Boundary Waters Trip Reports, Blog, BWCA, BWCAW, Quetico Park

BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 19 2024

Entry Point 23 - Mudro Lake

Mudro 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 19 miles. Three accesses into Mudro Lake involve portages ranging from 20–185 rods.Easiest access is from private la nd with parking fee.

Number of Permits per Day: 5
Elevation: 1166 feet
Latitude: 48.0356
Longitude: -91.8301
On the Water- Monday July 20th-
On the water late considering how far we need to go today. Up the Horse river to the falls by 6pm. Started raining and NO campsites available. Mudrow-Alruss-Tin can Mike-Horse Lake-Horse River-Basswood. 13 miles by water. (not counting portages)

Tuesday July 21st-
Rain all night, all morning and all day. Went north by petroglyphs, table rock and the the Crocked Lake Narrows across Thursday bay to campsite. Basswood-Crooked Lake-Wednesday Bay-Thursday Bay. 11 miles in the rain.

Wednesday July 22nd-
Up early and calm winds to take advantage of, considering the big water we have to cross. Found beaver dam to lift over and did a portage from hell between Pandos lake and Chippewa Lake. VERY steep and slippery after rain. Many mud holes. Then the mile portage after Wagosh Lake to Gun Lake. Never saw another soul in a canoe or campsite the entire day! Thursday bay-Friday Bay-Pandos Lake-Chippewa Lake-Wagosh lake-Gun Lake. 11 miles by water.

Thursday July 23rd-
Finally had a dry night. got everything dry!!! A few portages today to Fourtown Lake campsite. Easy day by comparison. Gun Lake-Fairy Lake-Boot Lake-Fourtown Lake. 6 miles. Put the long miles at the first of the week for a buffer for contingencies!

Friday July 24th-
Last day. Stormed last night bad. A few portages today with one bad one between Fourtown Lake and Mudrow lake. To entry point by 1pm. Ready for a hot shower! 4 miles

Total-
45 miles by water
13 miles by portage (3 trips each)
58 miles total.

Horse Lake Base Camp - 2008

by Bannock
Trip Report

Entry Date: August 26, 2008
Entry Point: Mudro Lake
Number of Days: 5
Group Size: 2

Trip Introduction:
My normal "August Group" couldn't make it this year. I was either going to not do a trip or maybe do a solo. Then Jim, with whom I had already done a trip in June and would be doing another in October, suggested that the two of us do another in August. Both of us used our solo canoes (as usual) and separate tents. Everything else, however, was shared.

Part 1 of 4


Friday, August 29, 2008

The morning was windy and threatening rain. Jim made pancakes for breakfast and they were the BEST pancakes I ever had ... Ever!

I tried a little fishing from shore. I didn’t catch anything though I did have something on for a few seconds. That’s pretty good for me. That may have kept me fishing longer but my reel broke. Oh well, that gives me a chance to start my journal. I haven’t written a thing up to this point.

We slept in today. We had a big day yesterday.

I had been in a funk. Not really a depression, but certainly not myself. I was happy about the trip but not excited as I usually am. A lot of things were going on at home. Nothing big separately, but collectively it was weighing me down.

The drive up was fine and so was our night-before stay at Fenske Lake Campground. Jim made a great supper.

We entered the BWCA on Tuesday the 26th at the Mudro Lake entry point and made for Horse Lake. It was different seeing the bare hillside where the steps to Chainsaw Sisters used to be. I went up to the top to see the open space where it sat. Nothing’s there.

The Mudro to Sandpit portage was a heart-thumper. The portages to Tin Can Mike and Horse were longer but not difficult at all. The Sandpit to TCM was like a walk in a State Park and shortly after you hit the boardwalk you are treated to a great view of the lake. It was also on this portage that I shared the trail with a pine marten for a rod or two. At first it was just standing there staring at me trying to figure out what I was and then scampered ahead of me on the trail before dashing to the side.

It took us about 4 hours to reach Horse Lake double portaging. Only one campsite was occupied when we arrived. We took the site on the entrance to the Horse River (#1116).

The site was spacious with a sand beach and easy landing. Good tent sites. It is on a point with lots of tall, red pines. We couldn’t have asked for more.

It rained a bit during the night.

On Wednesday the 27th my funk was still with me. The wind was a good excuse to hang around camp. We didn’t even canoe that day. The only thing of note I did was read a lot of “To Kill a Mockingbird”.

When I went to bed I noticed a frog on the ceiling of my tent. He was between the netting of the tent and the rain fly. I wished him a goodnight and started to feel my funk lift. After about 10 minutes, while I was reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” by flashlight, I heard the frog slide down the tent to the ground.

After a few minutes there was a tap on my mesh tent door. There was my friend, Mr. Frog. He was standing in my vestibule apparently catching bugs attracted by my light. The occasional tap on my door kept me company while I read and until I fell asleep.

On Thursday afternoon (the 28th), although still not quite myself, I felt better. We took a day trip to Lower basswood falls and the nearby pictographs. Again, I wasn’t excited about it but knew I should.

The map shows three short portages to Basswood Lake. We made at least three more than that plus 2 where we walked or lined the canoes. I think it took us 4+ hours to make Basswood.

I loved paddling the Horse River and the Falls were great. There were lots of people there, which normally I wouldn’t have considered a good thing, but today it lifted my spirits. I think it was because it was a beautiful day and this sight, which is not easy to get to, attracting so many people.

A lot of them were young folks enjoying the day, but also behaving themselves. There was no party attitude or rowdiness. We watched one young man land a 36” northern above the Falls while amongst his group’s three canoes that were crowded together. There were big, genuine smiles among that group of 20-somethings.

As Jim and I had lunch sitting between the Falls on the American side, I watched a family that we shared much of the Horse River with us enjoy the area. This group consisted of Grandpa and Grandma, their adult son and daughter, and the daughter’s two kids. The adult son told us he hadn’t been there in 15 years, it was the kids’ first trip, and Grandpa used to lead many youth groups for his church. Nice folks.

As I approached the pictographs a strange thing happened. Right in front of me was a splash and then a wake of water coming towards me, then it started to spin quickly. I braced myself expecting to be caught in a whirlwind, but it died out just before it reached me. I think it might have been the start of a water spout that didn’t quite become one. It was sort of eerie.

Once I saw the pictographs, I was in awe. I didn’t expect that to happen. I kept thinking that I should have brought some tobacco for an offering. I hoped that my good vibes would suffice.

Paddling away I realized my funk was gone.

Jim and I were both very worn out on the paddle back to Horse Lake. We reached about the limits of our exertion traveling to the pictographs and back in one day. I’m getting old, but in defense, we did travel 9 hours, some of it in cold water and on slippery rocks. We also sat out a storm (with some hail) about 3/4s of the way back. We pulled up to our campsite just as the sun was setting.

We were more than tired. We were wet and camp was dirty from the storm. It was also getting dark.

We took our time and did what needed doing. We had supper, a fire, dessert, and drinks. Then it was off to bed, the latest yet – 10:30.

I was tired and only read a couple of pages of “To Kill a Mockingbird” before falling asleep.

 



Part 2 of 4


Saturday, August 30, 2008

We are having another long day, most of it not in the BWCA. As I write this, we are driving home on a “donut” spare tire. It has added a few hours onto our drive. Lesson learned: Don’t have tire problems in the Minoqua area after 5:00pm on Labor Day weekend.

It’s going home day. This trip was way too short. It’s what I needed though, but just as I’m starting to feel the positive effects of being here, we have to leave. Darn!

I was up at 6:30. I heard Jim putzing around before I got up. We had a leisurely breakfast, though it was our normal, simple breakfast of instant oatmeal, half a bagel, and hot chocolate. We didn’t hurry taking down camp and were on the water at 8:30.

Nice paddle. Nice day. 

We didn’t see anyone till TCM. It was a group also heading out. We held back at the portage to let them get ahead of us. As soon as we landed, a group of two heading in came up. It was an older couple; efficient, and obviously experienced. They were heading to Basswood or Crooked -- a long trip. They were confident they’d be there by 2:00. Maybe. I think 2:00 was optimistic, though I am certain they made it and spent a wonderful night there.

Before we made it too far, we met another group on the portage. After that we shared every portage with at least two groups, all of them fairly large. It looked like it would be a busy day. After the first group, I think every group we spoke to was planning on camping on Horse. It seemed like we spoke to more than six groups, which is strange seeing as there are only six permits a day available. Most of the groups seemed to think that they were the first group coming in that day. We sort of burst their bubble when we informed them they were not. One thing for certain, Horse Lake was going to be busy that night and every campsite was likely to be filled.

We made it out at 12:30 pm then headed to Ely for a quick stop at Piragis.

Things were going well on the drive home until one of the tires started to misbehave. Because of a big bulge that was ready to burst, the tire had to be removed. No replacements could be found, and so our present situation of traveling slowly on the emergency tire. They’re meant to be used for 20 miles or so. We’d be driving (slowly) on it ten times that number. We should be home a little after midnight. Oh well, it added to the adventure, though I’d rather have the adventure in the BW rather than the drive home.

 



Part 3 of 4


Notes:

I need a new reel. The old one finally died (from lack of use I think). I got a gift certificate from Gander Mountain for Fathers’ Day. Now I know what I’ll use it for.

My mesh dish bag needs some sewing.

I need to sew a button on my tackle bag.

I need a new $6 chair from Walmart. One died on this trip. They seem to last about four trips before they give out.

My headlamp was week this trip. It got turned on in my pack. The good news is that it was probably on for 2 days and was still working. I need a system to keep that from happening. Remove the batteries?

My new tent, an ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 1.01, worked better than I thought it would. I thought it might be hard to get in, but it was not an issue. It is more spacious than the Eureka Spitfire and has a bigger vestibule.

 



Part 4 of 4


Critters:

I didn’t see anything big this time – no moose, no bear, no wolf, not even a deer. I did see a pine marten. It was on one of the portages. Of course we had “camp pets” including two chipmunks, a red squirrel, and at least one mouse. I saw loons and eagles and whiskey jacks, and various small birds. That’s all that I can recall.

 


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