Howdy All,

I'm planning a hybrid - solo boundary waters trip for this spring, permits already acquired. Entrance is EP4 at Burntside. General plan (skipping some lakes in the list) is: Burntside >Crab>Cummings>Little Indian Sioux River>Upper Pauness>Shell>Hustler>Oyster>Agnes>Crooked>Basswood>Pipestone>Newton> Fall> Ely, MN.

Rough pacing planned so far - Burntside to LIS North - 36 Miles/4 nights
LIS North to Friday Bay - 49 miles/5 nights
Friday Bay to Fall Lake / Ely - 40 Miles/5 nights.

Those are rough target blocks to aim for to break up the trip in chunks. The first leg will be accompanied with a friend who will depart at LIS N. Then solo for the remainder of the trip. I've got up to 25 days available for the trip and will build in rest days as well, those are not included in the night count above and will be "wung" in real time as energy and weather allows.

I've been reading trip reports for the areas, nothing along the exact route. Generally I think the beginning will be the biggest slog, LIS to Friday seem like mostly open water once you get to Crooked Lake. Friday to Ely seems like a slog again.

Curious if folks have any insights on the route, must sees and definite DON'TS!, general discussion.

Thanks all!

I should also add meal planning has me at about 2100-2500 calories per day at 1.5 lbs of food per day for about 30 lbs total (20 days).

I will carry the food in a 30L barrel with harness. I will carry all other camping needs in a backpacking backpack. My camp set up and clothes fit in a drybag in the backpack. Everything else will need to be tetris'd in.

I would plan to spend more time in the LISN area and don't limit yourself to LLC. Takucmich is a short 19r portage, gebe-oyster is also a great area to check out and wouldn't be too many extra miles. I think you'll be ready for more lakes once you paddle all those rivers. Those inner lakes are all gems.

If it were me I’d get a RABC, ON fishing license, and a summer day use vehicle parking permit (Buy Here) for day tripping into Quetico. Lots of interesting places to explore along your planned route…on the Canada side (LLC, Iron, Crooked).

I'm in my mid 60s and do long solos often. I don't think the 30l barrel will be big enough. At 2500 calories I tend to lose weight. In recent years there has been bear issues on Agnes and given my history of bear issues I would avoid it. Agnes is what I call a campground lake and wouldn't stay there anyway. I would also do some physical conditioning starting at least a month before. I've never been athletic so it is necessary for me. I lose that conditioning very quickly when I stop. I remember crossing Burntside and then that first portage really draining me on the first day. Snow pack is nearly non existence this year so expect lower levels of water. Last year the plow pile at my mailbox was at eye level but this year it's ankle deep at best. Early ice-out likely.

2 permits needed for this excursion?

Lawnchair107: "2 permits needed for this excursion?"

Not for the corridor crossing from LIS south to LIS north,unless, technically, he resupplies. You can cross the corridors between the three non-contiguous sections on same permit as long as no camping, no resupplying, no transportation assistance, etc. Pull a food pack from a car in the EP parking lot and "you've left the wilderness" and permit is no longer valid. Odds of getting caught? Very low. It's about how you feel breaking rules. I only wish people would not boast about it here.

Lawnchair107: "2 permits needed for this excursion?"

Possibly if they both have to exit to swap a Tandem for a Solo canoe? I have done exactly that in Quetico, but I am unsure what the rules are on that in the BWCA...

Appreciate the insight on this. I was u sure and got two permits anyway, just in case. Worst case, my extra $$ supports something I love.

bennojr: "I'm in my mid 60s and do long solos often. I don't think the 30l barrel will be big enough. At 2500 calories I tend to lose weight. In recent years there has been bear issues on Agnes and given my history of bear issues I would avoid it. Agnes is what I call a campground lake and wouldn't stay there anyway. ."

The food has been a concern, I'm dehydrating all my own meals and looking at swapping any bases like rice, with higher calorie options like couscous. I've got 5 base meals I'll repeat 4 times then supplement with fishing if able.

I'm currently calculating 1/2 cup oatmeal a day, 1 cup dehydrated meal with 1/2 cup rice or couscous/day, 1 cup trail mix/2 Clif bars/1 Peanut butter roll up / day.

I was debating getting a food bag to supplement the barrel but am nervous of too many things to carry. Already looking at 2-3 trip portages. I'm really looking at managed weight loss at this point. With a friend the first few days, I'll likely pack their bag with calorie dense meals for us two then swap to my stash when they leave.


Any insights are helpful!

billconner: "

Lawnchair107: "2 permits needed for this excursion?"

Not for the corridor crossing from LIS south to LIS north,unless, technically, he resupplies. You can cross the corridors between the three non-contiguous sections on same permit as long as no camping, no resupplying, no transportation assistance, etc. Pull a food pack from a car in the EP parking lot and "you've left the wilderness" and permit is no longer valid. Odds of getting caught? Very low. It's about how you feel breaking rules. I only wish people would not boast about it here."

For real? You can cross Echo trail and not need another permit?

Legume_Pilgrim: "

bennojr: "I'm in my mid 60s and do long solos often. I don't think the 30l barrel will be big enough. At 2500 calories I tend to lose weight. In recent years there has been bear issues on Agnes and given my history of bear issues I would avoid it. Agnes is what I call a campground lake and wouldn't stay there anyway. ."

The food has been a concern, I'm dehydrating all my own meals and looking at swapping any bases like rice, with higher calorie options like couscous. I've got 5 base meals I'll repeat 4 times then supplement with fishing if able.


I'm currently calculating 1/2 cup oatmeal a day, 1 cup dehydrated meal with 1/2 cup rice or couscous/day, 1 cup trail mix/2 Clif bars/1 Peanut butter roll up / day.


I was debating getting a food bag to supplement the barrel but am nervous of too many things to carry. Already looking at 2-3 trip portages. I'm really looking at managed weight loss at this point. With a friend the first few days, I'll likely pack their bag with calorie dense meals for us two then swap to my stash when they leave.

If you're interested, click on the envelope icon below my screen name and send me an email. I have a Word document called "How I Roll Solo in the BWCA."


"

Lawnchair107: "

billconner: "

Lawnchair107: "2 permits needed for this excursion?"

Not for the corridor crossing from LIS south to LIS north,unless, technically, he resupplies. You can cross the corridors between the three non-contiguous sections on same permit as long as no camping, no resupplying, no transportation assistance, etc. Pull a food pack from a car in the EP parking lot and "you've left the wilderness" and permit is no longer valid. Odds of getting caught? Very low. It's about how you feel breaking rules. I only wish people would not boast about it here."

For real? You can cross Echo trail and not need another permit?"

Yes. Echo Trail and Gunflint Trail, but not Fernberg since both sides are contiguous. No overnight, no mechanized travel, no resupply, no stopping for a cold brew, basically nothing that you can't do within the BWCAW borders.

Someone mentioned Quetico above and they do not have a similar restriction (at least last I talked to superintendent a few years ago.) It has a lot to do with paying for a trip of any length in BWCAW versus per night in the Q. I asked about circumnavigating the Q and resupply, and no problem getting out and going to a grocery store, even stay a night in a hotel. Taken to the extreme, buy a permit for 365 days, enter and get to your entry point within a day or two, you can leave and return as much as you would like for the year. You are just paying for all those days, and the Park will love you for that!

billconner: "

Lawnchair107: "

billconner: "

Lawnchair107: "2 permits needed for this excursion?"

Not for the corridor crossing from LIS south to LIS north,unless, technically, he resupplies. You can cross the corridors between the three non-contiguous sections on same permit as long as no camping, no resupplying, no transportation assistance, etc. Pull a food pack from a car in the EP parking lot and "you've left the wilderness" and permit is no longer valid. Odds of getting caught? Very low. It's about how you feel breaking rules. I only wish people would not boast about it here."

For real? You can cross Echo trail and not need another permit?"

Yes. Echo Trail and Gunflint Trail, but not Fernberg since both sides are contiguous. No overnight, no mechanized travel, no resupply, no stopping for a cold brew, basically nothing that you can't do within the BWCAW borders.

This is my understanding as well, but I would add at that at least in the past there was a travel restriction on permits for EP 14 (LISN) that prohibited travel south of the Echo Trail. It said this right on the permit. I don’t know if this is still the case. (But in any event it wouldn’t impact Legume_Pilgrim’s trip since he’s not planning to use a EP 14 to travel south.)

Legume_Pilgrim: "Appreciate the insight on this. I was u sure and got two permits anyway, just in case. Worst case, my extra $$ supports something I love."

I would cancel the permit you do not need. Having two permits when you only need one takes away the opportunity for someone else to enjoy the BWCA.

EmmaMorgan: "

billconner: "

Lawnchair107: "

billconner: "

Lawnchair107: "2 permits needed for this excursion?"

Not for the corridor crossing from LIS south to LIS north,unless, technically, he resupplies. You can cross the corridors between the three non-contiguous sections on same permit as long as no camping, no resupplying, no transportation assistance, etc. Pull a food pack from a car in the EP parking lot and "you've left the wilderness" and permit is no longer valid. Odds of getting caught? Very low. It's about how you feel breaking rules. I only wish people would not boast about it here."

For real? You can cross Echo trail and not need another permit?"

Yes. Echo Trail and Gunflint Trail, but not Fernberg since both sides are contiguous. No overnight, no mechanized travel, no resupply, no stopping for a cold brew, basically nothing that you can't do within the BWCAW borders.

This is my understanding as well, but I would add at that at least in the past there was a travel restriction on permits for EP 14 (LISN) that prohibited travel south of the Echo Trail. It said this right on the permit. I don’t know if this is still the case. (But in any event it wouldn’t impact Legume_Pilgrim’s trip since he’s not planning to use a EP 14 to travel south.)"

Yes, I seem to recall there was a specific restriction on LIS south from going north, I thought for a day or so from entry date. But vague memory and not sure of source. There are several EPs with unique restrictions. I wish the USDA would publish these things. One ranger said that the interpretations are in a hard copy log, and not electronically, for lack of funds. But since I have emails from two different SNF information officers with opposite interpretations on the from Canada permit, I'm never sure.

Legume_Pilgrim: "I should also add meal planning has me at about 2100-2500 calories per day at 1.5 lbs of food per day for about 30 lbs total (20 days).


I will carry the food in a 30L barrel with harness. I will carry all other camping needs in a backpacking backpack. My camp set up and clothes fit in a drybag in the backpack. Everything else will need to be tetris'd in."

I started preparing for longer trips some years ago and food weight (and volume) was one of the issues I worked on. A lot of thru-hikers and long hikers talk about it in terms of calories per ounce which is a helpful metric to consider.

Longest trip I did (17 1/2 days) food was 305 oz. (19 lbs.), 17.4oz. per day and 41,070 cal., 2,347 per day, 134.5 cal. per oz.. Your calorie needs (and food preferences) may vary but a focus on calorie-dense foods could lower your overall food weight as it appears you are somewhere around 100 cal. per ounce.

Feel free to email me if you'd like more detailed and specific information.