Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: First Timers Need Route Advice!
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HighnDry |
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bhouse46 |
More important advice will be gear and paddling input. You discussed backpacking experience, but if you have not paddled getting some lessons and experience before you enter is critical. And portaging a canoe can require skills in loading the boat so it will balance and managing that long awkward thing over your head while you navigate rocks and roots with twists and turns. Really not so bad, unless you have no experience or initial coaching. Some of the paddling issues in addition to navigation on water vs trail and keeping it going straight include managing current near falls and wind. For first timers an outfitter or guide is really useful. Canoe tripping is more than just backpacking. Discuss your experience with paddling canoes with the outfitter. And if you have paddling experience you will have known most of my input. You probably will find the blend of paddling and hiking very pleasant and probably get hooked and be back several times. |
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LindenTree3 |
If Mary Kate had a dollar for every time someone has said that one :-) Others will have much more information than I can provide so I won't offer any except to use an outfitter and perhaps see if you can get some paddling lessons if you are new to a canoe. I am curious where you backpacked in AK. I just moved back to Duluth from the Kenai Peninsula of AK. |
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schweady |
Of course, every subsequent trip would seem like your hiking was constantly being interrupted by paddling... |
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Jackfish |
You'll probably need some gear (assumption) so check out the outfitters who help sponsor this board. Food, tent, sleeping bags, route selection, permits, shuttles, even overnight accommodations before heading into the BW are things where the outfitters can help you. In the meantime, enjoy the planning. That's half the fun! Run a marathon in Duluth, then, since we're in the area, lets take a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters. Gotta love it! |
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TominMpls |
schweady: "You know, I've never given this advice without a tongue planted firmly in cheek, but with your marathon and backpacking experience and your desire for solitude, an Angleworm Lake entry fits quite nicely. Ha, insane! I run Grandma's every year, I usually do a trip a couple weeks later, and I've done Angleworm. I can't imagine doing Angleworm a day or two after Grandma's, however. I think after a marathon you'll want something with more paddling and less portaging - let the arms do the work while the legs recover. Of course, any entry with few portages means you'll have to paddle a long way to outrun the crowds. I'd choose which side you want to enter, choose an outfitter on that side, and then talk with them to choose a specific entry that meets your needs. |
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boonie |
You'll have a day between the marathon and your entry, so head up The North Shore (of Lake Superior) from Duluth towards Grand Marais. It's a very scenic drive with lots of things to see and do. I assume you'll be bringing your own backpacking gear. Will you be renting a lightweight kevlar canoe? There are lots of options for trips - trips where you travel most days, basecamps with day trips, trips with a lot of portaging (backpacking with a canoe) or very little portaging. You obviously have the physical capability to do a lot of portaging, although I'm not sure how much you'll want to do after the marathon. I don't know your paddling experience or comfort level on big water. Routes are obviously dependent on how fast you paddle and portage (single or double) and how many hours per day you want to do that. It's a wise idea to build some extra time into the trip in case of weather delays such as lightning or strong winds that prevent paddling. Routes can be out-and-back to the same entry, a loop back to the same entry, or a point-to-point trip, which requires a shuttle. You can do your own if you'll each have a car or have an outfitter shuttle you if that's in the budget. An example of a point-to-point trip with a shuttle that may fit your time frame would be The Lady Chain route. Drop a car at Sawbill Outfitters on Sawbill Lake at the end of the Sawbill Trail out of Tofte. Shuttle over to Kawishiwi Lake, EP #37, go north to Polly Lake, then east through Hazel, Phoebe, Grace, Beth, and Alton to Sawbill. There are several nice loops you could do through the Lizz Lake entry out of Poplar. Rockwood Outfitters is on Poplar Lake and you can just paddle away from their place. You may want to read the basics on tripping in the BW, review all the special regulations, and read some trip reports out of the various entries - see the planning tab at the top. Then ask lots of questions. BTW, this is a good place to look at some maps for route ideas and information. |
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Bumstead |
Going out of Rockwood Lodge through entry #47 Lizz/Swamp can be busy on Caribou / Horseshoe, but if you then head west to Allen, Pillsbery, you'll have solitude (Allen only has 1 site / Pillsbery 2). Gaskin is also a larger but beautiful lake. Not any pictos or waterfalls that I'm aware of though. If you would intend to go north out of Pillsbery through Swallow and Meeds back to Caribou, ask about the portage from Pillsbery....its not where the maps depict it. I didn't find it on my first BWCA trip and went back through Allen after camping on Pillsbery. I think I've heard it is back further east in the 'bay' and not in the narrows as shown on most maps. As backpackers, I'm sure you're used to mosquitos, but I've been in some major swarms in early June and in later July that have made me head for the tent or be extremely grateful for a headnet during the 1/2 hour before and hour after sunset. Wish you a great marathon and maiden voyage into the BWCAW! |
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cowdoc |
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Tony |
Tony |
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gymcoachdon |
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mjmkjun |
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SevenofNine |
I would suggest entry 51 (Missing Link) or 50 (Cross Bay) as they are very close to each other and head into Snipe. Beautiful lake and you can continue on and do a loop thru Tuscarora, Crooked, etc and back to Round lake where you will have started from just a note you will travel through some burn area. Or base camp on Snipe. Take day trips to Tuscarora or on down to Long Island lake. Great scenery. Good luck |
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Mary Kate |
-Beautiful scenery and avoiding the biggest crowds are probably our two biggest considerations when it comes to routes (aside from not wanting to do anything too complicated for first-timers). Neither of us fish so that doesn't need to be a consideration. -We are both quite active and have lots of backpacking experience. For reference, other recent trips have included a week on the Appalachian Trail and a week backpacking in Alaska. -Like I said, we're probably looking at a 3-5 day trip, starting on June 18, and we'll be coming from Duluth. -I've heard Moose Lake is a good entry point, but that's the only advice I've received so far. Any suggestions on entry points and routes would be greatly appreciated! If I need to provide other details to help narrow down my options, just let me know. Thanks! |
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anthonyp007 |
Tony |
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scramble4a5 |
As others have said talk to an outfitter. Sarah at Sawtooth Outfitters is great to deal with. Have fun! |