Time to start thinking about next year's solo trip and I would love some input. I have more flexibility with the timing next year so I can go in May or early June if I want (normally I have gone the 2nd half of June). Some background: I prefer no motorboat lakes and I'm not afraid of a physically challenging trip. I do NOT fish, but love to take pictures and explore a bit off the beaten track. I always do a loop (or at least be able to walk back to my car from a close by exit point). Usually out for a week, but might think about 10-12 days. As long as I can still travel light enough to single portage. I usually prefer the Gunflint or Sawbill Trails, but am willing to try elsewhere though not really interested in Quetico...too many logistics.

Trips I have done solo in the past with entry points + camping lakes:
2020: Bower Trout entry - Swan - Vernon - Davis - Omega - Horseshoe - Ram
2021: Sawbill entry - Lady chain - Louse River - Wine - exit via Sawbill
2022: Duncan entry - Rose - Mountain - thru the Fowls - East Pike - exit via Clearwater
2022: Moose Lake (Ely) entry - Knife - Granite River - Rose - North Fowl - Grand Portage (Moose Lake Border Route Challenge)
2023: Hog Creek entry - Rice - west as far as Kawishiwi triangle - Lake 3 - Malberg - exit via Kawishiwi Lake
2023: Crane Lake/Little Vermillion entry - Lac La Croix - Basswood - Saganaga - Granite R - Mountain - Grand Portage (Voyageur Border Route Challenge)

2024? where should I challenge myself next?

Maybe do the Frost River route? Out of Sawbill, through Cherokee, west down the Frost with maybe a dip into the PMA just north of Octopus (Ragged PMA I think?) and then back down through Mesaba and Zenith back to Sawbill.

Remote, bit of a challenge especially if you bushwack into a PMA and spend a night there, and some nice scenery along the way. Since you did the Louse already, this would be similar.

Seagull - Alpine - Jasper - Ogish - Kekekabic - Fraser - over to Little sag via Roe - Gabimichigami -Ogish - Jasper - Alpine - Seagull.

Yes seagull is motorized but if you stay on the North end of the lake you're in the motorized zone very briefly near the landing and quite frankly it's not a busy motorized lake, everyone with motorized boats seem to gravitate to Saganaga.

straighthairedcurly: "...2024? where should I challenge myself next?

not really interested in Quetico...too many logistics."

I'd challenge you to step up and take a Q trip. It's certainly a different feel from the BWCA.

Logistics are a challenge the first time until you see the process first hand. You might not be comfortable with big water on a Cache Bay entry... that I could understand.

bobbernumber3: "

straighthairedcurly: "...2024? where should I challenge myself next?

not really interested in Quetico...too many logistics. "

I'd challenge you to step up and take a Q trip. It's certainly a different feel from the BWCA.

Logistics are a challenge the first time until you see the process first hand. You might not be comfortable with big water on a Cache Bay entry... that I could understand."

I've done Quetico, Wabakimi, and further north on group trips a long time ago. We may do a Wabakimi family trip in the next year or two. But I seem to always find plenty of what I'm looking for in the BWCA.

Some good ideas to contemplate.

I have thought about returning to the Frost R. on a solo. I did it on a family trip a couple years ago. And that is a good thought about ducking up into the Hairy Lake PMA from the south. I have gone thru that PMA from N to S and that southern part is doable. I will keep that under consideration.

I do love Little Sag a lot and could see putting together parts of routes I have done before...though I'm not an Ogish fan. Seagull never feels like a motorboat lake to me when you stay west or north like you mentioned.

While I've done most of this route in small, individual bites.... This is a singular route/trip that has lingered in the back of my mind for quite some time. One of the biggest concentrations of Pink Lady slippers I've run across, and the bog laurel (if blooming/bloomed) always fascinates me. More to the point - Always thought is to be a great area for a wide variety of interesting flora & fauna & even some historical artifacts - old logging trails etc. If that's your thing?

- Start @ Slim EP #6
- Head to Big Moose (via Big Rice)
- explore the chain of small lakes SW of Crab Lake
- Head towards Buck Lake area
- exit via Little Indian Sioux south

I would suggest something similar to the area of some of my favorite trips. It looks like it would at least cover some new territory for you. It includes some of the most remote and least visited country.

In 2014 Steve and I entered at Kawishiwi Lake and went north to Little Sag and south to Sawbill. It could also be extended across the Lady Chain to finish at Kawishiwi.

In 2016 I entered at Kawishiwi Lake and paddled through Malberg to Fishdance then Alice to Cap and south through Boulder and Adams to exit at Kawishiwi Lake.

There are some options for modifying these in one way or another. For another way incorporating some parts of these, see dogwood girl's recent trip report.

If you consider Ely, I enjoyed my first solo through LISN to North, then Steep to Beartrack, Pocket, south to Gebe, Oyster and out.

I think you would enjoy any of these (or various options). If I can answer any questions, just ask.

straighthairedcurly: "... I seem to always find plenty of what I'm looking for in the BWCA."

+1

I think you would like this route. I took 10 days, but only traveled 7 and most of those were pretty short. I should have camped on Cherokee and had a shorter day across the divide to North Temperance. I set out to enjoy the portaging and I did. You travel a bit lighter than I do so likely to do just fine, You could probably do it in 6 or 7 days, but there is so much good country for exploring that a 10 day trip is luxurious. Repeating the Long Island to Cross Bay Lake section was actually pleasant traveling a familiar and gorgeous section in both directions. I left my car at Tuscarora Outfitters for security but the walking shuttle back to Round Lake access is equally short.

Three Headwaters loop

boonie: "I would suggest something similar to the area of some of my favorite trips. It looks like it would at least cover some new territory for you. It includes some of the most remote and least visited country.

In 2016 I entered at Kawishiwi Lake and paddled through Malberg to Fishdance then Alice to Cap and south through Boulder and Adams to exit at Kawishiwi Lake.
"

This would be a very cool route. The beach campsites on east side of Alice are pretty awesome. The Boulder/Adams area should give solitude. There's some out of the way dead end lakes near there with campsites on them too.


Alice Lake

I did a solo with my 85# dog one time that I would love to do again. It is basically an inside loop of Lac La Croix.

Little Indian Sioux, EP 14 entry
Shell, Lynx, Oyster L, Gebe, Finger, Beartrack, South, Slim, East Loon and back to EP 14.

Did it in 6 nites, you could always go into Lac La Croix from Pocket Creek and extend your trip if you want to. I know East Loon Bay/Lake may have motors but it is only for a couple miles. The southwest island campsite on Finger Lake was awesome,