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      Trip Report - Mission Angleworm: A PMA Adventure
 
  Last Visit: 03/29/2024 08:34AM

Entry Point 20 - Angleworm Lake

Angleworm 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 18 miles. Access is a 640-rod portage to Angleworm Lake.

Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1260 feet
Latitude: 48.0659
Longitude: -91.9303
Author Message Text
BigOarDeal
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
02/18/2021 12:18PM
 
New Trip Report posted by BigOarDeal

Trip Name: Mission Angleworm: A PMA Adventure.

Entry Point: 20

Click Here to View Trip Report
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Porkeater
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02/18/2021 01:07PM
 
Nice report and trip. Thanks for sharing. I love Sunday Lake.


We took a similar route a couple years ago, except we took a "shortcut" down Spring Creek. It was very slow and tedious, but we made it to Sunday on the first day. The water was higher and we didn't have to portage the first part of the rapids before Sunday. There is a nicer campsite on the east side of the lake.


Glad you guys had a good time.
BigOarDeal
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02/19/2021 08:18AM
 
Porkeater: "Nice report and trip. Thanks for sharing. I love Sunday Lake.



We took a similar route a couple years ago, except we took a "shortcut" down Spring Creek. It was very slow and tedious, but we made it to Sunday on the first day. The water was higher and we didn't have to portage the first part of the rapids before Sunday. There is a nicer campsite on the east side of the lake.



Glad you guys had a good time. "



Thanks for reading! Yes, to be honest we probably didn't give Sunday a fair review just because of the circumstances (getting in late and leaving early the next day). And I definitely read your trip report prior to ours and considered the Spring Creek route--I can't believe you achieved that in one day! When we crossed the boardwalk over Spring Creek, it was very low, so I don't think it would have worked in 2020 anyhow.


I'm really kicking myself over the fact that there was a different campsite. I somehow missed that fact. I guess it means we'll just have to return sometime!
HangLoose
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02/19/2021 11:26AM
 
Excellent trip report. Great photos and map illustrations too. Well done.
OneMatch
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02/19/2021 12:30PM
 
Just a great trip report with great pics. I got my Fisher Map book out and followed along. I noticed on my old map that there was a campsite at the narrows of Sunday Lake. I guess that is gone now?


Also, I'm pretty sure PMA stands for "Primitive Management Area", but no matter - a PMA by any other name is still cool.


Thanks for taking us along.


We all have to believe in something. I believe I'll go paddle.
pamonster
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/19/2021 01:00PM
 
Great report! Thanks for sharing. Love seeing the clones represented too! What a great year to be a cyclone!.....for football anyway
sns
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/19/2021 03:44PM
 
Cool report!


Question - the second portage along the Beartrap River, after the Spring Creek intersection, en route to Sunday: I did not find a single, long portage, as indicated by the map. I did three short ones that were all right along the bank of the river, with short paddles in-between...found the first one in the last pool before the rapids when heading north.


So did you find a longer, continuous portage in that section? Did it get up high on the side of the hill? I recall thinking that if there were a single trail, it would have to be well above the river, at least in sections, as there was a lot of blowdown in areas that made it look impenetrable up above me...


If you did find a single long portage, more detail please...your TR mentions one 'pothole puddle'. I wonder which route is better, as I am going back through there this spring.

"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
BigOarDeal
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
02/19/2021 04:39PM
 
OneMatch: "I noticed on my old map that there was a campsite at the narrows of Sunday Lake. I guess that is gone now?"



I had an old Fisher too and we did stay at the campsite in the northwest corner of the lake near the portage. We didn't do any other exploring on the lake, sadly.



OneMatch: "Also, I'm pretty sure PMA stands for "Primitive Management Area", but no matter - a PMA by any other name is still cool.
"



Funny you should mention that. I thought it was too. But when the Forest Service sent me the permit last year, the permit said Pristine Management Area!

sns: "Cool report!


Question - the second portage along the Beartrap River, after the Spring Creek intersection, en route to Sunday: I did not find a single, long portage, as indicated by the map. I did three short ones that were all right along the bank of the river, with short paddles in-between...found the first one in the last pool before the rapids when heading north.


So did you find a longer, continuous portage in that section? Did it get up high on the side of the hill? I recall thinking that if there were a single trail, it would have to be well above the river, at least in sections, as there was a lot of blowdown in areas that made it look impenetrable up above me...


If you did find a single long portage, more detail please...your TR mentions one 'pothole puddle'. I wonder which route is better, as I am going back through there this spring."


Fun question!

So, I'm not completely sure. But I think the portage we took was longer than the ones you took. The reason I'm not sure is that on the paddle planner website, the portage is shown as 185 rods, but what we walked couldn't have been more than 100. And we did still have to line the canoe through some rapids a little further down.

When we got to the first pool that you are referencing, we found a very short trail leading just past the first rapids then back into river. Since I had thought it was a longer portage, we spent more time looking. Backtracking to the pool just before the last one, there was the trail to the longer portage. No, it didn't go up the hill really and I remember thinking there was a pretty steep hill to the left of me the entire time.

The trail itself is not too bad, except for the pothole I mentioned and a lot of prickly bushes intruding on the trail. I'll attach a picture to help describe better.

sns
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/19/2021 04:54PM
 
The Sunday campsite you stayed at is the only viable one on the lake. It is small.


There is one other site that could be really solid, on the eastern shore. But the amount of deadfall that needs to be cleared is daunting. A crew of saw-happy trippers with big saws that can cut 20" logs would be at it all day. Maybe two days.

"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
rdgbwca
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/19/2021 06:16PM
 
Nice trip! Thanks for writing it up.


I thought the pizza biters were to be placed directly on the forest service grill? :-)
BigOarDeal
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
02/19/2021 08:00PM
 
rdgbwca: "Nice trip! Thanks for writing it up.



I thought the pizza biters were to be placed directly on the forest service grill? :-)"



So, I think I did try it first but then had some casualties! I wasn't taking any chances!
straighthairedcurly
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02/19/2021 10:34PM
 
Loved your report. I would love to do this one someday.
30Smoke
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/23/2021 12:26PM
 
Wonderful trip report - really enjoyed the trip and the pictures (as others have mentioned). I have been on Stuart and checked out all the campsites, but have not been to Angleworm, although it does appear to be interesting - would like to do a trip and maybe Hike the angleworm trail as part of the canoeing. Thanks again for taking the time to share!

"it is tough to beat a person who doesn't quit" - famous philosopher George Ruth
PaddleAway
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/24/2021 09:34PM
 
Great trip report! We did the same trip (though not through Angelworm, that's insane!) years ago. There was only one cairn we saw coming out of Bibon/Nibon towards Stuart, & the old portage was a challenge to find back then. We even stayed on the same site on Stuart coming out, really enjoyed it.


Loved all the pictures, brought me back to being there. Minus all the scratches & bites & back soreness, of course.
paddlinjoe
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
02/26/2021 04:15PM
 
What a great trip report! Really well documented so other people can glean info about an area less traveled.

paddlinjoe
BigOarDeal
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
03/01/2021 08:37AM
 
30Smoke: "I have been on Stuart and checked out all the campsites, but have not been to Angleworm, although it does appear to be interesting - would like to do a trip and maybe Hike the angleworm trail as part of the canoeing. "


I definitely want to go back to Angleworm and hike the trail. Really cool area, you should do it!


PaddleAway: "Great trip report! We did the same trip (though not through Angelworm, that's insane!) years ago. There was only one cairn we saw coming out of Bibon/Nibon towards Stuart, & the old portage was a challenge to find back then. We even stayed on the same site on Stuart coming out, really enjoyed it.



Loved all the pictures, brought me back to being there. Minus all the scratches & bites & back soreness, of course. "



I absolutely am indebted to you for your report as well, since I studied it prior to our trip to try to get all the info I could! Thanks for reading!
sns
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
03/03/2021 02:49PM
 
BigOarDeal: "And we did still have to line the canoe through some rapids a little further down.


When we got to the first pool that you are referencing, we found a very short trail leading just past the first rapids then back into river. Since I had thought it was a longer portage, we spent more time looking. Backtracking to the pool just before the last one, there was the trail to the longer portage. No, it didn't go up the hill really and I remember thinking there was a pretty steep hill to the left of me the entire time.


The trail itself is not too bad, except for the pothole I mentioned and a lot of prickly bushes intruding on the trail. I'll attach a picture to help describe better.


"



Sorry - missed your reply!


My memory may be faulty...but what I recall doing was likely that short portage you have drawn in blue, then paddle less than 100m, and then portage a couple hundred meters (the rest of your red line, most likely). Then paddle maybe 300m to the spot where you lined...I lined the first part but then portaged a very short distance to that last pool. Water was pretty low.


Again, will be going through there this season so will have to see about your longer port. Probably a time-saver.


Thanks for the detail!


Cheers.

"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
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