Hello,

My wife and I are planning to put in at EP 30, Lake One this year and visiting some of the smaller lakes near Lake Three and Lake Four. This is the first time we've been to this part of the BWCA. Wondering if any of you know anything about:

1. Conditions along the creek between North Wilder Lake northeast down to Hudson Lake. We are planning to go from Lake Three to Hudson Lake via the chain of small lakes south of Lake Four.

2. Feasibility of paddling up the creek from Fire Lake southwest to Lake Four.

3. Likelihood of ice in the smaller lakes in this area in mid-May.

We'll be using our 18' Champlain if that impacts your answer.

I found this old trip report, but given its age and that it was before the Pagami fire, I'm not sure how relevant the information might be these days.

2007 Trip Report

Thanks in advance for any help or insights you may have.

-Kendis

I can help with question 2 but only speculate about the rest. You will not be able to paddle the creek between Fire Lake and Lake 4. There is a short section of it between portages that can be paddled but as of last summer there was a substantial beaver dam at the outlet of Fire Lake and almost no water flow, definitely not deep enough for a canoe.

This has been a very mild winter so far and the thickness of the ice is less than most years. However, there is a lot of winter left and that could impact the amount of ice. Depending on how the weather goes I would expect ice to be gone by mid May.

Some of the portages on the route you are asking about may have fallen trees. Be prepared to use a saw if necessary to get through them. Hopefully someone else will have done that before you arrive but that is not guaranteed.

I will do my best to provide information on your first question:

Last June while I was camped on lake 4 I day tripped through the North Wilder area in a counter clockwise motion. This area is currently not a highly traveled area (imho) because of what the Pagami Creek Fire accomplished there. But, if you are interested in post-fire regeneration, this is a great place to paddle through, albeit a little work required.

The portage from Lake 3 into Horseshoe is short, flat, and easy. The portage from Horseshoe into Brewis is up a slight rise and then down to the lake. Nothing to worry about. From Brewis to Harbor, although shorter in rods, is slightly more difficult; some deadfall and the last 100 feet or so is bog. You will need some fancy foot work and a little patience. After a short paddle you will be back on your feet again. The portage from Harbor into North Wilder was not maintained and I was over and under all sorts of deadfall. I was glad I was only daytripping with a day pack and single portaging. From North Wilder to the creek there is a short portage without any issues. The creek itself is a classic bwca creek and was truly enjoyable to paddle, especially since the few portages were behind me. There was some deadfall across the creek at the North Wilder end. Being as I was in a kayak, and sat lower to the water, I was able to float underneath these. The rest of the paddle was a breeze.

With the Pagami creek fire behind it, and the area taking off, there is plenty of moose and bear acitvity, as in other areas affected by a burn. You definitely have a great opportunity for some wildlife experiences. Timewise, I went lake 4, 3, Horseshoe, Brewis, Harbor, North Wilder, Hudson and back to 4 in about 5.5 hours.

I hope this helps.

JW

RMinMN: "I can help with question 2 but only speculate about the rest. You will not be able to paddle the creek between Fire Lake and Lake 4. There is a short section of it between portages that can be paddled but as of last summer there was a substantial beaver dam at the outlet of Fire Lake and almost no water flow, definitely not deep enough for a canoe.


This has been a very mild winter so far and the thickness of the ice is less than most years. However, there is a lot of winter left and that could impact the amount of ice. Depending on how the weather goes I would expect ice to be gone by mid May.


Some of the portages on the route you are asking about may have fallen trees. Be prepared to use a saw if necessary to get through them. Hopefully someone else will have done that before you arrive but that is not guaranteed.
"

This is what I was talking about when I said there is a lot of winter left. The weather predicted where I live, which is not too far from the BWCA, is brutal.

"WIND CHILL WARNING...
Periodic wind chills could be as cold as -50F Friday through Tuesday. Actual air temperatures are forecast to remain primarily below zero for the next week. Not much of warm up after that.."

JWilder: "I will do my best to provide information on your first question:


Last June while I was camped on lake 4 I day tripped through the North Wilder area in a counter clockwise motion. This area is currently not a highly traveled area (imho) because of what the Pagami Creek Fire accomplished there. But, if you are interested in post-fire regeneration, this is a great place to paddle through, albeit a little work required.


The portage from Lake 3 into Horseshoe is short, flat, and easy. The portage from Horseshoe into Brewis is up a slight rise and then down to the lake. Nothing to worry about. From Brewis to Harbor, although shorter in rods, is slightly more difficult; some deadfall and the last 100 feet or so is bog. You will need some fancy foot work and a little patience. After a short paddle you will be back on your feet again. The portage from Harbor into North Wilder was not maintained and I was over and under all sorts of deadfall. I was glad I was only daytripping with a day pack and single portaging. From North Wilder to the creek there is a short portage without any issues. The creek itself is a classic bwca creek and was truly enjoyable to paddle, especially since the few portages were behind me. There was some deadfall across the creek at the North Wilder end. Being as I was in a kayak, and sat lower to the water, I was able to float underneath these. The rest of the paddle was a breeze.

Did you notice if there are any camp sites left on North Wilder?

I believe on most maps you will see two campsites.

One directly across from the portage to/from Harbor. I stopped there and had a cliff bar and re-hydrated. There WAS a fire grate, but I did NOT look for the latrine. So, not much help there.

The second site is north of this first site by the narrows heading northeast. I did not notice or pay any attention to whether there was anything there.

You will have lots of privacy and firewood on this lake. But zero shade...

I would recommend stopping by Kawishiwi Lodge and Outfitters the day you enter. Which you will conveniently paddle by minutes after you enter, and get the latest and greatest info from them;)

JW

JWilder: "I believe on most maps you will see two campsites.


One directly across from the portage to/from Harbor. I stopped there and had a cliff bar and re-hydrated. There WAS a fire grate, but I did NOT look for the latrine. So, not much help there.


The second site is north of this first site by the narrows heading northeast. I did not notice or pay any attention to whether there was anything there.


You will have lots of privacy and firewood on this lake. But zero shade...


I would recommend stopping by Kawishiwi Lodge and Outfitters the day you enter. Which you will conveniently paddle by minutes after you enter, and get the latest and greatest info from them;)


JW
"

The site across from the portage was one of my favorites. Even before the fire you saw more hikers than canoes and the fishing on the 2 wilders was great. The last time I was thru there was the year of the Pagimi fire. We where camped on this site when the fire was just a baby and being watched by the forest service. Just wondering if it still was there. Would like to return someday.

Thanks everyone for your input.

I do have a backup permit for Moose Lake on the same date, might use that one instead.

Likelihood of ice on smaller lakes in mid-may almost non-existent. I've lived outside of Ely since the late 80's and have not had ice on the smaller lakes in mid-May since I've been here.

Ice thickness is just one of many variables determine ice out- I would say ice thickness is less important than amount of sun and amount of days during the thaw in which snow covers the ice. Once the ice is bare to the sun it deteriorates quickly.

Kendis, do you have two permits for the same date? Didn't think that was allowed.

burgydancer: "Kendis, do you have two permits for the same date? Didn't think that was allowed."

Unfortunately, there is nothing in the inner workings of recreation.gov that will prevent this behavior. Actually getting both permits issued may possibly be another matter entirely...

dustytrail: "The site across from the portage was one of my favorites. Even before the fire you saw more hikers than canoes and the fishing on the 2 wilders was great. The last time I was thru there was the year of the Pagimi fire. We where camped on this site when the fire was just a baby and being watched by the forest service. Just wondering if it still was there. Would like to return someday."

Thanks to you and JWilder I'm now planning on that same loop through that area and I'll snag some photos of the campsites and deadfalls on portages/creeks. Setting a reminder to dig up this thread after an August trip...

burgydancer: "Kendis, do you have two permits for the same date? Didn't think that was allowed."

Unwritten rule, maybe. The system does nothing to prevent this though.......

CityFisher74: "

burgydancer: "Kendis, do you have two permits for the same date? Didn't think that was allowed."

Unwritten rule, maybe. The system does nothing to prevent this though......."

I will cancel whichever permit I decide not to use. I do not plan to somehow try to use both permits.

-Kendis