Does anyone have any experience heading West of Gunflint Lake following the border via Magnetic Lake, Clove Lake, Granite Bay, Geniss Bay, Maraboeuf Lake, Saganaga Lake and beyond to Knife Lake? If so, how is travel and what are typical ice conditions? I have traveled everything East of Gunflint in the Winter and have traveled through Voyageurs (Rainy and Kabetogema) but nothing in between... lots of narrows, falls and assuming current in these areas I am sure - I have not done any of this in the Summer either. Any intel would be appreciated.

That is going to be tough. As you said- lots of neckdowns and current. Never done in the winter but I would imagine you would have to bush it along the side if the Granite River is open which it will be more times then not. IMO-- many areas will be near impossible with open water. If you haven't done this area in the summer time, I would suggest you do to understand what your getting in to in the winter.

I would have to agree with White Wolf on this. You could run into a situation where you are constantly bushwhacking around open water. Not that you couldn't try it if you are up to the challenge.

WhiteWolf and SevenofNine, thank you both very much for your thoughts on this. My and my groups style of travel is unique first-ascent type stuff but rather than in the mountains, right here at home, for the sake of adventure (and a good laugh of course!) That said, we usually start with some intel gathering for areas we have not been, then do and initial recon trip or two, then plan a full trip. Current plan is to get up to Gunflint this Winter and start doing some scouting that direction and see what if anything is possible - Long term, looking at a Gunflint to Ely traverse perhaps.

For your entertainment, here is a trip we did this past Summer which nobody had ever done before (and probably for good reason).

Trip Report

And

Photo Set

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Saganaga thu Knife-Birch toward Ely is very doable and many alternatives or side trips available. Been from both directions to the Knife lake area-Hansen etc.
The Gunflint to Sag I am not familiar with.

Also each year is different and snow slush on the lakes would be a game changer.

March and even april usually have the best travel conditions. A little warm weather and a freeze makes for good travel. Plenty of daylight then also.

quote Mnpat: "March and even april usually have the best travel conditions. A little warm weather and a freeze makes for good travel. Plenty of daylight then also. "

March is nice. If you get lucky slush is gone and you have hard pack snow if any. If I was younger I know I could do from Sag to Moose lake landing in 3 days in good condition.

Good luck on your trip Wild dog no matter what you end up doing. It's great to get out there and enjoy winter. So many people miss out on it.

PineTree, thanks for THIS "Saganaga thu Knife-Birch toward Ely is very doable" - that is my understanding, know that it is popular with some of the Ely mushers as well.

Maybe we will get lucky like last year... 8+" of ice on Brule Lake, Dec 14th of last year with almost Zero slush...

I'm pretty sure I saw a youtube video of a group of 4 who started on the gunflint and ended in downtown Ely. I don't remember if they listed what route they took but I know I would like to do it someday. Although it would take a bit longer for me as there are many lakes that I would want to stop to fish for a day.

give Mark Darling a call at Way of the Wilderness Outfitters. pretty sure he has been part way down there in the winter.

I like Wild Dog's look-see approach to his trips!

quote Gadfly: "I'm pretty sure I saw a youtube video of a group of 4 who started on the gunflint and ended in downtown Ely. I don't remember if they listed what route they took but I know I would like to do it someday. Although it would take a bit longer for me as there are many lakes that I would want to stop to fish for a day. "

Like I said I have done routes from Sea Gull to Knife and Sag to Knife. Than Moose lake to Knife.
Just we never did a One end to the other we always went back to our original entry point. There is so many ways to go any so many side trips. To be honest with you these trips mainly in March is by far the best of maybe a 100 trips plus to Quetico and the BWCA.