BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
October 03 2024
Entry Point 35 - Isabella Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1595 feet
Latitude: 47.8009
Longitude: -91.3034
Isabella Lake - 35
Perent Lake
Entry Date:
August 01, 2008
Entry Point:
Hog Creek
Number of Days:
4
Group Size:
6
When we planned this trip we decided to go to a lake that was easy to get to, so that if we had any problems with our daughter we wouldn't be to far in.
We left home at midnight Thursday night. We wanted to get up to Tofte pretty early with a stop in Duluth for breakfast. Our daughter did great on the trip up, she slept most of the way. Made it to Hog Creek mid-morning after stops for bait and pop. Our group was made up of my husband, my father, my daughter, myself, and two friends of ours that had never been to the BWCA before. Everyone was excited when we started to unload the van. It took a little organizing to get everything together, and while we were doing that my daughter fell on the gravel portage and split her lip and scrapped her chin. What a way to start our trip. A little water and hugs and we were ready to go. We just get our paddles wet and we are at our first and only portage. We got past that just fine as well as the many beaver dams on the river. Everyone was having a good time. I held my daughter as she took her morning nap, good thing she is little. We had lunch at the first campsite on Perent Lake, but decided we wanted a different site to stay. There was a strong west wind so it was a little tricky getting around on the lake, and there were many sites already taken, but we wanted to check out the camp on the north shore on the east side. Got there and it was open. Perfect site. We set up camp had supper and hit the sleeping bags. Its great to be back in the BWCA.
We slept in a little since we hadn't gotten much sleep on the trip up and had a big breakfast. Then we decided to go fishing. This was also the first time we had taken my daughter fishing, so we didn't know what to expect. We just went out right from the camp. Not to long later my dad caught a walleye. My daughter just about fell out of the canoe trying to see the "fishy". Next thing we know he got another and she's trying to see that one too. She loved it! Lunch time came and we went back to camp and my husband and daughter stayed to nap, while the rest of us went back to get the rest of our supper. The fishing was okay. We didn't catch anything large but plenty to eat.
Nothing better then fresh fish, a fire, and the BWCA.
Another day spent in the canoe fishing and exploring. This time though we didn't go back to camp for nap time. When my daughter got tired I put her on the floor of the canoe, gave her a sippy cup and she fell asleep. She slept for two hours while we fished. At meal times someone who wasn't cooking would take her down to the water and let her play. Not many fish biting today. And we end the day with some cribbage.
We woke up early to pack up and get going so we can make it home by evening. Made it back to the car a lot faster then coming in. I think it was because everyone wanted a shower. We made it back in one piece and every one had a blast.
We had so many different reactions from people when they found out we were going to take our daughter at such a young age. But she had so much fun that I know we did the right thing. We were always careful, other then the fall, and now she likes to tell everyone about the water, Bampa (Grandpa), and the "fishy". We can't wait till next year.