Hi All-
I got approved for a sabattical from my teaching position, so thought why not go winter camping in the BWCA. My brother passed away when I was 17 and we spread his ashes up by Saganaga Falls in 2005, so my hope would be to retrace our route to visit the spot. We used to go quite a bit growing up, but I haven't been up there in a long while and never in the winter.

My plan is to put in by Voyageur Canoe Outfitters around entry point 55A and then snowshoe on the lake north and setup camp about midway. Take the next day to travel over to Sag falls and return to camp, and then return the next day.
The distance out and back looks to be around 20 killometers (around 12.5 Miles).

A couple questions I'd love folks' feedback on:

1- Does this distance seem doable in the timeframe?
-I could extend my trip, since my schedule is flexible
-I am in good cardio shape and am training for endurance

2. Does anyone have knowledge of snow/lake conditions on sag and have any recommendations for showshoe types I should get?
-I saw a video with ice depth of 14" a couple weeks ago

3. I'm likely planning to cold tent...is this crazy???
-I'm going to do some test runs on the lake by my cabin next weekend, so
hopefully it will be cold so I have a good bearing on how my gear/technique is
holding up.

I think those are the big ones for now. Thanks in advance, all!

MWH: "Hi All-
I got approved for a sabattical from my teaching position, so thought why not go winter camping in the BWCA. My brother passed away when I was 17 and we spread his ashes up by Saganaga Falls in 2005, so my hope would be to retrace our route to visit the spot. We used to go quite a bit growing up, but I haven't been up there in a long while and never in the winter.

My plan is to put in by Voyageur Canoe Outfitters around entry point 55A and then snowshoe on the lake north and setup camp about midway. Take the next day to travel over to Sag falls and return to camp, and then return the next day.
The distance out and back looks to be around 20 killometers (around 12.5 Miles).

A couple questions I'd love folks' feedback on:

1- Does this distance seem doable in the timeframe?
-I could extend my trip, since my schedule is flexible
-I am in good cardio shape and am training for endurance

2. Does anyone have knowledge of snow/lake conditions on sag and have any recommendations for showshoe types I should get?
-I saw a video with ice depth of 14" a couple weeks ago

3. I'm likely planning to cold tent...is this crazy???
-I'm going to do some test runs on the lake by my cabin next weekend, so
hopefully it will be cold so I have a good bearing on how my gear/technique is
holding up.

I think those are the big ones for now. Thanks in advance, all!

"

I can't offer much advice about winter camping, but I was up on Sag today and there's 20 to 25 inches of amazing ice, the lake is drifted and wind swept. Lots of crusty snow and a few patches of bare ice. Most of your trip will be on the corridor snowmobile trail so it will be in good shape. There will be open water around Sag Falls, but it shouldn't be too bad given how low the water is. Seems like a doable trip. Skis would be the easiest way to travel right now.

Andy

Congrats on the sabbatical.

You shouldn't have to worry about ice thickness much but I'd still carry retractable ice picks and some form of emergency sat-com if you're solo. One other thing about lake travel in the winter is you can encounter slush on top of the ice even when it's below zero, so proper footwear or backup footwear is essential.

12.5 miles seems doable for a day trip with light supplies. Those day trips are usually the highlight for me.

You'll be fine cold camping provided you have the right gear for the temps. I prefer cold camping to hot tents, but it's worth considering how you plan to spend the hours between sunset and bedtime in the cold and dark. Eating as much as possible and keeping a fire going as long as possible are popular options.

And take that extra day for nothing else than to give yourself time to reacclimate once you're back. Personally, I find most of the joy of winter camping is experienced once it's over. Have fun!

Watch the temperature, wind direction and speeds, and any potential snowfall predictions starting at least a week in advance.

If the temperature is moderate, then you can safely cold camp. But you then have to start watching for slush on the lakes.

Low winds predicted? Good, then you don't have to worry about blowing snow or wind chill. Higher winds predicted? Its tough going and finding a sheltered site becomes a must.

Snowfall predicted? Breaking trail can really slow you down. What may have taken 1 hour to go 2 miles, now with breaking trail will slow you down to a mile an hour.

Having good, simple, and proven gear is a must. Any misfunction of gear becomes exaggerated out there. Zippers get harder to pull and always seem to catch the fabric, plastics become more brittle and crack, and stoves are slower to warm up. Tops of water bottles freeze up quickly, and if you are sweating too much it'll chill you down real quick when you stop for a breather.

It's a fun time out there in winter. Going the 20km round trip is doable, expecially if you are packing light, but if conditions change while you are out there, do not succumb to summit fever and push on. Turn back and try again some other day.