Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

New Year 2015 Hot Tent Ski .
by DanCooke

Trip Type: Snowshoeing
Entry Date: 12/28/2014
Entry & Exit Point: Clearwater Lake (EP 62)
Number of Days: 5
Group Size: 4
Trip Introduction:
Ski Trip pulling sleds, Hot tent camping at it's best.
Report
Went in on Dec 28 2014. It was 1 degree on the truck display as I parked at Clearwater landing, around 1:30. Got my clothes changed to skiing and put my gear together. My friends showed up and we soon skied off. On to Deer Lake then Moon Lake. Setting camp near the waters edge on Moon and getting wood extended into headlamp time. soon we settled into Tent Life. Monday we skied off to Ivory Lake bushwacking up and over the hill and through blow downed trees. A short ski to the north end to check out the flowage into Ivory and a return Bushwack following a wandering set of moose tracks. Tuesday we skied around Moon Lake. that evening the moonlight shone through the tent walls strong enough so headlamps were not needed. the smoke from the stove made dancing shadows that we saw from in the tent. Wednesday the wind built coming from the south and west, we moved the tent inland so we could be more comfortable. Had to build up an area to get a level space for the 12 foot wide octagon tent on the side of a hill. Tent was soon up and we had another great meal of homemade mac and 7 cheeses. (all the meals were planned and executed flawlessly by my friend. He had dehydrated them all ahead of the time. Thursday. Friday I had to depart and leave my friends to enjoy some family time. They skied out to Clearwater Lake and then returned to camp. The truck started well at 8 degrees that morning. As I was heading to the Gunflint Trail I was delayed pleasantly by a tow truck extricating a suburban out of the ditch. A old friend, co-worker was operating the tow truck so it was good to catch up a bit. good Trip. I could not believe what a difference an insulated floor could make. Barefoot in a winter tent was pleasant.