This one is really starting to look intriquing to me. It is just a short trip from EPs 50 or 51. Even EPs 38 & 41 wouldn't be that hard to accomplish in a day.

Plenty of lakes. I think this is the next PMA on my list.

Closest Ranger Station = Grand Marais

Here are the typical brochure pic and Google Earth screen shot. That photo link in the Google earth is a picture of Ragged Lake submitted by our very own eglath.

What would be a good access from the North?

EPs 50 & 51 are both north of the PMA. They both look like like short trips = approximately 3 miles, to get into the PMA. You would access both of those EPs off of the Gunflint Trail.

bump

Has anyone gone from Copper to Octopus, looking at a spring trip with 2 friends and spending 5 or 6 days exploring it. Any info would be helpful.

That will be a good challenge! I have not been. CowDoc travelled through the nw bump of this PMA, Jerry to Tuscarora, and wrote about it somewhere, on this site. Copper is a neat lake, if you have not been, though I don't think it has a campsite.

Mark,

I went from Snipe through Copper to Tuscarora and can verify that it's a neat little lake. There are no campsites between Snipe and Tuscarora. I do remember that cowdoc's trip report had some information that might be of general interest to you.

you want to find some reports written by Eglath. He has been through there. Sora, Ragged, Iris. I went through Copper but opted out of going down to Sora. If I recall, the trail to Sora is pretty easy, from there on gets tougher. I'll see if I can dig up some links.

ok.....lots of Eglaths stuff is tough to dig out but in doing so I ran across hexnymphs stuff.....go to day 6 of 8..... day 6

maybe some more info

Thanks cowdoc. Great info, not exactly what would be pleasing to the ear, but on the good note, two groups have made it through. I think we'd like to explore it a little more, but it sounds like both these groups were just glad to get through there. We've looked at areal photos, but it is hard to see the contours of the area. Seems like a good challenge.

Thanks for the info cowdoc, that will be very helpful. really looking forward to this trip, should gets some peace in there and seeing lakes many don't see.

I went through my PMA maps that I've been drawing "portages" on over the years. All I have is a rough trail from Copper to Sora along the creeks. After that, I've got nothing for the rest of that route. Have fun boys.....looks like a neat walk-about. Just beware of those aerial photos.....some of those creeks that look passable are in gorges.....I learned that the hard way last fall.

Yes sir thanks for the info Doc. We should get our exercise in.

I'm seeing 3 veterans going to the PMA. Are you paddling solos? Ray

quote rtallent: "I'm seeing 3 veterans going to the PMA. Are you paddling solos? Ray"

Yes sir.

Bit more carrying, but could well pay off, if you hit some small water! Hope for a trip report.

I think this is going to be a blast! I'm very excited about tripping with two more of the group. I'm going to be spending a lot of time dialing in gear and food. We'll be getting as much info as we can. Lot's of options after getting out of the PMA too.

One other thought -- and it is a bit crossways with strict LNT practice -- I wished I had a small folding saw (like a small pruning saw) when I soloed in another PMA (for clearing a tentpad; just a sapling here and there). If you guys have two or three tents, you may have to do some minor work to get tentpads, not that the sign will show for long.

Did a short trip into the Hairy Lake PMA on May 12. Just doing a day trip. Was going to go a couple days, but Friday was forecasting windy, high 30's and light snow so just went for the day. I wussed out in otherwords.

Anyway the days plan was to go from Cross Bay Lake, through the Hairy Lake PMA and out through Long Island Lake and then back up to the Cross River Entry Point 50.

I had been this way before a couple years ago so I knew I could get to Lucky Pay Lake quick. Last time there, I didn't go farther than the north end of that two part lake. This time I went through the "notch", across south Lucky Pay and down that creek that goes down to Yogi and Swollen Ankle. Didn't make it all the way (hit my turn around time), but made it a good ways. Most is "relatively" easy going (in a PMA way), but there is a section where the forest comes down right next to creek and that is the stubborn part. Pretty sure it is passable and think I was only 100 yards from "breakthrough". I made it to GPS point: 48.032180, -90.790835

Next trip I plan to check out those lakes coming from the Long Island side.

Here are a couple photos: One is south half of Lucky Pay looking south. Other is a pond visible on McKenzie map. This is first pond south of Lucky Pay down the creek.