BWCA Duncan-Partridge portage? Anybody Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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01/07/2016 05:10PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Dear forum.
Has anyone taken this crossing in the winter?
Partridge has a look of an awesome winter camp lake. two years ago weather prohibited us to reach that lake. Serious cold and wind kept us on Duncan in the comfort of a quinzee.
My group is heading up again on 21st of January.
Just wondering if there is any knowledge out there about the portage.
Thanks.
 
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DanCooke
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01/07/2016 08:25PM  
Hauled camp on sleds in their years ago. doable - no specific memories.
01/08/2016 07:24AM  
Thanks Dan.
Did you follow the portage on the Western end of Duncan?
01/08/2016 10:04AM  
I went in thru Duncan and the portage was fairly easy going with a few hills. If you had deep snow some of those hills would give you a workout.

'We camped way down on the north end campsite,it is a nice winter campsite. Campsite is right where the hiking trail comes in. North end may not the be best fishing end,but much more secluded.

Problem with the whole setup there were like a dozen people came in from the south on snowmobiles up to the BWCA boundary line than walked in a short distance. There were people everywhere.

That was late March when the season use to close Mid March on the outside of the BWCA
01/08/2016 10:29AM  
Great info PineTree, I am just wanting to get some knowledge for my group. Appreciate you sharing the information.
DanCooke
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01/09/2016 10:02AM  
Yes we did the portage trail. I took a day ski from Partridge to south lake -ski/ crashing down the big slope to south lake then on to Rat / Rose and Duncan and back. A great day ski. Watch for thin ice by stairway portage allways slush and thin ice.
01/09/2016 10:14AM  
quote DanCooke: "Yes we did the portage trail. I took a day ski from Partridge to south lake -ski/ crashing down the big slope to south lake then on to Rat / Rose and Duncan and back. A great day ski. Watch for thin ice by stairway portage all
ways slush and thin ice. "


Wow that was a great loop trip Dan,with a lot of great scenery and it looked like to me some challenging twists and turns from Partrige toward the South-Rose overlook(Border route) lake trail. That was a good calorie burning day.

What time of year did you do it?
For a ski person there is a lot of good ski loops. Last year we ran into a individual while on Clearwater was doing the Daniels-Mountain too Clearwater loop. He was up for a week and did a diffrent loop everyday.
There is so many options and just to go skiing and would think more people would take advantage of it.
01/10/2016 08:12AM  
In this general area east of gunflint lake, where would you gents suggest "quality" winter camping lake. some fishing and some hiking.
We will be there for 3 days.
DanCooke
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01/10/2016 09:49AM  
I have skied the Border Route from Mayhew to nearly Stairway another time, and from stairway portage to the west and east just enough to get to the overlooks. A fun Telemark hill(s)is following the powerline cut that runs to the north , that is just west of the Clearwater Road at the top of the old Hungry Jack burn area.

The route went from Partridge lake to the south lake trail border route intersection. Then skied off trail down hill crossing back and forth so as not to get to out of control, down to South lake. Then followed the lakes and portages to stairway portage and returned by way of Duncan. Fairly easy day trip, just had to be careful crashing down to south Lake.
There are lots of day trips to be had, if you get creative and are willing to slog along at times. We often did the West Bearskin Staiway portage Rose Daniels back to west Bearskin loop. Another loop From what now is the Banadad trail Swamp, Caribou, Horseshoe, Vista, Carl, Morgan and the grade back to Banadad.

My longest- when I was 23 and much lighter was from West bearskin-Duncan -Rose- Long Portage-Daniels- Clearwater-Deer- Moon-eastbearskin ski trails cross the Gunflint and Back To Adventurous Christians camp where I lived back then. I was dog tired!

If all goes well I plan on heading into the BWCA on the 29th. Never got to the BWCAW this past open water season.
01/10/2016 10:14AM  
Quite some trips. There is something about skiing thru the lakes in the fresh air and putting some miles on. Also the filling of accomplishment.

Your a better skier than I am,I would of took my skiis offed and walked down the South lake hill otherwise I would of been out of control.
Those palisades or rock cliffs had to be awesome looking on Rose in the winter.

Sometimes winter fishing gets in the way of winter skiing. Love both of them.
01/10/2016 08:01PM  
impressive Dan!!!
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Will see what my group decides to do.

Make sure you get on the open water this spring.
all the best.
01/27/2016 09:24PM  
Wonderful winter camping at Daniels Lake. Came back Monday night, after three beautiful days at the lake with no fish.
Weather was more than kind. Below zero first night and than a warm SSW wind brought comfortable 20F days and nights. Near full moon on Friday gave us indescribable hours of mid night light. Sleeping under the moon was comfortable and magical.
The group gave a honest effort to catch the elusive Lake Trout with no success. We declared Daniels lake to have no fish interested to be caught.For two nights we had Daniels to ourselves. Seen wolf tracks but no sounds. Dog sleds were busy on Bearskin Lake.
BWCAW never disappointing.
 
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