BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
May 11 2024
Entry Point 36 - Hog Creek
Number of Permits per Day: 4
Elevation: 1664 feet
Latitude: 47.8104
Longitude: -91.0864
Hog Creek - 36
Brule and Winchell Lakes
Entry Date:
July 21, 2012
Entry Point:
Brule Lake
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
6
The original plan for this year’s trip was to put in at the Moose River North EP. For some reason there was still one permit available even late in the spring so I snatched it up. From reading trip reports from BWJ and the websites this area looked to have a lot of options and I was pretty stoked to check out this new area. But then the son of one of the boys was having his driver’s test and he and his father decided to cancel. Being a little bummed out I cancelled the permit and decided my wife and I would do something else on our own. However one of the other adults (also known as Dr Z) was not to be deterred and got his maps out, powwowed, and made a reservation at Brule Lake EP. Brule Lake!! That is serious big water!! I had read about major waves and folk being wind bound on this 8 mile wide lake. I had endured my wife’s protests on Jackfish Bay the previous year as we paddled into serious wind. The time frame was moved to go in on Saturday July 21 not earlier in the week as originally planned. That also got me concerned….there could be a lot of traffic on a day like that…Saturday even!! But hey….if the winds were brutal and crowds everywhere…it wasn’t my idea and therefore not my fault…. So the plans progressed from there. We had 6 of us this year….4 adults (big kids) and 2 scouts (including one newbie). Jeff and his son would bug out a couple days early so we travelled with 2 vehicles and 3 canoes….no canoe trailer which helped out gas wise on the Suburban. We left from my house near Kewaunee Wi by 6:15 AM on Friday and headed west on Hy 29 and then North on Hy 53. Road and travel conditions were great and we made good time to Amnicon Falls SP for lunch break. The river was really moving so there was no wading in the water this trip. After lunch and time to stretch our legs we continued north to Superior / Duluth and continued on to Tofte arriving by 3:15 PM. We got things squared up with our permit and continued on to Crescent Lake CG where we had a reservation. Hey….this looked like a neat lake to paddle on even though outside the BW. We didn’t have the time this trip but I could go back there again. Golden age passport….for those of us who have reach 62. It had been mentioned to me early in the spring to check into getting one but I didn’t. Well, if we did we would have saved half the cost of the camping fees but oh well…. There is also an additional charge for a 2nd Vehicle. Dinner that night was sloppy joes which we had made up and froze before the trip, brown beans, and apple sauce….easy and fast. We did the usual packing and repacking for the next morning. There was some cloud action, thunder, and the looks of rain but none ever arrived during the night. Sleeping conditions were pleasant. Crescent Lake CG…nice outhouses and water from solar powered well…a nice place to stay.
Alarm at 3:10 AM. Coffee at 3:15. Because we pack the day before, we were off around 3:30 to Sawbill for our 5 hour drive from our cabin in Northwester WI. A stop for gas and bathroom, we were in the canoe and on the water by 10 AM. Consulted the map with the goal of making it to Cherokee by mid afternoon. Nothing like those first paddle strokes. 15 years ago, we were still fairly concerned about pack weight. Not anymore. Two Duluth packs, a gunny sack, and our rod holder held about 250 pounds of food, gear, and creature comforts we no longer are interesting in sacrificing. Why not? We are both 6'5" and 220 pounds and can mule just about anything through a portage. And don't forget about our mule....Ellie is my sons girlfriend and she certainly demonstrated how to portage a 20'5" Kevlar with ease as well as carry an 80 pound pack when called upon. "It feels like the pack is trying to rip my shoulders out backward," says Ellie. Toughed it out nonetheless.
We scooted north toward Ada Creek. The energy flowed as we hit the portage in about an hour. Ada lake wasn't too difficult either. By the time we headed to Skoop lake, we ran into plenty of beaver infested surroundings. The 12 rod portage became 100 with mud and rocks. Ellie stayed in the canoe and paddled as far as the water would allow.
We made it through beaver dam central and found our way along Cherokee Creek into the big lake. Just as we found big water, storm clouds appeared so James quickly found an awesome site just north of the portage to Sitka Lake. We decided to give it a 4.5 star rating due to the landing being a large rock immediately dropping into fairly deep water.
Set up our rainfly - which would become our most common sitting place for the week. As always, we ate our ceremonial summer sausage and block of cheese!
Ellie likes cheese and sausage a lot!
Early night. Tired!
Ate a monster breakfast of eggs, hash browns, and bacon in a wrap. Fished a bit. Gathered wood. Good day to hang out and reminisce about many past trips.
A long storm was forecast - but never arrived until about 6 PM. We fished, gathered firewood, and made campfire pizzas!
And then the rain........the next 24 hours of rain!
Drank 8 pots of coffee under the tarp. We originally planned on heading toward Burnt and Smoke lakes, but did not feel like carrying an extra 30 pounds of water thru muddy portages. New plan - long travel day on Friday.
Whoever left the fresh lemon on the South Temperance portage, thank you. Worked well in hot water for a fresh treat!
