Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Voyageur Route
by ewbeyer

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 08/29/2013
Entry Point: Other
Exit Point: Little Vermilion Lake (Crane Lake) (EP 12)  
Number of Days: 8
Group Size: 2
Part 2 of 8
South Fowl to Rose: We made our way through the ripening rice of South Fowl, into the wind on North Fowl and into a really mucky portage to Moose. Light winds across Moose (where we saw the first people since Grand Portage), but the trade off were the bugs into the swamps of Vaseaux and Fan. Deep mud and buggy. Portaged to Mountain and faced very light headwinds. Nothing too difficult and had the entire lake to ourselves before heading into Watap and Rove. Similar wind, and a little difficulty finding Rove as I was not anticipating a beaver dam would be the actual entry. Not a real high dam, so we were able to pull the canoe across uneventfully. This of course led to the “Long Portage.” We decided to get it behind us and start fresh in the morning. It was long, but other than the first 200 rod section, it was a great trail as it doubled as the border route hiking trail at the Daniels Lake spur intersection. Level, wide, and great footing (It appeared to be an old road grade or railroad) made it far easier than anticipated.

We camped at the second site on Rose. The first was taken and another further was known to be taken and we were beat. Very steep climb up, no wind, and no sun (on the north slope)- that meant bugs. Oh well – a dip in the lake, dinner and rest. It was a long day.