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rayljr1
senior member (68)senior membersenior member
  
01/20/2019 03:29PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
First, I have not settled on an entry point and trip itinerary yet for this year. Just know I will be going the 2nd week of June.

We usually pick an entry point / lake that does not have an outfitter on it.

We usually try to pick a base camp lake that is a few portages from the entry with access to portage to other lakes and explore.

The plan is to either go in on a Sunday or Monday and come out on Friday or Saturday.

As far as trying to avoid crowds and find a decent campsite, have you had any experience regarding the day of the week you go in on?
 
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01/20/2019 07:13PM  
I like to go in on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
schweady
distinguished member(8071)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
01/20/2019 09:41PM  
Always seem to be going in on either Sunday or Friday. Never noticed much difference.
01/20/2019 09:45PM  
Sunday is usually good for us. We base camp also. See base camping basics at bottom line in massage boards if you need some ideas about base camping.
01/20/2019 10:17PM  
This may just be my experience so take this opinion with a grain of salt. Most "somewhat popular" entry points will be 100% reserved for the second week in June. There seems to be a lot of discussion about which day is the best to enter but my argument has always been if almost every permit is reserved for every day of the week what's the difference which day you go in? Just my observation, we go in on Thursday and come out on Monday and it seems to work out just fine.
treehorn
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01/21/2019 08:20AM  
This is pretty much a roll of the dice in my opinion.

Recently we've started actually going in on Saturday with the theory being that is a "moving day." Even if there's a higher % of permits pulled on the weekends, our thought was that it's also a day people come out, so as long as we're looking for a camp by early afternoon, we should have a good chance.

But, there's really no science behind that. Just our recent preference.
01/21/2019 09:03AM  
Due to travel, we usually enter on a Sunday, never had too much of a crowd to deal with.

Frankly, I just adjust our schedule to we can spend as much time on the water as possible. If I can find a way to sneak an extra day in, such as driving all night, etc., we usually do it.
scramble4a5
distinguished member(586)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/21/2019 07:09PM  
We like to go in on Sundays as Saturday is an all day drive to get there. My theory is many people are exiting on a Sunday and there should be more sites available. I'm nit certain that's true but it makes me feel better.
OCDave
distinguished member(713)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/21/2019 08:47PM  
I have had my best luck on the days that end in "y". ;)
Mick85
member (24)member
  
01/22/2019 06:21AM  
This will be my first year going. Though I have gone through the BWCA through basswood with my grandpa years ago. This year we decided to start a tradition of going through with a canoe. We will also be going the 2nd weekend in June. We decided to get our permits through an outfitter but also gave them a 2nd entry date in case we don’t get our first. After talking with the outfitter and hearing how our chances better we felt more comfortable about getting our permits. Not sure if I’m getting long winded but that might be an option for you and if you get the same dates as we do feel free to look us up and have a drink on the way in. Stay safe good luck.
Abbey
distinguished member (278)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/25/2019 10:55PM  
The day that makes for the longest trip. Just get on the water early, pick a camp early, and take an afternoon nap.

The only pattern I have seen is having an entry day in a cold, steady rain makes for much better campsite availability.
Michwall2
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01/27/2019 02:08PM  
Just an observation made on one trip in about the same time frame(2nd week of June). We entered at #47 Lizz Lake on a Sunday morning. We left early and arrived on Horseshoe Lake mid-morning. Most campsites on the lake were occupied. We were headed to Vista Lake. Due to circumstances (no campsites on Vista) and a forgotten water bottle, we returned to Horseshoe Lake early afternoon and most of the campsites had emptied. My theory is weekenders who had come a half day into the BW had left at noonish to make the trip back south. We pretty much had our pick of campsites.
Will that be your experience? Don't know. But It was ours that day.
 
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