Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Gabbro Wind 8-22
by Steiner1730

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 08/22/2008
Entry & Exit Point: Little Gabbro Lake (EP 33)
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 2
Trip Introduction:
A cold front was moving in as we entered, and the wind was in our face right off the bat. The weather report looked better for the next couple days so w hoped for the best as we shoved off.
Day 1 of 4
Friday, August 22, 2008

We stayed at a friends cabin on White Iron Thursday night. We were up at 5:15 to get over to see TGO for some leeches and get our canoe. I didnt realize the outfitter I was renting from was 22 miles east of Ely, so we didnt get on our first portage until almost 7am. The 290 rd portage from the parking Lot to Little Gabbro was easier than expected, very well maintained and wide for the most part. We paddled through to Gabbro without having to get off the water to get through at all. AS we entered in to Gabbro, the wind was in our face and fairly strong. After a paddle down half the lake, we found a group leaving the south island camp site. We waited on eh sand beach just past it until they were gone and moved in for the next four days. We set up camp out headed out to do some fishing. We managed a handful of small walleyes and smallmouth along the NE shore of the island directly to the west of ours drifting leeches on rigs. Once the Thunder storm started to move in around dusk we headed in for some fish and steak for dinner. The island squirrel was not happy we were there as he continued to chirp all four days when we were in camp. All day and all night it seemed.