I hope it's ok that I double up this post here...

I tried to get a June 19 permit for EP 16 (Moose Portage/River (north)) and was shut out. Got the last one on June 20. Shortly after most of the permits were gone for EP 16. If anyone thinks they want to drop one for June 19 for EP 16 please let me know! I don't want to cut the trip short a day unless we have to!

Was in about 9:05...

Are you dead set on Moose River North?

Why not just extend the trip by a day?

Just sayin

AlexanderSupertramp: "Why not just extend the trip by a day?


Just sayin"

Some people in the group can't go beyond the week we already had discussed. We planned to come out Sunday so coming out Monday instead posed a problem.

PointMe2Polaris: "Are you dead set on Moose River North?"

The goal for our trip was to get to Iron on day one. Experienced paddlers only for us. We will be staying in Ely the night before the trip so we can get on the water by 7am. We could stop on Agnus if we wanted to but in my experience I can make it to LLC in about 6 hours at a leisurely pace which would mean pulling into Iron in about 8 hours. If we stopped on Agnus day one it would just be one less night fishing on Iron. Planning to base camp there for a few nights before heading back out to Agnus Saturday and back to EP Sunday.

Is there an alternate EP where you could hope to make Iron in a day?

Maybe Stuart River?

Even single-portaging Angleworm would be too far for one day...probably 12+ hours to Iron.

Double portaging you can do it in 10 hours from Stuart. It's not as bad going N but I would want to exit at Entry point 16 if you can shuttle a vehicle.

I wouldn't want to be pulling into Iron late, not many sites on that lake and theres not as many close by backup plans...

Angleworm exists. Angleworm-Iron in one day has been done before but it's easier to do in 2. Instead of staying in Ely the night before, consider getting an Angleworm permit for the day before. Knock out that 2 miler before dark and set up camp at one of the 7 sites on Angleworm. Wake up fresh and ready for a big day... with 2 miles of portaging behind you already. If you're worried about campsite availability you can check and see how many hiking permits have been issued on recreation.gov... but I doubt all 7 of those sites have ever been full at the same time.

You'll want to take the Beartrap River from Beartrap lake, through Sunday Lake all the way to Peterson Bay on Iron. It is a PMA but the path is well-travelled. It sounds like you've been to Iron before, but if you haven't, know that it has a reputation for being full and that campsites are best found there before noon.

I just read this about the Angleworm Trail. Who knows when it will be repaired. That trail was in great shape the last time I was there but it would be an entirely different animal without those boardwalks.

Don't forget plans change especially this far out, pick an alternate entry and check back often for cancellations...

Checkout the feature in portage planner. You can set up a permit request and it searches the permits every 5 minutes and if your day opens up you get an email. Worked for me last year.