches the video. I decide he can watch it on his own while Lynn and I chat and finish the paperwork. Lynn gives him a trick question quiz at the end that he barely passes and we are given the go ahead to enter the wilderness.

Kevin and I have a room in the loft. Room B is new and very clean. It has three separate rooms for others and we will be sharing it with a couple of others tonight. Kevin and I settle in and get out the cribbage board for a quick game before bed as it is already about 9:00.

As we start to play a gentlemen walks up and asks if I am Bogwalker. It’s Indiana Paddler who has just returned from a week in the woods. We have a nice chat about his trip entering Wood Lake while Kevin and I play cribbage. It sure is a small world sometimes.

I win the cribbage game, just barely, and we decide its time for bed as we want to get up at 5:00 to hit the entry point early.