I have seen plenty of different BWCA "challenges", whether they be particular routes or routes within a set amount of time. Some people try to enter at as many entry points as possible or try to see as many regions as possible. Here's a different one: I don't know if anyone has posted something similar on this page before.

I recently compiled the list of named BWCA lakes that I have had the pleasure of visiting sometime on one of my trips. After adding them all up, I had a pretty good list. That got me thinking, I wonder if I have a lake for every letter of the alphabet.

Now with so many lakes, one would think that every letter would be easy to come by, but in order to complete, it takes a fair number of trips to various entry points. So, listed below is my "alphabet." I chose one lake that I had personally visited that is located within the official borders of the BW, for each letter of the alphabet. It had to be the official name of the lake (no nicknames).

When it was all said and done, I was missing three letters for sure (but my "U" is "Unnamed"). And to my knowledge, there is no lake name beginning with the letter X in the BWCA (sounds like a good petition for the forest service or the DNR to rename one of the unnamed)! And I have not visited one of the five "Y" lakes or either of the two "Q" lakes.

So I have 3-4 letters left to fill. It's definitely bigger than just filling the alphabet because each of these names represents a memory.

So, that's my challenge. What does your alphabet look like?

A) Azion
B) Beaver
C) Clark
D) Daniels
E) Ester
F) Fishdance
G) Gogibic
H) Hope
I) Insula
J) Jitterbug
K) Kekekabic Pond 2
L) Little Trout (Gunflint)
M) Maxine
N) Nawakwa
O) Ottertrack
P) Plume
Q)
R) Rivalry
S) Smite
T) Tick
U) Does 'Unnamed' Count?
V) Vista
W) Watap
X)
Y)
Z) Zephyr

Here is my alphabet list. I don't have near as many as some of you will have, but still a fun list to compile. Also makes a person want to get out and see some more lakes of the BWCA
I need 12 more to fill the list.

A) Alpine, Amoeber, Annie
B)
C) Caribou, Cross Bay
D)
E) Eddy, Ester
F)
G) Gaskin
H) Horseshoe, Henson, Hanson
I)
J) Jasper, Jenny
K) Kiskadinna, Karl, Kingfisher
L) Long Island, Lower George, Lizz
M) Missing Link, Meeds, Muskeg
N)
O) Omega, Ottertrack, Ogish
P) Poplar
Q)
R) Round, Rib
S) Snipe, Seagull, Saganaga, Swamp, South Arm Knife
T)
U)
V)
W) Winchell
X)
Y)
Z)

What a great idea. Since I've done most of my tripping in Quetico, I listed those. I think I got them all. Kind of fun thinking about this.

A) Agnes(Q)
B) Beaverhouse
C) Chatterton
D) Darkwater
E)
F) Fran
G) Grey
H)
I) Iron
J ) Jean
K) Kahshahpiwi
L) Lonely
M) McNiece
N) No Man
O) Other Man
P) Pond
Q) Quetico
R) Russell
S) Sultry
T) This Man
U)
V)
W) Wicksteed
X)
Y) Yum Yum
Z)

EDIT: I took the multiples out and left my favorite or the lake that we camped on.

Fun, I'll play. I stuck with the BWCA and limited myself to one lake for each letter. I am coming up empty on Q, V, X, Y, Z

A Alice
B Banadad
C Clearwater
D Duncan
E Ell
F Fente
G Gaskin
H Henson
I Iris
J John
K Kawishiwi
L Little Caribou
M Missing Link
N North
O Octopus
P Pine (both of them)
Q
R Rose
S Snipe
T Trout
U Unnamed
V
W Winchell
X
Y
Z

Terrific idea that brought back a lot of memories as I went about filling in my list (just one favorite listed for each letter...) :

A) Angleworm
B) Bald Eagle
C) Crooked
D) Disappointment
E) East Loon Bay
F) Fourtown
G) Gabbro
H) Horse
I) Iron
J) Jackfish Bay
K) Kawishiwi River
L) Lac La Croix
M) Mudro
N) Nina Moose
O) Oyster
P) Pine
Q)
R) Rose
S) Sandpit
T) Tin Can Mike
U) Upper Pauness
V)
W) White Feather
X)
Y)
Z)

Sounds like a personal memory challenge I want to take - i'll list only the prominent or first to mind, filling in with Quetico here and there

A-Alder, Allen, Amber, Agnes
B-Boot, Baker, Basswood, Beartrap, Bower Trout, Brule, Burke, Bit, Bell
C-Caribou(both), Crocodile, Clearwater, Carp
D-Deer, Disappointment, Dugout
E-Ensign, East Bearskin, East Pike, East Pipe
F-Fairy, Fourtown, Fraser, Fran
G-Gabbro, Gun, Gull, Gaskin
H-Homer, Horseshoe, Henson
I-Isabella, Insula, Ima
J-Jeff, John, Jack, Jake
K-Koma, Kelly, Kawaschong, Kawishiwi, Knife
L-Lux, Lakes One, Two, Three, Four, Lac La Croix, Little Caribou. Louisa
M-Malberg, Moose, Mountain, Middle Cone, Meeds, Moon, Misquah, Murdoch, Mudro, McEwen
N-North Cone, North Fowl, Newfound, No Man
O-Omega, Other Man, Otto
P-Peterson, Pine, Poplar, Perent, Polly, Pillsberry
Q-Quetico
R-Ram, Rose, River
S-South Temperance, South Fowl, Slim, Snowbank, Swan, South Cone, Saganagons
T-This Man, That Man, Thomas, Thunder
U-Unnamed (many times)
V-Vern, Vernon, Vista
W-Wind, West Pike, Winchell, Weird, Wet
X-
Y-
Z-

This was fun, good memories. I know I missed a lot.

Well I guess I have some more letters to go. A good start but I guess that means I just to to schedule more trips. Alice here we come.

A)
B) Bald Eagle
C) Caribou
D)
E) Ella Hall
F) Fall
G) Good
H) Horse
I) Iron
J)
K) Knife
L) Little Gabbro
M) Malberg
N)
O)
P) Pine
Q)
R)
S) Stuart
T) Tin Can Mike
U)
V) Vale
W) Wood
X)
Y)
Z)

In the Wabakimi Area :
A) Arril, Attwood, Albany River, Abazotikichuan, Austin
B) Big River
C) Cosmo
D) Dawn, Davies
E)
F)
G) Granite, Guerin, Grayson
H) Hurst
I)
J) Jabez
K)
L) Lower Pashowconk
M) Miminiska, Mahamo, Moonshine, Mountain, Vale, Altar
N)
O) Opichuan, Ogoki River
P) Petawanga, Pride, Peninsular
Q)
R) Reef, Ruxton, Redmond
S) Smoothrock, Slim, Scrag, Savant, Shoal
T) Takeoff, Triangular
U) Upper Pashowconk,
V) Velos, Van Ness
W) Whitewater
X)
Y)
Z)

A) Alpine
B) Boot
C) Crooked
D)
E) Eddy
F) Fairy
G) Gun
H) Horse
I) Indiana
J) Jasper
K) Knife
L)
M) Mudro
N) Niki
O) Ottertrack
P) Papoose
Q)
R)
S) Seagull
T) Tin Can Mike
U)
V)
W) Wind
X)
Y)
Z)

What a FUN trip down memory lane. I listed all I can remember. Missing J, Q, X, Y, Z. Fewer than I guessed I would be. Current 2020 trip plans include a loop from Red Rock Bay to American Point so I'll paddle Jasper this year. I've hiked the portage to Zenith but we left the canoe at the other end so didn't paddle it.

A – Alice, Alton, Agnes, Ada Lake, Ada Creek
B – Beth, Brant
C – Cherokee, Cherokee Creek, Cherry, Cross Bay, Cross River, Caribou
D – Duncan
E – Ester, Edith
F – Fishdance, Frost, Fire, Four
G – Grace, Gordon, Gaskin, Gull, Gulf
H – Henson, Hanson, Ham, Horseshoe, Hazel, Hudson
I – Insula
J –
K – Kawishiwi Lake, Kawishiwi River, Kelso Lake, Kelso River, Karl, Kawaschong, Knight
L – Long Island Lake, Long Island River, Lizz, Lower George, Lac La Croix, Lujenida
M – Missing Link, Moose River
N – Nina Moose
O – Ottertrack, One
P – Poplar, Polly, Phoebe lake, Phoebe River
Q –
R – Rifle, Rib, Round
S – Sawbill, Saganaga, Swamp, Snipe, Seagull River, Skoop, Smoke, Square
T – Two, Three, Townline
U – Unload
V – Vista
W – West Bearskin, West Round
X –
Y –
Z –

This is fun, I won't have nearly as many as some people, I only discovered the BWCA 5 years ago.

A – Angleworm
B – Basswood
C –
D – Dovre
E –
F –
G – Good
H – Hook
I – Indiana
J –
K – Knute
L – Little Rice
M – Mudro
N – North Hegman
O –
P –
Q –
R –
S – Slim
T – Thunder
U –
V –
W – Wood
X –
Y –
Z –

These are mine. I used the Quetico Lakes I have paddled, plus Upper Pauness and Zenith Lakes from the BWCA (which I also have paddled), to fill out the alphabet, except for "X".

Agnes
Baird
Cutty
Darkwater
Emerald
Ferguson
Glacier
Heronshaw
Isabella
Jean
Kawnipi
Lonely
Mack
Nest
Oriana
Poohbah
Quetico
Russell
Saganagons
Trousers
Upper Pauness
Vernon
Wink
[no "X" lake]
Your
Zenith

A) Alice
B) Brule
C) Cherokee
D) Duncan
E) Ensign
F) Frost
G) Gaskin
H) Henson
I) Insula
J) Juno
K) Knife
L) Little Caribou
M) Mountain
N) Namakan
O) Ogishkemuncie
P) Pierz
Q)
R) Rose
S) Sawbill
T) Thomas
U) Unload
V) Vista
W) Weird
X)
Y)
Z)

For as much as I have gone mine is look sparse :(

A) Alton
B) Brule
C) Clearwater
D)
E) Ella
F) Fourtown
G) Good
H)Horse
I) Indiana
J ) Jack
K) Kawishiwi
L) Little Caribou
M) Mudro
N)
O) One
P) Petro
Q)
R) Ram
S) Short
T) Turtle
U) Unnamed
V) Vern
W) Wonder
X)
Y)
Z)

Ah not too bad I suppose

Ooh this is a fun one. Since I've done more backpacking in the bwca than canoeing I'm including ones on which I stood directly on the shore or camped at. We haven't done a ton of trips, but we do large loops and 12-14 portages a day.
I'll list the first one I think of that I've been on:

A: Alton
B: Brule, Burnt
C: Cherokee
D: Disappointment
E: Ensign
F: Fat, Frost
G: Gebeonequet, Green
H: Hustler
I: Insula, Isabella
J: Jack
K: Kiskadinna, Knife
L: Loon, Lac La Croix
M: Muskeg
N: North Temperance
O: Omega
P: Parent
Q: Quadga
R: Rose
S: South Temperance, Slim, smoke, Sawbill, Snowbank
T: Takucmich
U: Upper Pauness
V: Vera
W: Winchell, Weird
X:
Y:
Z:

I can't even think of any X, Y, or Z except Zenith. I don't know where Zenith is so I haven't been there. Maybe I'll find out and make that a goal.

A: Alpine, Alton, Ashigan
B: Brule, Beth
C: Cattyman
D:
E: Ensign
F: Frederick
G: Gibson, Grace
H: Horseshoe, Hatchet, Hatchet Pond
I: Ima
J: Jake, Jordan
K: Kelso, Kawishiwi, Kroft, Kawaschong, Knight
L: Lujenida, Little Trout, Lake Polly
M: Middle Cone, Misquah, Morgan, Moose
N: North Cone, Newfound
O:
P: Phoebe, Perent
Q:
R: Ram, Red Rock, Rum
S: Sawbill, Sea Gull, South Temperance, South Cone, Splash, Square
T: Thomas, Townline
U:
V: Vista
W: Wind, Wench, Wine
X: (Freebie - no such lake in BWCA)
Y:
Z: Zenith

Without putting too much thought into this, I'm guessing I'm missing the same letters as most others, Q,X. I can include the Z- Zenith and the Y- Yodeler. ( just north of Lynx in the PMA)