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  Last Visit: 10/31/2024 06:35PM

Entry Point 33 - Little Gabbro Lake

Little Gabbro Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 23 miles. Access is a 200-rod portage from the parking lot to Little Gabbro Lake.

Number of Permits per Day: 1.5
Elevation: 1235 feet
Latitude: 47.8481
Longitude: -91.6357
Author Message Text
ECpizza
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08/16/2013 01:24AM
 
New Trip Report posted by ECpizza

Trip Name: A .

Entry Point: 30

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ozarkpaddler
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08/16/2013 09:30AM
 
Wow, I LOVED this report! "A trip into the BWCA is NOT the time to quit smoking." I learned that one in '96 or '97. I decided I'd take just enough pipe tobacco for one pipe in the evening. The last few days of the trip, I was a "Bear." And after the trip I remember searching all over Grand Marais for a pouch of my "Captain Black Royal" to no avail. Then, Beaver Bay, and FINALLY found some in Two Harbors. That smoke looking over Lake Superior at Two Harbors was SO GOOD!

As for coming out before the blowdown, sounds like a little "Divine intervention." I had that same uneasiness during a solo trip years ago. Unexplainable, but came out early. Called home and all was well. Drove the 960+ miles back straight through without stopping to pull up in the drive as my wife was on the phone with news that her mother had died!

I think this is definitely one of my favorite trip reports; I'm looking forward to more contributions from you!

"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain
eagle93
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08/16/2013 09:55AM
 
Great story. Teens can be a lot of fun in the BW.
Exo
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08/16/2013 12:17PM
 
Thanks for sharing. I'm a firm believer that adults that do their first BWCA trip come out with a forever new perspective on life. But young adults/teenagers...it changes their lives.
ECpizza
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08/16/2013 11:19PM
 
Exo, that is so true!


My oldest has been going on some sort of camping since birth and the BWCA since 5. It's sometimes hard to look at a teenager and see the adult he is becoming, but out there I see it. Since this trip, I have led 37 people on their first BWCA trip, and dozens of others on their first trip up the SHT. It's such a kick.


Ozarkpaddler, i'm so glad you understand. I am off again, on again. Even during the off times I still pack some cheap cigars or something. There is something special about bad tobacco and an evening in the wilderness. However, I do envy the non-smoker.
boonie
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08/18/2013 09:16PM
 
Thanks - very entertaining report.
Zulu
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08/19/2013 08:13AM
 
That was truly a great trip report! Thanks for sharing. I really laughed while reading it. I liked the part about listening for running water to find the portages.
johno
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08/19/2013 07:18PM
 
Excellent report, a very entertaining read.
plainspaddler
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08/19/2013 08:05PM
 
That was an awesome report. Looking forward to more. I can't believe you tried to quit smoking in the BWCA. I quit cold turkey at home. I worked with my family at the time and my brother said I was like an ornery old bear to be around. I am very glad that I was able to quit though.


Mike

The sound of a paddle in still waters will steal your soul.
ECpizza
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08/19/2013 10:31PM
 
Well, i keep trying to quit. 9 months is my record non smoking stretch. (Not counting a couple campfire cigars).


I had no idea what I was doing on so much of that trip. I keep mementos of my most stupid moments. The paddle I used on that trip is part of that collection.


Just the getting wet part, I learned it was bad. It was still 5 more years until I learned enough that I am no longer worried about a repeat. A driving cold rain against the wind on knife put all my learning to the test. (Merino wool is forever my friend in the wilderness).


But I digress...


What I'm trying to say is, had I known then 1/10th of what I know now, I would have had 2 cartons, each pack individually vacuum packed. Would have made dealing with the rest of my stupidity a lot easier. :)


I do believe all the disaster had meaning. We were all motivated. It took a lot to finally push us to leave early. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be in the blowdown. Glad we didn't find out.
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