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  Last Visit: 04/17/2024 07:21PM

Entry Point 51 - Missing Link Lake

Missing Link Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 45 miles. Access is a canoe landing at Round Lake with a 142-rod portage to Missing Link Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 5
Elevation: 1498 feet
Latitude: 48.0731
Longitude: -90.8301
Author Message Text
Gichimon
membermember
 
05/21/2021 12:50PM
 
New Trip Report posted by Gichimon

Trip Name: We'll learn as we go....

Entry Point: 52

Click Here to View Trip Report
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x2jmorris
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05/21/2021 01:17PM
 
Nice. I was going to comment don't be afraid to double portage. Life is always so rushed as it is. Take the time and enjoy the walk... save your body a little too :)

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
boonie
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05/21/2021 01:59PM
 
Thanks, enjoyed your report. Many of us can relate well to that kind of first trip. It would be good if people going the first time without experience doing that stuff would read it. I'll bet it doesn't take you much longer to double portage now than it did to single then . . .
geotramper
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05/21/2021 02:28PM
 
Your picture of the storm is stunning!
Porkeater
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05/21/2021 02:41PM
 
Great report. Your puppers are adorable. I love your writing style.
GopherAdventure
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05/21/2021 11:55PM
 
Great report. I’ve been through those grueling portages you did on that first day and they are memorable to say the least. It sounds like you’ll never forget that first trip, thanks for reliving it and sharing it with us.


Paddle On,


Tony

Tony
GregSC
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05/22/2021 06:47AM
 
I enjoyed that very much. Great trip and your writing is great.
sns
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05/22/2021 08:45AM
 
geotramper: "Your picture of the storm is stunning!"


+1 - fantastic photo.


Thanks for sharing the TR!

"I don't care what you believe. I care what you can prove." -Philosopher & Mathematician JJJ
Spartan2
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05/22/2021 11:18AM
 
I enjoyed your report very much, and the photos are wonderful!


Never have tried a two-person carry, personally. Never wanted to. We started out with a Grumman aluminum canoe (first dozen trips or so), but my husband made sure it had a good carrying yoke and he carried it for miles over portages. I was thankful that he didn't mind doing that.


There is no shame in double portaging. I found, myself, that I really did often enjoy the unencumbered trip back for the second load. Unless you are a person who must make a very distance-intense experience out of canoe tripping, you may find that double portaging makes it much more fun in the long run.


Thanks for sharing.


3Ball
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05/22/2021 08:11PM
 
I enjoyed your report a great deal. Many of your challenges I have gone through myself. I'm glad to read of more paddlers who endured.
Northwoodsman
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05/23/2021 09:44AM
 
Great report. Aren't you glad you didn't give up that first day? As you know now, hydration is extremely important. It's hard to remember to drink when it's cool and you are surrounded by water. That first day must have been hell because that is a tough route even for experienced paddlers with the lightest of gear, a Kevlar canoe with a comfortable yoke. Your canoe actually did have a yoke/thwart, just not one like we normally think of. That aluminum tube riding on your shoulders isn't comfortable but would have probably been better than two people carrying it. Wrapping clothing around it or a PFD on your neck and shoulders helps. You area absolutely correct, we learn as we go. I have been going to the BWCA since 1980 and I learn something new every trip. I hope you two have many more trips!
yellowcanoe
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05/23/2021 04:51PM
 
Tough with two doggos! Not only do you have to carry your food you have to carry some of theirs.


Double portaging is actually very restful. You get to stretch those cramped muscles out. Now if you both have to go back with the dogs that provides a logistical challenge.


What we do with two packs and two of us and one canoe is one carries the canoe accompanied with one with a pack to what you guess is the halfway point. Then one with the packs continues on and the canoe person goes back for the other pack. Ideally this at some point in time has you one at each end of the port. Then the one that had the pack goes back to midpoint and the one that had the canoe takes the pack to the midpoint where the canoe is. Then both of you one with the canoe and one with the pack continue on. This has the advantage of the canoe bearing person not having an opportunity to get lost and take a wrong turn ( Its happened to us. You cant see everything under the boat!) Now how you manage the dogs is something you have to figure out.
I agree with Northwoodsman. Hydration is often overlooked on canoe trips with all that cool water around you. Exhaustion and nausea are symptoms of heat exhaustion /dehydration. Try to always water up before the first day. When you are doing all that work it is hard to remember to take the time to drink. Most waterbottles don't encourage you getting more than an ounce. Take the lid off and gulp the water!


I loved your beautiful pictures!
djwillco
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05/25/2021 09:18PM
 
Great report! Thanks for sharing. Love the reminder of what it's like to figure things out on those early trips. Loved the pics too. Seems like all the reports I've read have awesome photos. I need to up my game!
30Smoke
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05/27/2021 09:12AM
 
+1 enjoyed the Great report, very nice writing style and pictures. I am not a professional photographer, but I love taking pictures and was considering just taking a little Lumix this year, instead of my Nikon D7200 with Tamron 18-400 lens, to save weight. I would rather double portage than miss my pictures. I also had a rough go on my first solo, ended up with a quadruple portage, but with help on this website, I now keep it at a double, and it is much more enjoyable. Best advice I got on this forum was to get a bottle with the filter inside, then you can fill at end of portage and drink it as you go back for second load. also great to just grab some water as you get paddling and take a several sips as you paddle across the lake. So as much as I enjoyed your report, all the helpful hints and encouragement on this site make it even better. As for the Eagle / Tern battle, I stayed on a site by Seagulls last summer, and there was lots of extra noise as they would chase off the Eagle's. One even landed in a tree above our campsite, and the Seagulls immediately started dive bombing it's position until the eagle gave up and flew away. May you stay healthy and keep enjoying this wonderful BWCA water park!
Smoke

"it is tough to beat a person who doesn't quit" - famous philosopher George Ruth
timatkn
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05/27/2021 08:45PM
 
Very nice following along.


T
Jaywalker
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05/28/2021 08:39AM
 
I know those portages and was having sympathetic shoulder pains reading your report. Oh my gosh! I just can't imagine how you managed to carry both packs and a canoe at once. I do admire and respect those who can single portage, but I like the walk back to double portage - its when I get to really see everything. It sounds like your current solution of twin solos is a great idea. Thanks for writing this report up, and for what it is worth, I've now had about 30 trips to the BWCA, and I am absolutely still learning new and better ways so do things. Oh, and I've also ended up carrying my dogs backpack - sometimes wonder why I bother with it.
paddlinjoe
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06/03/2021 12:41PM
 
Thanks for sharing. It is a lot of fun to look back at those first trips, and the changes we make based on those experiences.

paddlinjoe
deerfoot
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06/19/2021 06:53PM
 
What a great trip and report - you will remember this trip the rest of your life. And make sure to throughly review your trip, since this is how you will learn. Your trip reminds me of several trips I took with my wife in the early 1970’s. I am close to my mid-70’s now and always double portage. I really enjoy the walks in the woods back for the next load of gear. And as much as I like good beer, I long ago switched to whisky for my evenings around the campfire. Anyway, keep tripping and you two will continually refine your tripping style.
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