BWCA Challenging first trip Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Trip Planning Forum
      Challenging first trip     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

Isa
Guest Paddler
  
01/05/2020 10:48PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I have never visited the BWCA, but I'm an experienced outdoorsmans looking for a challenging 4-6 day solo isolated trip. I have looked into the Frost River loop, but would like other options in case I'm unable to go in the spring/ early summer. Longer/ tougher portages are not a problem.

Thanks
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
01/05/2020 11:03PM  
What sort of canoeing have you done and what are you looking for - fishing, pictographs, or just solitude?

Give us some parameters to work with.
01/05/2020 11:55PM  
I did a nice 5 day solo loop a few years ago. Moose river north entry up to LLC, counter clockwise to oyster, and back out. I could have done it in 4, but I got pretty sick and it was mid September with bad weather. Great solitde from LLC to Oyster. I staged on Nina Moose the last night, and got the second to last campsite. There were several parties after me that had to either bushwhack or paddle out in the dark.
01/06/2020 07:16AM  
There are a lot of options depending on how far you want to travel . . . ? will you double portage? Loop trip/out and back or is a point-to-point an option?
01/07/2020 11:12PM  
Wables: "I did a nice 5 day solo loop a few years ago. Moose river north entry up to LLC, counter clockwise to oyster, and back out. I could have done it in 4, but I got pretty sick and it was mid September with bad weather. Great solitde from LLC to Oyster. I staged on Nina Moose the last night, and got the second to last campsite. There were several parties after me that had to either bushwhack or paddle out in the dark. "

That's a good route. Four hours will easily put you on Agnes, and Boulder Bay is just a bit further. A good basecamp for an extra night.
jbacker7
member (5)member
  
01/08/2020 08:14AM  
I can't speak for the west side, but on the east side you might consider a trip entering at Brant, Missing Link, or Cross Bay Lake.

You can do a couple big loops out of those entry points and there are also plenty of "out routes" that you can take to cut your trip short should your plans change during your trip.

Specifically, I'd recommend entering at Missing Link and heading through Tuscarora to Crooked. From there you can either head out to Little Sag and circle back north through Gabimichigami, Gillis, and ultimately Brant, or cut your trip short and shoot from Crooked straight up to Gillis and head out through Brant.

Best advice for your first trip is be open to changing plans mid trip to avoid pushing yourself into a tough situation. Having one of those out routes is a good backup.
01/08/2020 09:44AM  
You sound like you are really game for a good BW first time challenge.
I suggest you put in at Mudro entry and head up to Iron Lake via Beartrap river and Sunday Lake which is in a PMA area. From Iron go east to Curtain Falls and Crooked Lake and drop south at Friday Bay back to Mudro or for a few more sights keep going on Crooked and see the Pictographs at the narrows then see Lower Basswoods Falls then up the Horse River back to Mudro.

This route will give you a good challenge and many great BW sights.
TuscaroraBorealis
distinguished member(5665)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
01/08/2020 10:27AM  
Maybe this

I spent multiple nights at most of the camps but, if you keep moving you could certainly do this route in far fewer days. Boulder/Adam's area in particular should be less populated.
01/09/2020 03:48PM  
Sawbill to Wine.....Louse River to Malberg....Malberg to Polly and the Lady Chain back to Sawbill.
cyclones30
distinguished member(4163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
01/09/2020 09:58PM  
cowdoc: "Sawbill to Wine.....Louse River to Malberg....Malberg to Polly and the Lady Chain back to Sawbill."


That would be a nice adventure! Not too worried about the wind either most days
01/10/2020 10:24AM  
Ram to Brower trout, lots of challenging portages, went to Long Island lake down to Cherokee to Brule and out at Brower trout, great route lots to see.
OTH
Guest Paddler
  
01/10/2020 12:25PM  
I'll second this motion. Plenty of everything on this route.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next