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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Conditions EARLY May |
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03/11/2019 11:15AM
Hi, so I'm wondering if anyone can give me some thoughts or advice on camping way north of Grand Marais during the super early spring. Entry date is May 9th. I've got a few goals in mind which I'll keep to myself but aside from the potential for just about anything weather wise anyone have any thoughts? Should I expect to see many people? Will the ground potentially still be frozen? I am potentially going to hike a swampy area and I am wondering if the ground might be hard? I expect the potential for wind/rain. Ice out was May 9th according to the information I was able to find last year in this area. I'm pretty good on my BWCA prep/skills but I've never gone in this early before. Just want to make sure I'm thinking of everything.
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03/11/2019 01:50PM
Swampy areas will not be frozen, but most years you’ll encounter remnant snow piles in the woods. You will not see many people and some forest roads may not be passable. Check with the ranger station before attempting to drive on back roads.
03/11/2019 05:15PM
inspector13: "if phone service is sketchy , it can be a long walk for help.
Swampy areas will not be frozen, but most years you’ll encounter remnant snow piles in the woods. You will not see many people and some forest roads may not be passable. Check with the ranger station before attempting to drive on back roads.
"
there are a few options for carry in lakes in cook county. look at a map and cross reference with lakefinder.com
keep your line wet, good things will happen
03/11/2019 08:34PM
I'm entering on May 11th, my earliest entry ever. I look forward to seeing the responses. I'm going to be tripping with my brother in the same general area and at the same general time that he did last year. He ran across some guys that said that Brule had a lot of ice on it last year.
03/12/2019 07:32AM
03/12/2019 08:32AM
Every year is different, and weather can change overnight. Start watching forecasts about two weeks before your trip to see what's happening. Any predictions made this early are pure speculation.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Outdoors-Bait-Tackle/1606420532911075?skip_nax_wizard=true
03/12/2019 01:12PM
Like others have said, be prepared for anything in May. On the same trip we've gone from 78 degrees and sunny to 28 degrees with a half-inch of snow and 25 mph winds. Personally what I've found is warm footwear is key. I use the Muck Woody Max boot which is rated to -40 and has been a great portaging boot for me. Feet have never gotten cold in them. The other thing I'm a huge advocate of is merino wool. I always bring a pair of Smartwool long underwear designed for active use and love them. They do a great job regulating my body temp so rarely am I sweltering in them.
"While Jesus can make you wonderfully happy, he has no intention of making you normal." Erwin McManus
03/18/2019 03:35PM
Have done a couple early Spring trips (I think May 4th ('17) on Brule was our earliest). We usually see a little snow, but so far the only ice I've run into has been early ice in the fall, not the spring.
Remember that lakes will be COLD (please wear your PFD when on the water) and even if you get some decent weather during the day it'll likely be chilly at night and like the last post said, you really have to prep for just about everything. Make sure you have a good base layer, insulation, and a bomber shell/pants. I would also pick up a pair of Xtratuffs or some sort of 15" rubber rain boots and a couple pair of nice insulated socks to use for portages.
Fishing hasn't been great, but if you go before Memorial Day you're not likely to get much competition for campsites...which, other than getting ancy from a long winter, is why we go early. It's also a nice time to bag a couple of the routes that get booked later on in the summer or on creeks/rivers where water levels play a factor.
Check the DNR ice out site - you can typically change a permit easy enough if you needed to but like I said, we've always been fine.
Remember that lakes will be COLD (please wear your PFD when on the water) and even if you get some decent weather during the day it'll likely be chilly at night and like the last post said, you really have to prep for just about everything. Make sure you have a good base layer, insulation, and a bomber shell/pants. I would also pick up a pair of Xtratuffs or some sort of 15" rubber rain boots and a couple pair of nice insulated socks to use for portages.
Fishing hasn't been great, but if you go before Memorial Day you're not likely to get much competition for campsites...which, other than getting ancy from a long winter, is why we go early. It's also a nice time to bag a couple of the routes that get booked later on in the summer or on creeks/rivers where water levels play a factor.
Check the DNR ice out site - you can typically change a permit easy enough if you needed to but like I said, we've always been fine.
03/20/2019 07:11AM
It's too early to tell right now what you will encounter.
I do ice out trips and plan my trip around the specific day the ice starts retreating.
I have had issues with back roads to entry points almost impassible in my car due to snow.
I have been stuck on lakes where the ice has not gone out completely and the sheets blocked my path. It's all part of the fun. I am literally the first person in a canoe on the lakes for the season. The best of times but very challenging in terms of navigating and weather.
Tom
I do ice out trips and plan my trip around the specific day the ice starts retreating.
I have had issues with back roads to entry points almost impassible in my car due to snow.
I have been stuck on lakes where the ice has not gone out completely and the sheets blocked my path. It's all part of the fun. I am literally the first person in a canoe on the lakes for the season. The best of times but very challenging in terms of navigating and weather.
Tom
03/20/2019 07:49PM
I love tripping very early in the season. There's something very cool about being the first one down a portage trail or in a campsite.
The only real difference, in my opinion, is there's less room for error re: water temps and/or general hypothermia if extended periods of cold and rain. Other differences are pretty obvious (no bugs, fewer people, etc.) or so dependent on weather that speculating weeks in advance is meaningless.
The only real difference, in my opinion, is there's less room for error re: water temps and/or general hypothermia if extended periods of cold and rain. Other differences are pretty obvious (no bugs, fewer people, etc.) or so dependent on weather that speculating weeks in advance is meaningless.
03/20/2019 07:56PM
carmike: "I love tripping very early in the season. There's something very cool about being the first one down a portage trail or in a campsite.
The only real difference, in my opinion, is there's less room for error re: water temps and/or general hypothermia if extended periods of cold and rain. Other differences are pretty obvious (no bugs, fewer people, etc.) or so dependent on weather that speculating weeks in advance is meaningless.
"
Love being on a portage and knowing no one went that way yet this year.
03/20/2019 08:05PM
I've been going the second or third week of May for a while now. Cold water kills people; fast. Be careful.
Even the first few days after ice out last year (May 13th on Seagull) we saw a different group of people, sometimes more, every day that week. The loons hadn't yet found their rhythm that week.
Laker fishing is really good, and I gather the walleye can be great if the water temps are right. No ticks or mosquitos! I've never seen a bear in the BWCA that time of year.
Even the first few days after ice out last year (May 13th on Seagull) we saw a different group of people, sometimes more, every day that week. The loons hadn't yet found their rhythm that week.
Laker fishing is really good, and I gather the walleye can be great if the water temps are right. No ticks or mosquitos! I've never seen a bear in the BWCA that time of year.
03/21/2019 05:44AM
One year (some time in the early 80's) I went car camping at Lake Jeannette, and we went SWIMMING around the first of May. Granted, you had to sort of float in the top layer of water, but we went swimming. Another year on fishing opener I remember huddling around a campfire and drinking hot pop it was so cold. So there you go. Pack winter clothes and a swimsuit.
03/21/2019 07:16PM
Pinetree: "
Love being on a portage and knowing no one went that way yet this year."
Knowing that you're the first on the thunderbox doesn't hurt either. Plus, I can put food on the grate without worrying about fire-extinguishing practices. :)
03/22/2019 08:52AM
Regarding the cold, if your water purification method involves a filter, put the filter somewhere where it won't freeze overnight, or during the day if it is a cold day. Hiking and bushwacking should be easier with less foliage.
paddlinjoe
03/22/2019 09:17AM
paddlinjoe: "Regarding the cold, if your water purification method involves a filter, put the filter somewhere where it won't freeze overnight, or during the day if it is a cold day. Hiking and bushwacking should be easier with less foliage. "
Early season plus-no bugs usually.
One thing when water is cols and you got a breeze along with a cool day it is going to be extra cold.
In the fall on a cold day the water may be semi warm still so it helps some.
Nothing colder than snow flurries,wind and cold temps round a campsite. Its misearable(sp).
My recommendations on a early May trip throw the long Johns or underwear in,you will never regret it.
03/26/2019 05:44PM
I go in solo every year on the fishing opener. I stay close to shore and keep a complete change of warm clothes in a dry bag readily accessible. Bushwhacking can be very tough as there can be deep snow and cold water pools in the woods. Every trip seems to present some new challenge so keep your expectations low and reasonable.
03/28/2019 02:16PM
I've entered as early as May 2. We started on Baker Lake. Got to the next lake (Peterson?), and it was iced in. We attempted to paddle on the collar of the ice, very near shore. Eventually we ran out of open water. I'd recommend having some way of reconnaissance of your route to insure that it's open and ice free. It's beautiful and a rare experience to paddle next to the large sheets of ice on a lake.
Mike
Mike
I did indeed rock down to Electric Avenue, but I did not take it higher. I regret that.
04/03/2019 09:57AM
I've only been mid-May but all I can say is find a way to dryfoot it because the water will be holy shit cold. When we went two years ago it was so cold your feet would be numb by the time you loaded/unloaded. Any earlier and I think we would have needed boots. Also be prepared for the worst temp-wise. It might look reasonably warm on the forecast but it could easily drop below freezing that time of year so better to be safe than sorry.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. John Muir
04/03/2019 10:06AM
MikeinMpls: "I've entered as early as May 2. We started on Baker Lake. Got to the next lake (Peterson?), and it was iced in. We attempted to paddle on the collar of the ice, very near shore. Eventually we ran out of open water. I'd recommend having some way of reconnaissance of your route to insure that it's open and ice free. It's beautiful and a rare experience to paddle next to the large sheets of ice on a lake.
Mike"
Ice recon is actually feasible thanks to Landsat. The resolution is inadequate for targeting Hellfire missiles and the frequency of imaging is not perfect, but it might save a trip:
LandsatLook Viewer
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