I'm considering going in at Mudro early next month and going to Fourtown to set up camp.

There looks like quite a bit of small stream to travel and was wondering about how ice conditions would be through these sections?

And

Are the self issuing winter permits at the location where I would park?

Would love to hear your report :) We're going out mid Feb and are thinking wood lake EP but it's still up for debate!

From the parking lot into mudroe you will be taking a stream then from mudroe to Fourtown there is a portage and a fairly nasty one in the winter at that! It is doable. I have done it in the winter 1 time. The small pond in the middle of the portage had safe ice when I went through but it also was -20 for a few days prior to our arival. We actually camped on that pond the first night. the trek in took a lot longer than we thought. On the next day I did fall through the ice at the end of the portage despite the cold temps. water levels are down this year, there may be almost nothing running through the creek at all so the ice may be better this year. My suggestion is to be careful and follow any prior trails, look for signs of thin ice (brown ice and dark patches in the snow covered ice are spots you may want to avoid.) I hope you have a great time on your trip.

Like Catfish I've ran that route in the winter 1 time. It's a pretty good haul to get all the way up to north Fourtown. Keep a close eye on that ice. No matter the temps there are pockets of secret thin spots that are waiting for your boots!! Draw straws for who goes first. This year I'm wearing a kayak life vest just in case. Too many close calls over the years. If memory serves I fell through the south end of Fourtown about 10 years ago. My cousin was to meet me around midnight in that area since he had to work an extra day. From the meeting location I was to escort him to our camp. Well rounding a downed tree on the ice I plopped right through. Luckily the branch I grabbed held and I was able to quickly get back on top. It was about 25 below, dead calm, wolf tracks everywhere. I couldn't help but laugh at myself and think what an easy meal I just became! That tree I mentioned was dead and plum full of great firewood. Within minutes I had her blazing to get me warm and dried out. I waited till about 2am and returned to camp without my cousin. It worried me to no end what could have happened to him. Later I find out he and a bud hooked up in Duluth and partied till the next morning. Yah, just a bit pissed I was.

quote Sobi: "Like Catfish I've ran that route in the winter 1 time. It's a pretty good haul to get all the way up to north Fourtown. Keep a close eye on that ice. No matter the temps there are pockets of secret thin spots that are waiting for your boots!! Draw straws for who goes first. This year I'm wearing a kayak life vest just in case. Too many close calls over the years. If memory serves I fell through the south end of Fourtown about 10 years ago. My cousin was to meet me around midnight in that area since he had to work an extra day. From the meeting location I was to escort him to our camp. Well rounding a downed tree on the ice I plopped right through. Luckily the branch I grabbed held and I was able to quickly get back on top. It was about 25 below, dead calm, wolf tracks everywhere. I couldn't help but laugh at myself and think what an easy meal I just became! That tree I mentioned was dead and plum full of great firewood. Within minutes I had her blazing to get me warm and dried out. I waited till about 2am and returned to camp without my cousin. It worried me to no end what could have happened to him. Later I find out he and a bud hooked up in Duluth and partied till the next morning. Yah, just a bit pissed I was."

Hey man, what a story. I though there might be issues. You always hear about the dangers of moving water. I would really like to make it to Fourtown, now you guys got me 2nd guessing though...

Hey Cubs Fan. I did not mean to bum you out on your trip plans. Winter camping is full of surprises and I just wanted to give you a little heads up on what you might expect on the trek out. People go into Four Town every winter and come back. Just be safe! and do not take chances! I do hope you are not going alone. It is an honest haul into Mudroe. my guess is it will take 6hrs to get to the narrows on the north end of the lake. Are you going to be fishing?? If so The fishing is good in there, we managed to catch a good number of walleye and a few pike. We started fishing with tip ups in 12 -20ft of water to find fish. 15-18 seemed to be the ticket on that trip ( a few walleyes came in at 12ft at night). I hope you have a great time on your trip!

quote catfish72: " Hey Cubs Fan. I did not mean to bum you out on your trip plans. Winter camping is full of surprises and I just wanted to give you a little heads up on what you might expect on the trek out. People go into Four Town every winter and come back. Just be safe! and do not take chances! I do hope you are not going alone. It is an honest haul into Mudroe. my guess is it will take 6hrs to get to the narrows on the north end of the lake. Are you going to be fishing?? If so The fishing is good in there, we managed to catch a good number of walleye and a few pike. We started fishing with tip ups in 12 -20ft of water to find fish. 15-18 seemed to be the ticket on that trip ( a few walleyes came in at 12ft at night). I hope you have a great time on your trip! "

Yes, I'm going to be a lone Coyote so with you guys both falling through ice that's what got me wondering if I should choose a more safer option. I will be fishing and I was hoping to do a hike of no more than 4 hours. I would imagine the speed of the hike greatly depends on how much snow is out there at the time. I'm getting all my gear together and will be up in about 2 weeks.

quote GreatBigCubsFan: "

quote catfish72: " Hey Cubs Fan. I did not mean to bum you out on your trip plans. Winter camping is full of surprises and I just wanted to give you a little heads up on what you might expect on the trek out. People go into Four Town every winter and come back. Just be safe! and do not take chances! I do hope you are not going alone. It is an honest haul into Mudroe. my guess is it will take 6hrs to get to the narrows on the north end of the lake. Are you going to be fishing?? If so The fishing is good in there, we managed to catch a good number of walleye and a few pike. We started fishing with tip ups in 12 -20ft of water to find fish. 15-18 seemed to be the ticket on that trip ( a few walleyes came in at 12ft at night). I hope you have a great time on your trip! "

Yes, I'm going to be a lone Coyote so with you guys both falling through ice that's what got me wondering if I should choose a more safer option. I will be fishing and I was hoping to do a hike of no more than 4 hours. I would imagine the speed of the hike greatly depends on how much snow is out there at the time. I'm getting all my gear together and will be up in about 2 weeks."

yes I do suppose travel time will vary with snow cover, and if you are the first one out there and breaking trail (I doubt it). If conditions are right and you are not hauling crazy amounts of gear you could in theroy make it in 4hrs. Also the only tricky ice that I encountered was at the end of the portage where the stream enters the lake and a little in the small pond. Other than that the whole lake had 20inches of ice. Do you have safty gear, hand held ice spikes , life jacket, emergncy bag and fire starter? If I am going to be traviling alone and or near moving water I always bring this stuff and have it at the ready. Do you have a plan B?

I just ordered the emergency blanket, I have fire starters that have strike on the box match heads on the sled, and I just went out to the garage and saw that I had one of those blue emergency throw floats. I'm going to incorporate this to use at my waist while pulling the gear sled to work not only as the emergency float but also as a cushion for my pull rope.
And I do have those Ice spikes, ill keep these around my neck while going through the stream. Or when I go out away from the camp.

Thanks for the ideas! It really helps....

GBCF

quote catfish72: " Hey Cubs Fan. I did not mean to bum you out on your trip plans. Winter camping is full of surprises and I just wanted to give you a little heads up on what you might expect on the trek out. People go into Four Town every winter and come back. Just be safe! and do not take chances! I do hope you are not going alone. It is an honest haul into Mudroe. my guess is it will take 6hrs to get to the narrows on the north end of the lake. Are you going to be fishing?? If so The fishing is good in there, we managed to catch a good number of walleye and a few pike. We started fishing with tip ups in 12 -20ft of water to find fish. 15-18 seemed to be the ticket on that trip ( a few walleyes came in at 12ft at night). I hope you have a great time on your trip! "

This is my 1st trip, so I changed my plan to go up to Wind Lake. No streams to go through there...

GBC

Love your quote on brushing teeth! I will be using that with the kids tonight.

I too don't want to scare you out of that trip. It remains as one of my favorites. The fishing was good and the country was free of other people that prticular trip. There is a spot up on Fourtown about half the way up on the west side where a crick is coming in. We caught walleye and big perch in that bay on tip ups midday. I would head there first. You normally want to camp on the west side somewhere tucked in to stay our of those nasty winds. Northwest is best so that the sun can cook your campsite.

Be sure to share a trip report! More pix the better.

Hey, that's ok. It's my 1st winter trip and its solo so I think it's a good idea to mitigate some of the risk I'm taking by choosing a route with no streams to take. Besides, I'm happy with my choice to go to Wind lake. The lake has many different species with good size and numbers.
Also I've got another one for you to use with your kids....

Ignore your teeth and they'll go away!

Bill