BWCA Alternative Solo Routes for late May? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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AlexanderSupertramp
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03/15/2023 12:56PM  
Hi guys and gals,

Figured this better suited here than the solo board...

I have Thursday May 25th Sawbill permit right now but thinking about cancelling and trading up for something that same Tuesday or Wednesday to get a head start on the holiday crowd. This will be a Solo adventure with myself and canine companion. Planning 5-6 nights and canoe is something I wont have much seat time in so I want to avoid big water. Portaging is no problem, as we are planning single-portaging everything (hopefully). I have spend the last 4 months tediously creating the perfect single-portage setup.

Thoughts on these and my cliff notes? (I have verified permit availability as of this moment) -

Moose Lake - Long arduous paddle to the good stuff, but tons of route options off to the NE. Mostly medium lakes. Will be conga lines at portages on the return trip. Not interested in the taxi though..

Kawishiwi Lake - Would love me some beach time on Malberg, but outside of that to stretch the trip out I would have to drop into Alice then up through Fraser and back down and out through Boulder, or do an out-and-back to Little Sag. Could make it work. OR, if I extended trip by a day our two, do a Kekabic/Ogish loop out of here and come back down through Malberg, that might be more than I want to do though. It looks like a sweet route.

Missing Link - Not afraid of the big portage, but pretty everything to the west and NW is burn zone and I'm trying to stay out of that. Head out of Little Sag towards Malberg and do a loop back to little Sag maybe?

Seagull - Paddled Seagull last Fall. I could probably tackle it alone if I launch super early. Seems it never gets windy until 9-10am at the earliest. I have a border route planned already here but was going to save that one until September when the weather settles down.

Meeds - no problem doing this portage to get to the same lakes as Liz/Swamp. like the idea of the small lakes, but already have a Liz/Swamp for July.

Homer - gets me to to same places I was planning from Sawbill, but then I have to cross Brule or at the very least skirt the south Shoreline to the West. Brule is scary.

Fall Lake - mostly ruled this out already because Basswood doesn't really interest me and the stuff to the NW is gonna be too crowded and I can to everything to the east by just going in on Moose.

Any favorites that you folks have?

 
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TuscaroraBorealis
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03/15/2023 05:08PM  
Sounds like you want to avoid big water and "crowds"? For that, I'd recommend the Missing Link or Meeds trip.

FWIW... It's been nearly 2 decades since the big Cavity & Ham Lake fires so, while mature trees may be sparse (in those hard hit areas), it has greened up substantially and you do increase your odds of wildlife sightings & possibly flowers - if those are important.

Also, loops/routes through the western rivers Little Indian Sioux, Horse and those in between are interesting.
YetiJedi
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03/15/2023 05:41PM  
Late May is my favorite time to be in the BW and I'll be entering Kawishiwi Lake during the same time frame. My plan is to circle the Humpback PMA and do day trips into lakes in the Humpback and Mugwump. That route is mostly smaller water (what is your definition?) and will have relatively fewer people. It's my favorite route and I can't help but go back again!

You could go into Kawishiwi and turn east at Malberg until you get to Wine - definitely small water but LOTS of portages. I haven't been through that portion but it is on my list for this spring's trip if I can extend my trip several days. From Wine you would head down to Alton and either exit and shuttle your vehicle or paddle back to Kawishiwi through the lady chain of lakes.

You could use a tow on Moose to get further in faster if that is of interest. And, as you said, there are LOTS of possible route options from there.

The Meeds route will meet your goals but sounds like you might do that route in July. I think there are two trip options if you wanted to go to the same place but see different spots. It really depends on how far you want to push yourself and it sounds like you are looking to cover some country.

Sounds like Missing Link is an option for you but you want to avoid the burn area. I think you could meet your goals doing the Frost River route circling the Hairy Lake PMA...at least I think it would be possible through the Missing Link EP.

Hope that helps. Enjoy the planning!
straighthairedcurly
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03/15/2023 06:07PM  
Personally I would select Kawishiwi Lake or Missing Link

Kawishiwi Lake: Up through Malberg and then into Adams/Boulder...go to Ledge, and east through Vee, Fee, Hoe into Makwa then head back south (if not enough time left to go up into Little Sag...every trip is better with Little Sag).

Kawishiwi Lake alternative: Do the Louse River, either clockwise or countercloskwise loop that includes the lady chain, and the Louse River. Kelso River and Wine Lake on the east end of the loop. I have a trip report on my solo thru these areas. Not easy travel, but that doesn't seem to be an issue for you.

Missing Link: either head down to Little Sag via Tuscarora or go down and do the Frost R.

So many great areas...

For my taste, Moose is just too, too busy an area. And I agree about Fall Lake. If you are trying to avoid the potential for big wind/waves disrupting your trip, skip Seagull this time around. While early morning is generally a good bet, can't count on it.

Let us know what you decide.
03/15/2023 07:01PM  
I like the Kawishiwi idea to malberg, adams, Boulder to little sag.

Thinking about all the snow up north and some of the smaller lakes and portages would show more flooding. Heckā€¦the ice might not be out yet:)
AlexanderSupertramp
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03/18/2023 07:57AM  
Thank you for all the feedback here! I think I have some pondering to do and maybe some of the permits will disappear and force a choice! The Spring melt and conditions that follow are going to play a role here to but I feel like everywhere is going to be a big ol' mess this Spring. Kawishiwi and Missing Link are the top choices right now!
 
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