Pictograph Loop ~ Beartrap River ~ Sundial PMA
by DANRULZ
8 days: 51 Paddle Miles, 26 portages = 2171 Portage Rods, 16 Lakes, 3 Rivers, 1 Creek, 3 Pictograph Sites, 6 campsites.
~South Hegman Lake, North Hegman Lake, Trease Lake, Angleworm Lake, Home Lake, Gull Lake, Mudhole Lake, Thunder Lake, Beartrap Lake, Beartrap River, Sunday Lake, Beartrap River, Iron Lake, Crooked Lake, Basswood River, Horse River, Horse Lake, Tin Can Mike Lake, Sandpit Lake, Mudro Lake and Picket Creek
I have never written a trip report, except in my own journal. It was a challenge to go back and forth from Beymer's format to Fisher and McKenzie maps to my journal to little scraps of paper with portage tallies and lake counts, additional information from Magic On The Rocks and of course my memory. The real reason I did this is because I like to write my thoughts, and I never felt like there was enough data on the Beartrap River. I really had to ask myself: What do people want to know about the Beartrap River, and what is a PMA experience like in comparison to some of the surrounding areas? We didn't fish on this trip, so I hope the data you find elsewhere is sufficient to locate your walleyes. After said and done, the Horse River was a much larger challenge than the Beartrap River. If you're even close to ready for a PMA trip, or a shortcut to Iron, do yourself a favor. Get a PMA overnight permit and DO IT! It's a blast and a half!
We double portaged everything, so I put on 20+ miles on the portages - 13.5 was carrying 55 lbs on my back. We also paddled 51 miles on this trip. It may seem like a lot, but we had some small travel days in there too. It was a true pleasure to research, plan and execute this trip. This is the first "marathon" trip I have done, and may be my wife's last. I can get intense out there when I get my mind set on something like this. I want to thank her and the rest of my party for accompanying me on my pictograph journey. I will surely never shy away from a portage again! These memories will be held closest to my heart.