BWCA Memorial Day Weekend Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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BearDown
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12/12/2013 11:19AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Is it busy. I know its a holiday, so maybe it would be, but its also so early and possible cold for non-minnesotans. Im sure the motor lakes and big areas will be busy, like Dissapointment, Insula, Numbers, Moose, Knife, etc. But what about Oyster Lake? Has some decent portages so it should be away from most weekenders... Thoughts?
 
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Grandma L
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12/12/2013 11:37AM  
We go every year over Memorial Day week. A lot depends on the weather. Most places are busy but not crazy. Just plan ahead and stop early to get a good site. Oh,and be prepared for the varying weather. Cold, hot, rain - you never know what you will get.
2old4U
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12/12/2013 12:28PM  
I've resigned myself to the understanding that there is no place left in this state you can "get away from people". Best thing is put a few portages behind you and hope for the best. Personally, Memorial weekend is all about the fishing for me, more so than escaping, so I just try really hard not to set the hook or dip the net when anyone paddling by can see me. LOL!
BearDown
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12/12/2013 12:44PM  
Sounds good, thanks guys. I live in Duluth so and have camped a lot in May and Sept so the weather wont be an issue. Just hoping to not see too many people.
VoyageurNorth
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12/12/2013 08:05PM  
You might be early enough to catch some of the trout that should be within reach around that time, in Oyster.
Irish Tom
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12/24/2013 10:37AM  
Went last year out of the Ely area around Memorial Day holiday. Saw people each day but nothing too crazy, especially after pushing a little deeper the first couple days. Fishing was slow but the Trout were shallow. No bugs.
12/24/2013 12:00PM  
I've come out on the Friday of Mem Wkend on Little Indian Sioux. The campsites were already full on Pauness Lakes and met like nine groups coming in. I didn't know they had that many permits. Loon is a motor lake and there was plenty of them coming in from Crane. So get there early where ever you put in and put some portages between you and the "crowds". Used to always go in the east side and never had an issue with people. But I like getting in there a ways right away.
VoyageurNorth
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12/24/2013 03:35PM  
quote nctry: "I've come out on the Friday of Mem Wkend on Little Indian Sioux. The campsites were already full on Pauness Lakes and met like nine groups coming in. I didn't know they had that many permits. Loon is a motor lake and there was plenty of them coming in from Crane. So get there early where ever you put in and put some portages between you and the "crowds". Used to always go in the east side and never had an issue with people. But I like getting in there a ways right away."


It might have seemed like 9 groups but the quota per day/group is not that high, only 6 in the quota per day. Perhaps you just saw groups with lots of canoes?
BearDown
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12/25/2013 01:15PM  
Yeah, we're planning on going in on Thursday to get ahead of the crowds, we will give it a go and see how it is.
12/25/2013 01:55PM  
I went to Adams lake over Memorial Day some 10 years ago and saw no one the 3 days we were there.
12/25/2013 02:35PM  
I also have accepted that unless I go deep or farther north I probably will see other people, perhaps even hear them. But it is a far cry from standing in line having to listen to them and smell them. Maybe it is the smell thing and this skunk is used to his own stink. Somehow the sweet smell of perfume lingering on a portage just doesn't fit in my mind.
Good tripping and fishing.
DrBobDg
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12/28/2013 06:48AM  
Consider going the weekend after Memorial Day. The festival is happening in town and might divert a few people. We have day tripped during that weekend several times and things were relatively quiet on Lake 1 EP, Fall Lake EP, etc
VoyageurNorth
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12/28/2013 04:17PM  
quote DrBobDg: "Consider going the weekend after Memorial Day. The festival is happening in town and might divert a few people. We have day tripped during that weekend several times and things were relatively quiet on Lake 1 EP, Fall Lake EP, etc"


Bob, what festival? Blueberry Festival is at the end of July and the other festival is just after Labor Day.
BearDown
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12/30/2013 09:31AM  
I am already going in the weekend after too :) Trying to fit in both trips, my short 5 day with my son and longer 8 day trip.
Diego
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12/31/2013 11:34PM  
I went in September last year with the hope of avoiding people all together. Didn't happen.. I saw more people than my other trips that have all been in July. I figure unless you are going extremely early or late, might as well figure your going to see a fair amount.

05/10/2019 07:14AM  
The way I see it, Oyster being a good lake trout lake on the west side of the BW that's a fairly easy one day paddle means you won't be the only one with a target on it. I'd suggest starting very early - it will fill up.
BobDobbs
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05/10/2019 08:40AM  
The only time I've ever felt crowded in the BW was when we were paddling OUT through the number chain on MDW.

We got a lot of comments about 'being done already?' from incoming groups (we were on day 9). This started about lake 4. We got to lake 2 about 9am and by that time it was a veritable parade of incoming canoes. Decided we needed to either A) find a site NOW, or resign ourselves to finishing our trip early.

We got an awesome sight on Lake 2 by 10am, and all.day.long watched the caravan of incoming groups. Last boat that we saw looking for a sight was about 5PM that day.

TL/DR - if you are doing the number chain on MDW - START EARLY!
 
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