Boundary Waters, Routes, Forum, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Parkwww.BWCA.com Trip Reports - Messageboard, Forum, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Park

Boundary Waters Trip Planning Info

Rules

Basic Rules & Information

BWCA Permits

BWCA Permit & Information

Checklist

Checklist & Trip Planning

BWCA Outfitters

Gear Rental & Outfitters

Camping

Resorts, Cabins & Camping

Boundary Waters Route Blog
    Trip Reports
      Trip Report - Three Tries and Ten Days to Frost-EP 50 to 51
 
  Last Visit: 04/18/2024 05:30PM

Entry Point 50 - Cross Bay Lake


view flash version | view topographic map
Cross Bay 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 thru the Cross River with two portages to Ham Lake and a 24-rod portage to Cross Bay Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1670 feet
Latitude: 48.0760
Longitude: -90.8222
Author Message Text
rertel
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 03:40PM
  
New Trip Report posted by rertel

Trip Name: Three Tries and Ten Days to Frost-EP 50 to 51.

Entry Point: 50

Click Here to View Trip Report

PacksTooMuch
Reply Top Bottom Previous Next
OneMatch
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 04:38PM
  
Wonderful report! The swan pic is awesome.


I once camped on Bologna as well to break up the Frost River journey (although were were going upstream - really tough).


Your report proves that persistence is the key. You definitely had some tough breaks, but it's all good.


Thanks!


We all have to believe in something. I believe I'll go paddle.
Spartan2
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 05:54PM
  
Great trip report! I enjoyed the parts I had experienced myself and the parts that I didn't get to do. We had planned to do the Frost River once and turned back (long story), but Long Island, Gordon, and Frost are some of our favorite parts of the BWCA.


Nice photos--I would have liked more.
Mocha
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 07:17PM
  
thanks so much for the detailed report. it would be fun to experience the frost river section with high water. glad you were finally able to make the entire trip after your other trips with bad weather.
loved the photos, and like Spartan2, wish there were more
boonie
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 07:49PM
  
Interesting trip report - I'm glad you finally made it around through Frost and out. I also wish there were more pictures - I guess many of us are picture junkies :).
TomP
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 07:53PM
  
Nice report! We did the same route in 2010 in August. We had a few more lift overs
paddlefamily
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/21/2013 09:10PM
  
Looks like you had some pretty campsites. Happy you finally got to Frost!
Exo
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/22/2013 12:08PM
  
That was a pleasant read, thank you. And quite an adventure!
rertel
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
07/26/2013 08:40PM
  


PacksTooMuch
callofthewild
senior membersenior membersenior member
 
01/03/2014 04:52PM
  
I just finished reading your trip report from this past summer. I am glad that you were finally able to complete the loop. This is one trip that I am looking forward to completing as well in the future.

I believed we passed you guys on your way out. My son and I were coming into Cross Bay that Wednesday morning. We also stayed at Andy & Sue's( Tuscarora Lodge). We entered from Missing Link on the previous Sunday.

We had also camped for two nights on Rib Lake and had the honor of watching a huge Bull Moose right in front of our camp for about 90 minutes on the evening of 06-24-13. He came ashore about 30 yards north of the camp and walked into the swamp. It was the highlight of our trip.
rertel
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
01/04/2014 12:09PM
  
Our campsite on Rib was nice, but didn't afford much view of the lake. We we had seen a moose there.


You can't go wrong visiting Frost. We enjoyed it so much that we're thinking we might make a side trip and return to it this summer. We're considering a route that mixes some new territory with our old nemesis--the Cam-Gasket-Vesper-Town chain. We'd start at Brule and head through the Cones (new territory for us) to Long Island and then down through Cherokee and the "mechanics" lakes (Gasket and Cam) to Brule. We did the "mechanics" chain our first trip and it was a bear. Since then, we've measured the difficulty of every route against that set of portages. The Frost River was close, but still not quite as tough. We were poorly packed and loaded down with a full trip's worth of food when we portaged through the "mechanics" last time. This time those portages will come at the end of the trip so maybe they won't seem so tough, although I've read a few trip reports that make me think they're tough portages.


Since some folks commented that they'd like more pictures, I'm adding some to this reply.


I wish it didn't take so long to upload photos--probably should just make a gallery somewhere with a link.

PacksTooMuch
cowdoc
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
01/04/2014 10:01PM
  
.....head through the Cones to Long Island. Do you plan on going through Davis on this route? You'll love those portages.

"What could happen?"
Exo
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
01/05/2014 01:53AM
  
Thank you for taking the time to write and post your trip report. I enjoyed reading it. Some parts on the edge of my seat...will they find the portage? Will they take the plunge down the Frost? Good job.
rertel
distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
 
01/05/2014 11:51AM
  
We're looking forward to those:)


I've read that the portage from Davis to Kiskadinna is long and steep while the portage from Kiskadinna to Muskeg is supposed to be among the hardest in BWCA. But, I also read a trip report from someone who said it was a piece of cake next to the Brule to Town set. Since we're going into Muskeg, we'll be going downhill which might help a little, as long as it isn't wet and slick.


We've also gotten wiser, I think. We'll spend a day or two in the Cones which will lighten our load a little and then break up the trek to Long Island with a night on Davis or Kiskadinna.


It's always an adventure . . .

PacksTooMuch
Reply Top Bottom Previous Next

EP 1 - Trout Lake

EP 4 - Crab Lake & Cummings Lake

EP 6 - Slim Lake

EP 7 - From Big Lake

EP 8 - Moose River South

EP 9 - Little Indian Sioux River South

EP 12 - Little Vermilion Lake

EP 14 - Little Indian Sioux River North

Little Indian Sioux River North - 14
Routes
treehorn - Lazy, Fishless, Awesome 3-Nighter: Lynx & Shell
Trip Reports
LIS July 2004
There are no bad days in the BWCA
Loop Around the Horn, EP14 to EP 16
Bite of the Pike
Destination Finger Lake
First Trip-Been back since...
Little Indian Sioux River north
LIS North to Moose River
Little Indian Sioux- North 2007-- Hot and Uphill!
LIS north to Little Loon, Gun, Gebe, Oyster and Shell
little indian souix to nina moose
Shell Lake Base Camp
Little Indian Sioux Loop Through The Beartracks
A Much Needed Trip
Four years to Nahimana (Photo link added on 8/7/08)
Four Solos 2008
Pauness Lakes to Heritage, Lynx, to Shell, loop
Too many motorboats
Shell Lake Basecamp
LIS / Shell lake
June-July 2009
Divas - JB and Canoe Bender doing Pauness
Mom's first trip: LIS North out EP16
The First of Many
5 Rivers Trip or Lac La Croix circumnavigation
Little Indian Souix River North
LIS Solo
Lac La Croix - around the horn
LIS to Steep, Lynx with day trips
A week of R & R on Little Loon
Yodeler bushwack
Annual Adventure
Ohio Boys going North - 2010
Solo LIS River North
Is it really solo?
Winter Camping, Shell Lake
SS Diva Slug Fest
My Wifes First Trip
LIS North, Hustler, Gebe, Lac La Croix, Moose River
The Year of the Beaver
sept solo
2011 Heritage Lake Basecamp
a
LIS North Loop, April 2012
Little Indian Sioux and Beyond
Severe Trip
Snow Bay 2012
EP 14 exit EP16
2012 LIS North (14) loop to Moose River (16)
Gusto
Little Indian Sioux North Loop Solo
Lots of Animals
From Tinder Box to Please Pass the Napalm
Little Indian Sioux Getaway Trip
EP 14 to EP 16 Northern Loop
Loon Lake
LIS-First Solo!
Little Indian Sioux Solo Trip
LacLaCroix (It's A Really Big Lake)
My Trip on Everytrail.
.
15 Day Solo Trip LIS North
The Storm / Bushwack to Rangeline / A Trip to Warpaint / Lynx Lake
Warpaint Lake
Finally, a full week in the BWCA! LIS through Slim/Beartrack/Finger/Oyster/Lynx.
Little Indian Sioux #14 Sept. 2014
Shell - Little Shell - Lynx
Little Indian Souix and beyond
Sioux Hustler Area Voyage
Lazy, Fishless Awesome guys trip up the LIS
Sam and Andrew's First Adventure
Solo July 2015
Dear Mariel
Portage clearing trip 2016/ LIS North
Keep Calm & Paddle On!
Western Lac La Croix and Lakes to the South
LIS North to Loon and LLC
LIS North to Lynx, August 2016
Leaky Canoe on the Little Indian Sioux
EP 14 Lynx lake
Solo Trip-EP14 Shell/Lynx
First Ever Solo- Little Indian Sioux River North- July 2017
Where Are The Maps?...and No Pictures, Please--our 2017 trip on the Little Indian Sioux
Shell, Lynx, Hustler, Oyster to EP 16
BWCA Sept 2017 EP14
Paddling with friends
BW Full Send 2018
Indian Sioux North Solo
Operation Bushwhack!
Shell Basecame for Wife's Second Trip
Stormy September - Namakan-Loon River Loop
2018 BWCA Trex
June 2019 LISN to Devils Cascade
LIS Loop 2019 - Rivers and Storms
July 2019 Trip - 5 days
First trip to the western area BWCA
LIS September Paddle
The Camps Return to the BWCA
Nonstop wind
Lynx Lake Trip June 2020
A Walk In The Woods - Second Time To The Boundary Waters
Sioux-Hustler trail push
Shell Lake June 2021
Mid-Summer Lac La Croix Paddling Trip
Familiar waters-strange circumstances
September LIS Loop
100 Mile Solo on the Border
LIS Loop of Solitude
I found my thrill on blueberry hill
May 2023 EP14
There will be BUGS!,... and a floatplane.
LLC to Moose Lake
Lac La Croix - The Big Lake
2023 LIS North (14) - Moose River North (16)
Ep 14-14 loop with Weeny PMA exploration
Snow Bay + Fat Lake- August 2023
LLC Interior Tour
Fall 2019 Trip to Lynx Lake - YouTube

EP 16 - Moose/Portage River (North of Echo Trail)

Moose/Portage River (North of Echo Trail) - 16
Routes
Route - Moose River EP16
Trip Reports
My First Trip into the BWCA
Autumn in the BWCAW
E P 16 to E P 24
Jeffords Twosome 2005
June 2005
Moose River North
Moose River North June 2006
June 2006 Solo... (The Foot Trip)
Newbies- Moose River North to Moose Lake
Paddling Pageant and the Sioux Hustler portage
Sausage Party 2006
2007 Moose River Trip
May 2007 trip - EP 16 to Crown Land and High Falls
Oyster Lake-Quality Trip
Nina Moose to Iron Lake
Oyster/Agnes/LLC
Oyster agnes LLC
Old Friends and New Places
A Wildlife adventure
Moose River to LLC
Bill and Rob 2008 Moose River Trip
Opener Weekend '08-EP 16 to Oyster and back home via Ramshead
A Trip of First's
first time to Lac La Croix
Radtke's on Lac La Croix '08
Aug 2008 - Moose River out & back
Moose River North to Iron Lake and back again
Moose River to Agnes
A Group of Newbies
Early June 2009 EP #16 First trip for all of us
Boulder Bay 2009
Agnes, La Croix, Iron, Stewart
Father and Son Trip
The Gary Harden Trip: Where a boy Harden's into a man!
BWCAW 2009
Four Old Girls Tackle the BWCA
A New Adventure
Perfect April Trip
EP 16 to EP 24
Oyster, Ge-be, L.L.C.
Father and Son Trip
Moose River to LLC and Iron, near-tragedy on Agnes
FS rides again!
Extreme
Oyster Creek and Boulder River
Moose River North to Lac La Croix
Father's and Son's
A couple returnees and four newbies from EP 16 up to LLC
Sept. 2011
Trip to Iron Lake Fall 2011 (2019 remake)
Winter Lake Trout
Moose River North to Iron
Angler hooks walleye, the fish returns the favor
Father / Daughter Trip
Iron Lake or Bust
September Morn
Oyster Lake Base Camp 2013 (Green,Rocky,Ramshead, Ninamoose)
EP 16 -- Agnes Lake
EP16 to Lac La Croix West to East Loop
moose river north entry 16
EP 16 Nina Moose to Agnes Basecamp: A Family Excursion with a bit of fishing
Try to Remember a Day in September
Annual Fall Trip to Lake Agnes
Oyster, Finger, LLC September/Oct 2013
Pictorial Trip Report - Lake Agnes in October
THE FIVE WORN OUT INDIANS
Fall 2014 Lake Agnes Trip
A Perfect Trip
Moose R. North to Iron/LLC. First as a trip "leader"
Moose river north
Father-Daughter trip to Iron lake via EP16 Iron lake
Moose River First Solo
Fall 2015 Lake Agnes Trip
Iron Lake Trip 2016
Agnes - LLC
More than I imagined
Fall 2016 Lake Agnes Trip
Wolf sighting between Oyster and Hustler
Agnes - LLC - Ge-be-on-e-quet Loop
LAC LA CROIX VOYAGERS
Memorial Day Heat--Moose River North 2018
June 2018 to Oyster & beyond
Relaxing Jaunt to Nina Moose
8 day 7 nights EP16 Boulder Bay, LLC, Ge-be-on-e-quet, Oyster, Agnes
27 day solo
Return to Iron Lake
Entry point 16
Bushman goes back to the BWCA
Moose River to Tiger Bay
May 2020 - Nina/Moose > Iron > Crooked > Basswood > Horse > Mudro
EP16 Loop - Oyster, Ge-be-on-e-quet, Lac La Croix, Nina Moose
EP16 - I-R-O-N Lake Fishing Expedition
Tiger Bay, Agnes, and we suck at portages
Sept 2020 EP 16 Loop - Nina Moose, Oyster, Ge-be, LLC, Agnes, Nina Moose
namaycush redemption
Lake Agnes Basecamp
May 29-June 4th Nina Moose to Lacroix with plenty of wind
Trip with Friends BWCA 2022
June fishing exploits on Lac La Croix
#16 Moose River Loop

EP 19 - Stuart River

EP 20 - Angleworm Lake

EP 23 - Mudro Lake

Mudro Lake - 23
Routes
Route - July'09 big counterclockewise loop
Trip Reports
The Return
Sleeping Under the Stars
Fullmoon over Fourtown
Horse River May7-11
Church Kids
Murdo entry - Intorduction to BW for two of my daughters
2005 Trip...6/26-7/1 (Mudro- Crooked)
Sausage Party 2005
Mudro to Canada - 3rd trip to the BWCAW
September Trip
Mudro in October
First Timer
Our first loop
Big Water to No Water and Portages in Between
Mudro
A SPECIAL TRIP UP THE BEARTRAP RIVER
Mudro to Horse
Mudro to Friday Bay
Moosecamp Solo
Mudrow, Crooked, Iron, LaCroix, and Nina Moose
The Sundial PMA
mudro
Crooked Lake
Horse Lake
Mudro to Beartrap to Moosecamp and back
Family Base Camp Trip to Horse Lake
Mudro to Bear Trap and return
Wandering Women 2008
Horse Lake Pike
Horse Lake Base Camp - 2008
Horse Lake Base Camp
Mudro-Fairy-Thunder-Moosecamp
May fishing photos
Mudro, Beartrap River, Horse lake loop
Dads and sons- Mudro loop thru Horse, Crooked back thru Gun and Fourtown
July 2009 Trip 3
First Solo
Mudro - Crooked Lake loop
Ten days of September
Mudro to Angleworm, April 2010
Mudro loop
Mudro to Horse w/7 yr. old daughter
First Loop Trip - Father and Son
Boot Lake: Here Comes the Rain Again
Boot Lake Basecamp
2010 June - Mudro to Gull
Mudro, LBF, Crooked, Papoose Creek Fourtown in a kayak
Jordan's First Trip to BWCA - Family Trip 2010
BEPCO Trip 2010
1st Timers 8/21/10
Last Canoe Trip of the Season
mudro to crooked to sunday bay to gun to fourtown.. I WISH..
Mudro to Basswood
October Adventures in Paradise
You Don't Catch, You Don't Eat
A trip of many firsts.
Tour of the Crooked Lake Area via Mudro Lake
Fourteen Hours, Four Guys, Toyota Corrolla. and one wrecked Kevlar Canoe
Mudro to Crooked Big Fun One One
Pictorial Trip Report - My First Solo
Through the Eyes of Gabe
Boy Scout
Long Strange Trip
Tippy Canoe & Broken Soles (EP 23)
Five nights on Boot Lake
Mudro to Gun
One New Fisherman
Mudro to Crooked- Cultivating the love
BWCAW 2011 - Summer to late fall in 7 days
Easter Week Border Water Walleyes
Horse Shake
Mudro to boot, fairy, gun, moose camp, fourtown. 9 People 6 days
Turtle Watch !
Mudro to Crooked (Smallmouth Bonanza)
First but not last
2012 Fourtown
Mudro to Beartrap with the Family
Mudro Lake on Labor Day- First Time in BWCA
Mudro to Moosecamp
Crooked Loop
Horse/Friday Bay/Fourtown Loop
Late Fall EP23: Mudro-Horse-Fourtown
Wojack in the wild (Crooked Lake loop)
Mudro to Friday Bay and Back Again
Crooked Lake Falls and Fish
Mudro - Jackfish Bay - Basswood River - Crooked - Gun - Mudro
Mudro EP to Fairy to Fourtown to Horse
My first trip to the BWCA
Crooked Loop
Crooked Lake 4th July 2015
Horse Lake
Mudro to Just Past Wednesday Bay on Crooked Lake
#23 Mudro: “Time travel in a magic canoe” (first solo 2015)
Mudro to Horse
Horse Lake 2016 - Major Storm and No Fish
Lessons Learned From the Boundary Waters
A Sweet Video From Our Trip
A Windy Mudro Loop
Plans meet reality, 4 southerners visit the BWCA
bunggee lake bushwack
First trip
MUDRO-BASSWOOD FALLS-JACKFISH BAY TRIP - FALL 2017
October 2017- 3 Generations of Family
Mudro to Beartrap Loop
First BWCA Trip #23 Loop
Boot Lake fall basecamp with GSP
May Mudro Loop
College Camping Trip
Crooked Lake Loop
Mudro-Crooked Lk with some first timers !
Kids canoe
Solo trip Mudro to Fall Lake
My First Real Trip - Mudro Loop
Crooked Lake Loop for BWCA First Timers
SO's first trip to the BW
3/4 1st timers
Mudro EP to Lower Basswood Falls Video Trip Report
Not exactly a trip report, but a Wall Street Journal story about escaping to the BWCA
Paddling with Padres - A spiritual Exodus adventure
Mudro 2020 Fishing/Relaxing
Hot Summer Nights on Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake - Found A Necklace
Turning 40 in the Boundary Waters
Return of the Cousins Camping
YouTube Slideshow - Oct. Trip Mudro to Lower Basswood Falls
Fourtown Weekend Trip
Long way to Wednesday Bay

EP 24 - Fall Lake