Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Bingshick, Crooked, and Snipe Looking for Trout
by Buck47

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 06/12/2006
Entry Point: Brant Lake (EP 52)
Exit Point: Cross Bay Lake (EP 50)  
Number of Days: 5
Group Size: 2
Trip Introduction:
After going on a six day BWCA trip a couple of years ago with a fellow teacher from school and 6 high school students I decided to set out on my own and give the BWCA a try. I wanted to share the experience with my wife and son. It took me a couple of years to get the right equipment and get enough confidence to guide my family. I had been spending a week every summer in Canada on a fishing trip with the guys. I would feel guilty spending the money on a trip like that and being gone from my wife and son for a whole week. I would only bring back the limit of fish and no money. I thought I would invest my Canadian fishing trip money in BWCA equipment and get a better return on my investment. Hopefully my family would enjoy it as much as I did.
Day 1 of 5
Monday, June 12, 2006

Heading North

Departed Danbury, WI about 3:00 PM with the canoe on top of the pop-up truck camper. The Warden forgot a rain jacket so we stopped at Wal-Mart in Superior, bought a jacket, 12 pack of MGD plastic bottles, chips and dip. We were on our way not knowing where we were going to spend the night.

I had been on a BWCA trip two years before with our PE teacher and six high school boys. I had never been on a trip liked that before. After the first night I didn’t think I would ever go back. It had something to do with the portage between Missing Link Lake and Tuscarora and the cold fronts passing through. But after 6 days of paddling, fishing, portaging and relaxing I made it a goal of mine to get the equipment and set up my own trips. It took two years of researching and buying equipment and asking a lot of questions before I was ready to plan my own trip. Beymer, Furtman, and Jacobson’s books were a super source of information. Being parents, teacher, school counselor, and coaches, my wife and I do not get the 3 month summer vacation like most people believe. Summer vacations need to be flexible. This type of vacation works well for us.

After stopping at Fallapart, we drove the North Shore. We thought about staying at Cascade State Park since they had plenty of sites but we wanted to hit Grand Marais and get some supper. On the edge of town we discovered the Municipal Campground. It was about 7 PM and for $25 we had a site on the lake. It seemed like a good deal. We set up the camper and then walked downtown for supper. I would not normally camp in town but this worked out well. We decided on supper at the Gunflint Café/Raven Bar. I had a pork Sandwich, Blue Chips, and Lake Superior Ale; the Warden had a Lake Trout Wrap, Blue Chips and Lemonade. The Warden didn’t like her sandwich so I traded and took one on the chin. The Pork sandwich was awesome. I picked up a Honey Cigar for the walk home even though I have not smoked a cigar in years. After walking off supper we were in bed by 10:30 PM. This turned out to be a quiet town with a relaxing atmosphere. Gas $2.81 in Two Harbors.