It's been awhile, I'm glad to be back planning a trip (3 young kids is a lot of work). I was planning on going to the Q this year, but that looks like a bust, so Plan B. I've never spent a night in the BWCA, much less planned a trip to it, so I thought I would see what the collective thinks.

It'll be myself, and one other guy, in mid-June. It'll be his first time, but I've done 7 trips to the Q. I would prefer a loop, lasting 5 or 6 nights, mostly moving each day but would like the option of having layover day. The route I was thinking was enter at Moose. Take a tow to get to Ensign work our way to Ima (first night there), and then work our way up to Eddy,and then out through South Arm of Knife to Birch/Moose.

I thought about going in on Snowbank but all the talk of being wind bound, got me worried.

Any other suggestions, I'm not married to this loop, but just looking to show my friend a good experience and hopefully a consistent future trip partner. How crowded do you think it'll be, I realize it won't be like the Q, but I don't want to have to hunt for a campsite everyday either.

Thanks for the help,
Matt

You should be able to get to Ima on the afternoon of the first day, depending on your fitness level and willingness to work. This will be your partner's first time, so you won't know until you are in the thick of it how much work he is willing to do. I've gone in just once through Snowbank, and I had no problem. Ima has lots of campsites, so you should be able to find at least one that is vacant. In mid June 2018 the lake was nearly deserted.

One of my favorite loops, but I do it clockwise. The Kekekabic, Frasier area has lots to see and some good fishing. Easy 5 day trip, 6 would give time to explore and enjoy.

This loop was one of my best trips ever but we also did it clockwise: From a lodge on Moose, a tow to Birch on day one, then paddle south arm of Knife to about a mile short of Eddy. We spent two nights on Knife, then went up Eddy Falls and back west through Kek ponds and lake to spend a night on Spoon. Then to Vera for a night before exiting out through Ensign and Splash with a tow picking us up at the Splash-Newfound portage for a return to the lodge. Four nights out wasn't too bad to do the whole loop.

Don't think you can go wrong in that area. Your first morning and last day regardless of which way you do the loop you'll certainly see people but the middle of the trip should thin out quite a bit. (Not the Q but still, can't complain for that area)

Did the first part of that loop last fall. Took a tow up Moose to the Splash portage, across the portage and on the water by 8am. Two of us - moderately experienced and efficient but double portaging. We made our site on Ima just after noon.

On Ima, I like the site on the portage to Alworth - it is large and Alworth is a dead end so rarely any traffic across the portage.

The portage from Ima is really neat - up through a crack in the rock. The paddle down the creek, past Hatchet Lk and on to Thomas is one of my favorites.

I did this loop solo last May.

Started on Snowbank at 5pm. It was windy, and coincidentally the same day that guy died on Tuscarora after that 3some unfortunately dumped their canoe. Decided to go the north side out of snowbank, avoiding disappointment lake, but should have gone toward disapointment. the portage out of boot, into abinodji, is stupidly steep. I suppose I would have climbed those vertical feet at some point anyway, but something about having them in immediate succession makes it feel worse. Made it to Ima's 5* island site by about 10 or 1030 in the dark that night, though.

The route was fantastic and it may have been my best BW trip ever. It was fun being in the area between Fraser and Knife. Tough area to get to, clear lakes, and generally not significantly traveled. I had all of Kekekabic to myself for a night, amazingly. Once on Knife out of the seclusion, in the year of Covid19 BWCA traffic, everything suddenly felt like car camping. I ended up getting a tow back to Moose to end the loop.

Want to get a weird look from someone? Before you start your loop, ask your tow outfitter if you can store a bicycle at their shop before you start your trip. The 12 mile +/- ride back to my car on snowbank was actually kind of fun way to end it, though. It's definitely my way to do a triathlon. Portaging, canoeing, and bicycling. No running OR swimming.

Thanks everyone for all the help, tips and suggestions. Now to just secure our date, 2 days away.

Matt