Well, I posted on the main board but thought I would post here. My entry permit will be June 4. I exit on June 22. Entry and exit will be EP50. I plan on getting to Long Island Lake the first day. I am planning on heading East from there and looping around. This will be my first trip into BWCA and my first solo. I am very excited!

Prepare yourself for the 190 rod portage from Muskeg to Kiskadinna. Near the end, it has a pretty good "uphill" part. Almost like climbing a ladder....with a canoe on your shoulders.
Also, if you want a challenge and a little solitude, consider going in to Davis. Both portages (south and north) are pretty tough. Bad thing is there are only 2 campsites. If it's full.....it's a long way back out. The north portage (325 rods) is an adventure in itself.
May want to pick up Beymers book and read about the portages and the lakes. Good info there.

I have one Beymer book for the Eastern region.

I do need to look again at the trip planning section on here too.

Brule can get really busy. I've seen it almost full, especially when the walleye bite is on. May want to plan that as a pass through day and not have to camp there. I'd hate to have to paddle all around that lake looking for a campsite.

quote cowdoc: "Brule can get really busy. I've seen it almost full, especially when the walleye bite is on. May want to plan that as a pass through day and not have to camp there. I'd hate to have to paddle all around that lake looking for a campsite."

Thank you! And yes, solitude is one of my main goals. :)

Have fun! It sounds great.

This may sound weird, but take a watch. It's easy to loose track of time and you want to make sure you find a campsite early enough. Conversely, you don't want to stop to early.

have a bailout plan. just being a realist.

I do have a watch I will be wearing, or at least have with me. And I bailout plan sounds like f=good advice too.

One update, I just won this canoe of Ebay. I got it for only $280! I am very excited about it.

Cedar Strip Canoe

NICE!!!

Congratulations, I hope it works well for you. Enjoy your trip. We'll be looking forward to a long trip report with lots of nice pictures.

Looks like a nice boat. Have you picked it up yet?

Do you have any other specific plans for your route, other than starting at Cross Bay Lake and making a loop from there? I'm just kinda curious, as it looks like I am not going to be able to make a trip this year.

I have done a bit of paddling in that area, and really enjoy it. The last time I was there, I camped on Rib Lake, then took out later in the day on Sawbill. It was a long day, but not too tough.

Hop it all goes well for you.

dave

I work tonight but after I get off, I make the 2 1/2 hour drive to pick it up. I am hoping to get it out Saturday for a bit to try her out. Good chance to figure out the logistics of portaging and trim.

Originally, I was planning on heading East out of Long Island Lake. But, because someone mentioned wind being an issue on Brule, I may head south towards Brule first and loop back that way. I heard Cam Lake is neat so I thought I would head through there from Cherokee.

I have not had to do much portaging to speak of ever before, so this will be a bit new to me. I was recommended to head to Davis, if I recall correctly, if I want solitude, which I do. So, if I don't portaging isn't that bad, I will likely head there next. Then to Winchell and Gaskin.

I haven't decided if I want to head to Horseshoe and and Caribou from there or just head back West.

I am leaving my itinerary fairly open. No deadlines or expectations. If I have extra time, I may head west of Long Island Lake. Just a contingency. I welcome any recommendations on routes and sights to see. In fact, I may copy and post this on the Trip Planning forum too.

Having 2.5 weeks, you will certainly have plenty of time for exploring. If you head from Long Island to Davis, you can still make the loop through Winchell, Horseshoe, Vista, into the East end of Brule. There are some long portages out there, but that brings some solitude. Horseshoe is quite scenic as well. Don't be too concerned about the wind on Brule. Yes, Brule is some big water that can pick up a bit with wind. However, there is enough protection around the lake is you need to travel during the wind.

Another loop option is west through Tuscarora to Little Saganaga, then travel through Gabi, Gillis, and then exit through Round. It's a real short walk from the Round parking lot to the Cross Bay River lot. That loop gives you some large lakes to explore, like Little Saganaga - you could spend a few days exploring all the islands.

Portaging while solo can either be a nuisance problem in your travels, or if planned correctly, it is just another part of the travels. During a travel day, I keep my boat neat and tidy, with little if anything out of a pack. If there is a lot of items rolling around your boat, every time you land at a portage you will spend 5-10 minutes putting it all away before you are walking. I use a hydration bladder inside my pack for drinking. I use a water filter with fittings (Camelback) on it so I can plug directly into my bladder when pumping. Little things such as that can make the routine a bit easier.

Keep in mind 18 says is a long time, and you can cover a lot of territory in that time. When I solo, I find layover days harder than a lot of travel days. Entertaining yourself at camp all day can be troublesome. I normally will go bushwacking to a neighboring lake, or something of the like to entertain my mind away from camp, but not on the water.


dave

Thanks Dave. I really appreciate the advice. The comment about layover days being harder actually makes sense.

Layover days can be awkward unless they have a purpose - like fishing, photography, etc.; otherwise, I like short, easy travel days. The advantage to a layover day, especially solo, is not having to break down/set up camp, of course.

So, how's the new canoe gonna paddle and portage, Blackfoot?

I am embarrassed to say, I have not had her out yet. A combination of some stormy weather and then not having the funds for the launch permit, I have not been able to take her out yet. I get paid in the morning and intend to take her out this weekend finally. Obviously, if there are problems I am SOL. I am officially down to one week before I leave town!

GOOD LUCK getting the permit! I KNOW you can do it :) And remember: have fun! It's better than being at work!

Hi: I know you are excited about your trip but from what I've read it sounds like you are not too familiar with your new boat. My suggestion would be to take your boat and ALL of your tripping gear including food and clothing to the nearest small lake and spend some time paddling around. Trim on solo canoes is very important and you can only learn how your boat will respond by actually loading it up and paddling it. By moving your packs around you will find how your boat responds bow heavy or bow light. Chances are you will face a variety of paddling conditions on your trip and you will need to adjust your trim accordingly. Sounds like a great trip and preparation is half the fun! Good luck!

That is just what I was planning fro this weekend.

Do you have a yoke for it? Tried portaging it around the neighborhood yet? :).

Yes, it has a yoke and yes, I have carried it around some. I have to admit, I am utterly amazed how light a wood boat is. I expected cedar strip canoes to be heavier.

Today was an eventful day! I took my boat out for her maiden voyage, at least maiden for me. She did great! I did get caught by a thunderstorm but was able to get back in before the lightning started. I took my pack so I could see how she did loaded. It is a lot less stable than I am used to but she glides through the water like an eagle soaring on the wind. I found the kayak paddle works great for this boat too. I also got to practice portaging with my pack and canoe. Everything went well. She has now been christened "Maya"!

Awesome! Thanks for the pics :) It sounds like you like your canoe, just need a litle more practice.

2 /12 weeks. That's awesome. Have a blast!

I have to admit, I love Maya to death but I really wish I had more time with her before this trip. But, I just have to be careful and get comfortable. I can not believe it is only a couple of days away! Work 3 more nights and leave after work Thursday morning!

Sounds like you have the bases covered. Until you get comfortable in your new boat you might consider paddling close to shore. Also, keep your senses tuned to the wind and the waves. Have a great trip!

Looking at your canoe a person could get the impression it is heavy. One never knows until you lift it up and portage it to know for sure.

I'm sure in no time you will get comfortable with your new canoe. Balancing your load will help keep her tracking the way you want.


Have a great trip. Thanks for you posting.

Have a great trip and stay safe!

So how did the trip go? Route?


dave

quote w_w_w_31: "So how did the trip go? Route?

dave"

Been wondering the same. How was the trip?

Yeah, me too. I was going to email him, but there's none under his name.

Anyone ever hear from blackfoot about his trip? I know a lot of us wanted to know how things went and tried to help make sure things went well.

Never have heard anything. I sure hope all is well.

dave

I did some snooping around on the web back a few months ago also wondering if he was OK. He made it out just fine and dropped a few pounds.

quote LoneWolf: "I did some snooping around on the web back a few months ago also wondering if he was OK. He made it out just fine and dropped a few pounds."

Great, it would be good to here how it went.