Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Kawishiwi to Malberg and back
by ChiTrader

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 08/30/2022
Entry & Exit Point: Kawishiwi Lake (EP 37)
Number of Days: 6
Group Size: 1
Day 4 of 6
Friday, September 02, 2022

After my layover day, I headed back to Polly. The only other weather issue on my trip was a short thunderstorm that morning, which delayed my departure from Malberg by 45 minutes. Didn't cause me to miss out on my chosen site on Polly, so all was well.

Polly was about half full as I paddled south toward my eventual campsite, and a few groups came across the portage into Polly as I set up camp. I landed on the far southern site on the west shore within view of the portage to Koma. Another great site.

The landing is not spacious but shallow gravel with some flat rocks. Nice kitchen area with elevated fire grate (so much easier on old backs not to have to crouch or kneel so low to build a fire. One perfect tent pad back in the woods and totally sheltered. Several other decent tent pads make this another good site for larger groups. Plenty of trees for tarping options. The only negative is the kitchen faces straight east, so the morning sun glaring into your eyes is a minor annoyance. Also, this site sees a lot of traffic to and from the portage. But most canoes stay far away from the campsite shore and don't create a big ruckus.