New Trip Report posted by OneMatch

Trip Name: “Something is dreadfully wrong!” Mesaba, Dent, Wine loop from Sawbill .

Entry Point: 38

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Great report Jerry!
We had one of those "something is dreadfully wrong" portages when we did the Louse Route back in 2004. Not the same portage, but just as bad. That will be one of my favorite areas... though a little tough to get into. Got some of my best pic's in the Louse area, one of which is hanging on my living room wall (Trail Lake at 6 a.m.). Stayed at the same site on Dent, as you did.
Thanks for posting!
Joe

Pretty sure my paddling prowess was over-praised. I recall, "Shut up and Paddle!"

As to the supervised tent set-up: who needed to borrow my tent stakes????

Nice report, great to see you in your postr-trip glow.

Nice report Jerry. I did not know that those fly strips worked, I will be picking them up. I have been in the same spot as you tring to find the portage/lake. It is no fun bushwhacking with half of your gear. Still sounds like a good trip. Thanks.

OneMatch,
A very enjoyable trip report. Boy you pack a lot of different activities into your trip North.
I have always laughed at the vulnerable feeling that comes over me when I am momentarily, directionally confused. It certainly adds to the experience, or so it is said. Pleased it worked out OK.

Nice that you were able to achieve that remote feeling on your trip and during a heavily traveled time. Your portaging efforts paid off from my view point.

Meeting some fine members and friends and having an enjoyable time together is a great way to end your trip.

Thanks for the TR and pics and I am looking forward to some new songs down the road.
Boppa

nice report. way to keep your wits about you!

Sounds like a heck of a trip!!!

Thanks for being so open and honest!

It was great to hear about your trip straight from the horse's mouth in Ely right afterwards, Jerry! Funny, though, I seem to remember that you used a different word than "dreadfully' to describe how much something went wrong when you were telling the story here. More like "something was *^$*^%#)_@!^%^ing wrong."

Sweet trip solo!!! Wouldn't mind trying it myself someday. Does anyone know if Dent has any fish in it at all. Even slimers???

Awesome, Jerry! Makes me yearn for my own solo trip. But I must wait. Waiting for a trip, not wanting to leave, wanting to turn back but knowing you can't....all these things come along wilderness tripping and we must have patience and fortitude. (sigh)

quote tremolo: "Pretty sure my paddling prowess was over-praised. I recall, "Shut up and Paddle!"


As to the supervised tent set-up: who needed to borrow my tent stakes????


Nice report, great to see you in your postr-trip glow.


"

no over praise at all. I recall that pretty timely to our conversation.

As to the tent pegs - touche. "Supervision was required!" Once again I stand corrected. :-)

Thanks for sharing the report. I know (and dread) that feeling you get when the landscape does not seem to match logic.

I love the deerfly traps! I will definetly be adding that to the gear for my next trip.

RoJo

quote Ho Ho: "It was great to hear about your trip straight from the horse's mouth in Ely right afterwards, Jerry! Funny, though, I seem to remember that you used a different word than "dreadfully' to describe how much something went wrong when you were telling the story here. More like "something was *^$*^%#)_@!^%^ing wrong."


"

You should have heard him curse the wind on Fenske-- it went something like: "^%#*(^&f&^%g(*&^s%$#f...wind

quote tremolo: "

quote Ho Ho: "It was great to hear about your trip straight from the horse's mouth in Ely right afterwards, Jerry! Funny, though, I seem to remember that you used a different word than "dreadfully' to describe how much something went wrong when you were telling the story here. More like "something was *^$*^%#)_@!^%^ing wrong."



"

You should have heard him curse the wind on Fenske-- it went something like: "^%#*(^&f&^%g(*&^s%$#f...wind


"

Yes, but I think the word "Holy" was in it, so it was ok.

Enjoyed your report. That's an area I'd like to trip in sometime. I also hate that feeling of not being able to figure it out - like "why am I standing in front of the cupboard with the door half open"? I'll have to remember those deer fly patches, too.

Loved your trip report - very entertaining!

Thanks for the fun trip report. I also was wondering about the deer fly strip, and since you showed proof that they work, I'm getting some.

Enjoyed your trip report! It was good for a laugh which I could use today!

quote OneMatch: "

quote tremolo: "

quote Ho Ho: "It was great to hear about your trip straight from the horse's mouth in Ely right afterwards, Jerry! Funny, though, I seem to remember that you used a different word than "dreadfully' to describe how much something went wrong when you were telling the story here. More like "something was *^$*^%#)_@!^%^ing wrong."



"

You should have heard him curse the wind on Fenske-- it went something like: "^%#*(^&f&^%g(*&^s%$#f...wind



"

Yes, but I think the word "Holy" was in it, so it was ok."

Sounds like the making of a *%^&$^#(*^&*#%# song.

thanks for the report.

Enjoyed reading your report.

quote tremolo: "Pretty sure my paddling prowess was over-praised. I recall, "Shut up and Paddle!"


As to the supervised tent set-up: who needed to borrow my tent stakes????


Nice report, great to see you in your postr-trip glow.


"

LOL!!

Great Report OneMatch!! glad you had a good time despite the inaccurate maps and having headwinds all the time!!

Very nice report! I know that Wine-Mug-Louse-Dent area well. Great solitude and plenty of ticks early in the year! The Wine-Mug portage is a scenic trail.

Nice Jerry! By the title of your report, I was fearful that maybe the whole trip was a flop. Do you keep a tablet and pen with you for those song inspiring moments? I have a hard time finding my way back to them once I'm back in the 'unreal' world. Ely is definately a music town. I think that has mostly to do with the college. Greg and I played at Cranberries a couple of times. Not sure if its still there or has the same name. Be well!

Nice report, I've got to do a solo sometime!

Great report. Sounds like you and I might have crossed paths. I was soloing and putting into Sawbill the morning of the 26th and heading up to the Frost River. Eventually I stayed at the western site on Mesaba and then took the 480 rod portage south.
I have also done the Louse River and I agree with you on the Mug Lake description. Very pretty little lake. And that Wine island campsite is where I saw the Perseid Meteor Shower from last year.

One Match and Ho Ho discussing the route:

Very entertaininbg trip report. Sounds like you experienced a little bit of everything. And I definitely can relate to taking the wrong trail, unsure what to do all the while it is getting late and you are tired.

It's like life itself though, it's better to be out there having an adventure than just taking the cushy easy way. That would just be boring. You had a true adventure!

Thanks for posting and the pics were wonderful.

Wow Jerry! What a fantastic solo trip. Please tell another "old timer" what you do to stay in shape for such grueling adventures. I envy your stamina.

Thanks for sharing your trip including the workshop, Tuscarora concert, and time in Ely. Very, very, well done.

Hey, that was fun - glad I clicked on this section!

Thanks for that great read!

Great trip report and pictures. Thank you for sharing.

Very good, enjoyed your take on getting "confused". Since I have been to the waterfall previously I could picture your crawl up the phantom portage.

Wonderful report! I did the Dent lake loop out of Sawbill (solo) and it was nice to see those lakes again.

Enjoyed the report and the pics... can totally relate to seeing a ranger and not being able to find permit - that's the first thing I panic about when spotting the uniform, ha!

Glad you kept your cool, used your skills, and added plenty of memories (and song ideas) to your repertoire. No song for "we have all day, the mergansers showed the way"? Sounds like a winner to me!