We hit the road early Friday about 1am and headed for Ely. I wanted to get to Ely by 6am when the permit station opened. There had been several posts on BWCA.com regarding the critical shortage of open campsites on Disappoint due to overcrowding. Hopefully our early start would be rewarded.

Arriving in Ely at 5:30am, we stopped at the Holiday station and picked up a couple of sausage and egg muffins. Driving up to the permit station turnoff, we discovered another car already waiting at the gate. Was this a sign of things to come? After a short wait and THE MOVIE, we were issued our permit. A quick stop for leeches at Skubes, and we were off to the Snowbank EP.

After unloading our gear at the canoe landing, we saw another vehicle pull up. It was a group of six, three adult men and three older teenage boys. This was exactly what I didn’t want – a campsite race. But the race was on! We had about a fifteen minute head start on the other group, but being that they had more muscle, I knew it would be close at the portage. We crossed Snowbank Lake under overcast skies with a pretty stiff wind in our faces. The waves at times broke over the sides of the canoe and sprayed us. It looked and felt like it could rain at any time. We made it to the 140 rod portage five minutes ahead of the other group. We double portaged without incident. As we were pushing off from shore on the Disappointment side, a man and woman were coming off in a canoe. We spoke briefly and they kindly gave us the location of a campsite on the north end of the lake that they had just vacated. We wished them well and continued on our way. We soon came across another group of three canoes headed towards the Snowbank portage. They too shared the location of the site they had just left. Two open campsites, vacated in the last hour…things were looking pretty good.

The closest open site, just vacated by the group of three canoes, had already been claimed. It was the south island campsite. A group was unloading as we paddled by. It now started to rain. The raingear came out and we pushed on. There was an open site on a peninsula on the east shore, but we opted to pass on it. We headed west to the site the couple had recommended and found it available. And it was a gem! The rain had all but stopped by this time. The canoe was unloaded and we setup camp. After a quick lunch of venison sausage on dinner buns, the food pack was hung. Then we both lay down in the tent and took a much needed nap.

When we woke up, we took some time to explore the area around our campsite (find the latrine). Then we struck out onto the misty lake to find some active fish. We put our leeches to work at the end of some home-made spinner rigs. I picked up a 28 inch pike. Ben landed a decent largemouth bass. We fished the shorelines close to camp until we got hungry, then headed in for a dinner of macaroni and cheese. That evening we stayed out fishing until almost dark, catching a releasing numerous fish. There would be no campfire tonight. We were both pretty beat when we got back to camp and went right to bed.

We woke up the next morning to a foggy Disappointment Lake. Got lots of great computer wallpaper shots with the digital camera. After a quick breakfast of oatmeal and coffee/hot chocolate, we headed out onto the lake. With the overcast skies, the smallmouth action was hot. We kept a few for the stringer. Later we went in for some smallie shore lunch with fried potatoes and onion. After cleaning up, we just relaxed around camp. Ben whittled some spears from long branches he’d picked up on a wood run. Later he took out the canoe solo and just paddled around the shallows. I was entertained by the pine squirrels cutting down and gathering pinecones and stashing them in the trees behind our tent. They were not the least concerned about the new neighbors and just went on about their business as if we weren’t even there. We also had a snapping turtle pop up several times to check things out.

For dinner we had B-Dub pizza – a recipe I’d seen on BWCA.com. It was a big hit! Later, as we headed back out for some more fishing, a couple of gentlemen with thick southern accents paddled up in a loaded canoe. They were dragging tail and looking for a place to setup camp. I steered them over to the site we had passed on a day earlier. I wished them luck. I knew their chances weren’t good. We had seen some canoe traffic earlier in the day on that side of the lake.

That evening, the still conditions were perfect for fishing top water baits. I had purchased a couple of new poppers just for this occasion. The bass could not resist. Ben landed a nice 16.5 incher off a rock pile near the island closet to our campsite - his largest smallmouth ever. I had a huge smallmouth spit the hook after going airborne. My son and I both became big top water fans after this trip. We fished until dark and then headed into camp. We enjoyed some nice conversation around the campfire. We talked about school and girls and baseball and bats! The bats were very active during this trip, zigzagging between trees and branches, sometimes passing within inches of us. We listened in silence at times to the sounds of the night. The loons were especially vocal this evening. Later I doused the coals and we retired to the tent for the night.

New entry point - Wood Lake, same entry date as before.

Goals for the trip; Solitude, heavy fishing (mainly pike), and seeing the historic remains of the logging era that I have read about on this webpage that are in Hoist Bay. I want to find the submerged boat/train in one of the bays.

09-18-11; I leave from home later than expected as I watch in disbelief that my Vikings blow ANOTHER two digit lead in the second half. It's a seven hour drive to Winton, I am going to spend the night at Packsack. About 20 minutes out from Ely, I come over a small hill and a large adult gray timberwolf emerges from the woodline and stops at the roadside directly in front of me. I slam on the brakes and he stands still as if waiting for traffic to clear before crossing. Awesome looking animal. It is the second wolf sighting that I have ever encountered. I arrive at Packsack about 10:00 pm and I am the only one in the bunkhouse - perfect. It rained the entire trip up so I am hoping that they lift the fire ban.

09-19-11; Up before my alarm. Pick up permit, bait, and then head to the EP. Pretty nervous, yet very excited. Lot of firefighter activity in Ely, I learn that the fire is only 10% contained. There is still a fire ban so I expect the nights to be cool.

When I pull into the EP I see that I am the only one here - perfect.

Triple portage, load the canoe and head in. If there is no one on Wood, I plan to stay here; otherwise my destination will be Good Lake. Weather is perfect.

There is no one on the Lake so I decide to take the campsite closest to Hula Lake. Stayed there before. Nice site - great little beach landing, nice tent pad, and private bay.

Camp goes up quickly and the food pack is hung without any complications. Last time I was at this site (years ago) a bear came through and helped himself to our food and drink. They bite almost everything in camp to see if it is something they can eat. Water containers, boots and other items destroyed. 

In no time my fishing poles are ready and I head out to get some water. Fishing is fantastic. I'm a big pike guy so that is my target. I fish for a few hours and then head back to camp for supper. Mom made me a special German dish and wrapped it in tin foil. Perfect end to a perfect day.

Hit the sleeping after star gazing. Every sound that night has me on edge. Get up to check the food pack, my canoe and fishing gear. On another past trip to this lake at this same campsite, I had a beaver get my fishing pole tangled in a tree branch that he drug from the camp area into the bay. The only way we found it was my camping partner saw it in the middle of our bay as he headed up to the head one morning.

9-20-11; Took photos from the hill behind my camp. Wood Lake at its finest.  

Back to fishing. Fishing again is fantastic. A lot of beaver activity near my camp.  

I know it is hard to see in the second photo, but there were three beavers right there next to my camp landing. Caught so many northern today that I had to strip off about 50 feet of my fishing line. The line is hunter green in color, now it is white. I also have to put a new steel leader on.

Little camp buddy is here to keep me company.

So far no boredom or self questioning of what have I gotten myself into. I am really enjoying the freedom and solitude.

Fish Hula Lake for the evening - Northern packed!! Nothing monstrous, but a lot of activity.

Second night I am fast asleep.

Trip to Hoist Bay planned today. Skies are cloudy, but little or no wind. The trip to Good is uneventful. Once on Good I debate taking the stream to Hoist Bay or the portage to the lake. I was told that the stream would be safe to take even this time of year. I go with the creek as I'm told that it is safe to go this time of year. BOY WAS I MISINFORMED.

After a lot of pushing and pulling I'm through to Hoist Bay. The first thing that I see is the huge remains of an old dock - It is very cool. I paddle over to rest (from the stream/bog fight) and inspect the dock remains.

I then head out to find the submerged remains that I have read about on this website. It wasn't had to find, the remains were sticking out of the water. It is very cool to check out. I spent quite a bit of time with the item.  

Head back to Good Lake for some fishing. Both camp sites are empty. I stop at the campsite in the middle of the Lake for dinner. Elevated campsite. Great view and campsite, terrible landing. Big storm blows up. The wind is crazy. Stuck at the camp for hours hoping the wind stops; it doesn't slow at all. I'm cold, wet, and darkness is coming. I head off into it. The trip across Hula had to be record time. I never paddled once. It is a small shallow lake - and it was whitecapping! Luckily wind was to my back. Made it back to camp (lots of prayers said today). Took a photo from camp.

The storm rages all night, the wind is howling as I drift off to sleep.

Up early with a big breakfast of sausage and pancakes. Back out into the world of Northern Pike. The fishing this trip has been excellent. At times I had to quit trolling as I made it back to camp for meals.

Never had any issues with boredom on the trip. Really enjoyed the trip, will take another one again. On the trip out was the first time that I spoke to another person all trip. The parking lot was full when I exited and every camp site that I passed on my way out was occupied. Good time to exit. 

Shot of the portage out of Wood.

The next morning we slept in. It was another still and sunshiny morning. After breakfast we tore down camp and packed up. I setup the timer on the camera and took a group photo, then with the canoe loaded we shoved off. Looking back at our campsite, I had that sinking feeling that I always get when a BWCA trip is winding down - sorry to leave but thankful for the experience. As we paddled across a glassy Disappointment Lake, two loons did a belly slide landing nearby, joining four others already on the water. They all began fishing together. We portaged into Snowbank Lake and found our way back to the entry point canoe landing. Once all the gear was loaded up on the vehicle, we drove towards Ely. After stopping for lunch at the Ely Steak House, we headed for home. As the Ely water tower disappeared behind us, I reached over and shook my son’s hand, congratulating him on completing his first BWCA trip. I told him maybe we could do it again some time. “Dad, we ARE coming back next year, right?” he said.

The planning has already begun.

- Snakecharmer