BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
July 15 2025
Entry Point 24 - Fall Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 14
Elevation: 1324 feet
Latitude: 47.9527
Longitude: -91.7213
"This trip will be taking off from Fall Lake up through Newton Falls portage onto Pipestone Bay campsites. 3 day, 2 night trip into the wilderness.
First trip ever as a solo at 21 yo
Entry Date:
May 11, 2024
Entry Point:
Moose Lake
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
1
Woke up around 7. Heard a big "KER-PLUNK!" in the water last night just as I went to bed. Sounded like a boulder fell in the water. I slept fine until about 2 am, started tossing and turning because of a sore shoulder. Had a cup of coffee and a pop tart. Threw the fishing gear, bag of snacks & goodies, and water bottle in the canoe. I am off to do the fishdance. Fishdance Lake that is.
VERY foggy this morning, weather radio says there is a fast moving strong storm near Crane Lake and into Canada. Shouldn't be a problem for me. Headed through Insula, light breeze, fog lifting. Past a few happy campers headed the other direction just before I got to the small portage (can't be more than 15 rod). This has got to be the easiest portage this whole trip. Nice landings, nice trail. As I ventured up the mighty Kawishiwi, as soon as I got to the 90` dogleg, it started to sprinkle. I didn't think much of it, the sky didn't look THAT bad. Then it started to rain. Hurry up, grab rain gear. 
The portage after Alice Lake (17 rod), was something else. The west end wasn't bad. but the east end was pretty steep, and the rain made the rocks slick. It didn't help that 2 guys were parked there hiding from the rain under their canoe. Grrrrrrr!! The 95 rod portage wasn't bad at all. Paddled around Fishdance Lake. Tried to take pictures of the pictographs, I thought they may not turn out. Found out this to be true when I got back to camp. The lighting and rain messed things up. Oh well. Rain stopped, fished a bit.One small walleye, 2 smallies, catch and release. One o'clock, better make my way back. Wind is picking up, butt is getting sore.
When I got to Alice, the wind was coming straight out of the north.It took a lot of work going that short distance across the south end. Wind wasn't a bother on the river. Insula was another story. Wind was coming out of the northwest. I fought my way to Williamson Island and then rode the wind as far as I could. Then I did the same thing at "The Rock". Finally turned the corner heading northwest to home sweet home. I had to fight the wind the last mile and a half. CAMP AT LAST!!! My butt is SO sore.
6 pm, time for chow.Ramen noodle pizza. Another freezer bag cooking. I skipped the freezer bag part. Not too bad. I think next time bring actual pizza sauce instead of the dried tomatoes 
3 days alone and I haven't lost my mind yet :)
.......Last nights kerplunk was a beaver. He cruised in front of camp tonight. Approximately 27 miles paddled.
I set an alarm for early this morning as I wanted to cover a lot of ground if the weather would allow. My goal was to get to Ogishkemuncie to camp on an island that night (I now know that plan was way to ambitious). I finally got the hang of portaging today and was able to single portage. I also saw a moose print for the first time this trip. I'm used to whitetail prints so the mooseprint looked huge.
I ended up stopping at Kekekabic around 2 or so as the winds were really picking up. I did about 14 miles that day. My route was from Ashigan - Ima - Thomas - Fraser - Kekekabic. Looking back at it I should have slowed down a little but pushing through is part of the fun for me. I only saw one other canoe today and felt like I was back in time a couple hundred years. That night I slept a little better but was still pretty uneasy being alone for the first time on a backcountry trip. The wind calmer around midnight and the loons really put on a show for me. 
~Ima Lake, Thomas Lake, Fraser Lake, Kekekabic Lake
Day 3 I was originally going to head out to loop Saganaga but due to the winds the day before decided to divert from my plan and head back west. I left around 9 or so and headed north through Pickle, Spoon, and Bonnie up to Knife Lake. It was interesting to see Canada as a continuous landmass with the US and no border signs. I headed east to Birch Lake and then down into Newfoundland on Horshoe Island for my site.
That was a long day of paddling at about 15 miles with some moderate headwinds. I was relieved to make it to the site and fell asleep right after I climbed into my sleeping bag. I found some comfort in being close enough to people to get help if I needed it. But I did not enjoy hearing boats first thing in the morning. ="index.cfm?fuseaction=photos.display&img=MARTENSKIER21%2D170524%2D191245%2EJPG&name=TripReport">2EJPG&name=TripReport">5%2EJPG&name=TripReport">
~Pickle Lake, Spoon Lake, Bonnie Lake, Knife Lake, Birch Lake~Pickle Lake, Spoon Lake, Bonnie Lake, Knife Lake, Birch Lake, Sucker Lake, Newfound Lake
When I awoke I was feeling very sore and tired and instead of moving camp decided to basecamp for a day. I planned to canoe to prarie portage and maybe do some fishing. I left for the portage and skipped fishing to paddle down Basswood. Here I made what could have been a big mistake. I paddled with the wind at my back for a couple of hours down to the west not keeping track of time. I made it down to Christmas Island where I then realized there was about a 5-10mph wind blowing me the whole time. I was about 2pm.
I did not have any of my camping gear with me and knew I needed to make it back to Newfoundland tonight. I psyched myself up and paddled hard until I made it back to my campsite by 5pm. I ended up going 23 miles that day and was very happy to eat my dinner and get to bed. Lesson learned. 
~Sucker Lake, Basswood Lake, Newfound Lake
After paddling over 60 miles in four days I was even more tired than yesterday morning. I again decided to basecamp and probably head in the next day. I had seen a lot on this trip and overall had a really good time. I decided to focus to day on catching some fish. I ended up getting a few northerns with a chatterbait but couldn't get a walleye. I paddled down the prarie portage to fish with some of the boats and then around ensign and Newfoundland. It was a good relaxing day and I only paddled around 6 miles.
The sunset that night was really nice. I stopped to take it in while hanging my bear bag. 
~Newfound Lake, Sucker Lake
I woke early today to my alarm but decided to go back to sleep as it was raining. I woke again around 8 and packed up camp and headed down to the Moose Lake EP and packed everything up. It was a sad paddle back as I knew I was going back to the city the next day. I stopped by the kind man's house who let me borrow the canoe and had a nice talk about the trip. The trip was 74 miles in total.
Leaving the Moose Lake ep I noticed the huge old mine that is snapped in half. I walked by it and just thought about the things it had seen long before the BWCA even existed. Possibly native Americans had rested under its shade hundreds of years ago. Maybe trappers also and now me. My perception of time was really stretched on this trip. A song that really sums up the trip and the experience is "In The Wind" by Lord Huron.
This trip taught me that going solo is something I am fully capable of and actually enjoy doing. I learned to never rely on 5-day-old weather reports and also that wolves aren't something to be afraid of. I'll be back hopefully many times. Now I just have to find a job that allows me time off so I can get up here more. 
~Moose Lake, Newfound Lake