We're planning on a four day trip with five adults and two canoes. We plan on putting in on Sag at EP55 and out on Moose at EP25. One of our party lives in Ely, but we're having trouble working out transportation to EP55 and from EP25. We're wondering if outfitters or other businesses will just transport a group and their gear to and from an EP and if so, how much that might cost. We'll be completely outfitting ourselves, so we just need transportation.

Also, I have a few questions regarding the trip.

It looks like we have quite a few options in that area to choose for our trip route. I would appreciate it if anyone could let me know if there are any locations on the way that we would want make sure to visit, or particular sites that we might try to get, or anything else about the route that you want to point out.

On a route directly following the US and Canada border for most of the way, that total paddle time is just over 12 hours, so on a 4 day trip, it looks like we'll have plenty of time and shouldn't feel rushed. If you've been on that route, what was your experience in terms of paddling time - we are VERY casual in our pace - and how many sites you stopped at? We have two in our part who are concerned about feeling too rushed.

We have two avid fishermen in the group as, well. How is the fishing along the route?

Your shuttle maybe the main issue with this route. Sag entry to Ely is about 160 miles, maybe 3.5-4 hours depending on traffic. Besides the time involved, expense could be an issue, too. You might try this service.

http://www.harrietquarles.com/

Also, if you go Moose to Sag, you could shuttle vehicles capable of carrying your canoes and people to Sag on your own before the trip. You could then get an outfitter in the Ely area to pick up you and your outfit at you friends home and shuttle you to Moose. That would be a local shuttle and way less expensive.

If I had a choice I would do this route west to east. The big lakes involved are all oriented with the prevailing west to east wind. Knife can really be rough, but Birch and Sucker and Sag have big reaches that can get rough enough to keep you on shore for a day. That said, many have travel west on the route successfully.

I would plan for early departures, no fancy pancake and bacon breakfasts. Winds are usually quiet in the morning and most of your travel needs to take advantage of that.

If you go up the south arm of Knife you can get on smaller lakes by going through Hanson and Ester.

I think a transport from Ely to the end of the Gunflint would be cost prohibitive. It is at least a 4 hour trip, and depending on your route would be up to 175 miles. If you want to avoid the burn area stick with the border route. I’ve been on Sag and Knife, but that was so long ago (over 30 years) that I don’t think I can be of much help there.

Shoot me an e-mail Cedarsitter@frontiernet.net, maybe I can help.