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

BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 28 2024

Entry Point 30 - Lake One

Lake One 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 21 miles. Access is a canoe landing at Lake One.

Number of Permits per Day: 13
Elevation: 1230 feet
Latitude: 47.9391
Longitude: -91.4792
My son Remy and I, and my friend Keith and his son Charlie put our canoes into Lake one at 9:30 Monday morning after dropping off a car at the Snowbank Lake landing. Lake One can be tricky to navigate. On our way to Lake Two we turned East too early and ended up paddling about a mile out of our way into a dead-end bay before we realized our mistake. We blamed the fact that Lake One was split between Fisher Maps #10 and #4 for our error. If the entire lake had been visible at once on a single map, we would not have made the wrong turn. Once we got back on course we portaged the 30 rods into a pond and then portaged the 40 rods into Lake Two. The weather was nice, and there was a bit of a tail wind out of the West. We stopped for lunch on the shore of Lake Two. After lunch we canoed through the North end of Lake Three and into Lake Four. We stopped for the night at a campsite on the West shore of Lake Four, just North of the channel heading toward Hudson Lake. We had to battle swarms of mosquitoes as we set up the tents. We then had a nice refreshing swim. Because we had brought steaks along for the first night, we didn't go fishing.

On Tuesday morning we had a bacon and eggs breakfast then packed up camp and headed out in our canoes. As we canoed past our campsite, we realized that Remy & I had left our hammocks pitched between trees. We landed again and quickly packed them up. Once again we had beautiful weather. We paddled East and completed 3 short portages before entering Hudson Lake. The 105 rod portage into Lake Insula was exhausting! Lake Insula is a large gorgeous lake broken up by multiple islands and penninsulas. We had lunch at a campsite on a large island just East of Hudson Lake. It felt like we had a tail wind as we were heading East, and then as we turned North it seemed like the wind shifted and was at our backs once again. We navigated Lake Insula flawlessly and camped for the night on the island just West of Williamson Island. After setting up the tents and a refreshing swim, Remy & I got back into the canoe and tried to catch some fish. We had no luck! At 9PM that night, just as we were going to bed, a thunderstorm rolled through. That night I was awakened several times by the loud croaking of bullfrogs from the shallows around our island. What noisy neighbors!

By Wednesday morning the weather had cleared, but the wind was now coming from the Northwest, pretty much in our faces. We paddled to the North end of Lake Insula and tackled the largest portage of our trip. The 180 rod walk to Kiana Lake actually seemed easier than the 105 rod carry into Lake Insula. We headed onward into Thomas Lake where we really started feeling the headwind. We finally made it to the campsite just Northeast of the portage into Thomas Pond in time for lunch. After lunch we proceeded across Thomas Pond and into Thomas Creek after hiking across the famous Kekekabic Trail. We managed to easily run the rapids in Thomas Creek and avoid the 2 short portages. We camped for the night on Hatchet Lake at the northern campsite. It was cool and windy, so we didn't swim. There was lots of threatening weather going by to the North of us, but we stayed dry. After supper we canoed back to Thomas Creek to fish and look for moose. No luck on either count, but we did see a beaver swimmming.

The weather was nice again Thursday morning, but the wind was out of the West which was the direction we were heading. We portaged into Ima Lake and canoed across it. Before portaging into Jordan Lake, we watched a bald eagle sitting in a tree get harrassed repeatedly by a seagull. The narrow channel leading into Jordan Lake is quite beautiful. It is narrow like a river with big rock outcroppings. We paddled across Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure, and Jitterbug Lakes. We found the Eastern campsite on Ahsub Lake taken, so we camped at the Western campsite which had a great place for swimming in front of it. There was a very brave loon in front of the campsite who didn't seem to mind if we got close to it. We tried our luck at fishing, but only caught 1 smallmouth which was too small to eat. Between 5:00 and 7:30 that evening we saw a number of canoes heading across Ahsub Lake from Disappointment Lake to Jitterbug Lake. We weren't sure where they were planning to camp, but it was getting late.

On Friday we awoke again to good weather. We paddled the length of Disappointment Lake and portaged into to Parent Lake and then on to Snowbank Lake. It was July 4th, and as we entered Snowbank Lake the sounfd of firecrackers reminded us we weren't in the wilderness anaymore. After a brief splash war on our way across Snowbank, we made it to the landing and our car was still there. What a great trip!

Snowbank Fathers Day Weekend

by cknlg1
Trip Report

Entry Date: June 13, 2013
Entry Point: Snowbank Lake
Number of Days: 6
Group Size: 8

Trip Introduction:

Report


At 6:00 am on Wednesday June 12, 2013, all 8 people in our group, 3 fathers and 4 children (ages 10-17) along with another adult, departed home in two vehicles with a canoe in tow, and headed for Interstate 39 in Illinois to begin our adventure north to Minnesota. After several bathroom breaks and lunch at the Norske Nook in Rice Lake, WI we arrived at Voyageur North Outfitters in Ely at about 4 PM. We had previously purchased two used canoes, rented a canoe and had arranged a entry and exit night stay with John and Lynn at VNO. After checking out our accommodations for the night, we traveled downtown to Ely and had a fantastic meal at the Boathouse Restaurant (I strongly recommend the sweet potato fries!). After dinner we returned to VNO and hunkered in for the evening.

Morning came early with very little sleep, due to the group in the rooms above us arriving full of fervor sometime after midnite. Nevertheless, we arose around 6 am, picked up our leeches at VNO and arrived at Snowbank Lake prior to 7:30 am. Shortly after 8 am we were off. It was cool and clear with the temp about 46 degrees, wind around 7 mph out of the Northeast. It warmed nicely as the muscles got working and as we conquered the rotten portage from Snowbank into Disappointment Lake. All downhill from there. Three of the boys had previously been to the BWCA and had slightly better ideas as to the challenges ahead. As well, we made sure to lay it on thick when it came to how bad the first portage would be comparably to the others.

All was well, we traveled into Ashigan, then Jitterbug, Adventure, and Cattyman....then the interesting part began. We arrived on a group of young ladies. All younger, finding out they were inner city kids from Milwaukee on a trip with their leaders. Guessing probably 9 in the group. Come to find out they were waiting at the portage at Cattyman from Jordan because a young lady in their group twisted an ankle. During our portage to Jordan we found the young lady sitting along side the portage in the company of two of the leaders. The young lady had her ankle wrapped and rejected any help when they asked her to get up and try to move. We asked if they needed help and one of the leaders inquired as to what their options could be in this type of situation. Realizing that the injured one was having no part of any help, or as it appeared shared no desire to tough it out, the supervisor explained that they had a satellite phone and were considering calling for help. They were camped on Jordan and had 3 days before they were to leave.

All in all we did our good deed and assisted with the portaging of all the girls equipment back to the portage into Jordan Lake.

Here was the kicker, unfortunately while talking to one of the leaders and standing over what I thought was their canoe, I proceeded to pick up the canoe and took it all the way to Jordan Lake. As I removed the canoe from my shoulders and placed it into the water I heard a disgruntled young 30 year old person I cant call a gentleman, who passed on the portage (also one who had shared no interest in helping those in need) bark some sarcastic, confrontational statement regarding how he would now like me to take his canoe back to the Cattyman Lake portage. Ok, so, I feel his pain, me now having portaged twice, once with my canoe and now evidently with his, however, his attitude kept getting worse and remarks more sarcastic. By now several other patrons had arrived at the portage from different directions and were present for what he appeared to be now calling his show. More or less insinuating I was "stealing his canoe" I explained in the presence of my 10 year old son, and probably the additional 10 people from different groups that were now standing around, we were simply trying to help and it was a misunderstanding. He could really care less and I became more irritated at his insensitivity. He demanded that I carry his canoe back to Cattyman Lake. I couldn't believe what I was hearing and accept my own given medal for not losing my cool. I explained that if he was that cold and couldn't comprehend what kind gesture we were exhibiting I would be more than pleased to take his canoe back as he walked behind me empty handed, yet again past the injured young lady on the side of the portage. He mumbled under his breath when I shot up out of the water carrying his canoe to the top of the portage eventually saying he understood and then took his canoe on his way. Unbelievable. As to the girls, not sure what happened, (although I saw a very low flying float plane the next morning heading toward Jordan Lake) We too had priorities with several youngsters in need of a campsite.

Anyway, we located a well used but wonderful island site on Ima, set up camp and called it an early night shortly after dark.

The next day the weather was very favorable and the wind was low. Having recognized the stream at the Jordan to Ima Portage we went back the next day to see if we could land a couple eaters.

Almost immediately we had hooked into several walleye and dinner was set. Not before my 10 year old landed what I would say to be a good 6 pound walleye. To my, well, his dismay, after taking it from the hook it performed some incredible acrobatics while in my hands and landed a perfect 10 back into the water. It was an accident, tell that to my 10 year old. Back to camp for a fish fry.

The next day came and of course the rest of the group wanted to go back to the portage of Jordan/Ima for some more walleye. As luck would have it, one is all that we got. So, not enough for dinner, back into the water he went. On the way out my son came across a tiny box turtle on the Ima side of the portage...picture attached! Back to camp.

Day 4, super heavy winds and we were stuck to the island for the day. We spent most of the day on the island foraging for the perfect sticks to make a couple wilderness chairs to relax around the campfire. Good food, good friends. Ah yes, the kids took off to explore the island and after about 2 hours, we went to see what they were up to. If I can download the video of us scaring the bejesus out of them I will do so. Marshmallows around the fire and a storm is moving in. It poured all night and into the morning finally clearing for some fantastic weather.

Day 5 involved some exploring on Ima, around Reflection and Snatch Lakes. Boated a nice 32" Northern and a great 26" Walleye which were both released. Not to forget the bluegill I boated that attacked a tube jig and leech larger than himself. Back to camp around 5 PM and dinner was started. While on the island I casted a line from shore and ended up with a 29" Lake trout. Unfortunately for him, everyone seemed to be hungry for lake trout. Along with some Jambalaya rice we gorged ourselves for our last evening on the island.

Morning came, gear was packed and we set out for our return trip. The wind was super calm, almost glass on the water. We returned to Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure and to Jitterbug. Jitterbug entrance and exit portages were ridiculous. The water was super low and a couple of us ended up in mud to our waist during the gear grab. However, we made it. On to Ashigan and into Disappointment. While paddling through Disappointment those of us that were present for last years (the first trip to BWCA) remarked how simple we were to settle for Disappointment as our place to call home for 5 days.

We pushed on into Snowbank and arrived at the boat ramp to load our gear. To our surprise we run into two fishing boats and residents from Illinois that are 30 miles from our home. Its a small world.

Canoes are loaded and back to VNO. We arrive and check in about 4 PM and are offered a free pop while they gather our rental canoe and place it back on the rack. We shower and settle in to the "alley house" behind VNO (new accommodations to us) to our surprise. The place is ginormous but we had the place to ourselves. Showers and clean clothes and back to, you guessed it, the Boathouse. Why risk a good thing right? Burgers and sweet potato fries!

In the morning we checked out at 6 am and hit the road for our return trip to Illinois. All in all the BWCA was exactly what we believed it would be. Although, the bugs were no where to be found. I believe we all agreed we saw more mosquitoes on the last portage between Disappointment and Snowbank than we did anywhere else all week.

We arrived back home at 4 PM, and I am currently doing laundry and typing this report between loads. Hopefully get things put back together and start planning next years trip!

 

 


Routes
Trip Reports
a
.
Routes
Trip Reports
Routes
Trip Reports