Have a combo solo trip and car camp with family. Posted in the main board but this is probably the better place.

Trip Partner:





1. Day 1: Arrive at Sawbill (20 hour drive starting Saturday).

2. Day 2: Entry 38 to Frost.

3. Day 3: Frost to Hub/Masaba.

4. Day 4: Hub/Masaba to northern Sawbill.

5. Day 5: Early rise, paddle to Handle and get up to Java (getting to this lake has become personal with two failed attempts). Return to Sawbill campground. Move truck to site five, set up camp, wait for my brothers to show up.

6. Day 5-8: Sleep, fish, eat well, sit around fire and tell stories.

7. Day 8: Long drive home.

Any tips on the route or things to see along the way? I've read I think all of the trip reports for the Frost River loop out of Sawbill. Hopefully with the winter how it's been the water will be up. If I get stuck anywhere weather related I have a layover built in, even if it means not getting to Java again.

I have a reading list. I've read Call of the Wild and White Fang every year for almost 20 years and I'm saving them for this trip.

I like to carve/whittle a little bit, but figure I'll pass on that on the solo trip. I almost posted a what not to do thread. Would probably be helpful!

Sounds like a peaceful loop. What time of year?

I had a huge loop through the Frost and Louse I had to cancel several years ago due to ice being late to go out. My biggest worry was how to lift over a beaver dam solo and in a Kevlar canoe...

Two things to look for:

The plane wreckage on Zenith. Really just looks like a bunch of rebar, but still kinda neat.
And the large stone sitting ontop of three smaller stones on Lugenida Lake.
I suspect you have already found that info but still good to know.

I really liked the western-most campsite on Mesaba. Big and open, great for stargazing.

Be careful on the Frost River. There are a lot of beaver dam pullovers and can get really twisty in some spots. I left Cherokee Lake at 7 am, and made it to Afton Lake by 3 pm. At that point I took the campsite at Afton.