Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Perent Lake - father son trip
by Prosper

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 07/14/2011
Entry & Exit Point: Hog Creek (EP 36)
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 2
Trip Introduction:
1st visit to Perent Lake. Have been wanting to visit Perent with 10 year old son since it seemed like an easy destination lake to get to with good fishing.
Day 1 of 4
Thursday, July 14, 2011 Stayed at Camp 61 Bunkhouse in Beaver Bay. Woke up around 6:45am. Rented canoe from Sawtooth Outfitters. Breakfast across from entry to Sawbill Trail at Coho Cafe at ~8am. Drove about 45 min. to get to entry point #36. Put in around 10am. Hog Creek about 2.25 hr paddle, lots of turns/winds a lot, narrow. Ran into shore a bit more than expected. Ethan’s paddling a bit less helpful than hoped for but not out of range of what was expected. Only one beaver dam pullover. Another 25 min. of canoeing looking for a campsite. 1st 2 island sites taken. Got to site #12 around 1:45pm. Ethan was really excited to get an island site. Overall, nice campsite. Fire grate/sitting area on peninsula.  Room and good tent pads for at least 3 tents. 3 canoe landing areas. Good swimming area right at canoe landings. Walk to latrine pretty short. No logs around fire grate for sitting. No fishing from shore b/c too shallow and gradual. Saw a muskrat or otter right by campsite while filtering water. Ate lunch of seaweed, mangos, beef jerky, trail mix and set up camp. E napped for about an hour while I finished setting up camp (hang bear bag, clothes line, hammock). Then canoed and fished a bit just NNW of campsite. Didn't catch anything. Dinner was enchiladas, which initially were good but then E said made him feel nauseous. Taught E how to set up Jetboil and had him set it up and take it apart most of the time. Generally did a good job but needed guidance to do it well. Partly sunny all day and very comfortable in shorts/t-shirt, temp. in low 70's. Overall, a good day of getting to the campsite and getting set up.  Ethan was very appreciative of going camping. We were both very much looking forward to the next few days.