Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Crocodile Lake - Wife's first time
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bunker3 |
My question mostly is asking about equipment/gear. She likes to have her amenities, so I'm trying to balance bringing minimal gear/weight to carry while still keeping her comfortable. For example, we have a small 3-person tent that she feels claustrophobic in or a huge 6-person tent that is much bigger than we need. We compromised and are bringing the 6-person tent. I want her to enjoy it so we can keep coming back! What are some other amenities that are easy to pack/carry that will keep her company? I'm assuming we'll need an air mattress as well, maybe inflatable pillows? Camp chairs? I'm assuming people have gone with others that aren't total outdoorsman and want to be comfortable, what did you/they bring that wasn't a PITA to portage? |
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A1t2o |
Whatever you do, don't over pack. To much weight will ruin the trip just as much as not enough comfort gear. |
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bunker3 |
Your last statement couldn't be more true. I know we'll have to double portage, which is fine, so I'm not worried about that, but yes, I definitely don't want to overpack which can ruin things just as easy. |
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SmokingBunny |
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SmokingBunny |
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bunker3 |
quote SmokingBunny: "Sorry, forgot to write... Unless your approaching from the Bearskin side Crocodile is difficult to access" Yes, I was planning on going through EP64 on East Bearskin. I don't want to do the EP66 entry, so I sure as hell know that she wouldn't either, haha! |
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SoMpls |
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is a gravity water filter. It's a huge benefit to not have to pump, boil, or treat water with tablets, and instead having clean water ready to go "on tap" essentially. Otherwise the same things others have mentioned - make sure she's comfortable sleeping and relaxing at camp are the biggest things imo. Try to get the campsite at the middle of the lake. |
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bunker3 |
quote SoMpls: "Entering via East Bearskin with a EP66 permit is the way to do it. This is what the Rangers recommend. You can't camp on Crocodile with a 64 permit, just so you know. The portage isn't super long but it is steep for a newbie. Definitely double portage and plan to take it slow! I think you can camp with an EP64 permit on Crocodile, but you cannot camp anywhere but Crocodile with an EP66 permit. Since I can guarantee we are camping on Crocodile the whole trip (maybe 3 nights), I'm just going to get the EP66 permit. And +1000 for the gravity filter. I bought a Sawyer gravity filter setup a few years ago and love that damn thing. I love not having to boil water then wait for it to cool down to drink. As for the campsite, I know there are 4. I've heard the two on the far east side are usually pretty good. If they are labeled camps 1, 2, 3, and 4, going from West to East, which site do you recommend? |
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SoMpls |
I don't mean to derail this thread but you can't camp on Crocodile with an EP 64 permit, per the Gunflint Ranger station in 2015 when I was there. The portage to Crocodile is not in the BWCA, so by going there you have never entered at EP64 and therefore are illegal. Once you enter EP64 there is no way to get to Crocodile without exiting the BWCA. |
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bunker3 |
Not that it mattered as I was planning on the EP66 permit, but I guess I didn't do as much research as I thought! |
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jeepgirl |
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VaderStrom |
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bposteve |
Make sure she has the best/thickest sleeping pad money can buy, with a 6 person tent you may not need it-but a bug tent/shelter might also well worth the weight. |
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jamotrade |
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bunker3 |
quote bposteve: "You've mentioned that you're double portaging. Just to clarify *cough cough* I think that you meant that your wife is single portaging while you portage as many times as it takes to get your stuff across the portage. While you are making multiple trips your wife can relax in a chair soaking in the beauty of the lake and reflecting on what a wonderful husband you are. This would also be a good time to ply her with the wine someone mentioned above. Haha, good call on the portage! I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I meant! And hence that's why I don't want to bring everything and the kitchen sink as I was planning on doing the heavy lifting, but still want her to enjoy our time there. |
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bunker3 |
quote jamotrade: "We took a small cooler into Croc when we went there. With only one portage, it was not too hard to do and she might really like a steak or a pork chop instead of dehydrated food. Full disclosure, it wasn't too hard, but it also wan't too easy either. It is a fairly big hill and there were lots of mosquitos." I think that has been one of my biggest internal debates. We bring a regular sized cooler when we go camping at Glendalough State Park, but that's just a short canoe paddle over to the site. I don't really have to carry it. But I was debating buying a smaller cooler and fill it with a frozen gallon of water to keep some things cold. You might have sold me on that idea. I've seen you mention the portage in other threads. I like that it's not super easy so if she does ever decide to do a more BWCA type trip, this should give her a good taste of what she can expect. I didn't want a super hard one to discourage her from future trips, but not one so easy that a hard one will ruin her future trips, if that all makes sense. |
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mjmkjun |
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ducks |
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lundojam |
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lindylair |
All campsites on Crocodile are livable but number 2 and number 4 are the best. The second site on the lake is the best IMO despite not having a great view from camp. There is a huge rock at the north end of the site which is a great place to lounge, drink coffee and fish with a good chance of catching some walleyes. Campsite 4 is also pretty nice down in the narrow end of the lake. The others will do in a pinch. By all means bring a chair that is comfortable. Inflatable pillows and pads are not luxuries but necessities, make sure you have good ones. A cooler wouldn't be unmanageable either if you are willing to carry it but not a typical part of the BWCA experience. Good sleeping, good lounging around the fire, decent food and some daytime activities to keep busy will lead to a great trip(my trip report will give you a few ideas). If you like to fish Crocodile Lake is one of the easiest spots in the BWCA to catch walleyes. A slip bobber and a leech from the rock out front of campsite 2 will most likely get you a few. The south shore down near the narrow part of he lake is great for jigging with a leech. A lot of eater size eyes with an occasional bigger one and maybe even a jumbo perch. Tasty stuff. For the distance from an entry point and the relative ease of getting there, I think Crocodile Lake is a pretty remote spot. You have a good chance of seeing wildlife. It is kind of hit or miss, depending on the time you go and to some degree,, luck. The lake could be empty or full, but more often than not it is pretty quiet. Even with all 4 campsites taken, it is a quiet place. Here is a trip report from a few years ago. I have been back since and haven't found anything to change my mind... Crocodile lake trip |
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IcePaddler |
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overthehill |
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bunker3 |
Great suggestions everyone, I think I'll end up bringing the air mattress, etc.. to keep her happy and wanting to go back! |
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lindylair |
All campsites on Crocodile are livable but number 2 and number 4 are the best. The second site on the lake is the best IMO despite not having a great view from camp. There is a huge rock at the north end of the site which is a great place to lounge, drink coffee and fish with a good chance of catching some walleyes. Campsite 4 is also pretty nice down in the narrow end of the lake. The others will do in a pinch. By all means bring a chair that is comfortable. Inflatable pillows and pads are not luxuries but necessities, make sure you have good ones. A cooler wouldn't be unmanageable either if you are willing to carry it but not a typical part of the BWCA experience. Good sleeping, good lounging around the fire, decent food and some daytime activities to keep busy will lead to a great trip(my trip report will give you a few ideas). If you like to fish Crocodile Lake is one of the easiest spots in the BWCA to catch walleyes. A slip bobber and a leech from the rock out front of campsite 2 will most likely get you a few. The south shore down near the narrow part of he lake is great for jigging with a leech. A lot of eater size eyes with an occasional bigger one and maybe even a jumbo perch. Tasty stuff. For the distance from an entry point and the relative ease of getting there, I think Crocodile Lake is a pretty remote spot. You have a good chance of seeing wildlife. It is kind of hit or miss, depending on the time you go and to some degree,, luck. The lake could be empty or full, but more often than not it is pretty quiet. Even with all 4 campsites taken, it is a quiet place. Here is a trip report from a few years ago. I have been back since and haven't found anything to change my mind... Crocodile lake trip |
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Basspro69 |
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Northwoodsman |
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pswith5 |
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mjmkjun |
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