BWCA Trip Report - Kawishiwi L.-Beaver-Makwa-Malberg Loop or I want to Basecamp next trip Boundary Waters Trip Reports
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Mashuga
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08/18/2016 01:28PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
New Trip Report posted by Mashuga

Trip Name: Kawishiwi L.-Beaver-Makwa-Malberg Loop or I want to Basecamp next trip.

Entry Point: 37

Click Here to View Trip Report
 
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08/18/2016 02:37PM  
nice report! so you introduce a young guy to the BWCA with a fairly agressive trip for a first timer (IMO). it's a great area to explore, sorry you couldn't get either island site on adams or boulder. the boulder site has really huge old cedars. sounds like you were in good spirits despite the mud holes and longer days. it helps to look at the trip from the new guys perspective. he had no idea that a trip could be easier or harder so he enjoyed the route you planned because that's what the trip was about. and now, because of you and your introduction, he wants to do it again! seems like you had several rewards on this trip.
inspector13
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08/18/2016 05:01PM  

Yes, the amount of traffic through Two Harbors can cause horrible backups. It has been that way for many years. Back sometime in the late 90s I was stuck in the Sunday traffic heading south. It was backed up all the way to the Silver Creek Cliff tunnel. Once you pass Castle Danger where the Rustic Inn is located, you might as well just grin and bear it, since taking the back roads from County Highway 3 to bypass town would take you just as long.

Mashuga
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08/18/2016 07:07PM  
Mocha, the route was what everyone had wanted to do before my son & his GF dropped out. Chris still wanted to do it. They look at it as a challenge as I used to. The reward is some solitude. I had a text from my son today. He met with Chris and Chris told him "he thinks it's the best vacation he's ever been on". They are already talking about next year.

inspector 13, That's what we were thinking was the hold up. My last several trips have been on the west side. I think all of my previous trips up/down the lake shore have been in the shoulder seasons and the sightseers must not be out yet.

BTW, the bugs were not bad at all. The mosquitos would come out right at dark for an hour. Very few during the day. We only used spray one evening and then depended on the campfire.
08/18/2016 07:36PM  
I'm 62 also. For me, the weird thing was that since I double portage, people on probably half the portages the last couple of years carried my big gear pack across. it weighs around 60 lbs. I certainly appreciated it, but it still seemed pretty weird to me. I'm getting balder by the minute, and my beard is white though, so maybe they think they are doing me a favor. I can still certainly transport all the gear I have chosen to bring. If I couldn't transport it, I would just do something a lot less strenuous.

At this point, I guess I am looking at it as if I am getting a "senior citizen discount" like I do at Culvers's. Our local one gives me 10% off. The one just a few miles to the northwest is only 5%, plus their list price is higher.

Tomster
08/18/2016 09:37PM  
Thanks for the report, Mashuga. I've done a couple of trips through Kawishiwi and hit a lot of the same territory, but not all. Thanks for refreshing some memories for me :). Those portages definitely aren't as easy as they used to be.
SaganagaJoe
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08/18/2016 10:29PM  
You need a base camping trip, man!

You are a pretty funny writer as well. I'm ashamed to say that your description of sinking in the quagmire and hopping over fallen trees had me chuckling, although I definitely understand and sympathize with your predicament. :)

Good job! Glad Chris got bit by the bug too.
08/19/2016 10:48AM  
Nice report. Went through some of that area in May 2015. Great area. Wanted to go up out of Adams and loop through Ledge, Vee etc but weather report called for severe storms so we layed over on Adams. I would really like to get back there some day. Thanks for the preview.
muddyfeet
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08/19/2016 02:23PM  
Thanks for the report. You had me laughing at the quagmire portage. That's a good idea about tarps above the tent on a rainy night: I hate packing up wet tents. Glad to hear the the new guy had a good experience.
 
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