Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Parent Lake Adventure
by PappyCase

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 09/06/2023
Entry & Exit Point: Snowbank Lake (EP 27)
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 2
Trip Introduction:
Parent Lake was not our original destination but Snowbank Lake was angry the day of our departure.
Report
We started our day with a great breakfast from Brittons and then picked up our canoe at Piragis. Snowbank Lake had some waves but nothing we couldn't handle until we were halfway across. We were originally going to Disappointment Lake but we hit white caps halfway across and decided to portage to Parent Lake. We know there were only two good campsites on the lake and found and excellent site just North of the portage. The people before us left a clean camp and even left firewood. We set up our tent and then had some salami, cheese and apples with crackers. Lots of places to set up a tarp or hammock so that was our next goal. We tried campfire pizzas for the first time and they were quite delicious over an open fire on foil with a foil tent. We were very tired from the tough paddle but able to get camp set up while an Eagle watched us from a nearby tree. Every night he would come in to fish. We also saw a beaver who lived nearby and a family of loons. We took some time to hike some of the other portages and trails. We say an otter playing nearby. I didn't have much luck fishing but there may have been a hatch a few days earlier. We had cooler weather too. The landing at our site wasn't too bad. A bit rocky but shallow. I fell in once but the water was very warm. The fireplace was amazing, well built up. The throne was also well kept. We didn't see many people, most were headed to Disappointment Lake. It was hard to leave our campsite and head back to civilization.